Sunday, January 31, 2010

Day 31 of Project 365




Rounding out the month of January with one more heart...I imagine you may see more of them in February!

This one is make from markers, scraps, and some cheesecloth of texture and interest.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Day 30 of Project 365




For today, just a simple heart card...can't go wrong with hearts and music!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Day 29 of Project 365



This card is called "free of all care" for obvious reason, lol.

This one was a challenge to use only items immediately within arms reach.  It's composed of book page, a leftover rub-on decal, colored pencils, and gel pens.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Day 28 of Project 365



Oh, how I would love to be on the shore, watching the waves roll in and basking in the warm sunshine! 

That's the inspiration for "waves of joy."  I hope it encourages you to take a moment for a mini "dream vacation" wherever you are!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Day 27 of Project 365



We now return to the regularly scheduled presentation of colorful doodled designs!

This cheerful card is titled "overflow of the heart."  I imagine joyfulness that can not be contained!

What makes your heart joyful?

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Day 26 of Project 365



What?  No Zentangle Today?  Something Different You Say?

Okay, how about some "pink poppies" to brighten your way!

Can't you just feel the sunshine?!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Day 25 of Project 365



Continuing on theme, this one is titled "new growth."  The addition of color created some fun I think. 

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Day 24 of Project 365



Can you tell I am having fun with these doodley zentangly cards?  Must be, 'cause here's another one!

This one is titled "lifeforce"...as if the sun and oxygen were just drawing the plants right up out of the earth...pulling them forth into the light. 

Might have to add color to this one down the road...

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Day 23 of Project 365




I call this one "life OUT THERE" because this makes me think of alien plant life. 

What would you imagine the vegetables would look like on Saturn?  Or what kind of trees would they grow on Jupiter?

Better yet...imagine the glorious flower gardens we'll find in Heaven!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Day 22 of Project 365

I sometimes forget how much fun "doodling" can be...I've started learning some of the named "tangles" used in zentangle drawing.  It's magical what you can do with a few simple but well placed little lines...  I'm far from a master at it but it sure is entertaining!  I call this one "unknown flow."   .....  I think I get my enjoyment of this style from my mom.  Ever since I can remember she has doodled circles and lines and words, especially while talking on the phone, lol! 

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Day 21 of Project 365

Here is the card for Day 21 of the Project 365 challenge.  A "zentangle" type of design drawn with a sharpie pen on bristol board paper.  I call this one "Not Sleeping" because that's what I was doing in the wee small hours of the morning when I drew it...

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Project 365, Day 20


Hello out there in blogville! 

Made it through another business day...and tomorrow is my Friday!  Seems like settling in for any serious art time this last week or so has been really difficult...but I'm still staying up with my daily cards.

Here is today's card, titled "undecided."  Practicing faces to get something beyond a wide eyed happy girl.  They were an improvement from my first attempts at drawing people, now  would like to start developing more expression and character, and maybe someday be able to do actual portraits.

This one was drawn with "regular" crayola colored pencils, which I keep on my desk at the office...

I am saving my project cards...now that we are at day 20 there are enough that it feels kind of like a "collection".  It will be fun to look back at the end of the year and see if there has been any progress/skill development...Heehee!  I'm HOPING there will be anyhow!

Hope you are finding AT LEAST a few moments each day to do something you enjoy!   Beautiful moments are building blocks of beautiful lives.  

Cheryl

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Project 365, Day 19


Anybody else ready for Spring already??

I miss the blue sky and flowers, so that's what I drew for today's Project 365 card. 

I really shouldn't whine - the weather has been fairly mild temperature wise.  Just a little too grey and rainy to suit me.

Anyhow, here's a bit of bloom to brighten the day!

Hugs & Happiness,
Cheryl

Monday, January 18, 2010

Project 365, Day 18







Hi There!  Just popping in to post my daily ATC for Project 365.  The group's general theme for this week is chili peppers.  Yum!   Just the thing to add a little spice to a winter day. Makes me think of the summer days with sun-warmed tomatoes from the garden turned into delicious fresh salsa!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Project 365, Days 16 & 17



Here are my cards for days 16 and 17.  The first one is titled "overjoyed."  I love making happy art!  The second is titled "perfect peace."  Both are marker and pencil with bits of gel pen.  One of my favorite combos for hand drawn cards.  It's been a busy weekend, but I have one more day off, and I'm hoping it can be mostly devoted to art!  Wishing You Joyfulness!  Cheryl

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Project 365, Day 15


Nothing like skating in at the last minute!  It's 11:52 as I begin typing this.  Just completed the card shown here, fulfilling my Project 365 promise of a card a day.

