face #29

Another 29 Faces Challenge done! Oh, that was fun. Thank you to Martha for organizing this great challenge.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I don’t normally post every day. But I must admit that posting daily has really pushed me in a good way.

I created more than normal. I found myself thinking about it through the day. What should I do tonight? I always had something to look forward to.

So now what?

I think I’ll keep going. Today my face is that of Chancey the Garden Gnome (anyone seen the movie “Being There”?? If so, you’ll recognize the name.)

Chauncey has been around our house for over 10 years. Last Sunday, I gave Chancey his annual fresh coat of paint. I always keep his hat red, but this year he is sporting a blue shirt and green pants. He likes a wardrobe change now and then.

I decided to draw/paint his face for the challenge. It gave me an idea for my next project…a Flower a Day for a whole month. I’m getting into Spring mode…so I think that will be a perfect challenge.

So, check in daily to see what I come up with. Until tomorrow…

face #28

Well, only one more face to go in the 29 Faces challenge.

It makes me sad.

face #27

Two more faces to go…..I’m going to miss this challenge.

Today is a cold, windy day so I’ve found a warm, bundled up lady in my splatter of paint.

See you tomorrow…

face #26

Scrap paper face.

face #25

Argh…I’m running out of ideas for faces!!

Here is a guy I did using my left-hand (wrong hand). I drew the face first using a sharpie, then added paint. I work slower with my left hand, but I think it’s a fun way to play.

I did sign it with my right hand though. I sort of went on auto-pilot there and switched hands ☺

face #24

Good news….a break from looking at my mug for today ☺ I just couldn’t do it! Tired of looking at myself.

Today, is another face where I used a black and white photo as reference.
Here is the story behind the painting.

July 23, 1959, my great grandmother Grace got her picture in the local newspaper. She owned a Night Blooming Cereus plant and it had bloomed. It’s a very rare occasion for them to bloom and their aroma is wonderful. Or so I read.

I did a sketch and wrote out most of the article in the area behind her. Old newspaper articles are so interesting…especially when it is a small town. The article mentioned several of her neighbors who attended the nighttime event. So fun!


On a side note, my husband gave me a plant about 4 years ago for our anniversary. I didn’t know what it was until I read this article and saw the photo….the leaves are unmistakable. I can’t wait for mine to bloom. The article says they only bloom every 5 to 7 years…so hopefully I will get some in the next year or so. Can’t wait to smell the flowers!

face #23

Today’s self-portrait is a pencil sketch.

I attempted a collage….but it was, well…less than successful. So back to the drawing board ☺

Happy Friday to everyone!!

face #22

I was feeling a little blue and not because I’m sad. It’s so COLD here!!

We were supposed to have ice, but so far it’s only rain. Hope it stays that way.

I’ve been drinking hot tea and hot chocolate constantly to keep warm. I just run a little cold-blooded, I guess.

Well, we’re down to the last week of the 29 Faces challenge. I have so enjoyed participating. It keeps me busy creating AND busy checking out everyone else’s work.

I thank everyone who has stopped by and been kind enough to leave comments. I try to repay the gesture by visiting your sites, so I haven’t had time to reply here to your kind words. I just wanted you to know that your comments and visits are what keep me going…so thank you very much!

face #21

Ok, just to clarify, I do not actually look like Elvis Costello! At least when I look in the mirror, I don’t think I do.

It got too late last night to do a new one, so I’m just posting this one. Go ahead, have a laugh…I certainly did!

face #20

For today…a quick watercolor self-portrait. It took longer to dry than it did to paint!! This paper is not very absorbent.

See you again tomorrow!

face #19

Another self portrait in ink.

I used to doodle like this when I was in school. I would start out taking notes in class. Then I would draw a shape or two or three and start a ripple out from each shape. When the ripples would converge, it would start a new shape and more ripples.

face #18

Okay, so here’s what I did. I drew a picture of myself…just a basic outline…added a few details. From this sketch, I made a tracing onto several types of paper.

