EDM Challenge #104: Draw Salt & Pepper Shakers

Here's my drawing of our salt and pepper shakers. We actually do have real salt and pepper shakers, for when company comes over. But for everyday use, we just use these.

I'm happy with the salt shaker, but the pepper box looks a bit too angled. It doesn't have the same perspective as the salt. It's always easier to see these things in a photo rather than the actual drawing.

EP

We're Goin' to Las Vegas!

We just made reservations for Las Vegas! The Moody Blues are playing three concerts at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, so we bought tickets! I'm very excited. I've never been to Las Vegas before, even though it's not that far away from Portland.

We'll leave Portland on Saturday morning, see the concert Saturday night, then have all day Sunday to
walk around and see the town. We come back on Monday morning.

We saw the Moody Blues when they were in Portland a couple of years ago and we had a great time. They are still a really good band!

EP

EDM #44 - Draw an Animal

For EDM Challenge #44 I made a dog portrait. The original black and white dog photo is in a terrific dog book called:

If Only You Knew How Much I Smell You: True Portraits of Dogs

by Roy Jr Blount, Valerie Shaff

The book is full of dog pictures and writings about them.

I also added another dog drawing I did in charcoal.

Three Older Drawings

African Spoonbill drawing, in pastels

I thought I'd post three older drawings I did while taking a class awhile back.

The first, left, is an African Spoonbill bird done in pastels. I found a photo in a lovely book on African animals.

Made up Insect in charcoal

The second, right, is a make-believe insect I made for a drawing class. We had to combine parts of three different insects to make one new insect.

This one has a grasshopper head and forelegs, a spotted larva torso, and a scorpion's tail. We also had to name the bug and identify the various parts. This is the "Spotted Leaf Cutter" in charcoal.

The third, below, is another bird....I can't remember what type, but some kind of stork or crane

Bird sketch in pastels

EDM Challenge #103: Draw Exercise Equipment

Here's my third EDM challenge, #103 draw exercise equipment.

These are my purple hand weights and my iPod Shuffle. When I do exercise at home, I use these in the living room. Otherwise, I'm taking a circuit weight training class at work. I should be much thinner by now!!!

After looking at this, I realize that I made the top weight longer than the bottom one - I should have shortened the top one or lengthened the bottom. Sometimes It's hard to tell until I see it from a distance.

EP

Let There Be Light!!!

I got a new light for the winter blahs. It's a "Happy Light" by Verilux for S.A.D. I found it for $150 at a local lamp wholesaler - most are listed on the web for about $189+.
The northwest is very gray and rainy all winter.
It begins to feel like hybernation. That's why we all medicate ourselves with coffee.
Is it any wonder that STARBUCKS originated in Seattle????

EDM Challenge #102: Draw a Plug

Ok, here's my electric plug - an extension cord from the garage.

I'm still trying to figure out the watercolor thing. It's much harder than it looks! I've been browsing the blogs of other EDM members, and their watercolors are really beautiful. I've gotten some books from the library and am practicing with the lessons they suggest. I see that another class is in my future!

EP

Snowy Walk to the Coffee Shop

 Portland got dumped on! The town is closed for a second day. This morning we walked down the the hill to the coffee shop and took some pictures of the neighborhood. It's still pretty snowy and icy, but there is no wind - it's a perfect winter day. We ran into a fellow ex-South Dakotan who said, "This is a typical spring day back home!" The last snow we had was two years ago, so it's always a big deal in Portland. It's very hilly and icy, and getting around is tough. There were lots of accidents.

This is Del Prado, a street near our house.

This is Jefferson Parkway, the road up Mt. Sylvania to our house.

This is the entrance to our townhouse property

Our Sheltie Jack loves the snow!

EDM Challenge #101: Draw A Bar of Soap

Here's my first Everyday Matters Challenge, #101 Draw a Bar of Soap:

This bar of soap has been in my shower for quite awhile. It's peeling and cracking, but still smells nice! This is my first Everyday Matters Challenge and my first work with pen, ink, and watercolor. In previous art classes I did some pieces in pencil, charcoal, and pastels.

I recently discovered the Everyday Matters art group through Danny Gregory's blog: http://www.dannygregory.com/ Each week a new challenge is posted and people from around the world share their art. The list includes things like draw a shoe, draw your toothbrush, draw a brown paper bag.... Here's the whole list: http://www.flickr.com/groups/59586185@N00/discuss/108608/

Great Fun!
EP