Echidna Update

Echidna Circle is looking a little bit different now with the shrubbery going in around the perimeter and background.

Lost count of the hours on this piece. As I can just lose myself in it completely.
My Art Journal prompts are still progressing......by way of prelim sketches for some of the prompts.

So more Journal pages on the way.
Have a 'maker's kind of day.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Challenge 4,5 &6

More challenge drawings in my journal.
No.4 VINTAGE
This was a bit tricky and then I looked at a couple of vintage postcards I had and lots featured pansies and tulips. I went with a tulip.....

No.5 MEMORY
As I was working on this yesterday, Anzac day,  a poppy seemed appropriate....

No.6 LIGHT
Light as a feather immediately came to mind.....

So far so good....not too many aching brain cells yet!
Have a wonderful day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Challenging Myself

Mainly because my head needs seeing to and because I have piked out before, I decided that I would embark upon a self imposed challenge in my journal.
The challenge is in 2 parts....firstly 30 different Art Prompts. Secondly trying to relate each topic to the natural world. So far I have managed 3 prompts.
No.1 - BEAUTY
Had to be a rose for this one.

No.2 COLLAGE
This gave my brain a little work out but gum leaves in various stages of decay was in the end a choice I loved.

No.3 MUSIC
There is no sweeter music to me than the warble of my resident Magpies every morning.

I have a few other ideas in mind for some of the upcoming prompts and others NOT A CLUE lol! But I guess that's why it is a challenge!
Hopefully I will be sharing them with you here and not throwing in the towel.
This week I was also determined to complete "Egret Amongst the Waterlillies " before continuing on with Echidna Circle.
I had hit a wall and could not seem to move on with it. But happy scribbler now.....
Done!

So that's about it from me.....
Happy Easter.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xx

Playing in My Journal

I've been having a lovely time this weekend reading my new book. So whilst I am not likely to get as free and easy as the author I have added a page to my journal.
When we were in Victoria 3 years ago we were staying in Stawell, the gateway to the beautiful Grampians. I was fascinated by a large group of these little colourful parrots....much smaller than our Rainbow Lorikeets at home. They were very noisy and the tooing and froing was fascinating! 
They were so far up in this huge Eucalyptus tree that a clear photo was a bit difficult but I did try.
I thought it was perhaps ok to render some kind of drawing from it.

I would love to do a bigger piece with this and I think I have a friend for the birdie too that I can add.
Anyway I thought the bird might be a good subject for my journal.....

It was really good to try out the colours of the bird as well. Investigation has told me that these sweet little birds are....Musk Lorikeets!
So I decided to add those details to the page too....the what, where and when.

I think the thing I have to get over  with journaling is the extreme dislike of my own handwriting! Ah well I shall just have to hope the subjects will make up for it lol!
It was still a very enjoyable exercise.....might do some more.
My little Granddaughter went on an excursion at school to an environmental park recently and she told me that they learnt a special saying. It went something like this.
"Be still, be quiet, listen and pay attention.....look for the EXTRA in the ordinary"
I just love it!

 Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

A Bit Precious

As you know I love my art journals but truth be told I am a bit precious about them and this causes me not to use them as much as I would like. I prefer to use them as little pages of artworks to enjoy myself without any reason to exist except that they please me......
I have a beautiful journal which the cover doesn't allude to the lovely pages inside..

I will do something with that cover one day! But the pages are thick and smooth and I love how my pencils work on them.

I really want to use it more.....a chance browse through a fellow art friends new book inspired me enough to buy my own.....so very happy mail for me!

It's so full of wonderful tips and I am feeling excited to open my journal again and experiment with a few things.....I don't think that I shall ever get over  being a bit precious but it's a beginning!
I have finished my rose drawing and am now very happy with how it looks. Once again I had to pick my clever mentor Sandra's brain to remember how dew drops went lol! One day it will stick in my brain! As dewdrops and raindrops are favourites.

This pretty rose has a special purpose....ssshhh!
Echidna and friends is really giving my brain a work out. The foreground has had several interpretations.....which didn't thrill me.
Finally getting to be a bit closer to what I envisaged. Little echidna still needs to be hunkered down in his digging pursuits......watch this space! Every piece goes through the arrrghh stage and this appears to be where I am at present.

Would I change it.....not on your life!
Namasteand Blessings Michelle xx

Slowly Moving Ahead

My progress on my Apostle birds piece is slowly coming along....an extra little bird as been added. I have begun working on the rocks and creeper in the piece. I am taking my time with it as I want to get it as close to what's going on in my head as possible.

Even though I am loving it, I really felt the need to have a little rest and work on something a little brighter.....and what could be better to brighten your day than a gorgeous rose....

I actually get a meditative benefit from working on these roses. I adore all the gradual shading and layers and the effort to try and achieve their delicate nature with a coloured pencil.

On the weekend I snapped the bark on these gnarled trees for reference.....I am crazy for a bit of tree trunk lol!

I wish you a creative day.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx