Seven Years of Advent Candles

A friend was wondering how I draw candles for my Advent calendars.  Her question prompted me to think of all the candles together, and so I created this collage in PowerPoint.  It's seven years of Sunday candles, cropped from all my calendars.  I like the variety of shapes, colors, words, and styles -  realistic or abstract, simple or detailed. 

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy above.  For a clearer view, click on the image.

The columns are years 2008-2012 and 2014-2015;  I didn't draw a calendar in 2013.  The rows are the four Sundays in Advent, with a candle added each week, somewhat like the traditional Advent wreath. 

For more about my calendars, including the words and the drawing materials, click here and here. 

Pineapple - Watercolor

One of our art group participants brought in a pineapple last week.  So I painted it.  I'm happy with it, except for the bottom edge of the fruit. 

• Dr. Ph. Martin's radiant concentrated watercolor numbers 1A, 2A, 11A, 12A, 13A, 14A.  For more information about the watercolors, including my color chart, see this post.
• Paper: Canson Montval watercolor block, 140 lb. cold press, 4x6"

Blue Glass Pitcher - Watercolor

A friend asked me to draw her grandmother's blue glass pitcher.  After experimenting with my typical pen and markers, I felt that watercolor would have a better chance to capture the pitcher's lovely mixture of clear and milk glass.  But my post-childhood watercolor experience has been very limited - abstract wash backgrounds for my drawings - and this pitcher made a challenging subject for my first "real life" painting.

Fortunately though, a few months ago, I joined a weekly art group at our area's senior center.  It's led by a very good artist and educator, who was able to get me started and make suggestions along the way.  I'm happy with my finished painting, and even happier that my friend likes it too!

• Dr. Ph. Martin's radiant concentrated watercolor numbers 8A, 9A, 14A.  For more information about the watercolors, including my color chart, see this post.
• Lyra Aquacolor crayon numbers 5610001, 47, 76. For more information about the watercolor crayons, including my color chart, see this post.
• Paper: Canson Aquarelle Arches, cold pressed, cut down to ~ 6 x 8".   The paper looks bluish gray in my image, but it's really a very light cream color.  

January Daily Drawings - Completed

I'm trying a "daily drawing" idea for January and maybe beyond, with a computer-printed grid like my annual Advent calendars.  Each rectangle is 1-7/16" x 1-5/8".  The drawings can look blurry in the blog post, so please click on the image for a better view. 

The small spaces work well for me to focus, relax, and draw what I see.  My subjects are things inside our house.
Week 1: Garlic, a poinsettia center, blackberries, a shell, a tomato, a knit hat, a silver pin.
Week 2: Flat leafed parsley, a rug motif, a cup, spool of thread, crocheted lace edge, candle snuffer on ruffle edged dish, can of colored pencils.
Week 3: Layer cake, turtle necklace, ginger root, a radish, basket with mail, small gold-tone scissors with ribbon, pottery candlestick.
Week 4: Green onions, a leaflet of grape ivy, staple remover, folded cloth, a satin bow, slice of pie (apple-cranberry-raisin), part of a tea strainer. 

• Copic markers and multiliners:  I don't plan to list them all, but if you'd like to know, please leave me a comment, and I'll be happy to add more details.  I used a Signo Uni-ball white gel pen to draw the lace for January 15 and to add some highlights on a few other days.  Also a Signo Uni-ball gold gel pen for January 19.
• Paper: Neenah

Pot with Artificial Ivy

This brightly painted ceramic pot, about 3 inches tall, was a gift from a friend thirty years ago. It is filled with (not very convincing) artificial ivy.

Inspired by Illustration Friday's word for the week, "artificial."

• Copic marker colors used: C1,3,5, R08, E25,41,43, Y38, G12,17,40, YG03,63,95
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to 5x7"

Gilt-Edged Notebook

Once again, Illustration Friday prompted me to draw something I never would have thought to draw otherwise.

This week's word "diary" started me thinking about my mom and how she encouraged my creativity ... drawing, painting, collage, writing, singing, sewing, knitting, embroidery, and more. Especially all the journals, paper, and art supplies that she gave me over the years. This gilt-edged notebook, my current diary, is just one example.

I really enjoyed drawing it and thinking of her. Thanks, Mom. And thanks, I.F. See below for a scan of the actual diary.

• Copic marker colors used: W1,3, YR00,07,15,20, Y19,26, G17,21,24,28, YG97, E43,44, V000,12, BV04, RV13,91
• Background: Copic airbrushed with B45 marker, dotted with B41, 45
  
• Copic multiliner colors used: Pink, purple, sky blue, orange
• Gold Uni-ball gel pen
  
• Paper: Neenah
  

Teapot with Cup - and Sybil's Teapot

An early morning pot of tea is my favorite way to start the day. For this simple drawing (above), I used a heavy line - 0.8 Copic multiliner, instead of my usual 0.2 or 0.3. Inspired by last week's Illustration Friday word, "early." I drew it from life, but I changed the teapot color and added the green cloth.

