Erk!!

That's how I feel about my latest journal prompt!
No.16 ABSTRACT
Oh boy definitely not liking my efforts for this one! But! In an effort of 'full disclosure'  you get the good the bad and the downright ugly.....hence ERK!
However......challenge met! Unused inks were used and some pens....

On a cheerier note a bit more progress on the Musk Lorikeets.

Some have most of their colours....

And some don't! I then decided that I wanted the little guy balancing between both bits of tree and the 'birdie bum' checking out the hole.....

I did move the bird on the right closer but it was exactly what they were doing.
One of the photo references that I am using.......

I probably should have used this shot but we will see how it looks in the end.... I can always do a different version.
To sign off today,  a couple of my favourite photos that I have taken that inspire me and why I choose to believe that the natural world is so special and worth standing up for.

Have a wonderful day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

PS Thanks Rosie for your lovely comments....I couldn't respond directly to you as you are coming up as a no reply blogger.....but to answer your question, a lot of my pieces take in excess of 30 hours. I will have to keep a count one day....cheers x

New Project and Journal Update

First journal update.....
No.14 - NEW
I spent a lot of time alone as a child and books and drawing were my solace. I always loved when I read that an item was "robin egg blue" and loved seeing pictures of them in a nest.....so for this prompt...a nest of Red Robin eggs! Which just happened to be laid a beautiful blue colour.

No.15 - SEASON
 I've chosen MANGO SEASON....my favourite fruit here in sunny Queensland and with a mango farmer in the family....couldn't resist! Just as a side note....only buy Australian grown mangoes here folks....NOT imports!

I am a bit excited that I have reached the halfway mark with the prompts!
My new larger project is the Musk Lorikeets from Stawell Victoria. It's a bit of a funny composition and I am hoping it will look ok when I  finish.
The photo was taken of them so high up in this huge tree with an old branch  which was growing out and across it....I love the charred look of the branch two of them are on....you probably can't see took much yet but lots of blocking in have been happening.

There are 2 little birdies here.....

And another here....

Can you see them?  Doing the charring on the tree was interesting.
I'm thinking this one is going to take me a while. I have to get a lot of the tree done so that I know how dark to go with the Lorikeets....they are so sweet! I watched them for ages. Toing and froing, squabbling and chattering in this large tree.
Ok must dash.....have to think about No.16.....ABSTRACT? Good grief! I haven't a clue at the moment. I just don't DO ABSTRACT! Thinking cap on!
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Processes

Well this Journal challenge is certainly keeping my pencils moving.....here I am again.
No.13 - OLD
I chose and old tap....I took a photo of one out at historic Silverton NSW and it came to mind immediately for OLD....but how to relate it to Nature....when in doubt add a little birdie. So a sweet Fairy Wren little lady checking out the local drinking source was added. She is from  a reference photo from clever friend  Kev Webb with a bit of artistic license.
Here are the steps in which it came to be.
Sketching....

Transferring to my journal and beginning the work.....

Progress and adjustments.....

The finished page.....

Until No.14 which happens to be NEW.....hooroo!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

11 and 12

Journal prompts 11 and 12. These two took me quite a while....perhaps because I love the subjects.
No.11 - QUOTE
I love beautiful words and quotes and have many, many favourites but as I am relating this challenge to the 'natural world ' I have chosen.....
"NO TREE....NO ME"

No.12 - FAVOURITE
Now this was quite a challenge as I have a love of all wildlife but WOLVES are a definite fascination and I love their piercing eyes and strong family ties.

So two more pages done! I couldn't drag myself away from these two.

Australian Geographic is a magazine that I love and one usually comes home with me after each library visit. I will buy one when I have  to wait around and have no stitching or sketchbook at hand. Always in preference to a trashy 'lives of the rich and ridiculous ' variety.
Mr R. surprised me yesterday with a copy...the special 150th Collectors edition.

I was even more pleased as the cover is the work of a favourite Australian conservation wildlife artist Nathan FERLAZZO. He has reimagined Australian Geographics iconic logo....Banjo the platypus, in his own magical style....beautiful! He works under the name Marini Felazzo and has wonderful merchandise as well as original art and more often than not, proceeds go to conservation of wildlife....bonus!
I really do love 'just because' gifts.
I am off to sip a coffee and read my new mag.

Namaste and Blessings
Michelle xxx

More Journaling and Echidna Circle

Some more Journal subjects....
No. 7 - Mystical
It had to be an owl....this one is a Barn Owl

No. 8 - Tears
I chose an African Rhino because their desperate plight does make you want to cry tears of anger and sadness!

No. 9 - Fishing
This one is a ring in as the challenge prompt was really "splatter" but my journal paper wouldn't accommodate any wet medium so I chose the No.9 from another challenge list. It hasn't photographed well but came up well in my journal. It's a Great Egret in breeding colour. The reference came with permission from talented photographer Kev Webb.

No. 10 - Pink
It was a hard choice between Galah and Major Mitchell cockatoo but the latter won!

Finally "Echidna Circle" is finished. It feels like a marathon is finally run lol!

Here is the less than ordinary photo that inspired this piece....

It feels very satisfying to combine a wonderful memory to the mix and get it down on paper at last.
So.....on to a new project. I have decided to extend my journal piece of the Musk Lorikeets into a larger project.

That's it from me today.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx