Sketch-Painting: Soon to be no more

This is a fanciful view of the place I work as seen from a picnic bench across the parking lot.  It developed from the bush in center stage.  I won’t tell you all the materials I used, but pen and watercolor were a couple.

This place, currently for sale if you’re interested, will close the doors at the end of the year.  All of us will be replaced by low-cost versions of ourselves in Durango, Mexico.  It’s funny because one of the many slogans this international company uses is, “One for All, and All for One”, and talks about the “family”.  Bee Ess!  I’m not bitter, though… things always work out… ALWAYS.  It’s been a fun ride.  Also, I might have never made this piece otherwise.

A View From the Bush - Ink, watercolor, etc, on paper

Landscape w/ Pen & Markers

Nothing to do during lunch again, so I started my favorite lunchtime activity – doodling.  As usual, this didn’t start out to be anything other than colored markings on a 3″ x 3″ card.  You know how it goes… after a while you think, “hmmm…. this could be a pond, and this could be a tree…”  It was fun.  Enjoy.

Pen & Markers on 3" x 3" Card

Colored Pencil Sketch of Senanque

There was an article in USA Today several weeks ago that talked about famous chefs’ inspirational travels.  In the article there was a photograph of an Abbey with neat rows of lavender in full bloom.  The caption said it was in Senanque, France.  This sketch was done with colored pencils at my desk during lunch.  I’d love to see it in person one day.

Abbey at Senanque: Colored Pencil on Paper

Oil Pastel Abstract Impressionism

Everything has to have a name, doesn’t it?  I wasn’t sure what this style is called, but “abstract impressionism” sounds good.  I haven’t studied art history, although I have read much about a good number of artists who fascinate me.  This piece is another larger sized oil pastel on paper that changed directions many times throughout it’s evolution.  I really love the bright colors.  They feel vibrant and alive.  As with most of my work, there’s no special meaning behind anything you see.

Tree: Oil Pastel On Paper

Oil Pastel Painting of Toys

This is the very first oil pastel I attempted.  The pastels took some getting used to, but I ended up really liking working with it.  This was an impromptu arrangement of some of my son’s toys.  This is also one of the largest pieces I’ve made.

Toys: Oil Pastel on Paper

This Could Have Been a VERY Busy Piece…

I did this on my lunch break today.  All I had was colored pencils, and a whole lot of nothing in my head.  I sat in front of this piece of paper for probably 10 minutes before I made the first stroke.  It’s weird how I get the unshakable urge to draw, but I haven’t got a clue what to do.  This is what evolved in the 20 minutes that were left.  I could’ve added to this for hours, making something that would take a long time to soak in.  Not very impressive, but colorful, huh?

Doodling Carried Away

I’ve had this 3″ x 3″ card hanging on a corkboard behind my desk at work for a while.  It was something I did while on a phone conference.  Just a drawing of a face at first, but I can’t stand anything to be “normal”, so I had to jazz it up.  Think I may have went a little too far… or maybe not far enough.

Abstract Face: Pen & Markers on 3" x 3" Card

Hand-painted Story Card

I was on the phone with my Mom a couple weekends ago when I was in the process of trapping mice on sticky pads.  (If you have mice, I’m telling you what, the sticky pads are sweet!)  The mouse I was after was as big as a rat, no kidding!  I wanted that big sucker something fierce.  He would come out of his hole, sniff the sticky pad, then jump over it.  I figured I could scare him back into his hole, and he wouldn’t pay attention to the sticky pad on the way back.  It worked!  Mom, on the phone the whole while listening to the saga, woke up at 4:30 the next morning with a poem in her head.  I got this in the mail last Friday.  I love it!

Charcoal & Pastel: What a Combo!

I have one stick of willow charcoal that’s never been used.  Since I’ve been experimenting with different mediums, I figured the charcoal needed attention, too.  I had the stick in my hand, imagining how Matisse would’ve used it, thinking I should make something profound for my first piece.  Then Picasso.  I was paralyzed for the longest time, then just started moving the thing over the paper making a weird face of eyes, nose, and mouth.  Ick!  Didn’t like that at all.  Next, the vertical lines.  What are vertical lines without the horizontal?  So next horizontal.  Hey, a checkerboard pattern… better fill in the black squares.  Then the color nerve got struck.  I can’t stand not having color here.  So that’s how it went.  It was almost unnerving!

Abstract Face: 9"x12" Charcoal & Pastel on Paper