CLANDESTINE

Clandestine hides her powers.
Not many know she is there.
Unsuspecting, secretly.
Then suddenly!!

Coming into 2009 is exciting, another full year of illustration, creation and fun ahead and viewing all the great artwork and imagery. I have been distracted with family for 2008 and Christmas having visitors from different parts of the world, some family I hadn't seen for 8 years it's been fantastic. Back to the drawing board and "Clandestine" this piece I have played around with very quickly. I was going to leave it in black and white ink but once on photoshop couldn't help myself and did a rush job but was interested to see what the colour would do. Which one do you like?

similar

"Ho, ho, ho. and a Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas."

All the different Santas that are Similar but not the same but we all know they are Santa, father Christmas, St Nicholas etc., Wherever this similar character may be and wherever you may live we all recognise this similarity in the red suit. Happy Christmas and all the best for 2009 to all the bloggers of illustration Friday that have visited me over the year. Thank you all for your support and kind comments.

balloon

missed posting for a couple of weeks so had to do something this time around. A very quick sketch for balloon. I just love the balloons that you can make funny animals and shapes out of. I am currently working on a web page and a new blog spot, hopefully will be organised by 2009.

WISE WORDS

just a quickie this week. doodled in pen and ink.

Vacant stare

She vacantly stared ahead,
all around was empty,
she could not see outwards,
yet there within her mind
raced the colour
the imagination
the life.

LATE

I am never late. I am always very punctual. But as some of you know I was coming to an end of my studies, so have been very busy, my excuse for my brain having too much information to remember. A lunch date with friends I believed was 2.00 p.m. was in fact 1.00 p.m. We arrived just after 2.00 p.m. with our plate to share to some friends who were starving and just a little tipsy and eaten all the nibbles. We did laugh, as for me I am still getting over the fact for the first time ever I was late.

STRINGS

My first thought with the new word of strings was a puppet. So here he is a puppet on some strings. When I was younger my brother had a puppet similar to this, I loved this puppet and loved playing with it. I usually got into trouble because I would get all the strings tied up. I remember how the strings were tied on his ears so he could wobble his head. It was great fun.

SUGARY

I don't really have a sweet tooth but I loved making all these sweet things. sickly aren't they?
I drew the outline of this picture with the intention to water colour, but I just didn't feel the colours would be strong enough and I didn't have time to set up with acrylics so opted for the vibrant colours digital has to offer. I am experimenting the whole time and loving the effects. It didn't get the dinner cooked tonight but I have finished my assignments. Thank you everyone that has visited my blog, I wish I had more time to visit more of all of you wondrous people. Now I have my picture uploaded I will start visiting as many as I can between work and cooking that dinner to see what you all have been up to.

PACKED and ready to go.

I wish I was packed and ready to go. I seem to be having to pack a lot into my days and week so look forward to a holiday in November. I drew this little picture for fun a few months ago but hadn't got around to colouring. The theme of packed was just right to put on my blog, I put the image onto watercolour paper and enjoyed experimenting. What do you think?

The CLIQUE in the band

6 here in the band
sometimes seven we stand.
music and rhythm to share
listen if you really dare.
Sunrise is our name
10 years we've been the same.
this our little clique
its enough to make you sick.
but we love our time together
forever, whenever, wherever!!

Treasure Island? Island of Bath?

Had to post two pictures. I had the first thought of the treasure island map. Had fun with this making making the paper and scanning into photo shop and then scanning my pictures in and finding some old type. But while the paper was drying from all its mashed tea and coffee staining I played with the word island and suddenly there was a pregnant lady in a bath. mmmm. No I am not pregnant. I sketched in grey lead and watercolour pencil and then finished off in photoshop after scanning in my little duck and palm tree. What do you think?
I have to say with all this fun playing I have put aside my assignments for college. I will now spend the rest of my Sunday doing them. I only have another 6 weeks left of my study and I will have completed my Diploma in Art Therapy. Yay!!!

