graphite + instagram

graphite + instagram, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

I am back in Washington after a trip to Oregon for my sister's wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and I got to see some family and friends who I do not often see.

After being around so many people I am taking some quiet time to relax. I am really an introvert (though I often talk too much when I am around people, which actually is not very often.) So anyway I need some time to recover and process things.

I have been therefore lying about reading and playing with pencils. I have really been enjoying playing with some of my photos with the instagram app.

This photo is pencil and colored pencil. I finished this painting this morning. Later today I was playing with adding water to my water soluble sketch pencils, then some layers of ink on top of that. I am still figuring out what effects I can get with that. Sometimes I get frustrated and think I should make "real" art but I know I have to experiment to grow as an artist. you can see more pencil sketches manipulated w/ instagram here.

work in pencil

pencil. the upper right one is from 1989, other 2 from this week., a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

I've been playing with pencil this week. I used to do a lot of pencil work in the past. The drawing on the top in this photo is from 1989. The other two are from this week. I'm using mostly mars lumograph 100 4b, and portfolio aquasketch 4b this week. I have not tried adding water to the aquasketch yet. The paper is Cartiera Magnani L'antic Cartiera Tecniche Miste. 140lb, coldpress. So it's actually watercolor paper and will probably be ideal for adding water to the aquasketch pencils. I bought it for watercolor but ended up not liking the texture for the type of work I do, but I do like it for pen and in and pencil.

Among the Fungi

2011 sketch journal, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

Oh dear, I have not been a good blogger. I am not sure life has been very exciting lately. I have hardly drawn this week and have not painted in close to 2 weeks but i am hoping that will change.. i've been knitting and working on the guest book for my sister's wedding, and reading, and sorting through things to donate. i did read 2 cute new kid / teen books : The Kneebone Boy and The Humming Room by Ellen Potter. Books featuring charming quirky kids. The Kneebone Boy had kids who reminded me a bit of E. Nesbit's Bastable family. I just wanted to check in and hopefully I will have some new art to show you soon!

This is from a page of my sketch journal from last year.

Happy Mother's Day

DSCF0106, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

Happy Mother's Day to my mother and all the mothers reading this. This is a photo taken a few years ago in Colorado. Left to right: me, my twin sister Marti, and my mother.

My mother has a weaving deadline so we are celebrating next week. I hope your plans for today, whatever they may be, are pleasant.

pen and ink and pitt pens

pen and ink, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

I have been nursing a cold this week and have nto done any drawing or painting. i did knit a little and finish a small beaded project. so this drawing is something from a few years ago - 2009 to be exact. This is drawn with a pitt pen, size S, in color sanguine. Depending on your monitor it may appear red, but it's really more a rust color. And one of my favorite pens. I do wish that the S pens came in more colors. There is quite a bit more color selection in size B - the brush pens. Those are also nice but I prefer the smaller nibs for detail work.

It's finally sunny again here in Seattle. I hope you are all enjoying some spring weather and finding ways to be creative!

how to make lavender sachets

lavender sachets, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

I wish this photo were a bit better. I did not check it before I mailed these off! They are a little washed out here. I thought I would show you these in case you are looking for a small and simple project for mother's day. I started by cutting out a bunch of 2x2" squares from various fabrics. I used my rotary cutter but you could also use scissors. After I had a nice selection to chose from I selected squares to go together and pieced them on my machine. I almost did it by hand - it would be good to do in front of the tv. i might do more by hand. I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Then I trimmed them down a little and squared them up. The backs are not pieced, just one square. It'll be a bit smaller than 4x4" when you take into account that there was a seam allowance in the top part. Put the back and front right sides together, and stitch w/ 1/4" seam allowance, leaving an opening on one side to fill the sachet. clip and turn, then fill the sachet w/ dried lavender. I used a small measuring spoon to do this. Then I covered 3 small buttons with fabric. I think these buttons were 3/8". I sewed the buttons on top, stitched up the opening, and they were done! great for using up scraps or fat quarters.

these directions should make sense if you are a sewer, but if you have questions, just ask!

Bird Watching

Birdwatching, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

Two posts in one day! I did get around to scanning the painting i mentioned in the previous post today. I had to scan it in 3 pieces. I sure like the photoshop "photomerge" feature - so much easier than stitching images by hand! Anyway.. this is:
Bird Watching
10 x 20"
watercolor and ink on paper
(i wish i could remember what paper this is.. i tore it off a big sheet and it did not have a watermark. It's nice and thick and sort of cottony.)

See if you can find the hidden birds. How many birds do you see?

some of my paintings in autumny colors

some of my paintings in autumny colors, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

this week has sorted of floated by in a swirl of heavy rains and tissues. i am not sure if i am suffering from a cold or allergies - maybe it doesn't even matter which - but i have not been bursting with energy. i have read and listened to several books and finished a large (for me) painting. it's 10x20" and you can see it once i see if i can scan it and stitch together the scans. or perhaps i'll try taking a photo of it, but scans tend to turn out better. it'd be nice to have a really big scanner but i suppose most people don't have those at home and i've no idea where i would put it if i did have one.

i was playing with flickr toys this morning and made this mosaic of some of my paintings i've done over the last couple of years in autumny colors. which are some of my favorites. though now is spring and i've been painting recently in blues and greens and purples and some warmer colors like magenta and fuchsia for the most part.

and i've started playing with instagram. you can see some of my instagram photos on flickr or my userid on instagram is megannoel1.

now for a cup of coffee.

sneak peak

sneak peak, a photo by megan_n_smith_99 on Flickr.

I've been playing with Instagram on my iphone. Here is a little peek at the painting I am working on now. It's gotten further along since then ... maybe I will take another picture later. It's 10 x 20 inches so taking a while. I try to make my details bigger and I've had some success but we will see if I ever really manage to work bigger. My impulse has always been to work small.

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."

--Mother Teresa