A pencil drawing with coffee staining... and my own reflections ~

I've been so wrapped up with commissions...I'm simply yearning to create, to create something that I can call "mine". I'll share a piece, one of my latest original pencil drawings with some coffee staining.. I've called her "As Time Stands Still". She just looks like an old soul to me from years ago that will always be there, as time flies by, her spirit simply stands still... one of these days, I'll have the time to sit and create again... this piece was done in the winter time.

 I'll later share some of the special commissions I've completed and am working on. So busy, it's sort of surreal. & as much as I miss making my original art, of course I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Being a kid I never knew what I wanted to be when I grow up... let's just say my personal expectations just were very low. I was terrible in school.. as the story goes never went to college. I suppose having a family and being a stay at home mom was fulfilling enough. It wasn't until I seriously started creating, and doing what I love most that the drive came. I never wanted anything so badly before, lol an emotion that was entirely unfamiliar to me.

I keep feeling like I need to look over my shoulder to see who's life I'm living.. "Dreams do come true?" (I'm almost afraid to say that out loud) I am constantly asking myself...

Enough of my ramblings... off to create...

 

Just a Sketch ~ Untitled

I just finished this piece, just a sketch from my sketchbook. Like I said in my prior post... I really wish she was on better paper... I truly only intended on her being a quick sketch. I think she turned out to be a bit more special than I anticipated. Nonetheless, here she is untitled. Just graphite pencils were used, I contemplated using color, but in the end decided to leave her just black and white.


 

A Work in Progress

... I never know how a piece is going to come out when I first start.  I'm so in love with her so far and wish she was on more than just sketch book paper. Not sure if I should add color? 

"You Can't Get In".

I just finished her... She's titled "You Can't Get In". I used graphite pencils and coffee staining for this piece & she's 11" x 14".

She feels so emotionally vulnerable... so much so that she can only feel comfort in her own solitude. Letting anyone "in" will just be too tragic.

 

My artwork on a phone case!

I've recently acquired a new phone, after having the first Samsung Galaxy, I thought it was time to upgrade to the S4 (not so recently, actually a few months ago, lol). I've been holding out for a case, and of course darling husband has been on my case (no pun intended) because I'm so incredibly clumsy I'm bound to drop it sooner or later.

Long story short, I made one :D I've wanted to make one using "Permission to Cry"... she's one of my personal favorites... so, here she is, as a phone case... can't wait to get it!! I'll be sure to take some pics of it when it arrives :)

A page from my Sketchbook

New year, new sketchbook.... this is the second sketch from my new book that Santa brought me :) I've called her "A Familiar Face". I added just a touch of color for her flowers using colored pencils.

I'll share another few pieces that are works in progress in days to come... My new years resolution is to update my blog more often, lol, we'll see how that goes ;)

Artwork... artwork... & more artwork...

It's summer & time is just flying by... my baby girl is turning 8 years old next week. And darling son is a sweetheart at 10... I keep telling them to stop growing up so fast, but they don't listen to me....

 

Not a day goes by that I'm not creating, so with that said, I haven't blogged in which feels like forever, so I've got TONS of new creations to share! In the past few months I've managed to make one of my rooms in to a little studio for myself.... Got myself a really nice table from Restoration Hardware, it's turning out to be perfect for me... my mom thinks it's too rustic, but like I said, perfect, between all the paint stains, coffee stains etc.. oh & I forgot to mention I share the room with Fred... my pet rabbit ;)  (I really need to post of pic of him).

 

Now, where to start, I'm not ever sure if these are in order, but here we go....

 

 

"Reflections" more & more coffee staining...



"Wandering, Forever Wandering" I've used wine staining for this piece.  I created her shortly after my first experiments with coffee.

Here is "Secrets"  If you only knew... & if her secrets came out her world would come crashing down all around her... her secrets are a burden, but must never be revealed.

Simply "Lost in a Dream" (continuing with my coffee obsession) just slightly here...

This piece represents a person who is trying to find themselves... it's not something you can "look" for it just sort of happens all on it's own.. I've called her "Finding Yourself... Finding Myself"

 

 

 

Last but not least... my most recent piece, she's called "Permission to Cry"....

 

 

 
 

More Coffee Stainning

Ok, now that I've determined that Yes, coffee is a medium... (obviously, amongst other things like tea and wine (thanks Tammie ;))

I have fallen in love with the way coffee looks on paper. It gives the drawing such warmth, but mostly darkness... I like the dark tones that it gives that raw look & emotion that I feel when I use it. I think bringing something new to my art.... I hope you can "feel" a bit as I did when creating them...

She's called "Neglect" ...... not in the way you would right away think.  Not neglected by anyone particular.  It's the fact *she* neglects herself... You see she's always had an overwhelming feeling of low self worth... As if she doesn't "deserve" to be taken care of... she neglects her physical appearance as well as her health and emotional being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is simply "Want" She always has a look of *want* in her eyes... constantly wanting to be loved, to be cared for, appreciated...



 



Is Coffee a Medium?

Just one of the many questions I often ask myself in regards to my art, still feeling like a person who is "impersonating" an artist. I only started using watercolors within the past few years... So the idea of picking up a paint brush at all is still very foreign to me. 

It was my first piece here "Imagine" where I incorporated the greens using watercolor. After finishing her I was left feeling like she needed something else... My thoughts were to incorporate some subtle browns... Having no brown watercolors, I started to think "aha, tea staining, I've heard of that before". Long story short, there were no tea bags in the house either... & being in the moment of creating brewed a cup of coffee & well here you have it. My first pieces using "coffee staining" so whether or not it is an appropriate *art medium*, here I sit still pondering that question...






This was my second attempt... wanting to use more... so, meet my newest favorite piece. She doesn't have a name.... To my surprise she sold less than a day after completing her & listing her in my shop. So now I look at her on my screen thinking... "You weren't mine to begin with... that's why I didn't name you"





Thanks for looking. I really need to blog more! As in all of my recent posts... there just simply isn't enough time in a day!


Wishing all a very magical New Year :)

xo