tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69106786742564530292024-03-05T15:06:04.174-08:00Kaaren's Art and Author BlogI'm happy to see you here and have you join me on my artistic journey. Over the past several years I've created visual art in various media. But beginning in 2019 I am focusing on writing and illustrating books for animal enthusiasts of all ages. Regardless of the medium, my subject is nearly always animals!
Don't miss a post! Submit your e-mail address just below and you'll receive new posts directly in your mail box! I post once - or at most twice - a week.Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.comBlogger913125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-73542721785128881002020-05-03T18:29:00.000-07:002020-05-03T18:29:02.082-07:00Playing With Texture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To take a little break and a stretch, I decided to work differently than I usually do. So I began by creating a background I couldn't possibly do fine detailed work on! I gesso'd a 1/4" hardboard panel then added a mish-mash of various gels and mediums to create my painting surface. I used fiber paste, soft gel, and coarse paste. I would have used crackle medium also, but was dismayed to find my jar had dried up!</div>
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The next step was to draw the crow with pencil. I liked it at that stage, but needed to proceed! So I added some opaque acylic all over the background - a neutral gray, blue gray, gray green, and raw Sienna. But I quickly used baby wipes to both push the paint into the texture but also wipe much of it from the surface.</div>
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Then I turned to the crow, adding more pencil work first. Then I coated her with Anthraquinone blue. Of course it would turn out quite uneven, given the surface. But that was OK - it had to be! Then I added several washes of black over the blue.</div>
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It seemed pretty dull, so I added washes of transparent color over parts of the background - Phthalo Green, Sap Green, Quinacridone Magenta, and Manganese Blue.</div>
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Finally, I picked up my micron pen and added some lines over the crow and bunched of squigglies around her and around the edge of the moon. Well, actually, that wasn't quite the last step. I got out my acrylic paint pens and made some dots - black at the end of some squiggles, and turquoise and pink randomly.</div>
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I think this would make a nice card.</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-25238831873708325452020-04-25T16:26:00.000-07:002020-04-25T16:27:15.385-07:00Aunt Audrey the Badger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wanted to do some needle-felting, so I chose to make one of the characters from my book, <i>Tales of Love and Courage from Milkweed Manor</i>. I was aiming for Gwen, the young badger who likes wearing girly dresses. But when I finished the felting I realized I needed to re-group.</div>
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To wear a dress, Gwen would be standing up, but when I stood her on her hind feet I didn't see how I could possibly make a dress for that body! Her body is so thick, her neck is nearly as thick as her body, and her upper arms are quite thick as well. So, what to do?</div>
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I finally decided to make her Gwen's mum, Audrey, and to give her a simple costume of a decorated shawl.</div>
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Roxanne, a raccoon and another character from the book, made the shawl for her from items she's collected from the manor house trash heap. She used fabric from a discarded blouse, and decorated the garment with a selection of her button collection and a very special ribbon rose.</div>
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Audrey is very proud to wear this wonderful creation!</div>
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<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-54785699925104806622020-04-19T17:09:00.000-07:002020-04-19T17:09:07.471-07:00Making Blank Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every once in a while I get the urge to make little books, and this group is the result of my most recent urge. They're very simple because there's no drawing or painting, just simple collage. I used pieces of scrapbook paper for the backgrounds, then just added a few elements, such as scraps of paper, metal stampings, a ribbon rose, and buttons.</div>
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They were fun and simple to do and I think turned out pretty nice. The front and back covers are glued onto a piece of denim. Leaving a 1/2" gap between the covers leaves a "spine" of denim to which I sew the signatures. The signatures are groups of pages from simple copy paper.</div>
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A piece of ribbon glued onto the inside of the back cover makes a built-in bookmark, and I used buttons and twisted cords of embroidery thread for the closures.</div>
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I was so inspired that I've decided to work on a book about making books! Stay posted!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-47632941234893617832020-04-04T16:07:00.000-07:002020-04-04T16:07:31.560-07:00A White Cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I used one of my favorite techniques on this piece - collage background with painted subject.</div>
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As I scan through old magazines and catalogs looking for collage elements a color palette begins to form. In this case, I was taken by photos of some blue and white ceramics as well as a bouquet of white hydrangeas.</div>
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Once I had my collage elements selected, I applied them to an 8" x 10" board to which I had previously applied two coats of gesso. I use Liquitex matt medium as an adhesive. One of my most critical tools for collage is - surprisingly - an old magazine or catalog that I won't be using for collage elements. Here's how I use it:</div>
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To get a smooth application of the paper pieces, I apply a coat of slightly thinned medium to the board, then lay the piece I'm going to collage upside down on the catalog and apply a slightly thinned coat of medium to the back side. I brush it in really good so that the paper becomes saturated, then I can flip it over and lay it in place. I brush more matt medium over the collage element, brushing from the center outwards to force out any air bubbles trapped underneath it. (But be careful to not brush so hard that you tear the paper - tissue paper is particularly susceptible to tearing.) Brushing the back of the collage element with the medium is important because the moisture stretches the paper. That way, it won't wrinkle on you!</div>
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Sometimes I apply multiple layers of collage, letting each dry before adding the next. Sometimes I add transparent washes, or a thin coat of gesso. These paint or gesso layers somewhat obscure the images in the collage elements, and also unifies them. That done, I may want to "bring back" parts of the images as I did in this piece with the hydrangea blossoms. I accomplished this by side-loading a wide flat brush with white and redefining the edges of some of the petals.</div>
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I also enjoy embellishing the collage background with painted elements using acrylics. Examples are the leaves and linear spirals.</div>
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Finally, I'm ready for the subject. I draw the outline then paint within it with gesso. This will hide the background behind the subject. Very often, I'll need to use two coats. After it's dry, I'm ready to paint my subject. This one is painted more loosely than I usually do, and I like it!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-80156895055174481632020-03-28T17:37:00.000-07:002020-03-28T17:37:29.038-07:00Offerings for Sobek - An Exercise in Perseverance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been watching two Great Courses by Bob Brier lately. One is the history of ancient Egypt and the other is about hieroglyphs. I'm sad and ashamed to say that I put the hieroglyph one aside for a while because I just didn't make time for the homework, but I truly hope to get back to it soon.</div>
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Anyway, I've always greatly admired ancient Egyptian art, and I especially like the crocodiles! So I decided to do a painting of a crocodile taking offerings to Sobek, the god of crocodiles, the Nile, and fertility. Actually, the bird is not part of the offering, but he too is going to give offerings.</div>
