Black Friday Weekend Sale

In an attempt to do my part to help you avoid the crowds this Black Friday weekend, I am offering my Cat and Dog Portrait Workshops at a one time amazing price.  You can enroll in the Cat Portrait Workshop or you can enroll in the Dog Portrait Workshop.  And if you are really enthusiastic about both, you can enroll in Both of Them! for an even better bundled price.  

These workshops are cram packed with information about how I draw portraits with a simple graphite pencil. 









I include all my special techniques. I will walk you through each and every step from a plain white piece of paper to a splendid portrait created only in graphite. I will teach you the tricks to create a portrait that will come off the page with depth and with personality.

And the icing on the cake is that you can email me with your questions and with pictures of your work so I can help you along the way. These workshops are so much fun and students that have preceded you have had wonderful success. You can see some of the portraits accomplished by my students here in this video.

These workshops are open "forever".  So, if you are a beginner, you can purchase the workshops at this one time amazing price and save them for when you have completed my Pencils Series.  The Pencils Series 101, 201, & 301 will prepare you thoroughly for these Portrait Workshops.

So, hurry over to Creative Workshops for more information and to sign up.

Sign yourself up, sign your friends and family up.

Just think, you could be finished with your shopping with one click. And then you can spend this hectic weekend reading a good book.

Ahhhhhh!!!!!




Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

A display of work testing the Artist Survival Book

 

As an artist, I sometimes have multiple projects bouncing around in my head at once.  Most of those projects are at different levels of progress and details can get lost in the mix.  A working journal like the Artist Survival Book is very helpful for keeping the various elements of many projects all in one tidy place.   You will find them at Jerry's Artarama.

 The Artist Survival Book has a lovely leather cover that feels nice in your hand.  For me, even the cover helps to create the ambiance of a creative moment.   There is an elastic band that helps to keep the book closed as it grows with your use.  The elastic is strong but narrow which is nice because it doesn't get in the way.  The papers turn easily and comfortably on the spiral binding allowing for a completely flat display.  And the journal is a nice size that is easy enough to bring along wherever you go so you can work on those ideas when the thought comes.

The front portion of the book has plain pages ready for you to test drawings and other ideas you might have.   The middle portion has lines for note taking or lists of necessary supplies or even thoughts about future projects.  And the last section of the book is made up of pages with guide-dots to help you with precision drawing.   All of the pages are perforated, making it easy to remove them when necessary for reference.

And between each section there is a leather divider that has pockets.  How fun these pockets are!  You can keep extra small papers or reference photos or even a few pencils if you like.  The papers are suitable for dry media like graphite, colored pencils, pen, or conte' crayons.

Here is a short video demonstration of my Artist Survival Book.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Rain and Life's Rhythms

 

Its raining today. Everything in me wants to sit with a nice cup of tea and draw while listening to the raindrops tap dancing outside. I am not unique with this thought. I've heard it so many times from others. The rain calls us to be still, to slow down, to be calm.  The birds outside are tucked away somewhere under large tree leaves or the eaves of a house.  Even the dogs and cats inside are more sleepy today.  

Of course slowing down isn't what we do.  We curse the rain or we choose to ignore it as we bustle around trying to get 36 hours squeezed out of 24.  I've been thinking a lot lately about the rhythms of life and how we press so hard against them.  It would seem to me that paying better attention to the patterns set by the Creator might be the wiser route to go.  That isn't an easy task in our culture.  

Our lists for "to do" are longer than our arms, and then just a few moments spent on popular social media is enough to remind you that whatever you might have gotten done today, surely you are behind what everyone else is accomplishing.   

I propose that we proclaim a respite from those dreaded lists and try, at least a little bit, to listen more to the rhythms of nature.  I propose at least one hour of each day be set aside to live life rather than run the list.  I imagine this will be life altering and life giving.  I'm going to try it.  I dare you to join me.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessonshttp://creativepencils.com

A Review of the Sanford Tuff Stuff Stick Eraser

It might seem odd to be so excited about an eraser.  But as a pencil artist committed to a particular level of precision in my art, I can't get along without my Tuff Stuff Stick Eraser Stick by Sanford Paper Mate.   The Tuff Stuff Eraser is a quality white plastic eraser.




The eraser stick in the Tuff Stuff is only 3.8 mm wide.  This is narrow enough to be able to erase in the tiniest of spots.  And yet wide enough to not compromise on the ability of the eraser to accomplish its task.

The fact that you can return the eraser stick back into the plastic barrel makes it easy to keep the eraser clean.  You can purchase refills for your Tuff Stuff Eraser making it ecologically friendly.  I use mine all the time but have never actually had to use my refills yet. 


