Tag: newfie

I’m back! (With more art)

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Well, hello there! It’s been a while since I posted, I know. A bajillion things have happened since then. (That sounds like a big number because it is. Bajillion. It’s way big. But maybe slightly fewer than an actual bajillion occurred.) Also, a lot of ART has occurred (yay, me!) especially the sketchy kind… so maybe it’s better to just start where I am instead of trying to show it ALL to you today. So, here is today’s post. A piece ‘commissioned’ by the Southeastern Newfoundland Club (near and dear to my heart) I’m super proud of this piece!! I will list my supplies here, and also links where I can. Just know that I am in the Amazon Associates program, and if you purchase from Amazon using their links, I receive a very small benefit. (It does not cost you extra, and I appreciate your support! But always shop around. I only link supplies I really enjoy, and try to find the best price at the time, but their prices can fluctuate quite noticeably) Products I used:

-A.Gallo watercolors. (Check out her site if you are interested … I love her paint. She offers it maybe once every month or two and the day it goes on sale I buy a little. And a brush. 🙂

–Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pens… my new favorites. (I did not know they were India Ink! So nice and dark… and lightfast… and WATERPROOF! And the tips seem to hold up better than microns!)

-Fluid 12″x12″ hot press “Easy-block” watercolor paper (this paper is working well for me so far, but has a definite learning curve for me (I think hot press vs cold press is the thing). I’m not posting a link yet because I haven’t decided about it. But I do enjoy Fluid blocks.)

Soon this will be available for anyone to order from their website! I will update with a link once I have one. All purchases made would support the Southeastern Newfoundland Club.

I’d love to know what you think? It’s a bunch of newfies on their way to their water test. Or just a day of swimming and boating fun? I think it’s pretty cute!

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Thirty Days of Everyday Life, Day THIRTY!!!

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Kinda’ going out on a whimper here. But can you believe it’s been 30 days already!? And I DID it.

Shopping for vacation Santa’s photo area at Saturday’s Christmas in July event:

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So. I still can’t paint a black dog. In fact, my earlier attempts may have been better. I’m UNlearning. 😦

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Not a great layout. Gorgeous weather, though, that’s something! 🙂

(PS Affiliate link included here: Clara’s new doggy pool is awesome!! (linked here on Amazon) It was $65 for the xxl (63″ across) and I hesitated before spending that much, but it has very good reviews and the cutest joyful doggy photos and videos. There are a lot of sizes, the smallest is under $30. The sides are sturdy and I wouldn’t hesitate recommending it for both dogs and children. Easy set up, easy storage. Best little storable pool I’ve even purchased like this. I feel like the plastic is strong enough to last a long time, and it accordion folds to store. AND it stays up without water, so even with just an inch or two in there now, it is open fine!)

Back to my art journal experience: I’m glad I challenged myself. I’m going to try to art journal my way through August as well, although I may allow myself to miss some days. Thirty days without a break was a bigger challenge than I expected.

Several advantages, though:

It is GOOD to make myself stick to something thirty days straight even if I don’t feel like it.

I’m more comfortable/familiar with my current paint set now.

I’m more comfortable/familiar with my pens now.

I have this cool diary to refer back to in later years. (I’m not sure art journaling my life every single day is wise… I’ll never look back at all that! )

A lot of practice at general sketching/painting.

Re-developing the habit of everyday art.

Really the only disadvantages:

It was hard to do EVERY day without fail, and took more time than I expected.

Sometimes my day was super boring (online paperwork etc all day) and I didn’t know what to draw. (maybe an advantage, too, sometimes, since I might have to draw something I’m less comfortable with)

Thanks for listening!! I may do a journal overview and supply list later!

Thirty Days of Everyday Life, Day 12: a morning swim

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As you are probably aware, my husband and I are owned by two newfoundland dogs… this morning when the dogs woke us up (as early as every other day), instead of an early morning walk, we took them out to the beach for a quick swim. (and a good rinse off at home after)

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(That’s my attempt at Emmett swimming.) Emmett loved it, Clara tolerated it and DIDN’T SINK, which is a pretty good end result. And the rest of the day we mostly just goofed off. In fact, in the evening we were going to go out but some strong storms rolled through and we decided to chill with Emmett, because he’s afraid of thunder. I guess what I should have sketched was Emmett in his thunder shirt!

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(Almost) a week of drawing my days…

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Previously posted:

(I think this sketch of Clara might be my favorite)

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Yeah, that’s me, kinda, because for some reason I didn’t draw on Wednesday, then by Friday couldn’t remember doing ANYTHING. I think maybe we went for a movie?? :

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Oh, that orange scone. I think I predict another trip to Panera… :

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(working in a Stillman & Birn Beta Softcover Sketchbook, Heavyweight 180lb, Cold-Press, White, 28 Sheets – 5.5×8.5 

I’m very pleased with this book. The pages lay flat when the book is open, and they don’t curl a lot. The paint dries very quickly on them, though. They aren’t 100% cotton. But works well for this project.

Using a variety of watercolors… a combination of Daniel Smith, Schmincke, M Graham, EEM, Holbein, and QoR.

And my favorite brushes, Winsor & newton Series 7 kolinsky sable. sizes 6 and 4. These really are AMAZING brushes. I have lots of less expensive brushes which I never use. I can only find a small one OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive on Amazon, so I’m not linking it. Wait for sale prices at Jerry’s, Jacksons, Cheap Joes, Wet Paint, etc! )

5/29/2018- watercolor journal tour

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I found my missing watercolor journal! The one I apparently lost last September or so and then forgot about. I didn’t realize it was missing until I found it yesterday. And I found the white wrist sweatband I was telling you about last week, that I wrap around my travel palette and use to wipe my brushes on. AND a travel palette I’d looked for a few times this winter. YAY!! The journal is less than half finished, but the pictures in it are so cute, I thought I’d give you a little tour.

My beetle, and garage:

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a friend’s adorable house, and a partial window (the window was a Peter Sheeler youtube tutorial):

 

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A group of random girls walking arm in arm down Duke of Gloucester Street in historic colonial Williamsburg… so cute…

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and my husband and Emmett: newfie(dog) (before we got the second one) [dog, not husband]…

A few historic colonial buildings:

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Sitting in the rain at my son’s college graduation,

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my sister-in-law laughing with my grandson, goats climbing a goat tower. (seems random, I know, but these are all memories from 2017 and it is so fun to see them again!)

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A peacock (specifically to try some shiny shimmery gold paint):

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my granddaughter looking at a horse on the little farm behind my house (which they’ve torn down this month to develop into a neighborhood!), and the farm in color:

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I’m so glad I have these memories. This experience has convinced me I need to sketch and paint more of my day to day events, places, people I interact with. It really means more to me than I thought it would. And as horrible as my memory is (and it IS!!!), I remember EACH of these scenes clearly, the real actual moment they are from. So drawing them must have cemented them into my brain differently than just taking a photo.

And just for kicks, here is Emmett watching television. So you can see how huge-ish he is really getting. I think he’s gotta be about 140 pounds now.

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Day 266 (Sun Sept 24) ATCs

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Artist Trading Cards… 2 1/2×3 1/2 inches. Treehouses. The fronts, top and right using daniel smith paints, bottom left using qor…

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The backs… one unfinished, the school house uses Jane davenport mermaid watercolor markers (they are really a waterbased color in a waterbrush) Vivid colors, difficult for me to control, and they lift off a bit too easily, but quite fun. I think they’d be great for something larger, especially art journal pages, or calligraphy. The country store uses daniel smith.

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Oh, and about halfway through I found this gift from my newfoundland dog dripping off my table right in front of me. I don’t know how I didn’t get slimed. Don’t get a newfie if you can’t handle the Sloober. He’s not allowed in my studio alone, but he snuck in a bit earlier. Obviously. That Sloober would literally be there in a week if I hadn’t removed it… looking like a thick shiny… dried… disgusting hangy thingy… I tried it once just to see. Ugh.

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Day 202 (Fri July 21) rainbowy watercolor newfoundland

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An artist in Virginia Beach does something similar, although his is a more interesting pattern. Looks like this newfie has been in the Color Run!

I think I may try some more newfie patterns.

 

Day 197 (Sun July 16) Crazy newfie watercolor

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I want to learn ways to paint a big fuzzy black dog, so googled newfie watercolor art, and found something looking a little like this (only much better) I’ll try it again another time but this DOES capture the spirit of Emmett pretty well, I think. He’s nuts.

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This was for a journal entry I’m working on for a friend on Swap-bot, a very fun site I’m a member of, and I included a poem I wrote years ago about another dog I had.

Painted with Daniel Smith watercolor on some type of parchment.

The bravest, dearest, sweetest heart on Earth
Rests within my dog’s big furry chest.
(Well, maybe not the bravest…
But of all the world, he does love me the best.)

In his perception I’m the greatest friend.
I’m always right… of that there’s never doubt.
I’m simply never wrong.
If I say “in”, it’s in… if I say “out”, it’s out.

He loves the way I speak, my voice, my sound.
He loves to hear me say his name out loud.
He tries to make me smile.
He’ll follow my voice even in a crowd.

In his eyes I look just the way I should;
Change my looks, I’m still the perfect me.
He doesn’t think I’m fat.
My face, and hair, exactly as should be.

Never has he gotten mad at me.
Even when I’ve lost my temper first.
He showers me with love.
He loves me at my best and at my worst.

He comes to sit beside me as I work,
And never tells me “no” if I say “play”.
He tries to be my friend.
He loves me still if I push him away.

And when I’m empty, shattered and alone,
And hiding broken pieces from the rest,
When no one else is there,
He moves in close and offers me his best.

Even though I look at him with love,
Never have I given him his due.
And yet he never sways.
I wish I could be that sweet hearted, too.

A break from art for my puppy’s birthday!

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No, I didn’t SKIP my art… just a non-art post. Doc Emmett Brown is our (now) one year old Newfoundland puppy. I don’t know if he can really be called a puppy at 120 pounds? But he’s still using a puppy brain, so I say YES. Since I occasionally sketch him, I figured he could be here, and I thought I’d link my other blog. It started out as an everything blog but now has become The Emmett Diaries. I don’t post often there but like to now and then, and hope to more frequently. You can go there to read about Emmett’s first birthday

And follow the blog if you want to hear more about Emmett! I can’t post a video here, but there’s a quick on one here on Youtube… okay, it isn’t very interesting… Emmett eating his birthday ice cream and drooling all over it. But I’m sure they will get more interesting over time! He’s a pretty fascinating fellow.

Happy birthday, baby!!