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Now that it's complete, I like this painting. But the process was grueling. Up until the very end I had strong negative feelings about what I was creating - except for the idea. By the way, this is acrylic on gesso board, 12" x 16". I started directly on the board with only the idea of what I wanted to do.</div>
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I worked on it for six sessions, 2 to 3 hours each, and at the end of each session - except the last - I was tempted to just give up. But, telling myself there's always something to learn, I just kept going. Every morning when I got up I'd look at the painting, hoping it wasn't as bad as I thought. But it always - once again, except at the end - was every bit as bad as I thought and maybe even worse.</div>
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But in the end, I pulled it off! The trick was to keep going, keep adding detail, keep adding contrast, keep darkening the sky. And in the end, I think it worked.</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-63186843855791998302020-03-21T17:46:00.000-07:002020-03-21T17:46:42.580-07:00Repurposing Never Gets Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I made this little polymer clay bear totem probably seven or eight years ago. For a while it sat around waiting for me to post it in my Etsy shop, then I decided I wanted to keep her. She has a little tassel of carnelian, citrine, and a tiny dragonfly charm. You can barely see it hanging down the far side of the stone at the bear's feet. She's raising her hand in blessing.</div>
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The jar is from a Yankee Candle. I just can't bring myself to throw these wonderful containers away, and now I've repurposed it.</div>
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I finished the lid with TENseconds Studio's VERday kit paints and patina. I chose the bronze. The paints are emulsions of finely ground metals. You apply a coat and let it dry. Then you apply a second coat and while it's still wet spray it with the patina. The patina reacts with the metal in the paint and gives a really nice look of aged metal.</div>
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After finishing the lid, I glued my totem on with E6000 glue and I now have a container for personal sized soaps. So fun! And it was nice to finally find a use for my little bear.</div>
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<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-62440729818179330192020-03-15T16:58:00.000-07:002020-03-15T16:58:04.437-07:00Rough Stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These weekly "just for fun" paintings seem to go better if I think of what I'm going to do sometime during the week. But with this one, I just decided as I walked into the studio. Then, rather that use the board I had prepared, I remembered this one that had already undergone two rehashes, resulting in an extremely rough texture. It's heavy gesso over crumpled rice paper - totally unknown to me!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq6q3J9w787aG6fkprqXCSRTUudD8lYD6-unOPgIS9d9guJCzQEqQFnUALYZc3gswKvEmMoZn-kjJhSfR9lMi7Wfq_h9hnvVQX3BO12Ly-UyciHaLtLbxDNXcQdgncc_W70xHzH16hYl4/s1600/spring+beauty+step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq6q3J9w787aG6fkprqXCSRTUudD8lYD6-unOPgIS9d9guJCzQEqQFnUALYZc3gswKvEmMoZn-kjJhSfR9lMi7Wfq_h9hnvVQX3BO12Ly-UyciHaLtLbxDNXcQdgncc_W70xHzH16hYl4/s400/spring+beauty+step1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I quickly sketched the raccoon then, on an impulse, decided to work the background with Gelatos. These are creamy water soluble sticks by Faber-Castell and they're fun to work with, but be prepared to work loose! I applied them to the upper part, then sprayed it with water. The lower ones are on the dry surface so haven't blended. Once they're wet, you can move them around with a brush or sponge.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbN_lTvwkwCiQJa821mIOdO1f1IX9_pEv8HCIXFE2jsgiHp27iCWKs6j-TYQ6dM5hc_TAIzetl3r-lqx7nEc7qoh2tkSk_oTmFInqKwm2rAs3UUmRnfaeqNoujpU5TlJgmrBifBGCMeKvY/s1600/tiny+jewels+step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbN_lTvwkwCiQJa821mIOdO1f1IX9_pEv8HCIXFE2jsgiHp27iCWKs6j-TYQ6dM5hc_TAIzetl3r-lqx7nEc7qoh2tkSk_oTmFInqKwm2rAs3UUmRnfaeqNoujpU5TlJgmrBifBGCMeKvY/s400/tiny+jewels+step2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here I am further along with the background and - BOLDLY - I decided to work on the raccoon a bit. Looks like a zombie, doesn't she? That's what no eyes will do for you!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDJQbMVSuckVboAY2d1QEZEK7V1HUpgYZ8g5hkQP09fNxAi6Kir0EQtB6EzuU3aMRiBvx-dhara5WUbrigt9WfoDJJo1CyuePD4RMOz-lFG2ilUTQnH0zbZomi93rlYdCj9POOkafhHjt/s1600/spring+beauty+edited+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1600" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDJQbMVSuckVboAY2d1QEZEK7V1HUpgYZ8g5hkQP09fNxAi6Kir0EQtB6EzuU3aMRiBvx-dhara5WUbrigt9WfoDJJo1CyuePD4RMOz-lFG2ilUTQnH0zbZomi93rlYdCj9POOkafhHjt/s400/spring+beauty+edited+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But I persevered. After I finished with the Gelators, I shifted to ink pen and acrylic. Just kept working it until I was happy. I drew the outlines of the leaves with ink pen then filled them with diluted acrylic.</div>
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Amazingly, the only frustration I had with this was the whiskers. I am still searching for a fine truly opaque white pen for whiskers!</div>
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I think I'll prepare more wildly textured boards and do some more pieces like this. It was fun!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-90012258798810337312020-03-07T17:25:00.002-08:002020-03-07T17:25:48.436-08:00Working on My Technique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25mcZDskZ7Z7bSYQkHygX7Kyh-FDqO4xi9CagzW34EX2xl4DQCF0ePlWNS8sHNBCOXLCCyomVBu0UO1n7I15mYYDJGbJxTfE1J1oJzZxNC_p-n7tzDsR6tTP_aZ53rX4KMJshHuVkwFZD/s1600/admiring+the+decorations+bw+edited+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1600" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25mcZDskZ7Z7bSYQkHygX7Kyh-FDqO4xi9CagzW34EX2xl4DQCF0ePlWNS8sHNBCOXLCCyomVBu0UO1n7I15mYYDJGbJxTfE1J1oJzZxNC_p-n7tzDsR6tTP_aZ53rX4KMJshHuVkwFZD/s400/admiring+the+decorations+bw+edited+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've done about 50 of these tinted pencil illustrations at this point, but I'm still working on my technique. As far as the pencil goes, I'm pretty happy and have only made one change along the way which is to used harder pencils. I started using HB, then 2B, but now I've dropped back to H and HB with 2B in only the very darkest parts. Seems to work better because it's not as easy to smudge.</div>
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An on-going problem for me is adding color in large areas. I find it impossible to get a smooth covering with transparent acrylic washes alone, especially since it have to paint around the objects in the foreground. From the beginning, I've tried using colored pencil for these areas but I wasn't happy with the grainy look. Then I tried smudging the colored pencil with q-tips, which is helping. The first time I tried, I added and smudged the colored pencil without fixing the graphite and got smudging on some of the graphite as q-tips are not detail 'tools." So now I do the pencil, fix it, do the colored pencil and smudge it, fix it again, add two layers of acrylic matte medium over the whole thing, then finish with the acrylic washes.</div>
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This is working better, but I'm always trying to think of something better. By the way, I've tried extender medium and glazing medium to try to make my acrylic washes smoother, but it still didn't do the trick.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQzzJznwrvmNceiVofwhD9S4P4hj_2kH57ZzaB7w6XVU4uBCibLM61h7JcPuEBnukugH8YzrNPjv4BfMRN26fHNBBZZ92bme6wa9uWmzEce7OH_TP3M0NmKG3CkrTYFSbTWMCnO4XcAeW/s1600/admiring+the+decorations+color+edited+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQzzJznwrvmNceiVofwhD9S4P4hj_2kH57ZzaB7w6XVU4uBCibLM61h7JcPuEBnukugH8YzrNPjv4BfMRN26fHNBBZZ92bme6wa9uWmzEce7OH_TP3M0NmKG3CkrTYFSbTWMCnO4XcAeW/s400/admiring+the+decorations+color+edited+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the finished piece.</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-90754296558036642622020-03-01T07:42:00.000-08:002020-03-01T07:42:29.690-08:00A Testimonial to Pets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRxKK3dbTBQmIAB9NAE-16X8IsgogCUOrY6GrArvjtcYtBLbAV1xorv3NsMfxd9g3yMPpJ5VmB1ZIBj1kxqvIQRGjItolfQ4T9qMPGVCO1mZkQsrQVbT2lBuxYfBeM27xeTucmnAA334d/s1600/20200229_131308%255B5011%255Deditededited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="984" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRxKK3dbTBQmIAB9NAE-16X8IsgogCUOrY6GrArvjtcYtBLbAV1xorv3NsMfxd9g3yMPpJ5VmB1ZIBj1kxqvIQRGjItolfQ4T9qMPGVCO1mZkQsrQVbT2lBuxYfBeM27xeTucmnAA334d/s400/20200229_131308%255B5011%255Deditededited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The other day I received an e-mail from Best Friends (if you don't know them, it's a large and wonderful animal rescue group based in Utah www.bestfriends.org). The e-mail invited subscribers to share their thoughts on how pets have changed their lives. That sounded inspiring, so I followed the link, ready to enter my enthusiastic response. </div>
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When I got there and started typing in the box I soon ran out of room. What? I thought we had 255 words! No! 255 characters. So, I cut and pruned and determined to write more here in the blog.</div>
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Here are my 255 characters:</div>
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<i>Pets make me a better person by leading by example. Not the
throwing up on the bed or the rooting in the garbage example, but by their
abiding love and unerring devotion, by gazing into my eyes revealing kindred
spirits neither of whom need ever be alone.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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And now it seems to me it's enough. Maybe 255 characters was a good idea after all.</div>
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Meanwhile, in my opinion, no blog entry should be without an image. Therefore...</div>
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This is my colored pencil and watercolor portrait of my beloved companion Mick. He looks sad - and this is an accurate representation of his expression - but he wasn't sad. He was earnest. Love you, Mick! Always!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-48527484410036852972020-02-22T16:32:00.002-08:002020-02-22T16:32:59.882-08:00Painting Light - or Trying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I greatly admire those artists who skillfully paint the effects of light. I am not one of those artists and I must admit that I seldom try. But recently I did try twice - to not very good results. But I suppose trying is the first step towards succeeding. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDJL9Jurnvq0vPRKPLeOcZY1Me-zzraS_KuorlbAeOjNNL5t5YFqVXPUiCE7d3HD0hvuLJrtOaa6JD4XDCdpaM6bspnqIwUuxm0ZTwfBgaI6Xan8oXTTy3KdwdZzlAUMX5_bgcRbsClsq/s1600/baking+badgers+edited+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1593" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDJL9Jurnvq0vPRKPLeOcZY1Me-zzraS_KuorlbAeOjNNL5t5YFqVXPUiCE7d3HD0hvuLJrtOaa6JD4XDCdpaM6bspnqIwUuxm0ZTwfBgaI6Xan8oXTTy3KdwdZzlAUMX5_bgcRbsClsq/s400/baking+badgers+edited+small.jpg" width="397" /></a></div>
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This is one of my illustrations for a book I'm working on, <i>A Milkweed Christmas 2020</i>, and here are Audrey the badger and Gwen her daughter, making Audrey's renowned herbed potato rolls for the community's Christmas pot luck. It will accompany the recipe for the rolls.</div>
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When I thought I was finished I took another look and realized there was no indication that the inside of the sett (badger burrow) would be in shadow. So I added the blue-gray transparent wash on the right side. It could have been better done. I think it should be less blue. Also, the near side of the trees should be darker. Well, at least I tried!</div>
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When I'm done with all the illustrations I'll probably go back and work more on those I'm not very happy with, and this one will be on the list. It's a shame really because I liked the drawing a lot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV9dvlDKkqaiiqU_urfAtKNnusYgGgXimtrwGOE-SIDPN2i0a9k3zJvmuh8gZ8So9HDON1JDU83OgJhANE5o2y1_kgA87A8N0VLCjKwi5Pit4JNjGdOkLRBko6ivb3SPOU_JnL-uAxsNL/s1600/over+the+moon+edited+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1284" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV9dvlDKkqaiiqU_urfAtKNnusYgGgXimtrwGOE-SIDPN2i0a9k3zJvmuh8gZ8So9HDON1JDU83OgJhANE5o2y1_kgA87A8N0VLCjKwi5Pit4JNjGdOkLRBko6ivb3SPOU_JnL-uAxsNL/s400/over+the+moon+edited+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here's the other example - last weekend's just-for-fun 8"x10" painting (acrylic on board). This little jumping goat made me think of the cow that jumped over the moon. The near side of the goat and the tail should be a lot darker. I don't think I'll change this one, though. The point of these paintings is to work quickly, not obsess, and have fun!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-57480154034956531942020-02-15T16:29:00.001-08:002020-02-15T16:30:18.669-08:00Renewal in the Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a productive week for working on my books - both writing and illustrating - and today I finished my little painting for the weekend. But this time, instead of writing about any of that, I'm writing about the wonderful feeling of renewal that working in my garden gives me.</div>
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After working a few hours a day for the past three weeks, the garden is successfully 'tucked in.' </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVY26zCsv0b60D7n5RZgqC95zbQH_kwofCcWgu9JjYB4rOogK9o6ZyxQVWgN_OkIEPHEjBTUghKpgVg5KR3lp8-q216uay-vmfBpjDSLzIDwSOnF4j6fap1zyuCnneMK53-leHj4dgM6a/s1600/feb15-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVY26zCsv0b60D7n5RZgqC95zbQH_kwofCcWgu9JjYB4rOogK9o6ZyxQVWgN_OkIEPHEjBTUghKpgVg5KR3lp8-q216uay-vmfBpjDSLzIDwSOnF4j6fap1zyuCnneMK53-leHj4dgM6a/s400/feb15-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The roses are pruned, the clippings are in the compost pile, the dead leaves are raked up and removed, and, best of all, they all have a new layer of about 3" of compost. Actually, it would be more accurate to say 'well-rotted horse manure' - the work of my sister's horse Merlin, the heat, cold, and rain, and all the worms and little microbes who've been so busy over the past year.</div>
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It's funny, but I get really enthusiastic shoveling that horse manure from the pile into the wheelbarrow, then out of the wheelbarrow and around the roses. The texture is perfect! And it feels like I'm putting a warm blanket around the bushes. 'Good night, little roses! Sleep tight and renew your strength for a spring, summer, and fall of beautiful blooms.</div>
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My next task with them will be to add epsom salts to the base of each bush when the new growth is about 2" long.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXQR65450kMyrmbSa-n22KqCU34kP7etn30wCYI6ShlWr1_MxpC0ZjlJvUBqygWiCX8QrB16PZnxSB7bD1NOUvClHe8ryraFI8UQ-f1Rrr8s4s2YlxHCENHv2VWyFcxk1giuFDfx6cf20/s1600/feb+15-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXQR65450kMyrmbSa-n22KqCU34kP7etn30wCYI6ShlWr1_MxpC0ZjlJvUBqygWiCX8QrB16PZnxSB7bD1NOUvClHe8ryraFI8UQ-f1Rrr8s4s2YlxHCENHv2VWyFcxk1giuFDfx6cf20/s400/feb+15-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The chrysanthemums and dahlias are tucked into a deep layer of oak leaves. The dahlias are sleeping peacefully, but the mums just won't quit! When I cut them back in November and December, the new growth had already started. That's just the way the are! As you can see, the ducks and chicken (the black bird further back) approve.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO-36Tvdr_qTbt-2RhOA-94o32DLYs73XO-u1Hh-rsza53gVs2-FKxjaQz4XlSKCVsospz2S_vy_vu6mM6XlA1R2QoNLpsmxtoGUcDWREK_vciRMgcFudlJKlqp7HBSqcCMoyT8zSnhSF/s1600/feb15-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO-36Tvdr_qTbt-2RhOA-94o32DLYs73XO-u1Hh-rsza53gVs2-FKxjaQz4XlSKCVsospz2S_vy_vu6mM6XlA1R2QoNLpsmxtoGUcDWREK_vciRMgcFudlJKlqp7HBSqcCMoyT8zSnhSF/s400/feb15-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile, Merlin, whose area abuts the garden, is ignoring me. This would be quite different if the garden were green and I were pruning. In that case, he's have his nose pressed against the fence hoping for a treat. Rose blossoms are his favorite!</div>
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But I was going to write about renewal. Well, as I've mentioned, the plants are resting and renewing. But for me, every time I work in the garden is a renewal. There's always something different, even if only minutely so. Always work to do. Always the promise of things to come. It's soothing, and also inspiring to witness the strength of life.</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-68099380056644326872020-02-08T16:33:00.000-08:002020-02-08T16:33:42.700-08:00Just Going For It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the third of my weekly just-for-fun paintings. They're acrylic, 8" x 10". My goal is to not think about it very much and not make a separate drawing first - to just go for it. And that's what I did with this one.</div>
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I looked through my old swipe file of magazine clippings collected over the years and found this little great horned owlet. The lighting really appealed to me. I decided to use black rather than white gesso, then lightly drew the owl with white charcoal pencil.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwiEH_3sSciTsHvwMpDGnU8abzk6pwND-bnoFytRkal4t7N6VoaucGeTZwTQNQciTIXzUzQgd6KavuZAqawN3gdLbijoNITAnSy5WRL5alg92STwPspLUTAbNhQZaATM8cgfOCHvp8M1d/s1600/great+horned+owlet+cropped+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwiEH_3sSciTsHvwMpDGnU8abzk6pwND-bnoFytRkal4t7N6VoaucGeTZwTQNQciTIXzUzQgd6KavuZAqawN3gdLbijoNITAnSy5WRL5alg92STwPspLUTAbNhQZaATM8cgfOCHvp8M1d/s400/great+horned+owlet+cropped+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It had been a while since I last used my stencils so I got the file out, looked through it, and chose two. By the way, I made these stencils by drawing the black and white designs then creating the stencils on my Cricut machine - a handy little treasure that connects to your computer and maps the design into a cutting pattern, and, voila - a stencil!</div>
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There was not 'logical' reason for using the stencil - just wanted to. I used acrylics in two blue shades and one lavender and varied the color by pouncing my brush into the different colors before cleaning the brush. Also, working wet-in-wet blends the colors. If I were looking for a 'reason' for the stencil background, I guess I'd say the owl is against the backdrop of the tapestry of the night sky. The light blue dots could be interpreted as stars.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisC63JYXmanvy9K6h63g6CGL-N5JEPlLOPIj5J9dsjVSeKtYW8yXhe1alO-JvFqs3LtCwKBqkypu4KKgTQNOKBmbNEwzBMNPbho6my_10j67ugeiKgHm2ZMTpyA5EwMlDETuCfEGpnDtfE/s1600/owlet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="800" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisC63JYXmanvy9K6h63g6CGL-N5JEPlLOPIj5J9dsjVSeKtYW8yXhe1alO-JvFqs3LtCwKBqkypu4KKgTQNOKBmbNEwzBMNPbho6my_10j67ugeiKgHm2ZMTpyA5EwMlDETuCfEGpnDtfE/s400/owlet1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's the first layer. I included this photo because I wanted you to see how far I got with the initial painting session. And also to share a discovery. At this point, I needed to do a bit more drawing and picked up the white charcoal pencil. I liked the effect of the charcoal pencil over the paint! So I got out my pastel pencils and added quite a bit of detail. My plan was to spray the pastel pencil layer with workable fixatif. But when I did so, much of the pastel pencil detail was lost - perhaps dissolved. But it still showed some and I felt it was worthwhile.</div>
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From here, I added painted details, then dark blue washes around the edges of the background.</div>
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The finishing touch was a narrow 'frame' of glass bead gel over the entire edge, except not over where the owl touches the edge. I put the gel on with my fingertip. When the gel dried, it left the little glass bumps of the beads which I ran my finger - dipped in silver paint - over the tops of for a little sparkle.</div>
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This was definitely a for fun painting!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-66681333482864579032020-02-01T17:33:00.000-08:002020-02-01T17:34:04.901-08:00A Frog's Take on Mindfulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm working on the first draft of my sequel to <i>Tales of Love and Courage from Milkweed Manor</i>. It's called <i>Dark Days at Milkweed Manor</i>.</div>
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The frogs at Three Frogs Hollow are giving a pond party, and this excerpt is from conversation between the frogs and a party guest. I'm not sure what inspired this, but perhaps all the current references to 'mindfulness' had something to do with it. Enjoy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LotXJSaMpWq70-07Lm8lSEET3Dzs8d7Wx206aVwX-X1Kisb-UfgJq7YOVsrGmfWw-j9PbUNhCBC0EEwnrnJOHX1ZJ_3RGRr9TMQEEZrg-XWAbRaESJMzowd0OQaLM_EtKIkO7SqPaGga/s1600/frogs+improved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1500" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LotXJSaMpWq70-07Lm8lSEET3Dzs8d7Wx206aVwX-X1Kisb-UfgJq7YOVsrGmfWw-j9PbUNhCBC0EEwnrnJOHX1ZJ_3RGRr9TMQEEZrg-XWAbRaESJMzowd0OQaLM_EtKIkO7SqPaGga/s400/frogs+improved.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The party was in full swing. The guests clumped in small
groups enjoying the delicacies piled on their buffet plates as well as lively conversation.
As Lucy, the younger muskrat, approached Burt and Buzz, two of the frog hosts,
she realized they were earnestly discussing the benefits of mindlessness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Mindlessness? Don’t you mean ‘mindfulness?’” she queried.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Oh, no, dear! It’s mindlessness that we find so beneficial,”
Buzz asserted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lucy looked puzzled. “Well, what do you think mindlessness
means? Perhaps I’m misinformed!” Lucy doubted she was confused, but it seemed a
polite response.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“A state of mindlessness means that one minds less about
things. That, of course, makes life more enjoyable!” answered Buzz, barely
suppressing a roll of his bulging eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“And what about ‘mindfulness?’”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Burt broke in. “Not good. When one’s mind is full there isn’t
room left to think things through properly.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Good to know!.” Lucy graciously bowed her head slightly. “Oh,
I see my friend has just arrived. Excuse me!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-48233750398734066192020-01-25T17:49:00.000-08:002020-01-25T17:49:01.838-08:00A Logo - Maybe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWfQT1_YFT7DGlolkNeVX20gwl95rvpVFnrhtwUeGfs5Vg-D58aA-wTFEQZYkS1BJjAphuZW7VSW1dXl3Du7c5IYrj680SYNXaPQsnnKUgQFa1eEDaqa2IPvQ5JjnNfjEldtJPn9O_BfT/s1600/logo+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1318" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWfQT1_YFT7DGlolkNeVX20gwl95rvpVFnrhtwUeGfs5Vg-D58aA-wTFEQZYkS1BJjAphuZW7VSW1dXl3Du7c5IYrj680SYNXaPQsnnKUgQFa1eEDaqa2IPvQ5JjnNfjEldtJPn9O_BfT/s640/logo+small.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
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I watched a video workshop by Kay Fabella on branding. I've never been clear on the concept, and now I'm less unclear!</div>
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Kay strongly advised creating a tag line, a logo, and selecting fonts and a color palette to use consistently.</div>
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To come up with the tag line I thought about the book I spent the better part of last year writing and illustrating, <i>Tales of Love and Courage from Milkweed Manor</i>. It's a collection of stories about a group of animals living in the forest behind an old English manor house. The characters aren't doing, saying, or thinking anything that people wouldn't do, say, or think, yet for me, they absolutely have to be animals. I wouldn't have been interested in writing the same book with people as the characters. Once I realized that, I needed to understand why.</div>
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Well, my main message is that animals are not different from (and certainly not less than) people in that we're all sentient beings with emotions, thoughts, aspirations, and connections with others. Hence the tag line, "A Wider Love - we're not alone."</div>
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Then I turned my attention to the logo. This image came to me pretty quickly - the heart, the woodland creatures, and the natural color palette. And, of course, the tag line. It was really fun to do and I'm especially happy with the job I did on the animals. But it seems pretty complex. And pretty large.</div>
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So now the question remains: What do I do with it?</div>
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One other thing I should pass on from Kay's video is her emphasis on consistency. The value of it is people know what to expect from me, and can recognize my work.</div>
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All in all, the video was valuable, and I'm sure I'll find something to do with my logo!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-88506357535962099762020-01-18T17:33:00.000-08:002020-01-18T17:33:40.402-08:00A Fantasy Writer's Conundrum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ykKIIA_4WzFpLnUPgDGrWn1NQCrH4tVWTZ0oAYsdrjyTWPQDIPqAmTUG5ZxGGdVx9FdnqN4bqV9jHKAV8KpDsQke0_hs-CO1oZbmMedFbnsmD03PIgGg-iAi3n6hd6muye3UU58Rb2fG/s1600/felicia+and+colwyn+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="801" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ykKIIA_4WzFpLnUPgDGrWn1NQCrH4tVWTZ0oAYsdrjyTWPQDIPqAmTUG5ZxGGdVx9FdnqN4bqV9jHKAV8KpDsQke0_hs-CO1oZbmMedFbnsmD03PIgGg-iAi3n6hd6muye3UU58Rb2fG/s640/felicia+and+colwyn+small.jpg" width="409" /></a></div>
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As a visual artist as well as an author, I have a very difficult time writing a blog post without including at least one image. So here's one of the 34 illustrations I did for my book <i>Tales of Love and Courage from Milkweed Manor.</i> And it actually ties in to what I'm going to write about today, which is a conundrum in writing fantasy.</div>
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You can clearly tell I write fantasy by the apron on the hare as well as the cat and rat having a calm conversation.</div>
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Last year my sister bought me a wonderful book, <i>Writing for Animals</i>, an anthology of essays about writing in the voice or, and to advance the cause of animals. One of the essays (so sorry I can't remember which one it was and therefore the author) advised for writers of fantasy to add as many realistic details as possible so as to avoid stretching the reader's credulity too far.</div>
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I've been writing the sequel to my Milkweed book, <i>Dark Days at Milkweed Manor</i>, and last night I was working on the opening scenes of one of the stories. A hare and two rats are sitting on the fringe of a work site where large machines are scraping, digging, and gouging the earth. Tragically, the ground they're destroying was the home of these three animals as well as many others who have been killed or displaced.</div>
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When I woke up this morning, one of the first thoughts that came to mind was realizing hares don't live in burrows - they live in grass nests! So, surely, living in grass nests, the hares would have had plenty of time to escape. Oh, no! What to do?</div>
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If I left my writing as is, then I'd be in error about the way hares live. Even if most readers wouldn't catch the error, some would and I would always know it was there. On the other hand, if I write about the hares living in above-ground grass nests, the story as I've written it won't make sense. </div>
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After some cogitation I decided to be as unspecific as I can while still leaving an impressions that the hares were in a position to be caught unawares. This may seem to be a small problem, but I'm glad I caught it!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-38163501880126731622020-01-11T17:42:00.002-08:002020-01-11T17:42:37.941-08:00What Makes it All WorthwhileBack in 2008 I put blood, sweat, and tears (figuratively, of course) into my third art instruction book, <i>Drawing Birds with Colored Pencils</i>. But it was really worth it. Not just because it did quite well on Amazon and, 12 years later, still is! But mostly because writing, illustrating, and finishing it was such a feeling of accomplishment.<br />
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And on the way, I learned quite a bit about birds. One of the things that amazes me most about them is how much they can express with body language even though:<br />
they have rigid beaks so can't smile<br />
they can't control individual wing or tail feathers so they can't use their 'arms' expressively<br />
and their spines are fused from shoulder to hip, so no striking asymmetric poses!<br />
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But what I really want to tell you is an amazing thing that happened today. Let me preface by saying that although I have an Instagram account I haven't used it in close to a year. Today I was waiting in the truck for my sister to emerge from the grocery store and for lack of anything better to do, checked out Instagram. And there was an amazing post from a junior high school art teacher. She posted photos of the work of four of her students and explained they had been drawing birds from my book! Made me so happy!<br />
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I wish I could include the photos here, but I can't copy them off Facebook or Instagram. However, here is a photo I found on Google of someone's work with my book underneath. Sorry but I don't know the name of this artist.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX2uDIrwmLWwDUJIxVKU5YwQWdnCmSmiHEGCV-AvFV-cyU_61IdgbXeTA74IotKzWqXhbtRR-CP3ltLC16nRWgsm8hX9QkxtKftl9Cj-aP6pjyl06VSEza-huaUO8BHvQ46GcWZlQwXgz/s1600/bird+book+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="175" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX2uDIrwmLWwDUJIxVKU5YwQWdnCmSmiHEGCV-AvFV-cyU_61IdgbXeTA74IotKzWqXhbtRR-CP3ltLC16nRWgsm8hX9QkxtKftl9Cj-aP6pjyl06VSEza-huaUO8BHvQ46GcWZlQwXgz/s320/bird+book+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here are two of my drawing from the book. If you're interested, you can find the book on Amazon by clicking on the link to the right - the book cover illustration with the rat, hare, and crow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SX55SEjn1lYeLagSqm5He-yJUjN0hl7bSHR4QXFAOBZHgVdZNc7qOO4T66ocW9Nl42cyBaYV6CmbVCaLbZvKXr6D6EU98pDUDd-ljW0CXNgLiqtRa2AGB1tXZ2D76kGpIrw5YAxHKlrp/s1600/bird+book3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SX55SEjn1lYeLagSqm5He-yJUjN0hl7bSHR4QXFAOBZHgVdZNc7qOO4T66ocW9Nl42cyBaYV6CmbVCaLbZvKXr6D6EU98pDUDd-ljW0CXNgLiqtRa2AGB1tXZ2D76kGpIrw5YAxHKlrp/s1600/bird+book3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyTZ26BqDwEAO8VDLGoXRrPFpboBUsZdqMW6Ee40smyTBgme9jo35KwX8i0HJpf-XpOLUzFnxATRSdv7hUW7bV1eU_336SCBV45k7YUjViu4D_U7yFWseavqiNeT2-QnCaPqHl_zG6jDp/s1600/bird+book+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyTZ26BqDwEAO8VDLGoXRrPFpboBUsZdqMW6Ee40smyTBgme9jo35KwX8i0HJpf-XpOLUzFnxATRSdv7hUW7bV1eU_336SCBV45k7YUjViu4D_U7yFWseavqiNeT2-QnCaPqHl_zG6jDp/s1600/bird+book+4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-43018621585427735672020-01-04T16:04:00.002-08:002020-01-04T16:04:40.235-08:00Needle Felted Guinea Pig - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmQDk6GXXx3G4JWkUpdhMh098mdh77QN2HynANC1XFRaN1MQqfoD0lulSWOV0MVNwCDs-7-tDnLEgF9HxrMuVWKlKGw9_PCrHAQLepqWWLelIkmuiBFDYefCGs36b495DJxibIVO0CHYj/s1600/20191229_131913_resized%255B4163%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmQDk6GXXx3G4JWkUpdhMh098mdh77QN2HynANC1XFRaN1MQqfoD0lulSWOV0MVNwCDs-7-tDnLEgF9HxrMuVWKlKGw9_PCrHAQLepqWWLelIkmuiBFDYefCGs36b495DJxibIVO0CHYj/s400/20191229_131913_resized%255B4163%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The last time I worked on this little guinea pig I had spent quite a bit of time building the form with core wool. So when I picked her up again I didn't have a whole lot more to do before I could start with the final colors.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLlxzbCWU80X7O5xySnZucVZWxzPnF8LGqZMdbuJOCPqxUfIhCEpLMjDRTbVydFmpMoh1_oaP7pvNueCNwuhdNYzxF2JdirrGcEcX4lW1nKh57cfEtXc_C_Y7xaAKhjuCB81iRzaDiP5v/s1600/guinea+pig3edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="800" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLlxzbCWU80X7O5xySnZucVZWxzPnF8LGqZMdbuJOCPqxUfIhCEpLMjDRTbVydFmpMoh1_oaP7pvNueCNwuhdNYzxF2JdirrGcEcX4lW1nKh57cfEtXc_C_Y7xaAKhjuCB81iRzaDiP5v/s400/guinea+pig3edited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's the finished product. Adding the colored wool increased the body size somewhat. I spent most of my time, though, on the head and face. The ears are wool felt. I cut the shapes then tacked them to the head with a large needle and thick (like carpet thread) thread. The final coat of wool also helps hold them in place.</div>
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The eyes are 6mm black glass beads. I really like using beads because the run the thread through one bead, through the head, through the other bead, back through the head, then tie the thread tight. This pull the eyes towards each other for a more realistic look. I thread each of the thread ends back onto the needle, run the needle through the head again, and clip the thread close to hide the thread ends.</div>
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I used chalk cakes and a small brush to add a bit of blush to her cheeks and a dark brown edge to her ears.</div>
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It's hard for me to resist adding something more, so I found two lengths of pretty organza ribbon and gave her a nice bow. For the final tough, I dabbed dots of glitter glue here and there on the ribbon.</div>
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This little one doesn't have a name yet. That will be up to my sister when I give this to her for her birthday!</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-4400862475964376322019-12-28T16:35:00.000-08:002019-12-28T16:35:16.763-08:00Needle Felted Guinea Pig part 1<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBFdE-PJJCsAObuW9CuBobAiDAiN_qThtIfnYa6xGda4bqNicSM7yjamvz7ySyz1pHTCzVtxlh-9jhvugtHBAGwW9VbO9w7B9xqWftJ8EwJdMjARVqRRy5Y6nwq8p-OkfMESJU9HbX8eE/s1600/Three_guinea_pigs_Cavia_porcellus_at_Keswick_Public_Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBFdE-PJJCsAObuW9CuBobAiDAiN_qThtIfnYa6xGda4bqNicSM7yjamvz7ySyz1pHTCzVtxlh-9jhvugtHBAGwW9VbO9w7B9xqWftJ8EwJdMjARVqRRy5Y6nwq8p-OkfMESJU9HbX8eE/s400/Three_guinea_pigs_Cavia_porcellus_at_Keswick_Public_Library.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pretty adorable little animals, guinea pigs! I'm going to attempt to needle felt one for my sister for her birthday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_K-6drE1V6QtPyJCevLsUAeQzFvs8NliRYOV83d3cR_UavOUxAy5DVm8UaPXF3-bEckWZPMn365-WET4ou59lGS2-eHQTAPInSL3LlOsbQDBOFMpvW3br9IBxuu7CvWq-NLYt05_Ao5X/s1600/the+beginning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_K-6drE1V6QtPyJCevLsUAeQzFvs8NliRYOV83d3cR_UavOUxAy5DVm8UaPXF3-bEckWZPMn365-WET4ou59lGS2-eHQTAPInSL3LlOsbQDBOFMpvW3br9IBxuu7CvWq-NLYt05_Ao5X/s400/the+beginning.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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It's important to start with a good armature, so I search the internet for an image of a guinea pig skeleton, then attempt to copy it with wire (aluminum gauge 14 wire). You can't see it in this photo, but for the feet I made a loop of wire then used cotton-covered florist wire for the toes. Once I was done with the wire, I wrapped the armature with pipe cleaners. The pipe cleaners give something for the wool fiber to stick to-much better than the slippery wire. I like to wrap the pipe cleaners pretty densely, but you really don't have to.</div>
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From here it's just a matter of adding wool fiber to the armature. I prefer the core wool that's in a long thick (1 1/2 to 2") rope. I don't use it that thick, but tear off the length I want then split it lengthwise into 2, 3, or 4 pieces, depending on the width I want. For quick form building, I'll use a half, but for toes, I'll use a very thin piece, splitting the 1/4 even further.</div>
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In the beginning, I wrap the armature, but once I have a bit of form built up I just place chunks where I want them and needle them in place. (By the way, if you're not familiar with needle felting, one builds form by applying wool fiber over wool fiber. The felting needle has tiny barbs on it, as does the wool fiber. Poking the wool with the special needle interlocks the barbs on the fibers, holding them in place.)</div>
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After an hour and a half, this is what I had. I'm more than half through with the core wool. I added the bead eyes (8mm black glass) because, in my experience, once I have the eyes, the creature begins to come to life.</div>
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It was a challenge to build from a skinny piece of wire with all the arm and leg joints articulated to a guinea pig shaped blob.</div>
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<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-35346753498615253512019-12-21T17:14:00.000-08:002019-12-21T17:14:11.970-08:00The Wonders of being OlderTomorrow I will be 74 years old, and thankful for it! Getting older was difficult about ten years ago for all the obvious reasons - wrinkles, a few aches and pains, and that thing about getting closer to the end. But now, having dealt with all that, I'm just so happy to be here, happy, healthy, and active.<br />
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I've come to appreciate a huge benefit of getting older, something that only comes with time and experience. All those things I've learned over the years, the skills I've acquired, and the wealth of experiences I've had form a larger and larger base that I draw from in understanding life, navigating relationships, and creating my art.<br />
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(By the way, in my mind, wealth of experience has nothing to do with travel. There's more richness in my immediate surroundings than I can ever fully appreciate no matter how long I live.)<br />
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Another thing I've noticed is a clearer understanding of who I truly am. In other words, I can feel that I'm developing authenticity in my art.<br />
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Last month I finished writing, illustrating, and self-publishing my first fiction book, <i>Tales of Love and Courage from Milkweed Manor.</i> When my sister, who knows me very well, read it, she told me that the book is truly me, almost an 'autobiography' - not in the sense of retelling the events of my life, but in the sense of revealing my true self - what I care about, my tastes, visual and story-telling themes, and so on.<br />
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I think of authenticity as flowing from a combination of memories and imagination. I'm continuing to think about this with the goal of being able to express it more clearly. Meanwhile, here's a small watercolor that I did a few years ago. It's a 'portrait' of a needle felting hare that I dressed in clothes I made from vintage shirting fabric. This painting, as well as the needle felted piece is, I think, authentically me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-o6lvjLjgz3VdyBRCAkIl-oV1gzJJoL0G5KLmpNAa9JmAFezivrNOjGj8lszJHVORsQYG_0oA-Y8Hx51YRcCwc5sBySawmBGDIa2migzGhOV1upl20S_tE8fo8cM3YWXhHSw7ORHfUVG/s1600/hare+scullery+maid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-o6lvjLjgz3VdyBRCAkIl-oV1gzJJoL0G5KLmpNAa9JmAFezivrNOjGj8lszJHVORsQYG_0oA-Y8Hx51YRcCwc5sBySawmBGDIa2migzGhOV1upl20S_tE8fo8cM3YWXhHSw7ORHfUVG/s640/hare+scullery+maid.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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What expresses the true you?</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-73342201488617634092019-12-14T15:46:00.000-08:002019-12-14T15:46:11.436-08:00Repurposing a Fairy Garden House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mJnUz6QdETQD5zgtrTegJthh6hApYHRIi5C9JbiPvgXAESTDFeO-6fxpd0FKmMx4NUkZV1Bg252831m1qP2uj4rGbI_lVpJNU3tEpSY1nWmNaUGuFlLT9T2V9OipEjOCCjxqrvso3ygs/s1600/20191214_143802_resized%255B4137%255Dedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mJnUz6QdETQD5zgtrTegJthh6hApYHRIi5C9JbiPvgXAESTDFeO-6fxpd0FKmMx4NUkZV1Bg252831m1qP2uj4rGbI_lVpJNU3tEpSY1nWmNaUGuFlLT9T2V9OipEjOCCjxqrvso3ygs/s400/20191214_143802_resized%255B4137%255Dedited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last week I was cleaning our some dead annuals from the garden when one of the fairy gardens caught my eye. I made this house last spring. I had the urge to make a fairy house but wanted to stay focused on my Milkweed Manor book. So, I made this little house in the image of one of the places in the book - The Inn at Ivy Knoll (simplified quite a bit, though!).</div>
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The Inn seemed so sad amongst the dying annuals, and it occurred to me that it might be nice in the house as a Christmas scene and, later, just a winter scene. So I brought it in, cleaned it up a bit, and set it on the kitchen island as I pondered what to do with it.</div>
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As I always say, "when in doubt, shop on Etsy!" And that's where I found this teeny Christmas wreath and the little fir trees. That was a good start.</div>
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Then a Wayfair purchase arriveda small tabletop lighted artificial tree. It was the perfect size to hover over the Inn. And I really liked the shape of this tree.</div>
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I had some white fleece and used it under the scene to simulate snow and unify the scene.</div>
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About a month ago I made this stoneware bear. He was just hanging out on the kitchen counter when I noticed he was the perfect size for this scene. And, you know, the addition of a bear always improves anything! So her he is lurking by the Inn's front door.</div>
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I had a small string of mini led lights and strung them around one of the small fir trees. I wanted to put it in the window of the Inn. But the light were too cool a white, plus there were too few of them. I've ordered a string of warm white leds with more lights on the string. Once that arrives, I'm hoping it will make a nice addition in the window of the house and if it does, I'll post another photo here.</div>
