Birthday Inspired Art

My little Aurora is turning two today and she has simply loved her fun day.  I have drawn a few times for birthday's my birthday dinner and how I felt as well as a reminder of Isabelle's fourth birthday.  They're always joyous times and capturing a little something on paper is a pleasure.  These were loosely based on characters she had on the side of her blocks that she received today.

Shared with Artists in Blogland

A Few of the Cuter DD365

A few highlights from my draw daily project.  During the day when I'm too busy I still get the pen and shadow work done then come back after the girls are in bed to add color.  One pen is always easier to juggle with curious little girls then a handful of markers.  When I started this project I used to draw on the kitchen counter now every one's pulling chairs over or getting into things while my back is turned.  It means getting creative to squeeze in the time. 

Also paging back through this sketchbook reminds me that I've used only pen when I draw since Mother's Day May 13th.  Thanks completely to this DD365 challenge.  Now I never use pencil for anything every line I make is permanent, always. 

See more drawings from the Draw Daily 365 project also on Flickr

Two New Draw Daily 365 Drawings

Two recent drawings for my DD365 project.  These are characters from bedtime stories I read to Isabelle.  Aurora isn't quite old enough for bedtime stories I usually read to her during the few minutes when she stays still in the afternoon between 2:30 and 2:45  She's 18 months old it's the active discovery age so she is go, go, go, all day.  Isabelle however, is 4 and bedtime story time is our most cherished.  It's that special time when I can focus on doing something just for her.  The drawings reflect that affection and playfulness I feel with her.  I'm so thankful I chose the girls toys and books to draw because it puts me in touch with them on an entirely selfish level and I love it.

See more Draw Daily 365

DD365 Project Featured

I was contacted this week by Michelle Tebor an editor at Cool Like Pie art teachers blogging out of Washington DC.  She told me they loved my work on the Draw Daily 365 project and wanted to feature it on their website.  How cool is that?  Thanks for the recognition Michelle.  It was a pleasure working with you.  You can check out the article, "Imagine if you practiced that every day for a year..."

See more updates about my Draw Daily 365 Project

Draw Daily 365 Update

I started drawing my two daughter's toys and book characters as a daily drawing exercise on April 4th with the intention that it would somehow change my life.  Some days it's my "me" time.  It's fun because it gives me something to focus on each day hunting for a subject to create.  I've found my drawing object by stepping over them, having a gleeful child bring them to me or a bedtime story moment that was so special that I wanted a lasting memory.  Today was Day 119 and since it is my favorite number I decided to document and share.  You can see more of the drawings from this project on my Flickr page. 

While doing this project I decided to draw with pen only and stop using pencil guidelines that was May 14th.  78 days ago was the last time I touched a pencil for everything I have drawn.  Yeah I'd say that's a life changer in an artist's world.

Draw Daily 365 Review

I was amazed at how great all the drawings looked when laid side by side in the Flickr album so I made a snip to share here.  You can click on the image to see them in better detail.  I love how I can see improvement over time.

DD365 Moving to Flickr

07-01-2012  I'm up to day 90 of my Draw Daily 365 project, woohoo.  I've decided to transfer the files from that project over to Flickr and discontinue that blog (NOT this one)  The advantage to this will be ease of daily use and less dependance on having something to write about each drawing.  My photostream is under the user name Mary Walker Designs if you would like to check out what is there.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday.

Blog Giveaway

When you get a chance pop on over to Draw Daily 365 for a chance to win !

Drawing Daily 365

Drawing marathon of 365 days.

Blind Contour US Map

This was really fun, super sloppy but a good practice at seeing.  The exterior was blind contour with the interior filled in as best I could to work with the lines that were already laid down.  The abbreviations were a struggle it's been years since third grade geography.  I forgot to label one of the states.  Do you know which one?  I also through in another state above Kentucky, sure why not?  Didn't notice it until labeling time.  This exercise definitely showed me that I don't always 'see' what I'm looking at.

Technical Drawing

03-19-2012 In Danny Gregory's Creative License he suggested drawing a motor as a complex sketch.  This is a 20 minute pen only sketch of the engine in my '01 Ford Windstar.

Bobber Motorcycle Sketch

After posting a couple times mentioning my husband's bobber motorcycle project it spurred some interest about what a bobber was which explained by Wikipedia is, "A bobber is a custom motorcycle that usually has had the front fender removed, the rear fender "bobbed" or made smaller, and all superfluous parts removed to make it lighter."  

After the relative completion of his project today I decided to do a sketch of it so you can see it too.  I did point out to him that he didn't remove the front fender and that the back fender wasn't trimmed smaller as Wiki defined but he didn't care.  He is an artist in his own right and pretty much does his own thing regardless of criticism.  I really like the colors he chose and the copper has a hammered texture that gives it a nice depth when you see it in person.

Done with Micron liners, Pitt brush dark gray for dull surfaces and Copics for shiny surfaces. 

A Little Birdie Told Me

02-27-2012  I find myself spending more and more time looking out the window lately.  It must be the anticipation of the first growths of spring.  The dafodills started last weekend and the trees have begun to bud.  A little birdie told me that spring is on its way.

Hand Drawn Painted Bookmarks

01-09-2012  I received some new watercolor pencils for Christmas/my birthday they were Derwent Inktense and Caran d'Ache Supracolor II Soft.  New supplies are always good but can be intimidating if it is something I've never worked with before as these were.  I grabbed a watercolor sheet cut it into 2" strips and created some bookmarks as a practice exercise.  In addition to using the pencils I also used Prismacolor Premier colored pencils, Pitt liners, Sharpie colored fine liners, inkwell India ink, Uniball Signo white gell pen and Gelly Roll gell pens.  This was so much fun I may very well make more bookmarks in the future.

Love Garden

Stellar Abyss

Sun Drops

Porcupine Rainbow

Final Day

11-30-2011 Well I posted when I could for Art Every Day Month.  I don't really know if building puzzles counts as art but we've been doing a lot of them these last few rainy days.  Today I got a chance to upload the swap cards I've been working on.  They are for the AFA Personalities Swap "Hand-drawn or hand-painted cards should focus on three different personality types or the expression of three different moods."  I chose to draw a few funky fishes.  AEDM Day 30

Loving Linda

Scaredy Fred

Pissed Off Percy

How to Make Play Dough (Play Doh)

11-21-2011 Art Every Day Month Day Twenty One finds me not drawing but making play clay with my kids.  So much fun here is the recipe we used:

2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
food coloring

Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium sauce pan and stir over medium low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes.  Continue stirring until the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.  Add food color of your choice.

Love Fruit Sketch

11-19-2011 A fifteen minute sketch of some fruit in a stacked stamp form.  It reminds me that I need to get to the store soon and get some food shopping done.   AEDM Day Nineteen

Doodle Fun

11-18-2011 I wanted to play today.  This silly little doodle was inspired by the many birds stopping to visit in our yard today.  AEDM Day Eighteen

Draw Something That Makes You Laugh

11-17-2011 It took a few weeks to find an object that makes me laugh for this EDM.  Most of the humor in my life comes from the people in it, the things I read on the net and in books or things that I watch on television.  So it really isn't the object itself that deems my laughter.  This is my daughters stuffed bear.  When you squeeze its toes it plays a recording of a child like belly laugh.  It just has a look that is funny and the laugh is one of those contagious laughs that makes you join along.  Today is also day seventeen of Art Every Day Month.

EDM 228

Coloring Page

11-16-2011 My daughter had fun adding her art to my project so I let her add another today.  AEDM Day Sixteen