More Journaling

The fact my sewing room is getting a much needed paint job has meant I have not been able to access much except for hand stitching and my pencils and art supplies.
Two more prompts in my Nature Journal...
3 - Tree
I settled on the Oak Tree...it still amazes me that such a huge tree comes from that little acorn.

4. - Owl
As you can see I chose a native owl, the Southern Boobook Owl. Most Australians know and love their distinct "Mopoke" call.
I have progress on the Undara Kookaburras......working on the branch.

 This week my art work had to be delivered to the local gallery for our upcoming Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Exhibition.
My Sister in law had told me of a wonderful artist featuring at the gallery that she had visited recently. I was so pleased to see it was still there....finishes today I think.
The artist is Miriam Innes

And she works on large swathes of paper with charcoal in continuous strips.....the detail was amazing. You felt you could walk down these New York streets! The cityscape unfolded right around the room! No photos were allowed but you can get a taste from the catalogue.
I feel so fortunate that I was able to experience it....wow!
I wish you a weekend doing that which pleases you.

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

More Arty Stuff

This is the promise that I have made to myself for this year......MORE art! So just to add more zing to this promise.....I chose another Art Prompt challenge for my nature journal....40 new prompts! Call me crazy...but I love them! It really helps with the old "blank page block". This challenge will go very nicely with the challenge I am already doing with my art group....both very different challenges.
This weekend I worked on two of the new prompts.
No. 1 - "A Bird or Two "
Northern Gannets

No. 2 - " Home"
Agile Wallaby with Joey tucked up in it's travelling home.

I am also going to try and include a little spiel in reference to the drawings for this challenge.
Art Group Challenge this week was.....
"A Lesson Learned "

Finally my Fairy Penguin from Seal Rock, Phillip island is complete......loved working on those leaves and negative spaces so much! Yes I am completely crazy!

These are all wrapped and awaiting delivery for .......

It's always a lovely exhibition so pop in if you can whilst it's on. I am looking forward to some demonstrating and admiring the beautiful art my fellow members will have on display.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Finishing and Beginning

Two little finishes of the feathery kind.
My revisiting of a pretty lady Major Mitchell Cockatoo only had a little bit of tweaking to finish it.....

Also one of my favourite feisty little birds....a Willy Wagtail!

My new piece is quite a large project for coloured pencils but I am loving it.
A few progress shots.....
Sketching....

Laying down the sketch and first under layers .

A bit of rethinking the composition....

I am now happy with how the Drawing looks so I can dive right in!
This week's art group challenge is...
FLYING THE NEST...... my imagination took me to little sibling Wrens egging (pardon the pun) each other on to take that first huge leap of faith!

That's it from me.

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Off the Drawing Board

There has been a bit happening on my drawing board of late.....meaning a couple of finishes..... sweet little otter has come together.
The background was worked on.

And finally a finish!

He is all framed up now.....

Two more Art Prompt challenges are also complete.
LOVE IS.......
As a dog lover this came to mind.

SPLAT!
Has this ever happened to you....it has to me lol!

Lastly progress on my Scratchboard.

A bit more defining of features last week.... and I thought coloured pencils were time consuming!  Sheesh! More work on it tomorrow.
I hope you are finding some time to be creative too.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Challenges and Secrets

Firstly the challenges.....
I am once again trying my hand at scratchboard. I began this piece early last year and whimped out....so whimp begone! I am trying again and must say feeling better about how it's looking....

These little cygnets belong to the beautiful black swan I have drawn previously on the Murray River at Mildura.....I watched them for hours....so beautiful!
Anyway watch this space!
Art Group Challenge this week was...
"With These Two Hands"
As most of you know I am an obsessed and dedicated needlewoman as well as a mad scribbler, so....

Had to be my other passion (sorry about the photo...gloomy weather) I am really loving these weekly challenges.....one of the interesting things is, how everyone is becoming much braver at sharing their ideas and interpretations with the group....and I just love where peoples minds go!
And now to secrets.....two roses for two lovely friends having special birthdays.....they have been under wraps for quite a while!

It is always a joy to draw beautiful roses, especially for a dear friend.
Hope your creative muse is whispering in your ear today.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

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

I would like to wish you all a very

 Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx