First Doodle Art of 2025 and #1 and 2 of the 100 Day Sketching Project 2025

 Nothing much, but these are my first two creative endeavors for the new year. I'm trying to get back into the groove of daily sketching/painting/creating something, anything to stay in practice, because, trust me, it will get away from you if you don't practice it. It will come back to you with even more practice. That's the good news!

First day of 2025, a neurological sketch in my 7x10" WN sketchbook using my Zig Writer bullet marker, which I may add color to later.

Day two, a quirky doodle sketch with a Zig Writer bullet marker, Kuretake watercolors, a pink Posca paint pen, and blue and yellow colored pencils in my 7x10" Canson sketchbook. This cute bear image emerged from a bunch of random lines on the page! Fun stuff!

That's it so far!

Still undecided as to whether I'm going to continue blogging and sharing or not, or even staying on social media. We'll see...

Hope you are all off to a good start in the new year, and may we all keep up our creative pursuits, whatever they may be! 

A Few More Quirkies

 I am just totally shut down for the moment, for some reason, and have lost interest in everything, including my creativity. I feel overwhelmed and don't seem to be able to make myself do anything, even things I love. I just want to sleep. Praying that it's only a temporary state and I can come out of it. It's like I want to do stuff, but something inside won't let me.

I have only managed these four quirky doodles and one memory post in the past few weeks, and I had to really force myself. I'm surprised they turned out as well as they did. 

Hopefully, I'll get out of this funk soon and can get back to my paper clay and painting projects, as well as, my memory book. I'm thinking I may just take a break from everything for a few days and not even think about anything. Just sort of try to clear my head and change my routine.

In the meantime, thank you for visiting! Stay well and keep making stuff! :)

8 Miscellaneous Sketches/Doodles from this Week

 A few sketches in my small sketchbooks from this week using an Ebony pencil, a mechanical pencil, and a gel pen. Two of them are in my new small book with 140 lb hard pressed paper, the flowers and the cat, and the rest are in my last Arteza book with smooth and textured mixed media paper. They are not posted in the order that I actually did them. I did the last one first and did the sheep this morning. Unperfectly fun!

I attempted to sketch a sheep head using a Pinterest photo for reference and a mechanical pencil. Not bad for a second try. It ain't pretty, but you can tell it's a sheep!

An attempt at sketching myself as a child from an old photo with an Ebony pencil on textured paper. I, for sure, need more practice!

A imaginary vase of flowers on hard pressed paper with a mechanical pencil. I plan on adding some watercolor after I  adjust the flowers a bit to make them a bit more irregular shaped.

Re-adjusted flowers: 

An imaginary woman on textured paper with an Ebony pencil just doodling...

A quirky cat emerged from the pencil marks with an Ebony pencil and a gel pen!

Large feathers emerged from the Ebony pencil marks on smooth paper, which I referenced Pinterest photos to turn them into Magpie feathers for my Magpie's Nest Journal pages, if I can ever get it together. See sidebar for the Magpie's Nest Class link on Jeanne Oliver's site.

I love these two little beings that came forth from my quirky marks with an Ebony pencil on mixed media paper. I plan to add watercolor to them at some point too.

And last, although this sketch was actually first this week, another simple figure appeared from my doodle marks with an ebony pencil and a gel pen. I meant to fix the smudge on her hand before I scanned her. Another one I want to add watercolor to!

These last two fit right in with the three I shared in a previous post and were actually done within a couple of days of each other. I don't know where the images are coming from, but I like them, and I now have five sketches that I plan to add watercolor to for a set/series. 

Anyway, that's it for now, aside from writing for my memory book, which I haven't decided to share yet. The rest of my many projects are in limbo at the moment. I'm proud of myself for keeping up my sketching/doodling practice though. I don't know if I'll ever be a good artist, but I won't give up. It feeds my soul and makes me happy!

Three Mysterious Quirky Doodles and a Shadow

 It's been a busy week, but, because the questions for my Storyworth memory book for the last couple of weeks have required fairly short answers, I've managed to keep up with them and have my tenth memory ready to email to them, and I've published a couple of blog posts, plus I made two more large potholders, besides all of the life stuff going on, so I guess I've done okay creatively this week.

Here are three quirky doodle figures that emerged out of my random pencil markings over the last three or four days. Mixed media sketchbook, small, with rough and smooth pages, Ebony pencil and black gel pen.

These two jumped out at me right away from the tangled pencil marks, made last Friday night while I was on hold with tech support when our internet went out. I outlined them in black gel pen, which got on my nerves with its skipping ink. I like the simplicity of the figures. It reminds me of my shadow. I'm thinking I will go back and add some watercolor to it later. 

This one also jumped right out of the pencil scribbles at me, similar to the one above, but without the shadow figure. I love it and may add some watercolor to it later too!

Like the first two, this little character easily emerged from the pencil scribbles, but with a little more detail. Is she hiding a secret?

These three doodles seem to go together somehow, although they were done on different days. The first one was done four days ago and the last two this morning (Tuesday). I may have made a series, or at least at trio!

These doodles may, or may not have, been inspired by my subconscious after making the photos of my shadow a couple of weeks ago, although I had forgotten about them when I was doodling. Kind of eerie... 

The last doodle also finished up the last page in this sketchbook, which I started in June 2022, so I get to start a new sketchbook today, the third, and last, of my Arteza mixed media sketchbooks. Such fun to flip back through the pages of this one and see what all I've done in the last nine months. Of course, I have also done stuff in some larger sketchbooks along the way, but they are still works in progress.

I have ordered a 3-pack of new sketchbooks, I forget the name, but they have hard pressed watercolor paper pages, 30 to a book, so I will be trying something new when they get here. For now, I'm off to christen the new book I already have. See ya later!

A Couple of Sketches and Quirky Doodles

 A few sketches from over the last week.

Inspired by a Vintage Pinterest photo-Charcoal Pencil

Quirky Doodle Sketch in pencil

Quick Sketch with a Frixion Erasable Pen inspired by an Amanda Blake painting

Quirky Doodle Sketch in pencil with acrylic paint and black Zig marker

I haven't been fooling with my art as much lately. I've been doing some writing for the memory book from Storyworth that I was gifted for Christmas by our niece. They send me one question/prompt a week to write a memory about. I was so rusty with my writing that it's taken me a while to get back into the frame of mind to write. So far I've written four memory/stories and emailed them back to them. Our niece also gets a copy each week to read.

I was a little overwhelmed for a few days. I really enjoy writing, but I also wanted to work on a few art projects. Since the writing prompts take some thought, typing, revising, etc., I've been working on those first. I haven't decided yet if I want to post my stories to my blog.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to for the last few days. So many ideas swirling around in my head and so little time left! Hope your creative juices are flowing freely in whatever your passion is!

Two Sketches and a Quirky Doodle Dog

 A couple of sketches from this past week. The first was inspired by a Pinterest photo in charcoal pencil and vine charcoal, and I didn't leave enough room for all the hair.

The second was a quick sketch of the same photo from memory trying to show the upside down triangle shape of the hairdo in pencil. I still didn't leave enough room for the hair! I love the photo though!

I've been a little down since Christmas, despite getting a few charcoal sketches done, and wasn't feeling in the mood to sketch really three days ago, so I went back to where I usually go when I'm feeling stuck. Quirky doodles! I LOVE doing these and find it hard to stop once I start, but it's been ages since I've done one. 

Anyway, I closed my eyes and lightly made marks and lines on the page, then opened my eyes to see what image would show itself to me. My heart wasn't really in it though (because of an early doctor appointment), and no matter how I turned the page, I couldn't see the image. It was a long tiring day, so I didn't look at it again until the next morning, and viola! The poodle dog showed herself to me right off! She was hiding amongst the lines all along! Of course, once she appeared, I sketched her in, adding a few more lines and shading attempts as I went. I think she turned out ok, quirks and all!

I often go back to the quirky doodles when I'm creatively stuck. I can do a bunch of them and I usually get unstuck. Plus, it's a good mental exercise!

In this case, I'm not really stuck. I'm feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. I have so many creative things I want to start and finish all at the same time, and I'm frustrated because everything else keeps getting in the way, plus the guilt of letting the housework get piled up to the point that it is, even though I'm not really that physically able to keep it up anymore.

But it is what it is, and we're doing the best we can, and I continue to put my creative endeavors ahead of housework, because that's what makes me happy for whatever time I have left. Hopefully, someone else will enjoy it after I'm gone!

Enjoy whatever time you have left on earth the best you can and do something to make yourself happy!

Playing with Abstract-Mixed Media

I'm still working on the Santos doll's arms, but I'm waiting for the clay to dry fully before sculpting the hands onto them, and they will then have to dry before I can attach them to the shoulders. In the meantime, I did a little playing in my sketchbook the last couple of days and this little mixed media abstract/doodle art/writing/collage piece was born.

It has several layers of marks with different types of pencils, brushed over with water, then some brush marks with white gesso, India ink spatters, a bit of red acrylic paint, a tea stained gauze and a b/w door knob plate photo, with a hole in it where I tore the knob out for another project, glued on with clear gel medium, some asemic writing in black and white gel pens, and a bit of tannish watercolor. The hole in the photo made a perfect frame for the three red dots, and the patina on the brass plate looks a bit like tiny people in the background. The doodle art came in when the little face appeared in the bottom left corner, complete with body. I couldn't resist bringing her on out! I do love putting chaos to paper, then bringing out the images that appear to me! It felt really good to play, and I love this little piece!

 

I also did another page of asemic writing practice. I love writing this way! Hopefully, I will get better!

I started another abstract in my sketchbook this morning with pencils, gesso, watercolor, and a fair amount of water. It's drying while I ponder on the next layer, and I plan on sculpting the hands onto the doll arms today, and maybe attaching the arms to the shoulders. We'll see!

The virus is raging again in the midst of everything else going on. Stay safe and well! Creativity is good for the soul! 

Some Practice Sketches

Spring! My favorite season! Except for the storms.