Over the next few days, I’ll see what I can make of these sketches.

Here’s self portrait in watercolor.

face #17

Well, the workshop I went to yesterday was sort of a bust. It was ok. Not great.

Lunch was the highlight.

I did come home with a self-portrait that I doodled. Which sparked an idea that I would do a few more…each with a different medium. We’ll see what I can come up with.

I mentioned earlier in the week how our TV quit working. We ended up getting a new one. The old one was beyond repair.

Now my husband and I are not big techno geeks but we normally can figure out how to hook up a TV. We could not get the new one to work. Not at all.

I finally went to check the one in the back room, they have similar connections. Only then did I discover that the cable was out!! So it turns out that we actually DID know what we were doing.

Anyway, I’m spending today waiting on the Cable guy. Seems like I’m always waiting on some repairmen to show up.

Hope your weekend is going better than mine.

face #16

Here is face #16.

Today, I’m taking a vacation day so I can attend a drawing workshop. Really looking forward to it.

Until tomorrow…

face #15

Inspiration from a photo in a magazine.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Sending out virtual ♥ Chocolates ♥ to everyone.

face #14

Ack! Profiles are hard. I know the proportions are wonky on this.

I was attempting to copy a photo from a book. She was actually a marble statue…but I gave her some color.

face #13

Another painting from an old black and white photo. I attempted this painting before. She comes out a little different every time.

Face #12

Happy Monday everyone!

Everything I touched yesterday came out awful! So all I’ve got to share today is a doodle I did on a page from a book. I used watercolor crayons for this.

I hope I have better luck today.

I even broke our TV! Well, it actually went wacky while my husband was watching but I’m sure it was picking up my bad vibes!!

faces 9, 10 and 11

I might get a little ahead for a change! Here’s 3 faces in one day!

For this painting, I worked from an old black and white photo I got from my dad. It’s my great grandmother and great aunts. I would guess the photo was taken in the late 20s-early 30s.

I like working from black and white photos…it forces me to make color choices based on the tone in the photos instead of colors.

I may go back into this painting again and add more detail work with ink. My grandma’s apron had a pattern on it that I might try to show.

I worked on something called Acrylic Paper...it has a nice texture but doesn't soak up the watercolor like other watercolor paper. It's a bit tricky.

face #8

Well, here is Ocean Girl.

She came out a little different than my sketch. I couldn’t get the fish right, so I made them smaller. Then I decided I didn’t like those either.

Ugh, well, maybe next time.

face #7

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments. I’m loving this challenge! I think painting faces is one of my favorite subjects.

I only had time for a quick doodle last night. I'm calling her Ocean Girl...part of my Nature Girl series.

Tonight, I’ll paint this face on good watercolor paper.

See you tomorrow!

face #6

Here is yesterday’s face…with hair??

I had intended to add a flower or two to her hair. But I got carried away.

face #5

Here’s what I have so far. Can’t decide on her hairstyle. Decisions….decisions…

face #4

Here is Butterfly Girl.

I have this idea to do all sorts of Nature girls. I may have to contribute sketches for a few days just to show work in progress. There aren’t enough hours in the day.

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments. I’m off to visit others in the challenge!! See you tomorrow!

face #3

I have several faces in the works. But here is one that I finished yesterday.

Sunflower Girl

Watercolor and ink

face #2

Girl with topaz eyes.

I want to thank everyone for all the nice comments you wrote yesterday. It’s so encouraging!!

No time to write… I’m off to look at other faces.

29 faces

Well, here we go! 29 Faces in 28 Days. Can I keep up? I hope so.

Here’s number 1.

I’m trying something new. My scanner is giving me fits so I’ve decided to photograph my work for a while and see if I like it. So far so good.

pink house studio shared this light tent that she had purchased, so I bought one for myself.

When I scan, I spend quite some time retouching to try and get the colors to look right. I think the colors in my paintings are a pretty good match using this light tent. I’m all for saving myself some time!

Be sure to check out others who are participating in the challenge. Join us. It’s not too late!