PrismaCOLOR

I received my Prismacolor pencils about a week ago and they are sooo much fun.  I love how creamy and waxy they are.  It has taken me several attempts to achieve something that I felt was ok enough to post.  The coloring part of my art lessons has been a little harder than I thought.  Apparently, I have a heavy hand, so I have had to learn how to lay the color down LIGHTLY.  The faces I've done have been colored with pencil and then enhanced with paint.  Here are a couple of pictures of what I have done so far.

Mixed Media Girls

My version of Suzi Blu's red-haired girl

I still have more videos to go through and I can't wait to show you more.  Between work and my girls, it has been more of a challenge to find the time to sit down and paint.  I need several hours at a time and so that really only leaves the weekends.  But I have found that if I make art a priority in my life, then I am a much happier Mama!

Rodeo Art judging

Ok...so I have to be a proud mamma!  My youngest daughter's artwork was picked to be judged for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  She had been working hard on her painting at school and even had a slight set-back when a fellow student accidentally spilled water all over her painting.  She salvaged the painting and the teachers of her school chose her painting to be one of the ones submitted for judging!

Addison usually creates wonderful pencil drawings.  This was her first real attempt at painting.  I think she did awesome!  We went to the judging last night and her painting received a 2nd place ribbon.  I was so proud, but I think Addison was disappointed.  She is quite the perfectionist and is very hard on herself.  Unfortunately, not everyone can get first place and they shouldn't.  It is a hard lesson to learn, but I believe it is an important one.

Addison with her artwork

Mutton Bustin'

Online Art Classes

Since my discovery of the art journal I have been obsessed!  With some of my Christmas money, I purchased my very first Moleskine art journal.  It has a black leather cover and the pages in a Moleskine are ideal for art journaling.  The one I got had the purple cover slip and it is called a sketchbook.  They sell them at most art stores and also at Barnes and Noble.  The one I got was $17.95.  A little pricey, but soooo worth it.  The pages are smooth and thick and buttery colored.  I am in love!

One of the things that I really wanted for 2011, was to expand on what little art knowledge I have acquired thus far.  You tube has been an invaluable tool and I fell in love with the artwork of Suziblu.  She is a sweet, free-spirited young woman that makes art journaling videos.  She has a blog at suziblu.typepad.com.  I went to her blog and found that she also does online art classes, most of which are self-paced downloadable videos.  I have really wanted to learn more about drawing faces and she had the perfect set of classes called Stylized Faces.  It is actually 3 classes in one and it was only $35.00!  I have to say that it was really worth it.  I am only through the first few lessons and I have already seen a huge improvement.

Side bar:  I am not affiliated with Suziblu...she doesn't even know who I am.  I am just a very satisfied customer who wants to share with others the great tools I have found. :)

Anyway, here's a picture of what I have done so far.  I have a set of Prismacolor Colored Pencils being shipped to me as we speak.  As soon as those come in, I will be able to move onto the coloring lessons and make my sweet faces come to life with color, color, color!