I'm still in a slump creative, and otherwise, but I have done a little bit of practice sketching the last few days. Although I didn't make photos, I also pasted a few collage elements into my Wandering Muse journal, so I guess that's something. 😊

Inspired by a Renoir print on board that I got at a flea market years ago, and sketched from across the room from the comfort of my recliner.

This lady is a quirky doodle sketch, and was originally just stabilo pencil empty coat sleeves, but today I used a water brush pen to brush over the pencil, then used white gesso brushed over that to make her a furry muff. I like her better than the original now.

Same sketch, but cropped with a burlesque filter added. I think she's interesting and mysterious!

Wrens are my favorite birds, so I found a couple of pictures on Pinterest, and also a cute fox to do quick sketches of.

A quick bunny sketch, also from a Pinterest photo.

Their eyes actually have highlights, but they're not showing up in the photos.

In lieu of making stuff, but also creative and exercise for my mind, I have discovered online jigsaw puzzles, and have also introduced hubby to them. We have both been really enjoying them. In fact, it's a new addiction!

Waiting for my creative juices to start flowing again, and trying to make myself do some Spring cleaning...

Stay safe and well!

First Art Attemps of 2021!

 My muse is still hibernating, so I am still trying to coax her out by doing quirky doodle sketches, not too successfully, I might add. I tried two different days this past week to pull images from marks, but my heart, again, wasn't in it. Too many distractions with world events, I guess. 

Anyway, here are my two attempts for this week. At least, I tried! :)

Don't quit!

One Lone Quirky Doodle...Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

My muse has apparently left the country, because I can not make myself do anything creative, and haven't been able to since before Thanksgiving. 

I bought supplies, and intended to make hand painted necklaces for Christmas gifts a few months ago, and I actually started a couple, but that's as far as I got. Maybe next year!

I did pick up my sketchbook and a pencil several days ago and forced myself to do a quirky doodle sketch. It was not fun, my heart wasn't in it, and it turned out not so good, but here it is, and it is what it is. They look kind of like I feel at this time. 😒

Updated 1/1/21: This turned out to be my last post for 2020, as I just could not get myself to post again through the holidays, so I hope you all had a good Christmas with family and friends. We did. It was strange not to be with family Christmas Day, but hubby and I had a good day together, and we were in touch with family and friends, and we were all safe and well, so we are grateful for that.

Hope you all have a safe and happy New Year's Eve, and prayers that the pandemic goes away and we all have a better year ahead. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to sharing 2021 with you!

Quirky Doodle, Girls and Bunny, Sketches

I hope you all had, and are having, a good Thanksgiving day and weekend, despite everything being different this year. We still have much to be thankful for if we just stop to think about it.

I have done very little creatively in the last few weeks. I just have not been wanting to do anything creative, or otherwise. Just too much sickness, sadness, and chaos going on around all of us, on top of the holiday season now upon us. It gets overwhelming at times. 

My husband and I have been staying at home as much as possible since March, and we wear masks and try to be careful when we do have to go out, and so far we have avoided Covid 19. But who knows what minute that can change. Some of our family and friends have not been so lucky. It's spreading so fast and getting worse by the day. We didn't get together as a family for Thanksgiving this year, and probably won't for Christmas either, since they're predicting that cases will surge again in a couple of weeks from Thanksgiving travel and gatherings. We are both in our seventies with diabetes and other health problems, and I have breathing problems, so it's a bit scary for us, as well as many of you.

Anyway, I have half-heartedly tried to work on a few things. Most of the time, doing quirky doodles will get me going, but not this time. Nor did looking back through my previous art journals. I managed to do these three doodles one evening with just a regular plain pencil...

Quirkey Doodle Sketches-Four Women and a Crow

April 25, 2020-Finally did some quirky doodle sketches! It's been a while. With. all the Coronavirus and other stuff going on, I'm having a hard time doing anything at all. I love the staying at home, and it's pretty much our lifestyle anyway, but I'm very frustrated that I can't have the energy to do the things that I want to do. Quirky doodles have a way of making me feel better! 😊

Some rather interesting images came forth from my random pencil scribbles! I haven't figured out what they mean yet, but I'm sure it'll come to me. The backgrounds are actually the white of my sketchbook pages. I don't know how they wound up gray looking. Oh, well! It kind of describes my mood of late. 😔

Thankful for the sketching practice and looking forward to doing more! Even ten minutes helps!

Stay well and stay safe!

Some Mindless Doodling

I can't seem to focus on much, with all that's going on in the world right now, but I've been doodling some, just to keep things flowing. Some of these are quirky doodles, where I make a bunch of marks with my eyes closed, then pull images from the marks, and some of them I drew from memory with my eyes closed.

Quirky Doodle Vase w Flowers

Another catch-up post draft of a quirky doodle sketch pulled from all the random marks on the page, done in my mixed media journal back in June, which I have yet to paint.

Stabilo pencil doodle sketch w some shading...

Water brush pen added for kind of a monochromatic effect. I do plan to add a watercolor wash over at least parts of it at some point though.