sketchbook Tuesday :: poinsettia

Sketches of poinsettia plants have become a tradition in my sketchbooks. Here is this year's. As we near the winter solstice I find myself wanting to retreat inward. The approach of the shortest day of the year has that effect on me. This year the pull inward is even stronger. Staying close, appreciating each moment, enjoying the company of our little family and all of the day-to-day trivia that is our own unique rhythm. And that is our light in this darkest time of the year.

The solstice also signals a turning of the year, with the return of the sun, and a desire to start anew. I will be taking a short blogging break until after the start of the new calendar year. I have plans to refresh my small studio space, revive my art routine, and our homeschool routine could use a little mid-year shaking up as well. So a break is in order for planning and recharging. I promise to have new art to share when I return! I do want to wish all of you the happiest of holidays and thank you all for your visits here, your interest and support is always so very much appreciated.

right now

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 "right now" staying focused on the present, mindful and in the moment, an image from the week, that acknowledges the "right now".  If you would like to join me in this mindful weekly exercise, put a link in the comments for this post to share your "right now" image.

sketchbook Tuesday :: shiny things

I put vegetables into the oven to roast and had 30 minutes before they would be ready for dinner. I had wanted to sit down with my sketchbook all day and this 30 minutes was my first opportunity. So I grabbed a couple of ornaments from our tree to sketch. This is the result. I did have to interrupt my sketching at one point in order to stir the vegetables. The sketch is watercolor only with a little white gel pen added later, for a few of the sparkly spots.

right now

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 "right now" staying focused on the present, mindful and in the moment, an image from the week, that acknowledges the "right now".  If you would like to join me in this mindful weekly exercise, put a link in the comments for this post to share your "right now" image.

sketchbook Tuesday :: Christmas Cactus

A page from my sketchbook, just a quick study of my Christmas cactus. I got this plant full of blooms last December. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall it sat quietly beside a sunny window. And then a week or so ago, just like magic it began forming blossoms. There are several more tiny buds yet to open, but this first blossom is glorious. I only wish I could have captured its brilliance in my sketch. The flower is actually a bright fuchsia pink, a color that proved impossible to mix with my current palette. Oh well.

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