CLUTTER

I love my clutter. My best clutter is all the art tools, brushes, paints, pencils, crayons. I forever collect more and more and enjoy every chance I get to use all of the material. I collect photos, images, paints anything to add to by creative venture. To some its clutter, but its great clutter. I could have kept drawing and drawing. I realised that time was getting away from me. I have started to play in photoshop and colour digitally but at times it gets beyond me. I am still very amateurish in my approach. I hope to post the final piece but no chance this week. Any comments, should I change the colour approach, I think I have given myself to big a challenge this time. I now hope to get chance to look at others on IF. I never look until I have put my own up, hence I can't wait any longer, so heres my post.

Memories

I was on memory road when I pulled out my sketch of a grandparent doing the washing for the theme of "routine". So when I saw the theme for this Friday of "memories" I was tickled pink. Many of my comments from routine had stirred some memories, some very heart felt, thanks for them. This group of houses is where I grew up. My childhood memories back in the UK. I drew this with the copic markers, I love using them. I drew this from memory and enjoyed every moment of reminiscing that went with it. Of course It doesn't look quite like this now, this is my child memory. Thats me out the front on the path with a friend. You remember the days when children played in the street unsupervised. I'd push my dolls pram with my dolls up and down the path for hours. Dressing up in mums old stilleto heels was always fun, along with a few other dress ups. Clop, clop I'd go all the way to the top of the road. I was only allowed to go as far as Mrs. Jones' and then gradually I was allowed all the way to top, but not across the road. Oh the memories of being a child living in that street. I ended up drawing a whole series of houses from my child hood and adult memory of living in UK. I put them in my journal as my life stages, my grandparents home, my first home when married, the next house and then finally here emigrated to Australia. Enjoy your own memories

ROUTINE

I decided to look through my journal to see if I had any pictures that would fit the theme. I drew this picture back in May. Using pencil I sketched away with no real thought about what the picture would be. I often sit late at night after the routine chores are done and tv chatting away to itself, happily drawing. This was one of many that often don't see any daylight once the book is shut. I sketched this as I reminisced the washing lines and the grandparents when I was a young girl in the UK. The Monday wash day. That was the routine. Sunday was the family roast dinner, Monday the cold meat and mash because the women folk were doing the washing. Washing all by hand or boiling in the copper pot and then wringing through the mangle before having the good old blow in the windy weather.

DETACH

I had a ball with this theme. I didn't know what I was going to post. Then at College the other night I started doodling. I felt detached. I decided to do a "self portrait" and detach myself from how I would perceive to draw a face. So here I am. I drew this in black ink in my journal and then have had to find some time to detach from assignments and work to play in photoshop and colour. I detached myself from the olympics soccer tonight, watched a little table tennis, cooked dinner. Time to attach myself back to the family. Thanks everyone for all the comments I have been getting, much appreciated.

SAIL

Sailing through the sky,
soaring up so high.
I sail across the tops of trees
In the direction I please.
A different view,
from the sky so blue.
A bridge of asstd colour,
drama, spectacular.
I look down below,
to a land I know.
Roof tops I have passed,
I'm going so fast.
I touch a cloud,
I shout out loud.
Such joy to float and sail,
the fresh air to inhale.
I sail through the wind,
to where am I destined?
I choose the direction,
with no restriction.
Free, free as a bird,
SAIL, SAIL is the word.
SAIL is the theme,
freedom my dream

POOF!

This was a fun topic and as I had some extra time decided to play with my thoughts of "Poof"! hope you enjoy. I started to experiment with different colours of acrylic using the palette knife, and was amused at how I could make an abstract appear and disappear, "POOF"! I had the camera with me for another painting I am doing and it came to me to put the video on for a laugh while I was experimenting. Amateurish I know but I enjoyed putting it together for my blog spot. Thanks to everyone for the comments, they inspire me to keep coming back.

canned.

We use cans a lot in our day to day use. I hadn't realised how many I had in the cupboard storing all matter of things. From dog food, baked beans, soup etc., such a variety and today the ring pull accessory.
Doodling away tonight after a hard day at work I thought I would experiment using the concept I love of Mandala's, amazing how many things in this world are round. I love round... I also have enjoyed using my copic textas on a non bleed paper, nice and textured to add the ink to.

FOGGY

FOGGY

I loved the theme this week for IF - Foggy - its been foggy a fair bit with the wintry weather here in Australia Victoria. Very cold this last week. I love the fog and mist that settles in the trees and decided to experiment with acrylics this time. I had some sample pots cheap from the local paint shop, a pale green and grey and they make great fog.. I painted this on A2 painting card for acrylics using brush and palette knife and enjoyed a chilly Sunday in my studio painting. comments on this are most welcome.

sour

I chose to portray "sour" as an abstract. I have expressed my feelings/sensations of tasting something sour, that weird nice but shuddering affect if you dare to eat a lemon.

fierce

This is my fierce picture of a fierce Australian bushfire. I have been fiercely rushing around to find time to put a picture together. I did some fierce scribbling, abstract splashing with ink and watercolour. Not my best but I did have fun with my fierceness. Joking aside Australia does have some pretty fierce and ferocious bushfires where many people lose houses or lives. Thank you to all the firefighters who risk their lives to control the rampage of flames. The fierceness of nature!!

Hoard

I drew this squirrel for a story a few months ago. A red squirrel collecting food for winter. When thinking about the theme of "hoard" I recalled my squirrel and have added acorns to the picture. Before he was just eating one but now after the weather has turned cold he is happily looking at his hoard of nuts and feeling very pleased with himself.
I used the copic marker pens again for this drawing. I do love the many shades of colours and layering affect. Still experimenting with them and how to put shade in.

Punchline

It took me a little while to think about this theme and what I might draw. So I began to think about jokes and punchlines and thought about all the knock knock jokes where you never know what the punchline will be.
What is the punchline? I'd love to hear some please send me yours. Here's mine to get you going.
Knock, knock! Who's there?
Lettuce------------Lettuce who?
Lettuce in it is cold out here.

FORGOTTEN

It came to me that tying a knot in a piece of string around your finger was to help you remember. Of course you had to remember what the knot was for. So the memory again is forgotten. too many things to remember maybe. A hanky was another thing I recall being used to tie knots in to not to forget, how bizarre we are. I enjoyed doodling this picture the other night. The last college class we talked about the brain, the different parts that dominate etc, our learning and memories. It must have been all on my mind when I began this picture. Using "copic markers" and a black artliner.

WORRY

The Worried Runner

It is a worry when faced with a challenge. The worry of being able to complete the course, the worry of keeping up with the other runners, the worry of coming in last. Hey! no more worrying just go run.

Its been a worry that I have been so busy not to participate in a theme on IF, a worry that I quickly threw this picture together. Now no more worry. As they say down under here "No worries mate, She'll be right".

In this quick sketch I used coloured pencils and then washed it in with a wet brush, fine line with black ink and a texta to give shade, my experiment.

Mad Hatters Tea Party

Role playing the characters in Alice in Wonderland. The Mad Hatters Tea Party. Using foundations of art therapy in drama. This picture I drew immediately after acting in the scene. The red plasticine figure the Mad Hatter wearing a top hat standing in the middle of the table taking centre stage.

Patchouli & Sea

Sea horse is made from a stripy sock and Patchouli a knitted assortment. The task to make a puppet. The creation, imagination in the making holding the key to how an individual relates, what memories, thoughts come from the curiosity of what is produced. As with any visual art, sculpts, creations etc., The artist has a story behind its creation.

WRINKLES

Ravages of time, gravity, soft skin in layers fold and fall. I have noticed a lot of wrinkles on people and amazed at how we are all so different yet so alike. We all get wrinkly as we get old a fact of life. A few people I have noticed however have very puffy fully pouched pockets and folds of skin under their eyes and on their cheeks. wrinkled, lined faces hold so much information, history, a life. I wonder what this portraiture conjures, now thats something for me to go and further reflect on, I can sense a story waiting to be told. Lets call this lady, yes lady, lets call her Miss Ochrist. And once upon a time?

PRIMITIVE

A bridge - may not seem that primitive. however this bridge is ancient, entwined together like a labyrinth across the gorge. It has taken many many years to form the roots of the tree growing across and joining two sides together. As part of my current studies that are taking up a fair bit of time this is an example of using art through counselling. This theme of life stages and drawing your own bridge. I think I might put this word into IF so look out for it... should be fun.. or if it doesn't get there just play with the theme of a bridge.