I was out at a family gathering and didn't make it home till after 11:00.  My brain was not in drawing mode, so I went the collage/mixed media route.

Even got to use my new toy when making this...(Pattie if you're reading this you should laugh...it's your fault!  In the nicest way!) ... picked up a Cuttlebug on sale today at JoAnn's!!  Haven't gotten to play with it much but did try out a couple of dies and an embossing folder.  Definitely going to have fun with this little machine!  The red paper is from an old file folder, and the rest from the scrap box, embellished with a little gel pen.

I always figure you can't go wrong with a heart theme!

Hugs & Happiness,
Cheryl


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Cupcakes! Day 14 of Project 365


Pretty Cupcakes were the subject of the day!

First here is my Day 14 card for Project 365. This one is titled "Cutie Cupcake."


     I also made a set of four cards for a cupcake themed swap happening over at ATCsForAll.

     Who doesn't love a cupcake?  They're just so cheerful and cute!  Especially if they're piled high with smooth sweet frosting and and bedecked with flowers, or candies or sprinkles.  Yum!  They always make me think of celebrating birthdays as a kid with your classroom full of friends.  But they've gone upscale these days.  Gourmet cupcakes can be found in wonderful flavors.  They can even be made specially for weddings. 
 
Lol, now I've drawn them and talked about them...maybe I should bake up a batch of sweetness to share!
 
Wishing you joy, with frosting and sprinkles on top!
Cheryl




Project 365, Day 13....and 2


Two more fruity still lifes...originally drawn for a proposed personalized art trade, but they weren't what she was after so I decided to keep them for the project.  The first, attributed to day 13, is titled "one pomegranate".  The second, a makeup card to be attributed to day 2, is titled "green passion fruit."  Both are prismacolor markers with prismacolor pencils layered over the top.  I am just doing fruit exteriors right now, but will work on interiors later as so many fruits are gorgeous on the inside!  These two included.
Today however is feeling like a cupcake day, so we'll see what the pencils think about that...

Sunshine and Smiles!
Cheryl

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Project 365, Day 12...and 1!


Hi!  Hope this finds you warm and well on this January evening.

I took my pencils to work with me today and worked on some drawing during breaks and those odd moments in the day, like while waiting on hold...

Here is my ATC for Day 12 of  Project 365.  This one is titled "speckled pear."  Composed on bristol board with a prismacolor marker base and then layer after layer of prismacolor pencils.

Others in the Project, and on the site where I trade my cards have been creating beautiful fruit still lifes and I couldn't resist giving it a whirl.  I really enjoyed it and the result wasn't too bad...I think I'll be doing more along this line.  It's good practice for realistic drawing.

In fact, I enjoyed it enough that I also made the card below, titled "crisp apple," made in the same manner with marker underneath the layers of pencil.


 I think I actually like the result better...maybe because I got "warmed up" making the first card!

I got a late start on the project to create a card each day, so I'm going to insert this one as a makeup card for day 1.  I'll need to do that a few more times to end up with the full count.

If you want to check out the cards made by the other participating artists, visit the sponsor site Naked Heart Art.  Lots of wonderful eye candy on the project coordinator's blog!

Okay, time to go relax a bit... 

Wishing you sunshine!
Cheryl

Monday, January 11, 2010

ATCs and Birthday Cards




Happy Monday! (ummm...right...we know we all wanted to go back to work today, right! grrrrr.)

Here is today's card for the 2010 Project 365.  I call this one "blissful biology" isn't it happy?   I however am not always happy, though I am determined to hold onto inner joy and peace, JOY of course being my favorite word.

Happy can be shaken, but joy is stronger...more enduring, like faith.  It's what keeps me going, seeking better days when I am in the midst of chaos or doubt.

Lol, all that from my little card full of "bubbles"...



