Illustration Friday, Sunday Sketches and AEDM

So do you think I have enough challenges tied into this post? ::grin:: Don't worry, I have a piece for each as today was a good art day.

Exhilaration, acrylic on board, approx. 300 x 300 mm.

Savour the exhilaration. 'Savour' is the challenge word this week over at Illustration Friday. All I could think of was hanging in the moment, experiencing that second to its full extent, savouring the exhilaration. A reflection of a moment I experienced several years ago that I wrote about here. There was no lightning in that incident, but I still savoured the moment to its full extent.

Gungurru, gel pen on black card, approx. 200 x 200 mm.

This Art Every Day Month exercise was a follow through from yesterday's explorations. I had been planning to experiment with white and colours on black, but only managed to buy the pens a few days ago. It didn't scan very well because the pens were metallic and glitter, but I'm happy with the effect in reality. I'm not confident about the composition of this piece, though, and may draw another to correct it.

Sunday Sketches - these are a couple of sketches from this week's adventures.

The prep sketch for Cupid for Creative Tuesday which I didn't manage to enter in the end because my phone line died on Tuesday.

And the start of a sketch that followed on from the cheeky look on Cupid's face. Nanny Numbat...

Not finished. Don't know if he ever will be.

Nutty
(who had a great arty day)

Wind sculpted trees - Determined

It has been one of those weeks. I haven't managed to do much art and haven't even posted to my blog, which is even more disappointing. I'm not sure what happened. Real life ate me, I guess.

I have had something on the go. Something that should have taken me one day, but instead took four...as I said, that kind of week.

Determined, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 270 x 200 mm.

I don't think it is as effective as some of the previous ones (here and here), but it has some value. I'm certainly going to continue my explorations in this area. That and I just maybe a little down in the dumps about my performance this week. Hmph.

Drawing Lab Challenge - Hah! Um, no, I didn't manage to do it. Maybe I'll have a go in catch up week.

I hope you did better than I.

Nutty
(a touch depressed)

Wind sculpted trees

More Art Every Day Month :D

These were done in the last hour or so of the day today. The rest of the day was spent being mother and napping to catch up the sleep I was missing from last night when Izzy was sick (she's okay now, touch wood).

But anyways, I was really happy with 'Wind', particularly how the image managed to move due to the patterns I used in the bark and leaves. So I thought I would try again. I wasn't aiming for wind this time, but other impressions.

Survivor, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 200 x 150 mm.

Survivor was first, and I'm not sure it does as well as it could, though it definitely has a feeling. Not one hundred percent sure what feeling. Perhaps when I look at it fresh tomorrow it will make more sense. I find staring at a piece for too long, when working, distorts my impression and I have to leave it awhile and come back to assess it correctly.

Stunted, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 140 x 100 mm.

I was really happy with the pattern I developed for the bark of this one. I'm finding that I'm getting better at translating the feeling in my head to the paper. Not always successful, but my hit rate is improving, and this one worked for the bark at least.

This is one of those trees you'll find struggling for life at the top of a cliff, half beaten to death, but managing to still survive. Their twisted forms are fascinating and I hope to explore them more. nature loves to sculpt.

Both of these started as zentangles. I'm not sure they still qualify, but I'm going to call them that anyway.

Aaah, art. I feel so much better once I've created something. It can turn a bad day into a good one the moment a piece is completed.

Nutty
(thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on my art, they mean so much to me, you feed my brush, my pen, and my inspiration)

AEDM - Day 5 and Drawing Lab Challenge #5

Hmm, a convergence of fives :D

Today's art was just as scarce as my previous two, except the one doodle I managed to start and poke at for the previous two days has now been completed.

Wind, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 200 x 100 mm.

Back in 2006, Hubby and I went on the best holiday we had ever had (well, that I've ever had anyway :D). We took a driving holiday in Western Australia, a wildflower paradise. Anyways, while travelling up the coast towards Geraldton, we passed some wind sculpted trees - Wikipedia has a piccy. They've stuck in my mind ever since. And they were a major influence on my brain when I drew this. Not quite as bent, and a touch more active, I'm really happy with the movement in this doodle.

Maybe I'll get something other than a doodle done tomorrow ::crosses fingers::

And...

Time to bend your brain...

This is the fifth challenge post for the Drawing Lab Challenge. Grab your copy of 'Drawing lab for mixed media artists: 52 creative exercises to make drawing fun' and join us as we tackle the book together. Details of the challenge and joining can be found here.

This week the challenge is...

Lab 19 (Page 58).

This one should have some interesting results.

Have at it!

Nutty
(let's see if I can let go of control)