OK, Where Did the Time Go?

This year has flown by and I can't believe how little I've done this year with regards to drawing (or painting as some might call it).  Basically, I have been extremely lax (or lazy) not only in producing anything art related but keeping up with my blog.  Maybe, I just needed a long "recharge" period.  The jury is still out on that one.

My only blog post so far for 2025 was made in July and that was catching up sharing results to date without much in the way of information to go along with what I had done.  And here I am again doing the same thing trying to catch up.

I'm finally getting back out and involved with my art so hopefully I will do better in the coming months.

This is from a plant poke gifted to me completed towards the end of July.

In August, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and play with various brushes I have that I wouldn't normally think about using.  I found I enjoyed the challenge and liked some of the results I achieved.

The method used to work these brushes is as follows.  The one thing I failed to mention on the sheet was the fact the color applied was using the Color blend mode over the value sketch layers.

Another example using the Selection tool and then filling in color with a brush.

A Switch game the family has been playing for weeks is Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time.   We've been playing multiplayer and my son's character he customized is one of my favorites.  It fits him......haha.  And since this drawing, two more family members have started playing, so now there are six of us.  

My latest has been playing with two new brushes that came out in the Procreate 5.4 update.

A little demo I put together for my granddaughter showing how I'm using the Selection tool for adding color.  No presketch.

Outside of the little bit of drawing done this year, I have worked on creating two printed digital journals.  One for last year's accomplishments and then I created one with my favorite subjects which consist of my miniature bear collection and other plush toys (to include dog toys).

Once I finish printing, I plan to spiral bind these together.

And this brings me up to date.

2025 Sketches/Drawings to Date

Bringing things up to date since my last post.  

The following includes some digital journaling along with a few portraits.  

The bird drawing is of a Painted Bunting seen outside our living room window.  

Portraits include my nephew's daughter, self portrait, sister-in-law, and a 6 month old Maine Coon kitten my youngest son and daughter-in-law have.

All worked using iPad and Procreate.

First Blue Bird of the Season 2023

As I was looking out the window, taking in the beautiful weather we are experiencing, I took notice to this guy sitting at the top of our bird feeder out front.  He just sat there scoping out the area.  I thought I might have seen another....maybe a mate....but wasn't sure.  It's that time of year, I suppose, when they are out searching for a place to nest.  

 

Catching Up With Latest Drawings Plus Other

A lot has been going on the last few months but I have still managed to get some artwork done...two of which were therapeutic in nature.  

Have also been busy with completing several diamond art kits and playing with Legos.

Birth of a new family member....Miss Sophia (nephew's first born):

Personal Challenge...to illustrate the first things that come to mind living in Florida that differs from living up north and that I have seen/experienced:

Birthday gift - recording the growth of lily buds that were in the arrangement Travis sent to me:

From a section of one of my diamond art kits.  Madison loves bees and I thought of her as I did this:

Learning a new technique called Dispersion and as a therapeutic means to unload some emotional/mental turmoil I've chosen not to bog me down:

Portrait of daughter-in-law:

Thanks to my sister-in-law, Darlene, I learned about botanical Legos.  

Birthday set from hubby:

My husband and I, as old as we are, still love building with Legos.

Last 45 Days Drawing

It's been a busy last two months.  We've had both granddaughters come to visit (two individual trips), which has been amazing for us here in Florida.  We love when the family comes to visit but having this one on one time with each granddaughter has been very special for them as well as us.  A treasured time I doubt any of us will forget!

Even with that said, I did manage to get some drawing in...

Gnome figurine with a piece of my Ivy plant:

Working from one line drawing, coloring two different methods:

Photo from Neal while in Clearwater, FL

Gift from Madison and Kyran from their trip to Universal in FL:

My miniature bear, Opal, decked out in a scarecrow outfit:

Catching up from the Last Post

Trying to get back into some sketching, I worked these from photos provided to me by family.  They often do that knowing what I like to sketch or paint and will send photos as reference for me to work from.

Neal having to work in Puerto Rico sent me a picture of an iguana he saw crawling up a tree near where he was standing.

Travis sent a picture of this super red cardinal in a tree where he lives.

And then Tuesday, Terry took pictures of Morgan (youngest granddaughter) spending time with the birds at Leesburg Pet Center.  They specialize in hand fed birds from various breeders where you can handle and spend hands-on time with them.  

Morgan has a way with animals which include birds.  She found one she spent most of her time with and the bird took to her as if he'd known her for some time and bonded.  Extremely friendly.

This is a young Black Headed Cangue (which I'd never heard of before).  His adult feathers have not fully come in yet giving the scraggly look young birds can have as they continue to mature and change color.