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This has been a fun little project. I love fairy gardens because I can just get lost in them. The same is proving true of this little scene, and in the spring, the Inn will return the the outdoor garden.</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-76494219210074198902019-12-07T16:16:00.000-08:002019-12-07T16:16:20.512-08:00Why It's Important to Save Old WoodI'm sort of kidding about this, but sort of not. I have several boxes in the shop filled with pieces of wood that I've salvaged from things like old planter boxes and even the duck house that I demolished a couple of years ago to make room for a new one.<br />
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But my prize is a piece of wood that a friend gave me about 5 or 6 years ago. He said it was from an old building. It was wide - nearly 12" which you know is wide if you've tried to buy wood lately - and nice and flat. But the best part was the old off-white paint that was peeling here and there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bn896HeduU28buFThcDIECnXaaxFayletPwU0FUTqDrveAQxsmpVBbhPEc7HNkkAMUKFe_yV4dJVyWQte2yc41ZT5xk7qUT5kW2LBZV8TZNy0yBfXYwIl8dhHNaYLw0xklT4XTKdaFh9/s1600/deer+collage1edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1277" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bn896HeduU28buFThcDIECnXaaxFayletPwU0FUTqDrveAQxsmpVBbhPEc7HNkkAMUKFe_yV4dJVyWQte2yc41ZT5xk7qUT5kW2LBZV8TZNy0yBfXYwIl8dhHNaYLw0xklT4XTKdaFh9/s640/deer+collage1edited.jpg" width="508" /></a></div>
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Delightfully, I was able to use it to make a frame for this collage. I think it's the perfect fit for the deer. It has a "farmhouse Christmas" look. Oh, and even more delightfully, I still have some of the wood left for another project!</div>
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For all intents and purposes, my days of buying frames are over! Of course that's nice because frames are expensive. But, more than that, I just don't like finishing a piece just the way I want it and then searching available moldings that sprung from someone else's imagination that will work for my piece. It's usually "sort of" work than "really" work - at least in my mind. I'd rather just have no frame, or a "painted frame" as part of the piece itself, like last week's post.</div>
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This works for me because I work mainly in acrylic which doesn't require glass to protect it. But even watercolor can do without glass as long as I spray it with fixative, adhere it to a wood panel, and varnish it. The only medium that wouldn't work - at least that I can think of - is pastel.</div>
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A few words about this collage. I did it as one of three examples for a class that I was planning but never taught. I wanted to develop a way for people who didn't have (or didn't think they had) drawing skills but still wanted a realistic image as a collage element.</div>
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The deer is a copyright free image that I found on the internet. I used a photo editor to remove the color and lighten the exposure, then applied colored pencil over it - kind of like a coloring book! Then I sprayed the paper with fixative and was able to proceed with the collage, adding other elements, washes of color, and decorative details. It was really fun. I should do a video on it (note to self!)</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-46593657009123541282019-11-30T14:14:00.000-08:002019-11-30T14:14:05.559-08:00One of My Favorite Pieces, and Why<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbY7bHTIvSGol-GYYU3NCKX8php8zAND0a-qX9eK2K-gHhk_NcmCMGnJiBzIKyDgh85QzYh0994Lc73PAx-neGMH-j8cdg_ockzBgzjlNbq9kgIFVM6X7ZwHjOFwUvz2y3xF3alKW3Yot/s1600/diploma5edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbY7bHTIvSGol-GYYU3NCKX8php8zAND0a-qX9eK2K-gHhk_NcmCMGnJiBzIKyDgh85QzYh0994Lc73PAx-neGMH-j8cdg_ockzBgzjlNbq9kgIFVM6X7ZwHjOFwUvz2y3xF3alKW3Yot/s640/diploma5edited.jpg" width="497" /></a></div>
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I created this piece a few months ago. It never got a title, but I intended it to be the diploma given to the pair Reynard the Fox and Phillipa the owl on the occasion of their graduation from first form shaman school. Reynard is the future shaman and Phillipa his future familiar. These are actual characters in my book <i>Tales of Love and Courage from Milkweed Manor</i>, (which you can find on amazon.com or on lulu.com/shop by searching either the title or my name - or follow the link to the right) but they are much older by the time that story begins.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTv7uO508SJjWGQds9OljMCYooGqDWEV1VvFQhKgrlbcH0ybv_n_t9Y0X5zKBNvK_xOTl5HYhPPNiqxxfD3K0IEWgYfYtJtqFMDic_1fU_fWW61Y9x-FswivRBz_GiKiCMSpDQS1cuRmaa/s1600/diploma3edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTv7uO508SJjWGQds9OljMCYooGqDWEV1VvFQhKgrlbcH0ybv_n_t9Y0X5zKBNvK_xOTl5HYhPPNiqxxfD3K0IEWgYfYtJtqFMDic_1fU_fWW61Y9x-FswivRBz_GiKiCMSpDQS1cuRmaa/s400/diploma3edited.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>
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The text is in Theban script, first published in 1518 by Johannes Trithemius in his <i>Polygraphia</i> where he attributed it to Honorius of Thebes. Sometimes it's referred to as a 'witches' script,' but I just like the look of it. It's an alphabet, so to use it you transcribe the letters in whatever language you're writing in. Here, I used the script to record the details of the diploma.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa-oEpPqmbc7233GOgvnzhd3Drp4nJMIZJaCCEsU8n8LpdoOTpbY1ECpeKjAns5RCm6afx1nTYZIPDFZ-BggCAI8QeEbjkDuzm9QGY3v0K7-OTN2HYf-2q8ceoVaviULez3RMHM7AeeS1/s1600/diploma2edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="810" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa-oEpPqmbc7233GOgvnzhd3Drp4nJMIZJaCCEsU8n8LpdoOTpbY1ECpeKjAns5RCm6afx1nTYZIPDFZ-BggCAI8QeEbjkDuzm9QGY3v0K7-OTN2HYf-2q8ceoVaviULez3RMHM7AeeS1/s400/diploma2edited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In collage, I really like the look of script that the viewer probably can't read. Sometimes - like here - the script has actual meaning relevant to the piece (in which case I should probably record the meaning on the back). Other times, the meaning is not relevant to the piece - like the ancient Greek text I tore from one of my books and used in the collage background. I most often use relevant script as a starring elements in the collage, while irrelevant script is usually just there for visual texture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHlECsszGNn98FCaI0Q0oz-AVWDtzyJr3AJYJq6Fsk7KC3592gP56MHuHVDCECyM4-z8-VyEgeGp5rVcNhVHAiZKQUt1bo9UNtiGLsZ83HF0s_bpgrDEYWZTR5PlF7NuAtZoPbVIJ_GEu/s1600/diploma1edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1600" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHlECsszGNn98FCaI0Q0oz-AVWDtzyJr3AJYJq6Fsk7KC3592gP56MHuHVDCECyM4-z8-VyEgeGp5rVcNhVHAiZKQUt1bo9UNtiGLsZ83HF0s_bpgrDEYWZTR5PlF7NuAtZoPbVIJ_GEu/s400/diploma1edited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The three major elements of this collage are the fox drawing, the owl drawing, and the diploma text. I completed a few layers of background collage before I added any of the main elements. Once they were glued on and the glue was dry (actually, not glue, but Liquitex matte gel medium) I colored the fox and owl with acrylic washes. Then I added more collage, more washes (sometimes including washes of white gesso to push things back, detail pencil work, and, finally, the glass cabochons.<br />
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Speaking of the glass cabochons, actually using the big cut glass piece on top was a real challenging decision. I've had it for a few years and I can't get another. So I had to assure myself that the piece was worthy of it and, after some thought, it passed that test.<br />
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So what do I like about this piece?<br />
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Well, first the concept because the meaning is special to me, being connected to my book and starring one of my very favorite animals, a fox.<br />
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Second, I really like the drawings of the fox and owl.<br />
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I'm very fond of the pale colors and the palette itself. This is a piece with colors I don't use on a regular basis.<br />
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I like the spiritual feeling of it,<br />
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and the composition of values.<br />
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I like all the fussy tiny pencil detail, especially around the edge of the colored part, and it was really fun to do. I love that stuff!<br />