• Copic marker colors used: Table E43,44; Background airbrush E43; Cloth G21 with BG93 lines and dots, shaded with airbrush BG96; Cloth edge G24,28; Cup, spoon, and tea C0,3, E00,33, B26, BG93, G24,28, Y15, R24; Teapot base color Custom color B2000, dotted with R02, E11,43, BG32,72,93, B21,45, shaded with airbrush C3
  
• Paper: Neenah
  

Added May 31,2010: See below (posted with her permission) for my friend Sybil's teapot drawing, which she e-mailed to me after she saw my drawing. She drew it a few years ago "in response to a wonderful exhibit at an art museum ... all kinds of artsy teapots." Wonderful patterns, colors, and shapes. For more of her drawings and a link to her blog, click on "Sybil's drawings" below or in the label list to the right.

Sketch of Statice Flowers in a Clear Vase

Warming up on scrap drawing paper, I did this sketch of purple statice flowers in a clear glass vase. I decided to finish it by adding some sketchy colors.

Because it was scrap paper, there were some stray marks and dots, so I added more. I let the marker drop, fine tip down, from a few inches above the paper, to make dots and marks in random sizes and shapes.

Then I ran a marker along the edges for a small, irregular border. A light wash of watercolor completed it for the table top and shadow.

To see my earlier, less sketchy drawing of statice, click here.

• Copic marker colors used: YG63,91, BG10, V04,09,12, BV04,08
• Paper: Strathmore drawing paper, cut down to 4x6"
  

Garden Weeds

Weeds propagating in the garden. Dandelion with its many seeds, grass with its ground-level runners, and a plant that I know as "witch-weed," perhaps in the morning-glory family. Witch-weed propagates by a white underground rhizome that sends up threadlike roots and elongated heart-shaped leaves. It's difficult to remove, because the rhizomes are brittle, and just a small fragment left in the ground will grow another plant. Today's drawing was inspired by Illustration Friday's word for the week, "propagate."

Below is my 1981 pencil sketch of a small witch-weed plant that I found growing in my garden. After I drew the weed, I'm sure I thoroughly destroyed it.

• Copic marker colors used: Rocks W3, BV23; Soil E43+E21 (colored on top of each other), dotted with E33,71 applied with W0 brush tip, all blended with W1 and 0; Leaves and stems G07,40, YG05,21,23,63; Dandelion roots E41; Rhizome Copic opaque white; Sky airbrushed with B01, then mottled with Copic Opaque White applied on a wet brush.
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to 5x7"

Basket with Apples and Pears

Bright colors for a winter's day. It is drawn from life, except the basket was a metal pan, and the napkin was beige.

Technique - added February 8, 2010: To create the textures in the napkin, the tabletop, and the wall, first I colored with a light color, a bit unevenly. After my first color was dry, I used another light color on top of it, also coloring a bit unevenly. See color list below for details.

• Copic marker colors used: Custom color B2000, BV20, C1, Y000,11,19, YR20, G14,21,40, YG21,63, R00,32, RV11,14,17,29, E09,11,37,41,43,44,49,53, dots of sepia multiliner.
• Color details: Napkin: Y11 on top of G40. Tabletop: Custom color B2000 on top of BV20. Wall: C1 on top of Custom color B2000.
• Paper: Neenah, 8.5x11"

Advent Calendar 2009

Originally posted November 29. Final edits December 24: My Advent calendar drawing for 2009 is now complete. Each day's space is small, 1-3/8 x 1-5/8", so you may want to double-click the drawing for a larger view.

• Click here for a listing of 2009 words, sources of words, and Copic colors used.
• Click here to print or save my blank 2009 Advent calendar template (PDF format).
• Added November 27, 2010: Click here for my 2010 Advent calendar drawing.
• Click here for 2008.
  
• For all related posts, click on my Advent-Christmas label, below or in the label list to the right.

For links to my friend Sybil's Advent calendar drawings (2008 and 2009), scroll down to my post below, also dated December 25. She has posted her drawings for Weeks 1, 2, and 3, and now her final large 2009 calendar. (Or click on "home" below, and then scroll down.)

Work in progress note: This post was dated December 25 to keep it at the top of my blog through Christmas Day. From November 29 through December 24, as I completed my daily drawings, I replaced the image here with the new version, and also updated my separate listing (see link above) with the words, sources of words, and Copic marker colors used for each day.

Fruit Bowl 2 - Sketch

This was just a quick little warm-up drawing, pencil on scrap paper. But I liked it well enough to color it. The coloring is sketchy like the pencil drawing, but layered in places. See Fruit Bowl 1, a year earlier, for another version of the same subject.

• Copic marker colors used: B41,45, E00,04,95, G21, YG03,63,91, V04,15, YR04,09,15,21, R08,24, RV13,95
• Paper: 4x6" copier paper

Purple Statice Flowers in a Speckled Vase

A stoneware vase with statice flowers. The vase and trivet were airbrushed (using the Copic airbrush), with lines of colorless blender to decorate the trivet.

Click here to see my May 2010 statice drawing.

• Copic marker colors used: purple multiliner; flowers V000,04,09, B24 0n V000; leaves YG91,63; vase W0 base, airbrushed with Y95 and V09; rim of vase Y95; trivet airbrushed with BV04,23.
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to 5x7"

Geraniums in Blue Planter

The geraniums in their blue ceramic planter.

Click here to see them in another, close-up drawing from three months ago, drawn right after planting them.

Copic colors used: Leafy plant YG03,21, G12,24,40, RV91; Planter B01,41,45, BG32,72, BV20, Y11, E25, W7; Geranium flowers R02,08,24,29, RV14,19,95; Geranium leaves YG03,63, G07,14,21,24; Background W0,1, E41,43. Also W3 for all the shadows.
Paper: Neenah, cut down to 5x7"

Cove Landscape with Herons

This is a cove drawn from life. It might be my first ever "real life landscape," because my landscapes are usually just lines and gestures. There's a lot I could do better, but I like it anyway. Especially the rocks, and the shading in the far hills.

Copic colors used: Cool Gray multiliner; Rocks W1,3,5, YG91; Hills BV20,23, C0; Grass G21+YG91, BG93; Sky B32wide, B21, C0; Mud & reeds E41,43,44, G07, YG21; Poles E00,09; Outer water BG72,75, BV20, B000, BG10; Inner water BG000,010,72,45, B000,26, W0,1, B21; Dark birds B41, C3; White birds C0.
Paper: Neenah, 8.5x11"

Tomatoes in Colander, with Basil and Napkin

In real life, the small colander is red enamel, but I didn't want that much red in the drawing. The napkin is brown, with faded edges. I made it blue instead, and I like the way the edges look. The table top is imaginary, drawn with streaks of marker to look like light-colored wood.

Copic colors used: When I plan on a lot of layering of my colors, I like to start by coloring everything with a pale base color. Base colors - Stems E000,Y000, Tomatoes R02, Colander C0, Cloth B000, Basil G40, Table E21 (streaks); Colors added on top of base colors - Stems G21,24,E41, Table E41, E44 on E21, Colander C1,3,5, Sanford Uniball silver Gel Impact pen, Basil YG03,63,G07,14,17, Tomatoes R08,24,29,W3, Cloth B1,14,26, Shadow W3,5
Paper: Neenah, 8.5x11"

Geraniums

We planted geraniums today in the big ceramic planters in front of our house. Vivid reds, pinks, and greens. Then, of course, I had to draw them. A couple weeks later, my friend Sybil colored a copy of my drawing in a different way.

Edited August 10, 2009: Click here for another geranium drawing, several months later.

Copic colors used: Base colors G000, RV000, R000; W0,5, RV14,19,95, Y38, R02,08,24,29, G14,21,24,28, Y000, YG03, E04
Paper: white Crane's card approx. 4x6"

Iris Bouquet 3

A friend asked me to color my iris drawing for her, but with "her colors." So we went through the color chart together, and she picked out her favorites. I was able to use all of them.

She double-matted it with soft purple and deeper green, which looked beautiful with it. I had intended for her to cover up the bottom part of the vase (it looks too tall to me), but she liked it tall.

Click on the "iris" label, below or in the label list to the right, to see the other coloring and also the original line drawing.

Heart Drawing

The drawing was based on this silver necklace, a gift from my husband.

Copic colors used: BV20, RV91,95, silver Sanford Uni-ball Gel Impact pen.
Paper: ecru Crane's card approx. 4x6"

To try this, click here.

Advent Calendar 2008

During Advent, I drew something every day in my calendar, a Word table that I created and printed. Each day's space is 1-3/8 x 1-5/8".

It was a wonderful experience for me. If you're interested, click here for what I learned from it. Colors, words, and sources of quoted words are listed here.

Added November 27, 2010:
Click here for my 2010 Advent calendar drawings. Click here for 2009.

The "animals and people" labels are for 12/25. The "from life" label is for 12/7, where I drew a pressed-glass candlestick that is on my dining room table. The "still life" label is for the Sunday candle drawings.

In addition to Copic markers and multiliners, I used Copic Opaque White (12/7 & 12/15), colored pencil (a touch of white on the candles 12/7), gold Sanford Uniball Gel Impact pen (12/16, 12/23 & 12/24), and white gel pen (lace 12/14). Click here for details about the Copic colors used. The pine branch for 12/15 is drawn from Marianne Walker's tutorial on coloring palm and pine branches (her I Like Markers blog) - used with her permission.