A Finish

Good morning. I thought you might like to see the process of the little Eastern Sedge Frog....through to its conclusion.
Beginnings......

A little more progress....

Negative spaces....

Close up of the Star....

And it's done....

Finally.....all framed up!

Loved every minute of this piece! I have so many pics from this Lotus pond that I could be kept very busy for a long while.
Art Group Challenge No. 5 - ADVENTURE
It had to be a new book....just waiting for you to open the cover and be taken on and adventure......

I wish you a wonderful week....doing what you love.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

New Projects

I have several new projects on the go at the moment but they are small studies.....you see the payoff for rain in the subtropics is T-shirt soaking humidity! But I will put up with it for the rain.....it is so welcome.
Thankfully I can take advantage of some air conditioning.
So the projects.....an Oriental Small-clawed Otter. I fell in love with them at Dubbo Zoo......they have the sweetest little faces and sadly are on the threatened species list in Asia.  I had rendered my subject in pastel pencil but always wanted to do it again in coloured pencil.....and I am happy with how it is looking.

I laid down some Pan Pastel as a base for the water and rocks.

All his other whiskers won't go on until the last minute. I am now adding depth and more detail to the shadows and rocks in coloured pencil.  As often happens, you need to sit with what you have done so far, put it somewhere that catches your eye......and usually you can get a better perspective of what isn't working....so that's where Otter is at the moment! What to add! What to take out? What to leave, darken, lighten, change etc.

So! While I ponder I have been working on a small study of a Magpie head....compliments of my son and his resident Magpie family.  It is only 5 inches x 7 inches. Love it!

Last but not least I have prepped a little slice of my favourite spot ..... Sacred Lotus pond at Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens with its gorgeous tiny residents....Eastern Sedge Frogs. Drawing is  transferred and under layers beginning to be laid down.

 Not particularly easy to photograph but you get the picture.
As you can see I have made a good start to my plan for "more art in 2020" and it will keep my pencils working hard.

Enjoy your day.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Art Group Challenge No.s 3 and 4

Just popped in to share the third and fourth challenges.
No. 3 The Doorway to.....
I drew it in pen and added a little coloured pencil. It was originally my sketch but I decided rather than transfer it on to better paper and finesse it....I would leave it as is!

And no I hadn't been drinking when I wrote the title lol!
No. 4 That Which Sparkles
I have been trying to go with first impressions in this challenge but this prompt, I ummed and ahhed over it and then flipped and went with my original thought.....which was .....dewdrop jewels!

We have all enjoyed these so much, consideration is being given to continuing it through out the year in my art group. Definitely gets the grey matter thinking!
I hope you have been dusting off your creative muse and doing some new year collaborating.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

2020 Here We Go

Good morning all. It is hard to exude cheeryness when our country is experiencing such a crisis. So all I am going to say is firstly a huge thank you to all of our heroes working together to fight for us, protect us and support us.....and secondly, help where you can, donate if you are able....oh and a rain dance or two wouldn't go amiss either.
Now what have I been up to.....well for 10 days I moped around feeling sorry for myself with some yukko virus thing.....but feeling so much better now thank goodness!
Just before Christmas I took a break from my Little Penguin to start a small study of the feisty Willy Wag-tail. I love there little birds....they are so courageous and brave often fending off much bigger birds who threaten them or their nest.
Progress so far....

Our art group doesn't resume until February. So we thought of a way to encourage each other and stay in touch.....we badgered our poor mentor/teacher Sandra to give us a challenge prompt....one each week for January....so far great fun!
No. 1 - Something Completely Different
I did a role reversal.....

No. 2 High as a Kite
I've gone for a bit of whimsy....

So that's my doings so far.
I shall leave you with a piece of art by artist Kassi Isaac......and it sums up how most of us are feeling about our horrific loss of precious wildlife.

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx