Painting From Photos

I'm loving Alisa Burke's Sketchbook Delight online class. She's so creatively cool. For some reason I have always felt guilty painting from photos, even if they were mine. Not anymore. I don't feel very creative out in public where people are watching so working from photos makes perfect sense. Here's a peek at my sketch of The Necessary, that cool little house at the JC Raulston Aboretum in Raleigh. Thank you for the inspiration Alisa!

The Selby

I've never heard of this before but I will definitely visit this site again. The Selby has tons of photos of creative people in their spaces and I could spend hours going through them. Not only are the spaces cool but the photography is amazing.

Finding My Muse

I took this photo the other day while I was at the arboretum finding my muse for week 2 of Alisa Burke's Sketchbook Delight online class (which I LOVE). It's a Japanese Crepe Myrtle and it's the biggest one I've ever seen. The Crepe Myrtle is one of my favorite trees here in North Carolina. In the winter you notice their strangely beautiful bark that almost looks like it's diseased but in the summer they are covered with beautiful flowers.





And here is my sketch of it.

Love Note

I was crabby this morning until my 6 year old tucked this note in my pocket...



...and this is the t-shirt I'm wearing that prompted her to write that love note. That's my girl! <3

Winter Walk

I took a walk around the JC Raulston Aboretum today and was surprised to see some flowering trees and honey bees already! I know it's warmer here than up north but this is the only place I've seen anything blooming already. I'm looking forward to going back when more things are blooming. What a pretty place! I fell in love with the cool little house and as I got closer I realized it was a bathroom! The call it "The Necessary". How funny.






I love this rain chain:

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's not exactly my favorite holiday, but I don't hate it. You can't be a putz the whole year and expect to make up for it on one day. I prefer balance. I do like drawing hearts and giving cards so it's not all bad ;)







...And here's a little peek at some watercolor splats in my sketchbook. These are always fun.

February Postcards

For an online swap. The salt didn't quite work out this time but they turned out ok anyway.

DIY Planner January 31- February 6 2011

And here it is finished.

What The...

These are the BEST initials EVER. If they were mine I might be tempted to put those goofy initial stickers on my car too... Nah, probably not, but they made me laugh!

Love Is In The Air

This floated right above my head yesterday.

DIY Planner January 24-30, 2011

I haven't done one of these for a while and I kinda missed it.