Christmas doodles 2011

It's been so busy I have had little time to do much creatively, except decorate, bake and shop (a very creative sport in my book). Time is fleeting as usual. Last night I just sat and decided to doodle what is left to complete. It made for a festive page once I added the sting of lights and somehow made it all look more "doable". Hope all are enjoying their holiday time and relaxing more than I. ( If so, please let me know your secret!!)

Horse play

It all starts here - girls and horses, it is a match made in heaven I believe. For me, it actually started with a wooden hobby horse - remember those? Mine never left my side as a child. Things blossomed from there. And apparently the genes have passed on - to my daughter ( who progressed to the big time jumpers) and to my little granddaughter - Love, equine style.

Full Sturgeon Moon

Last Saturday, we were at the marina to check the boat and go to dinner. It was about 8 pm as we left and still twilight - and although storm clouds were moving in, the moon shone brightly above the harbor. A beautiful sight and I knew it would become a sketch. I finished it last night and just before going to bed I added the text using my new Lami Joy calligraphy pen - oops, did not realize I had loaded blue ink - and stupidly I just dove into the text. Certainly not what the page needed, I need to slow down and not hurry as I often do when I think I am late. Oh well live and learn -maybe.

Hearts from Maine

Harry Finale - finale

The finished spread, I think it needed the touch of red - but the text? I always wish I had rethought the text placement. Oh well it's only my journal. I think I will re-watch the first movie this horribly Hot weekend.

Harry

Sad to see it end, such a fun ride - so much to thrill and amaze and mystify. Harry Potter made me feel like a kid myself.

Phantom of the Night

My 'newest' pot of Phantom Petunias -purchased from the nursery this spring. Still blooming profusely and still quite dramatic! The blossoms are almost black so I would have named them Phantom of the Night!

The pale green of the leaves sets off the blossoms perfectly.

Full Buck (as young male deer sprout their antlers now) Full Thunder (as July has the most thunderstorms) Full Hay (as haying is underway, long into the night with a full moon perhaps). Hastily done as I spotted the full moon on the way home from the movies(Harry Potter finale - fantastic!!!) The masking on the full moon failed me so there are freckles on this full moon!! ;-)

Dannel Malloy

Our 'new' Governor - not totally accurate but now I can journal around his face what I think of him!!

235 Years ago - who could have imagined such a Great, Free country? Not perfect by a long shot, but the best thing going and hopefully continuing strong and true. A fun day around our house, lots of kids and dogs, food and fun. God Bless America, and thank you to all who serve or served.

OB/GYN

Upon arrival no one was in the waiting room - I thought my sketchbook would remain idle as nothing was sketchworthy. Shortly the patients arrived, and I had a few models with which to work. I felt brave sketching but no one even noticed.

Flora and Fauna

Early mornings the puppies are out and the new morning unfolds. This montage emerged. Of course the pups got into everything while I tried to sketch (color added later)

I have long admired the Hydrangea family of shrubs, from the giant puffy snowballs to the delicate pink or blue lacecaps. Happily mine is blooming this year, even flourishing - no idea why but I thoroughly enjoyed this closeup study.

Playland

The pups love playing, digging and chewing under our huge Rhododendrons. In full bloom right now.

They're Here . . . .

Oh Boy are they ever here!!! We have our two new black labs, 8 weeks old and they are firecrackers! We have waited almost three months for them. One pup we have done before but two at once? YIKES!! We may be certifiably insane. Very adorable, but always moving and black is so hard to capture in photo and paint. So here is a sleeping sketch, Otis wears a red collar and Angus a blue collar - It's a Twin Thing!!

Raptor's Rule

First Day of T Ball, loaded with fun and confusion.

Golden

From a DC photo my brother took.

The "Hood"

The flowers are blooming, the trees are leafing and color is popping - all over DC, my brother's beautiful neighborhood.

Gump- try 1 and try 2

Better here, more of his "attitude" and less fussed with. I better get some practice in, I have two puppies coming in a few weeks! not so good

No inspiration lately, even with spring springing up here finally, I still feel like I am hibernating - so I picked up my pen and forced myself to draw Gump, my daughters 7 month old bull mastiff . Too fussy, and not a real likeness, even though he held still for a cookie.

Citgo

Anyone who visits Boston proper, knows the giant Citgo sign stands right beside Fenway Park, sort of a guiding star to the Red Sox mecca. I dedicated this page to a few of the Fenway icons I have not recorded in the past.