A map drawing

I like to look at maps.  I thought I would draw one of my own.  For this one I used pen, inks, and graphite - undeniable favorites of mine for drawing - and they are great map-making tools :-)

This is the map from today- the "Map of An Unplanned Interaction":

Ink, Copic markers, Sharpie markers, graphite

No pressure :-)

More about "Making Art a Practice", the online class I am taking from Cat Bennett:

I am surprised how my approach to daily art has changed.  Once I gave up the pressure to "produce something right now", it suddenly made it easy to open my sketch book, pick up a mark-making tool and just go.

Some days I already have an idea of various media I want to experiment with and on other days I begin with a pencil or pen and see where it leads me.  Some pages are done quickly and others may take awhile - and I allow myself the time.

Some sketch book pages:

Water color, Sharpie pens, graphite.

Colored pencil and graphite.

Acrylic, ink, charcoal.

Seriously fun :-)

With no artwork in mind

I am taking Cat Bennett's online class, "Making Art a Practice".  This is some of my "output" from the first week's mark-making exercises:

Colored pencil, ink, graphite.

Water color crayons

The exercise is about making marks with no specific finished piece in mind, and if specific imagery begins to appear, then move away from it, i.e. if the shape is beginning to resemble a flower, then avoid making actual flower shapes, resist the urge to turn it into a landscape or more likely in my case, a dog :-)

Copic markers, ink, pastels

Gelatos, ink, paint pen

I am surprised by how "guilty" I felt - using TIME every day (!) where my goal is not a finished piece, but instead those of experimentation and exploration.  It's liberating :-)

From my sketchbook -

sketch of a seated dog for a painting I am working on:

Young Golden.

Artist Calendars

About this time of year I order my calendars for the New Year.  Not really a surprise that Golden Retrievers are the ones I select - a GR Puppies mini calendar for the kitchen, a nice big GR calendar for my study and then a DOGS gallery calendar for my nightstand.

Last year for my studio wall calendar I decided to select one by an artist whose work appealed to me - Alexander Jansson (Alexander Jansson 2015 Art Calendar).

My choice for 2016 is "Underfoot Frivolity" which I ordered last week and it has already arrived (!):

Very cool art by David Zinn

My first impulse was to page through it but because I like to be surprised by the image each month I have already returned the calendar to its mailing envelope.  It's on the shelf where I keep next year's calendars - out of sight, out of mind - and I won't be tempted to sneak a peek :-)

The Golden Retriever and the Australian Labradoodle

Remy and his pal, Briggs, have a terrific time rumbling at the park and playground.  Brigg's mom, Pam, took this gorgeous photo of Remy last month.  I love it and I asked Pam if I could publish it to which she kindly said "yes".

Photo by Pam H.

And speaking of Briggs, here is the boy himself:

Such a sweetie <3

These boys play well together and their antics have Pam and me (as well as other people passing by) laughing out loud.

Never Forget

I finally completed this canvas.   The idea of painting it had been noodling around in my head for a few weeks:

mixed media with collage, 8" x 8" x 1-1/2"

I wanted to share a thought that I always find comforting :-)