GARDEN

This pen and ink drawing is a picture I drew many years ago. I had it out the other day because I felt I could improve on what I put together all those years ago. This picture evokes many memories of where I was and what I was doing at the time. Shall I confess it is over 20 years old.... I love my garden and I loved the theme - I am inspired to do a new painting. College however has commenced for 2008 and I am really pushed for time with all the assignments I have to do. I keep looking at IF, although not able to look at all the great illo's everyone has been putting on I try to browse when I can and will try to put some recent drawings on next time.

Theory

Sir Isaac Newton's theory of gravity and the falling apple. Newtons Gravitational theory was not inspired by a falling apple. The story is seen as a myth but one that is easily recalled of Newton sitting under an apple tree contemplating the universe when an apple fell on his head.

I had already begun to experiment with painting in photo shop directly using the graphics tablet. Originally the tree and hidden face for another assignment. It was during this I thought it would be an abstract concept to add the apples and use it for IF and the topic of theory. I reckon I could keep working on the tree but this was my first attempt at just using the graphics tablet without scanning a pre drawn picture.

I am keen to experiment some more. However college has recommenced and my spare IF time may have to be a little more spasmodic.

CHOOSE!!

When faced with this kind of dilemma it is so easy to make the wrong choice. So many you like and would like to have. So difficult to choose the right one. This little girl "Louisa Daisy Dawn" is trying to choose a cake. She likes the ones with a cherry on top, but she also likes the fairy cakes, mmmm and the icing on the others is very tempting. But Louisa Daisy Dawn can only have one from the cake shop today. Which one should she choose?

BLANKET

When I was a child, beds had blankets. The amount of blankets always depended on the season. Growing up in England, a cold icy winter night would warrant two to three blankets with a large eiderdown placed on top. I still love a blanket but they tend to be the ones used as colourful throws over the settee or taken on a picnic. This picture I did last year "childhood imagination at bed time". A quick sketch done with "copic" pens.

Tales and Legends

Tales and Legends immediately inspire for me the passion for the Legend of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Above is a pen and ink presented in my favourite format of a mandala. The round table being a mandala of symbolism. Here all 24 knights were equal in rank and esteem. King Arthur presented the round table so that every knight had an equal place. In the legend of King Arthur, the love of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere passed beyond the limits of this ideal and brought to an end the noble fellowship of the round table.
The 24 knights were all Sirs, Galahad, Lancelot, Gawain, Percival, Lisnell, Tristan, Gareth, Bedevere, Bleoberis, Cotemal, Lucan, Palomides, Lamorak, Bors, Safer, Pelleas, Kay, Ector, Dagonet, Degore, Brumear, Le bel Desconneus, Alymere, Mordred.

Tintagel Castle ruins in Cornwall.

This is the inner courtyard of the medieval castle. The legend of King Arthur lives on in the ruins of Tintagel. King Arthurs castle hotel built in 1900 still stands on the cliff opposite Tintagel Castle and in here is a replica of The round table.

PLAIN

PLAIN:

Definition: (of drawing etc.,) not coloured.

This is a very plain and simple black ink outline of my plant. You will see below this I have also added the finished coloured version. I again experimented with water colour and am enjoying doing small paintings in my A5 watercolour journal. The coloured version is to be made into a card and sent to an Auntie in England who has the same passion for African Violets as myself.

Coloured African Violet

Stitch

Been thinking about the topic and wondering about the word stitch all week. Had a variety of ideas and sketches in my journal at night on my return from work and have enjoyed exploring the different ideas. I then realised I had this button, I love this button and its red STITCH crossing over to hold it in place, still on its original white card. A well chosen button given to me from my Dad. I think painting it this evening was a great way of never losing it. I still have not found the right place to put it so it sits in my computer room where it can be seen.
Any ideas what I could stitch this button onto?

100% FEMALE

I like to draw most evenings in my journal and always end up drawing faces and people. This morning I decided my female was 100% woman and I would put it in to IF.