A light in the Forest

A Light in the Forest
5 x 7 Copic Marker and pen
on "bleedproof" paper (NOT!)

I bought some bleed-proof marker paper today--it does make a more precise line, but it bleeds through.  I was kind of disappointed because I wanted to do double-sided marker images for the sketchbook project.  This paper is very thin, almost like tracing paper.  The Copic blenders do NOT work. (or else I don't know how to use them).  By the way, the actual image (drawing) does not look as dark as this scan.  (This is an original, and I was experimenting with the media.)

New art

Nightmare # 120223
acrylic and micron pens

It has an unfinished look because the right half is the first half of a collaboration.  This is in a 5 X 8 size Moleskine sketchbook with yellow coated paper so the whole piece, including the (unfinished) collaboration is 8 x 10.

last page of Brave Benny's Animal Alphabet
in the Sketchbook Project Sketchbook for the Brooklyn Art Library
5 x 7, gouache on colored paper

This is the "two-page spread"
only not really because
it's the first and last page and they won't be together.
10 x 7

I FINALLY got another page done.  AK!!!  This is taking so long I may not get it done in time.

60 Via de Cotocello, Marciana

60 via de Cotocello, Marciana
5 x 8 coated Moleskine paper
watercolor, micron pens, white goache

This is the last of these Virtual Paintout Pix I will be doing in Ammon's Mole. This was made, as were all my virtual paintout pix, from a google streetview.

Here is the streetview:

Streetview, 60 via de Cotoncello, Marciana

As you can see, I changed the design of the towels and changed the brick to stone.  Also, I had to crop a vertical (portrait) out of a horizontal (landscape).  They YELLOW is primarily from the stupid Yellow paper!!! (I prefer white paper!)  (That was why I put white gouache in a few places!

If anyone wants to participate in the Virtual Paintout, it's Elba for the rest of February.

In Ammon's Moleskine Sketchbook: Calling Home from Elba

Calling Home from Elba
005 micron pen and watercolors
on coated 5 x 8 Paper

This is another one for the "Virtual Paintout" where the topic for February is Elba.

Here's the google streetview from which I painted the picture:

Brave Benny's Animal Alphabet Title Page

Slow work through sand.  I just hopefully finished page 3.

Brave Benny's Animal Alphabet
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
gouache, 5 x 7

For the Brooklyn Art Library Sketchbook Exchange Round due April 30.

Two New Sketches in the "New" Moleskine for the Exchange Group

As you know, those who attend regularly. I am in a Moleskine Sketchbook Exchange group.  I have Ammon's Mole out of order because some people had several Moles and I had none.

Collaboration with Mike

This is my collaboration with Mike.  I used a Sakura graphic pen and a Sakura micron pen, neither of which matched his pen.  I wasn't sure what he used (should have asked, I guess.)

Nightmare #120211-b
Sakura Micron pens, colored pencil, gouache

This was originally an attempt at an abstract.  I love Andrea's abstracts, but I don't seem to be able to do abstracts often (only occasionally).  I was unhappy with the abstract by itself and added nonabstract details.

By the way, the corner is cut of out of this page (by someone OTHER than me).  But that space on the next page is somewhat damaged.  Perhaps someone can make something on the next page that will show through and be a collaboration--or maybe I will at some later point, for the next person to finish.

For the nerdy baby!

Benny Loves Zooplankton
5 x 7
100% gouache on colored paper

The sheet (not spread, as they will not be together when the book is assembled.)

I was tempted to switch to pens for the lettering, as my hand isn't very steady, but I did it all with pain. I mean paint!

Benny and the Alligator

Slightly revised

Benny and the Alligator, by Mary Stebbins Taitt
5 x 7, gouache on colored paper

I signed up for the next round of the sketchbook project, and since I am planning to take out the horrid paper it comes with, I decided to start right away.   (I ordered a book, but it has not come yet).  I am planning to make a book for my Grandson Frankie, And I painted this in gouache on colored paper.  Looking at it now, I think I might need to work on it a little more. (e.g.:  the shading on the neck  and I forgot to paint the fingernails!).  I want to keep it very simple.  Painting the words was VERY difficult for me, my hands are not that steady.  I may try a different "font" style, though that would lead to inconsistencies. I added the new one on top the revised version. I mat still revise it further.

Global Warming?

Snowdrops today on our street!!!

The snowdrops are a couple month early and might be killed if it gets seasonal again!!!

It's Imbolc, Midwinter!  Happy midwinter, it's about half gone!  Of course the second half may be much worse.

I walked 45 minutes today and 45 minutes yesterday, but Janathon is over and I don't have to write it down! But I'm now in the habit! Don't worry, I will keep walking but I will NOT report every day!

Yesterday I submitted my Fellowship app and today I applied for Social Security!

A Fly in the Ointment

I just took the hard copies of my Fellowship application to the Post Office to mail.  I called earlier to ask what time the closed and gentleman said 6:30, but that they had a mailing machine in the lobby for letters and packages 24 hours a day.  I asked if it put on postmarks and he said yes.

So I went at 9:00 PM and sure enough, there was a machine and I paid for postage with my credit card and put it on the package, but when I went to mail the package, it said any package over 13 ounces had to be presented in PERSON to a postal clerk--and I had to mail it TONIGHT--no postal clerks.

I didn't know what to do, so I mailed it anyway.

I hope it doesn't come back or all that work may be for NAUGHT!

(And it was an absurd amount of work.)

And I still have to finish the online part.  :-(

I'd be a lot happier right now if that postal clerk had mentioned the 13 ounces when I called for info.