I often use my Tuff Stuff Stick Eraser as a white pencil on my graphite drawings.  And I always encourage my students to own at least one.  They are always as excited about their Tuff Stuff Erasers as I am.  Their comment when first using it is usually, "Wow!"  We just can't get along without it.  I own several, keeping one in every pencil pack and drawing station I have.

 I always keep a small journal and a tiny drawing kit with me wherever I go.  My Tuff Stuff Eraser is an essential part of that drawing kit.  I love my Tuff Stuff Eraser!

Below is a video demonstration I did for Jerry's Artarama using the Tuff Stuff Eraser.

Supplies used in the video:

Conte' Crayons
Derwent Tinted Charcoal
Soho Urban Artist Colored Pencils
Derwent Graphic Pencil
Creative Mark Blending Stump
Tuff Stuff Eraser Stick
Big Triple Sharpener
Reflexions Pocket Journal
Artist Survival Book
Strathmore Bristol Board

I purchase all of my artist's pencils from Jerry's Artarama.  And I'm not telling you that because they asked me to do this review.  It is the truth.  They package those delicate pencils like they are shipping to the moon.  I've not found this to be true of all online art supply companies.   I grew weary of getting packages of broken pencil leads and that is when I discovered Jerry's.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Art Journaling with Pencils Workshop

Keeping an art journal is very popular right now. There are journals of all kinds of sizes, bindings, and paper types just about everywhere you go. I always thought I should be keeping one. I saw them everywhere. I loved the look of the mixed media pages with paint and pasted images.  They are all over the internet.  So cool, I thought.  And surely I should be keeping one, I thought to myself.  After all, they are so "artsy"!

 
But as I attempted to journal using the beautiful and ever popular paint and paste method, it just didn't work for me.  Art journaling should be free.  One should just go with the flow with the inspiration of the moment, just as a written journal would be.   I found that I got so caught up in the method of painting and pasting and looking for the right image, that any sense of free creativity elluded me.

 

 

And so, I did not journal.

Until it occurred to me that I could find ways to accomplish the same looks with my artist's pencils.  Well, that sounded fun to me.  But where to start?  I began to play with my pencils in a free and journaling format.  And with time I began to discover all kinds of ways to create some of the same layered and colorful looks of paint and paste journal pages, simply by using my pencils.

But the most fun discovery for me in this art journaling process, was how relaxing it was.  If I wanted an image, I didn't have to search through files or worry about where to find just the right image.  I simply drew it.   I don't mean grand works of art.  I mean simple easy drawings that most anyone could do.

Using graphite, charcoal, or colored pencils to create my images was a slower process.  But it gave me more time to mull over the idea I was trying to communicate with that image.

Having loved this process, I would like to share what I've learned with you.  So I have created a workshop in which I share some of my discoveries from art journaling with artist's pencils.  This workshop is currently available on Creative Pencils.  In this workshop I will help you find your focus and help you see how to bring a variety of elements to your pages.  I will create an entire page on camera so you can see the process unfolding.  You will get to create your own personal pages.

I used a variety of pencils including Prismacolor Premier colored pencils, Derwent Inktense and watercolor pencils, Derwent Tinted Charcoal pencils, and graphite pencils.  You may use what you have on hand.  And if you love the process, you may want to add to you supplies accordingly.

I hope you will join me.  I think you will enjoy your journals all the more once you can creatively incorporate your pencils for a new look.

 
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

Its a New Day at Creative Pencils

My dear blogging friends, I apologize for my very long absence.  Life has been full and days have run into weeks.  But I have an exciting announcement that does explain some of my time in the last weeks.  

 

Colored Pencils 101

Pencils 301

Creative Pencils is the site where I offer lessons in pencil art.  In the last year it has been a subscription site with a monthly lesson plan.  But it is a new day at Creative Pencils!  It is now filled with workshops so you may choose what you want to learn.  You can even work on more than one workshop at a time, if you like.  The foundational lessons in basic graphite pencil (Pencils 101, 201, & 301) and colored pencils (101 & the upcoming 201) will remain open for students at all times.   And I will always be available to help and critique your work in those lessons.  I love watching the students blossom and grow as they work through those exercises.

Cat Portraits in Graphite

The other more specialized workshops like cat portraits or the upcoming dog portraits, etc. will be offered for a limited time.   And I am available for every workshop for questions, critique, and even just conversation.                                      You can become a member of Creative Pencils simply by enrolling in a workshop of any size and then signing up.  You may remain a member even when you are in between workshops.   