TODAY is also my SISTER's BIRTHDAY! 

I was going through old family photos and found this adorable photo from her fifth birthday.  Such a cutie!

Couln't resist doctoring it up a bit and making a birthday card for her.  She's always been sort of "my hero" since she is the big sister, and I have always admired her.  Kind, ferocious in protecting the people and causes she believes in, and still with the charming childish twinkle and cheer you see in this photo. 

She's amazing and I love her gobs and gobs!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!!  <3

Sending cupcake wishes to all!
Cheryl

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Project 365, Day 10





Today's ATC.  Titled "undone"...hmmm.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Saturday Play


Here is my second card for "Project 365", titled "a spontaneous tree."  Mixed media, made with painted paper towel background, collage images cut from clothing catalog page, paint pen, gel pens.
If you want to follow along with all of the cards being made for the project, just click button in the sidebar to go to the Naked Heart Art page.

Other "artsy" activities today have included some organization around swaps I am hosting on ATCsforALL, creating the header for this blog, and playing with the formatting.  I'm sure I'll still make more changes!

Wishing you JOY!
Cheryl

Friday, January 8, 2010

Art At Last

Well, today has been a busy day, but I am topping it off with a little bit of art in the form of this lighthearted little ATC featuring a vintage photo, scrap papers, pastels and markers. Those impish kiddos looked like "good eggs" to me. :)
good eggs
**This card was submitted as my first card for the 2010 Project 365**

And now I'm off to dreamland!
Cheryl

Art Play Journal!

Wanted to pop in and post images of my creative endeavors from Wednesday and Thursday of this week. I started an Art Play Journal and these are the first couple of entries.
First Journal Page of 2010

Jan 7 Journal Entry

Very fun, free, relaxing format. Inspired by Teesha Moore after watching some of her journaling videos, but making it my own with different colors and changes in mediums...no watercolor washes or chalks...I'm enjoying it! And if I get tired of it, I'll just try something else in my play journal.

What are YOU doing just for fun?

Hugs!
Cheryl

Previous 2010 posts transferred from other website


Thursday, January 7, 2010
Bit By Bit
Bit by bit is the way I have been creating this week. Sunday's "art" consisted of applying watercolor washes to some journal pages and loose watercolor sheets. Completed one postcard in a "Zetti" style on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday I started work in a new journal which I am really having fun with! I'll try to get some pictures up this weekend.

Here's the Zetti style postcard...buggy girl. :)
Garden Bug
I hope you are getting to do at least a bit of something you enjoy each day!
Cheryl


Saturday, January 2, 2010
Small and Silly Art
Today was a nice quiet day! There never seem to be enough of those to suit me. AND I managed to make 4 ATCs for katilady's "In the Style of Teesha Moore" swap over on atcsforall.com

Here's a peek:
ATCs in the style of Teesha Moore

They were fun to make, but it felt like I was trying to squish a lot of art into a tiny space. I am planning to try some larger pieces, using Teeha Moore's techniques with images that are more my own style.If you're not familiar with her, I'd encourage you to look her up on YouTube. She has some great videos and is very generous in sharing her art and processes! **Thanks Teesha!!**

Hugs & Happiness,
Cheryl


Friday, January 1, 2010Happy 2010!
Happy New Year! There's something so exciting about a new year. All those blank calendar squares waiting to be filled up with LIFE. I don't make "resolutions" as such because I believe we can only make significant changes when we come under conviction that the risk of changing is less than the risk of remaining the same. Anias Nin says it well in this quotation, "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Those times in our life aren't determined by the calendar, rather they are part of our individual journey through life.That said, I do sometimes issue myself "challenges." Such as my new EVERYday Art Challenge! I am challenging myself to do SOMEthing creative every day this year. Nothing specific, just SOMEthing. This because I recognize that results require action, and I would really like to expand and develop my artistic skills. I will try to document the progress of the challenge here on my blog. (Yeah, that's the other challenge...becoming a dependable blogger!)For today, I made a set of a dozen ATC backgrounds. The bases are made from a "repurposed" watercolor practice painting. I added borders of random paper bits...now they are ready for some collaged images to be added on top!



Hopefully this finds you entering the new year feeling creative too! All the best for the days to come!