The Creative Outlet

Latest Journal Pages

2010-07-08T12:42:00.006-04:00

Illustrated Journal Pages

2010-02-05T22:14:00.009-05:00

This is a blind contour I did of the copper bee dad made for Alec that I am "borrowing" long term... ;)

This is the first page of my new journal...

Here is some "commentary" regarding my current situation...

This illo was done from a piggy bank that Alec has that teaches kids to give to savings, investing, giving and spending.

Bookmarkers & Scrapbook Pages to Emmy

2010-02-05T21:49:00.009-05:00

Some illustrated journal pages

2009-12-31T15:57:00.016-05:00

Some are done in watercolor and some are done with Indian ink artist pens and the blue moon was colored pencils with a blending pen. You can click on the images to enlarge.

My latest little muse...

This one below is work I copied from a Pixar artist's blog for practice.

Cute Fabric Grocery Bag & Handbag

2009-04-22T21:33:00.006-04:00

So - I'm on a break from the study grind and decided to make a couple of quick projects I'd been thinking of.

Found an awesome tutorial for the grocery bag: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=177482.0. It folds into it's own pocket to fit into your purse so you always have one when you need it. :)

The handbag is from the Winter 2006 Quilts and More edition of Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection.

Rose and sweater

2009-01-16T22:21:00.002-05:00

Mr. Pepper and Mr. Salt

2008-12-22T14:54:00.001-05:00

A work in progress...

2008-12-17T23:27:00.003-05:00

This is an illustration I'm working on as a gift for a friend, based on a wonderful afternoon we spent together on part of the Appalachian trail. I plan to rework the composition. In particular I didn't know what to do with our hands so I have us holding flowers but that's not what I really want. Also the fairy fly on her shoulder is bigger than I wanted it to be. These are real creatures that are absolutely enchanting! And this is a rough paint job. I didn't really have a predetermined plan for the colors and it's too muddy looking.

Hand Rendered Greeting Card in Ink and Watercolor

2008-12-17T22:43:00.001-05:00

Commissioned Piece for a Friend's Wedding

2008-12-17T22:32:00.002-05:00

I created 3 versions of this piece, each with varying intensity of color. This is the one they chose to keep. They framed it and had it on display on the alter during their ceremony and at the guest book table at their reception.

Getting Back to the Sketch Journal :)

2008-12-17T22:22:00.004-05:00

I think kitty might have an extra toe...

Princess Pea's Shoes

2008-01-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

This is a painting I created for Beth's room.

IF - Scale, "Komodo Love"

2007-11-14T23:38:00.000-05:00

"Kimi and Modo share love on a grand scale - their own scales not withstanding!"

Copy Exercises - Silly Snail, Toad Eye, Snake

2007-11-09T11:19:00.001-05:00

I really admire Jane Seabrook's work. She has a calendar out this year that is totally fun and I wanted to try to emulate some of her images. I came NO WHERE close to her beautiful work - but it was fun and as always, I learn something from the exercise.

Another copy exercise from Verde, by Janell Cannon:

Crocheted Cupcakes!

2007-11-07T21:01:00.001-05:00

I have a ga-zillion ideas for how I could decorate these fun things! Ribbons, yarn, beads, buttons... spirals, dots, on and on!

A trip down memory lane...

2007-11-07T20:50:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be fun to look at some of the variety of things I've done over the past several years... I've painted rocks, made jewelry, got into sewing, quilting, crochet and knitting, I've decorated cakes, done some photography, really got into pen & ink and watercolor, made lot's of cards - it's all been fun! :) I don't have digitized photos for some of the things I've done - as I come across the old photos I'll scan them and add them to the post. But, for now - here's a glimpse!

IF "Hats" - Fairy with her hat...

2007-11-02T15:28:00.000-04:00

watercolor on bristol

Retreat

2007-10-29T14:25:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I went on a retreat focusing on the Illuminated Word and had the opportunity to take a more spiritual and contemplative approach to art. It was located in the mountains of West Virginia. Here are some photos of the beautiful setting!