Art Journaling with Pencils Studio Group

We have Studio Groups where all members may share photos of their work and join in conversations about subjects they enjoy like art journals, especially those created with artist pencils.  Artist Trading Cards is another studio group and there are others including one discussing using your drawings in your mixed media collage work.                                                                                                              

 We are having a lot of fun at Creative Pencils!  Come and join in on the fun. 

 Of course you can do it!  That's what the lessons are for, to teach you.    Pop on over and see our new look!

***Creative Pencils has moved to Creative Workshops.  Come by and see***

Wind and Honey Creations

Teaching in Fast Forward

Wind and Honey Creations

This Could Be Yours

Imagine this hanging in your home.  You can draw this beautiful owl when you take my Portraits of Beauty and Wisdom Workshop in Artful Gathering 2012.  This drawing is done in graphite pencil and Derwent Graphitint pencils.  The workshop is being offered during session 2.

Wind and Honey Creations

Kid's Make the Best Art Continued

More art from my 7 year old students.  Cute puppies this time.....  I like the floppy ear tossed out to the side.  He has personality.

Wind and Honey Creations

Oh, To Be Seven Again! Kid's Make the Best Art

Here are some friendly felines drawn recently by a couple of my younger students.  The artists creating these drawings were both 7 years old.  Aren't they fun!  They make me smile.  Now, don't tell me you can't draw.  Surely you're not gonna let a 7 year old show you up.  If you'd like to know how you can learn to draw even better than these wonderful budding artists, check out my online drawing lessons. 

Wind and Honey Creations

And This Is Why I Draw! or Harold! Where Can I Get One of Those Purple Crayons!?

There was a time in my young adult life when I thought if I set my mind to something that I could do it.  I decided when my children were very small that I was going to learn to sew.  My first project was to sew Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for my kids!  And my second was to sew a patchwork quilt.  Ha!  How utterly naive I was.  That about ended my career as a seamstress.  I am reminded of this fact because I tried to sew a little something for a gift to a friend last week.  It was an extremely simple project - one that a child with just a tad of experience should have been able to do.  Well, mine did look like it was done by a child, but not one with experience.

And writing.  Well, let me just say that my college English professor had trouble hiding his smirk when I once mentioned that I might do some writing in my career.  I do have creative thoughts that do sometimes involve words.  But my ability to put them together in a grammatically correct fashion is challenged.  If you've been here on my blog very many times, you've probably already noticed that.




And so I draw.  I find that as I attempt to sew or write or even to do elaborate cooking, that the thought, if only I could just draw this, comes to mind often.  I remember the book from my childhood Harold and the Purple Crayon and I wonder where I could get myself one of those purple crayons. In this book, Harold had a magic purple crayon and everything he drew with it became real.  Just think, all the items I'd like to sew but can't, could be drawn.  Now, I'd probably want them to be a different color than purple.  But if I could find one of those magical crayons, I bet I could learn to love purple.  And then all those thoughts I have that I long to put into words, could just be drawn.


This dancing swan is an example of pages and pages of unwritten words poured into one drawing.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I should have drawn her in purple.

I did give the sewing project that I completed to my friend.  Well, I mailed it to her and it should arrive today.  I sent it with all its imperfections and 'do overs'.  I sent it because perfection should not exist between true friends.  I sent it because it was made with much love and prayers for her.  And I sent it because in spite of all its warts, it was still made well enough to serve its intended purpose.

But next time I feel a need to stitch something, I'll be looking for my purple crayons!


Wind and Honey Creations

Just Gotta Brag On My Creative Pencils Students!

My pioneer students at Creative Pencils have come to the completion of the Pencils 101 class.  Pencils 101 is the introductory set of 10 lessons that gives the foundation for all the other lessons and projects that will fill the Creative Pencils site.  I am so proud of how well they have done.  Most of them were complete beginners when they started Pencils 101.  And now, a mere 2 months later, they are doing wonderful drawings.  I've been given permission by two of them to share their final Pencils 101 project with you.

I am so proud of their hard work and how well they stuck with the lessons even when they were unsure of themselves.  These two artist did not have drawing experience in the past, or at least very little.  But as they have progressed through the weeks I have seen them grow before my very eyes.  These drawings were completed with just a simple graphite pencil!

This rocking horse was drawn by Vanessa Cherry.  

This bird house was drawn by Sandy Simpson

Want to learn more about drawing and creating your own pencil art?  Try out my online pencil art learning community at Creative Pencils.  We are having a great time there and my students are progressing so well.

****Creative Pencils Workshops have moved to Creative Workshops****


Wind and Honey Creations