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And - I like the silver paint I used. I've been convinced for a while now that I didn't have a good silver paint. But I used by Golden fluid silver and found that I liked it. That splotch below the owl and to the left of the fox is a smear of silver. I also splattered silver here and there. And the edge of the piece is a finger smear of silver. ('Finger smear,' you may ask. Yes, I dip the tip of my finger into the paint then run my finger along the edge of the painting.)<br />
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That's a long list of things I like. And I guess that's another reason in itself. I like that I like so many things about it!<br />
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Doing a piece of collage that I really like sometimes makes me wonder about my decision to focus on writing and illustrating. But focusing doesn't mean doing something exclusively. I treat the week days as my work days so spend that time on writing and illustrating. Often it spills over into the weekends. But if I have another art project that I really want to do, I just work on it on Saturdays and Sundays. It seems to work for me.<br />
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I'd love to hear from you, dear readers. Perhaps you can share your favorite piece. I'd love to see it!<br />
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<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-21165796393870782952019-11-23T16:17:00.001-08:002019-11-23T16:23:05.407-08:00Back to it, and Glad of it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07Y76Oa3OMgrg50xwWuJDBwp9QqmvQlJSLy2uPLzoOuoLv6fVOvfKiItJ1_vFWudKf2zOmw5zXap6_qc0D2fpCGRq4-G80QdsQbPLuB2Y23oxE9F2A9olhGbnMzpirtTTSP98zdJAoYVD/s1600/full+cover+for+paperback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07Y76Oa3OMgrg50xwWuJDBwp9QqmvQlJSLy2uPLzoOuoLv6fVOvfKiItJ1_vFWudKf2zOmw5zXap6_qc0D2fpCGRq4-G80QdsQbPLuB2Y23oxE9F2A9olhGbnMzpirtTTSP98zdJAoYVD/s400/full+cover+for+paperback.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's been many months since I last posted. I had committed to focusing on writing and illustrating my book and was into the writing stage. Somehow, I just couldn't figure out what to say about writing! In the past, writing about doing art came naturally, but without an image to write about I was lost. So I took the simple route and gave up!</div>
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But now I'm back, and determined to post regularly, once a week. I'm on Facebook more often (links in the right margin). But I plan to go into more depth here. So I hope you'll find your way back to me - as well as following me on Facebook - and enjoy what I have to share. And please know I'm really interested in hearing from you. One-way conversations can be pretty boring!</div>
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The image is the cover of my book, <i>Tales of Love and Courage from Milkweed Manor</i>. Just last week I finished it and listed it on both www.amazon.com and www.lulu.com/shop. It's a series of 9 stories about the same group of characters - animals living in a forest community behind an old English manor house. It's 46,000 words (about 150 pages) with 34 illustrations. It took me nearly a year, and it's an accomplishment I'm proud of. I'm proud of the story and the illustrations, but also that I was able to stick to it and get it done and out there in the world. The writing was the easiest. The illustrations posed some challenges. But the self-publishing was quite an ordeal - an ordeal that will be less so next time!</div>
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As far as the writing goes, joining an on-line writers' support group, the Author Transformation Allance (Facebook) led by Audrey Hughey, was indescribably helpful. Thank goodness I was already in the group when I realized there was so much to know. Audrey and the group were there to support me. Through that group I began to truly realize how much help there is out there if one just reaches out for it.</div>
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There's kind of a lot to say about the illustrations,, so I'll save that for another time - or, more likely, many more other times.</div>
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Now that I've been through the mechanics of self-publihsing it doesn't seem that mysterious, but at the time it had me stumped time after time. I made so many mistakes and took so much time correcting them. But I'm glad I went through the process. I learned so much and now I can do it again. Many self-published (also called "indie") authors hire out much of the process, including many levels of editing, cover design, book formatting, uploading to the print-on-demand companies (like the Kindle Direct Publishing division of Amazon or Lulu), marketing, and so on. I made the decision early on to do as much as I could myself. In fact, the only thing I hired out was line editing and, of course, I had five volunteer beta readers to whom I am most grateful. The benefit is having more control over both the process and the timing. </div>
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I've already started on the second book in the series, as well as a Christmas book for next year. Writing and illustrating just feels right, and it's very exciting!</div>
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PS To see my book, select the link on the right to my books on Amazon (the top image, the one of my book cover), or go to www.lulu.com/shop and search for Kaaren Poole. For the next month or so, Lulu is the only place the hardback version will be available.</div>
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Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-25228176777895780952019-02-03T14:52:00.003-08:002019-02-03T14:52:45.343-08:00More Owls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLerjz5HC9KTiYZqtWs3zMoMI3KpPSM9zW0dTLmaQmjHSoK3iGpLVPjAbUa6FxP9vAHXCEq-QNLy_VwbgL8yzNduivCRlDkbb3aUWCZ9jthpfNpGCOZ30l7ceC0PL7g9nSYBzKsKc_1L_/s1600/athena+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLerjz5HC9KTiYZqtWs3zMoMI3KpPSM9zW0dTLmaQmjHSoK3iGpLVPjAbUa6FxP9vAHXCEq-QNLy_VwbgL8yzNduivCRlDkbb3aUWCZ9jthpfNpGCOZ30l7ceC0PL7g9nSYBzKsKc_1L_/s400/athena+4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I've been continuing to draw more and more owls - athene noctura. From these drawings will emerge my character, Athena. I'll need two versions of her - one as a youth and the other as an adult.</div>
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I find it more difficult to draw plumage than fur. The patterns are so complicated! But, complicated or not, I'll have to master it. So, practice, practice, practice!</div>
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The little one spreading her wings is my favorite!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimubf550PplcPSgTqRi9pHsrGf-uPaszm2xtsKY-C2cNC0NKcxY24RfoYiMB4_kRY_OtDFTEV_BqsKdPeqhKOauHCqan2KqRcSlDdJCxml-vl4xybuQuvI6o-Uku6gbuLU8BcLY3xxb474/s1600/athena6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimubf550PplcPSgTqRi9pHsrGf-uPaszm2xtsKY-C2cNC0NKcxY24RfoYiMB4_kRY_OtDFTEV_BqsKdPeqhKOauHCqan2KqRcSlDdJCxml-vl4xybuQuvI6o-Uku6gbuLU8BcLY3xxb474/s400/athena6.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Gosh! What would it be like to have one's eyelids covered with little feathers?!<br />
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<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910678674256453029.post-58120659560319843752019-01-13T17:19:00.000-08:002019-01-13T17:19:02.027-08:00On to Owls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Continuing working in my sketchbook, I turned to drawing owls, specifically, the Little Owl, or Athene Noctura. Little Owl is a species of owl that lives in Europe and north Africa. "Athena" is a Little Owl character in the book I'm writing and illustrating, "Milkweed Manor." If you'd like to follow my progress, in researching and writing as well as illustrating, I invite you to follow my FaceBook page, Milkweed Manor.</div>
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The markings on the owls make them more difficult to draw than the rat. </div>
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In my book, Athena appears as both a juvenile and an adult, so I'll have to draw her with juvenile markings that clearly progress to her adult markings. It's these kinds of considerations that occur to me as I go. I'm really glad I have this sketchbook going because without it I think it would be extremely difficult, and maybe impossible, to draw convincing and consistent illustrations of these characters. I'd like to connect with other writer/illustrators.</div>
<br />Kaarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497356414217270309noreply@blogger.com0