Wordless Wednesday

Capturing dreams one drawing at a time

Wind and Honey Creations

Drawing Fun for the Holidays

 

You are cordially invited to come to Creative Pencils and join The Holiday Designs workshop.  It is a set of 3 colored pencil projects.  We will draw a set of candy canes with a ribbon, a candle, with evergreen, and a vintage stocking.  In each of these designs I will teach you strong shading skills creating depth and beauty in your drawings.  

In the candle project I will demonstrate using the Zest-It blending solution to create the layered look of the colors.  (If you do not have Zest-It, you can blend the candle just like the other 2 projects.)

Once you have learned how to draw these designs you can mix them to create new designs that are uniquely yours.  

You can use these designs to decorate cards, gift tags, ornaments, packages and much more.

 Its fun and even a beginner can accomplish these projects.  Get out your pencils and let's get started.  

You can purchase this workshop on the home page of Creative Pencils

Wind and Honey Creations

Happy Day of Thanks

 

I have several friends that have been posting a gratitude list daily on Facebook.  I love that.  I love the idea of perpetually finding something new to be thankful for.  I love the thought of being intentionally thankful.  I wish I had done that too.  But I was busy and, at least mentally, in a whirlwind.  So I didn't do it.

I'd like to make a small list here.  I'll keep it short for your sake.  : )
 

I am thankful:   

1. I have a daughter with whom I can still laugh and have fun.
2. I have a son who has grown to be a man I respect.
3. I have a husband who loves me still even though the years have begun to show on me. 
4. I have the privilege to live the life of an artist with creativity all around me.
5. for my local students and my online students from all over the world.  What fun they are to know!
6. for the honor to have rescued my sweet furry friends and to enjoy their company daily in my studio.
7. for my faith.  It is what sustains and energizes me.
8. for technology.  Although it exasperates me, I could not accomplish my business without it.
9. for the many many miraculous things I have seen develop in those I love in the last year.
10. for the perpetual and amazing patience of my God.

And thank you, my dear blog friends, for joining me here from time to time.  May your holiday time be blest with delight, gratitude, and grace.




Wind and Honey Creations

Oh The Things You Could Draw

You know how I love pumpkins.   This one is by Sandy Simpson

Shell from Pencils 201 by Justine Hennessy

Sometimes I wish I had a camera pointed at my face when I open the emails I get from my students.  Occasionally they find some of the exercises to be particularly challenging, and I feel their struggle.  But when it finally clicks and they begin to make real progress, I celebrate with them and the drawings they send to me bring big smiles to my face.

I have to brag on them sometimes because they are just so very good.  I love that they each have their own style and their own interest for drawing subjects.  I love that they are each finding their own unique creativity.

Here are some pieces done recently by a few of my students at Creative Pencils.  Now, when you look at these and are impressed - and of course, you will be impressed - remember that these students started out as beginners.  This is not the level at which they came into class.

Now, doesn't that bring a smile to your face? ....................
Yes, I thought so.....

"Chloe" by Sandra Petersen

Wind and Honey Creations

Zest-It Has Come to the USA

 

After much diligent work to understand and conquer all issues related to importing from the UK, Vicki Byers of And Bear Makes 3, is now a US distributor for Zest-It.  Zest-It is a non toxic blending medium for colored pencils.  

I have personally not previously used a solvent for my colored pencil work because they tend to be fairly toxic substances.  But Zest-It is environmentally and health friendly.  (Well, don't drink it...)  I love how it works and enjoy using it to create a base undercoat to my colored pencil work.  It sure is easier on the hands than hand blending all of that with a blending pencil!  

 

I posted a review and test of Zest-It a year ago on my blog.  Here is the link to that post if you want to see the results.  Vicki is currently the one and only North American distributor of Zest-It.  When I ordered my Zest-It from the UK, my shipping was as much as my order.  So I am thrilled that Vicki has taken this task on.  You can reach Vicki online here or if you would like to speak with her on the phone, you can find that information here.

You can get a nice bottle for refilling and also a container with a sponge.  This container is nice because it is more stable.  Several of my students and I have all spilled our bottle a bit.  So, we were glad to get the container with the sponge making it nearly impossible to spill.  

Wind and Honey Creations

We Are All Out Of Excuses!

The following video is of a man born without eyes and yet he paints.  Oh, he paints abstract, you are probably thinking.  No!  Esref Armagan paints with a great deal of detail and even accurate perspective.   This self taught artist from Turkey paints with his fingertips.  His choices for colors that he has never seen are incredible.  Mr Armagan begins by etching out a drawing and then applies oil paints, one color at a time.   He says that he feels "inside" his paintings while he works.   He even paints landscapes that he has never seen.  You can see some of his art here.

I am truly amazed by this man and humbled at the silly things I can find as excuses for not being more productive.   I hope you enjoy this video and are inspired as well.

Wind and Honey Creations

A Day for Rest

Its a lovely Fall day at my house - sunshine, a breeze, and moderate temperatures.

 I'm taking some much needed time off for rest.  Then will be back into busy mode tomorrow as I go to teach a marathon 5 hour drawing class.  But my students are great so it should be an enjoyable afternoon.

I hope you are enjoying your day wherever you are and whatever it is filled with. 

I really liked the way this photo turned out and even the unusual dimensions.  I took the original at Whole Foods Market.   I cropped it from a larger one and then played with it in photoshop to get the dreamy feel.


 


Wind and Honey Creations