And here are a couple of small things I did while I was there...

Haiku:

Said snail...

Beth

2007-10-25T14:41:00.000-04:00

My first-ever attempt at a portrait...

Doorway

2007-10-24T00:21:00.000-04:00

This is an exercise I did from a book for oil painting, but I did it with watercolor.

This one I had done in pen and ink in my journal before I did the version above.

IF "Grow" - The Sapling

2007-10-19T21:26:00.001-04:00

These are a couple of concepts I did for a children's story written by my mom about a sapling that is uprooted and moved around to foreign environments, struggling to thrive and grow...

IF - "Extremes" - Extremely Humble

2007-10-18T15:56:00.000-04:00

So, I may have mixed up my fables somewhat... but I think this still works. :) The irony of the big 'ole lion needing the little itty bitty mouse to help him, and how "extremely" humbling that could be... :) Below I pasted in some background on the original fables, from Wikipedia.

The Lion and the Mouse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• Have questions? Find out how to ask questions and get answers. •

The Lion and the Mouse is an Aesop's fable. In the fable, a lion wants to eat a mouse who wakes him up. The mouse begs forgiveness and promises to return the favor if ever he is given the opportunity. He also makes the point that such unworthy prey as him should not stain the lion's great paws. Later, the lion is captured by hunters and tied to a tree; the lion roars with all his might so that someone might help him. The mouse hears the lion's pleas and frees him by gnawing through the ropes. The moral of this story is stated in the last line of the fable:

Little friends may prove great friends.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted"

Another Aesop fable with a similar moral lesson concerns a slave who removes a thorn from a lion's paw, and the lion later comes to the slave's rescue.[1]

The story may have Ancient Egyptian roots, a nearly identical tale was told by Thoth to Hathor in one myth.

Some new things...

2007-10-12T14:20:00.000-04:00

IF - "Open" - Open your heart to the wonder...

2007-10-08T15:36:00.000-04:00

Thank you for all the nice comments! :) I had trouble getting the scan to really show the colors. They are much more saturated than this shows. But I really enjoyed creating her and I think eventually I'll do this one again, a little larger scale, with more detail.

My Lil' Polly

2007-10-08T15:35:00.001-04:00

Some sketches from today...

2007-10-03T23:01:00.000-04:00

IF - The Blues

2007-10-02T11:52:00.001-04:00

This little pumpkin has the blues... (watercolor)
Update: It appears I missed the mark with this one... :) Not many people noticed the sad face in the pumpkin! Therefore, it didn't make sense why I submitted this illo for this topic! Oh well...

IF - Juggling ("Tipsy Chef")

2007-09-24T22:15:00.002-04:00

just messin' around with quickie stuff :-)

2007-09-23T21:35:00.001-04:00

New watercolor sketchbook I made

Hmm... the princess... or the flies?! Yum!

Pepper

2007-09-18T14:18:00.000-04:00

Love, Spirit, Creativity, Legacy

2007-09-18T14:16:00.001-04:00

Cosmo Card

2007-09-18T14:09:00.000-04:00

Radishes

2007-09-18T14:08:00.000-04:00

IF - Wedding

2007-09-16T00:15:00.002-04:00

I was in a wedding just last weekend as a bridesmaid. Here are the shoes, bouquet, sash, and bracelet and earrings I wore. (watercolor sketch)

IF Cars

2007-05-30T21:29:00.001-04:00

This is not my usual style or subject matter, which means it was a good challenge. :) (ink & watercolor on bristol)

IF Reflection

2007-05-28T21:15:00.001-04:00

You'll see this little mouse quite often... (ink & watercolor)

IF Cake

2007-05-28T21:13:00.001-04:00

I painted this for a birthday card to one of my best friends. (ink & watercolor)

IF Green

2007-05-28T19:57:00.000-04:00

I love the color of granny smith apples! (ink & watercolor)
Sorry for poor image quality. I am still trying to learn how to scan my images accurately.