Judy Butler's Naturalist Journal: Down The Nature Trail

judy Butler 1944-2010

2010-08-09T16:06:00.001-07:00

I am writing you today to let you all know that Judy passed away in her sleep on August 7th at her home. Judy's Celebration will be Saturday August 21st at 10am at Mount Olivet Funeral Home in Nashville. Please come and bring your best memories of Judy as we celebrate her life together. There are 2 scholarships set up in her name and Judy Wanted you to donate to them instead of sending flowers.

the info on the scholarships can be found here in her website:

http://www.judybutler.com

Judy's Health

2010-08-05T13:27:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, Judy is in the final stages of living with Ovarian cancer which has been very aggressive and unaffected by chemotherapy. She is resting in her home on a pain drip and oxygen. She is very weak and sleeps most of the time. She occasionally asks for water and wakes when she hears someone come into her room. Hospice has been here and helps her out tremendously.
We have enjoyed being able to spend this time with her as she prepares to explore the Universe on her next adventure.

I will post here on her blog when she passes away and let you all know when her memorial service is. Thanks for following her blog. I will leave it online for your enjoyment. Feel free to use any of the information and images here for any reference you may need. She would love to know that her artwork and words live on through this medium and are able to reach so many of you, whoever you are. Thank you all.

Much Love,

Kelly
-Judy's Daughter

The Story of My Friend Jewel and Her Surgery in June

2010-06-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

Jewel's Hope

Here is the story of my little friend Jewel. She is the granddaughter of my best friend Ellen Tidwell and the Daughter of Holly Manhold who grew up with my daughter Kelly. Jewel was born with cerebral palsy. There is now a operation available that has the hope of helping Jewel be able to walk. This operation is schedule for a few weeks from now in Saint Louis. Although insurance covers a lot of this operation the family has to pay a significant portion and because it is out of town there are many travel and housing expenses. The recovery and therapy after the surgery will be long and challenging.

Jewel's Grandmother, Ellen

Jewel's Grandparents and friends are sponsoring a fund raising campaign to help with all of these expenses. As part of the extended family I will like to ask for everyone's help in contributing to this effort. Small amounts will quickly add up to big amounts!

See Jewel's Hope Blog: http://jewelshope.blogspot.com/

If you would like to make a contribution go to Pay Pal:
www.paypal.com/sendmoney

Here is Holly's email address:
hmanhold@yahoo.com
(You will need this to make a PayPal donation)

Note: you will have to have or set up a PayPal account. You can also email me and I can tell you where to mail a regular check to the family. Judy@JudyButler.com

Here is Jewel's story from her Blog:

I was born on October 16, 2005, 12 weeks too early. I only weighed 2 lbs. 9 oz. Now, I'm four years old, and have grown SO much! I'm beautiful, crazy smart, and I have cerebral palsy. My legs don't work like the other kids' legs do. I want to run with my big brothers and dance ballet like my big sister, but my brain doesn't send the right messages to my legs. I've worked really hard in therapy for years, but it's still just not enough. I need a little bit more... That's where you come in! 300 miles away, at the St. Louis Children's Hospital, there's a doctor who can help me. He can perform surgery on my nerves so that they stop sending the wrong signals and I can learn to walk. My family and I are beginning an adventure that will change all of our lives. We just need your prayers and support to get us there. Wait and see, I'll be running all over the place soon! Look out world, here I come!

Cactus Monday: Our Spring Flower Bed with Cactus

2010-05-30T11:09:00.000-07:00

Our circle flower bed that is close to the road in front of the house is filled with flowers that bloom all spring and summer. But the star of the garden are the cactus. There are some with really ominous thorns and others that are smooth and have these soft little spikes. All are different but beautiful.

Below are the cactus in the last big snow of the winter. Apparently they did not mind the cold winter because they are thriving now. They looked like the only thing living in the bed but all the other plats survived and have all leafed out.

For more Cactus Monday fun for Memorial Day see
Terry's Painted Daisies
http://painteddaisies.blogspot.com/

Cactus Monday: Tuscon Botanical Garden

2010-03-29T05:21:00.000-07:00

We have visited Tuscon many times in the last 8 years. On our first trip there we spent half a day at the Tuscon Botanical Garden. This was a great introduction to Cactus. Above is a really cool photo, actually some kind of disease creates this narlie shape. But it creates amazing texture and design. Also cool holes for birds.

Cholla Cactus on the garden path. My first introducton to the jumping needles.

Cactus the size of trees.

Beautiful Yucca Plants

For more Cacus Monday photos and drawings see
Terri's Painted Daisies Blog

Cactus Mundi: Ready to get out and have some fun!

2010-03-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

Little drawing of Cactus Mundi. Ready to get out and have some fun.
He has been inside too long.

Happy Cactus Monday.
For mor Cactus Posts see Teri's Blog

Cactus Monday: Arizona Landscape Water Color Painting

2010-02-08T04:32:00.000-08:00

Large Arizona Watercolor Landscape
Saguaro Cactus Intermingled with trees
plus Prickly Pear and Cholla Cactus
Purple Mountains in the Background
Watercolor painting 2005

This is a composite of many different places we visited in Arizona in 2004. This painting is not exactly finished, not even signed. But I decided to post it for Cactus Monday. Last week I put up a couple of close ups of different sections. Now here is the full painting. The watercolors are mostly transparent tube colors with a lot of purple and green tones.

About a month ago my daughter was organizing my art materials and she found a portfolio of some watercolors that I did in the early 2000's. Among them was the landscape. I had completely forgotten about it. It was the only one with a cactus theme. I will take photos of some of the others soon and post them on my blog.

NOTE on My Chemotherapy treatment: I had a CT-Scan last Cactus Monday and got good news. For the first time in a year and a half there is improvement in reducing the tumors. Yipee! I will continue treatment using the same drug that I have been on for the last 3 months. Still challenging but much more optimistic. Thank you to all my blogging friends who send me their positive thoughts and good wishes. Much love to all of you. Judy

Cactus Monday: Snow on the cactus in Nashville and Drawing from Arizona

2010-01-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

Several years ago after coming back from a vacation in Arizona I took all my sketches and photos and put them into a composite for a large watercolor landscape. Here are two of the sections from this painting. I never thought the painting was finished but now I think it is "good enough." In fact considering how difficult drawing is for me now it seems so much better than my current drawings. A big difference in my current paintings of cactus and desert themes is now I use many more purples and bright colors with underpaintings of watercolor pencils and crayons. This one is very subdued with soft greens and yellows. This studio work has no use of colored pencils or crayons but many transparent tube watercolors. I will post two more sections next Monday and the larger painting. That way I will have two Cactus Monday posts.

Saguaro Cactus Intermingled with trees.
Watercolor painting 2005
Left top part of larger painting

I am trying to figure out the kinds of trees in my painting. I hope some of my Arizona friends will help me with this. I am thinking maybe: velvet mesquite, desert ironwood, and/or Sweet acacia. Let me know what you think.

Saguaro Cactus and Trees Resource Photos Below

Prickly Pear Cactus
Watercolor painting 2005 with ink work
Left lower part of larger painting

Resource Photo Prickly Pear

SNOW ON THE CACTUS IN NASHVILLE

We had around 4 or 5 inches of snow in Nashville on Friday. It is beautiful but treacherous. A layer of snow and then a layer of ice. Lew went to get his morning paper and took these photos for me of our Tennessee native cactus--a very hearty stock of native plants.

Cactus Mondi Visits the Opryland Hotel

2010-01-04T05:49:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun at the Opryland Hotel with my family last week that two of my friends and I went back yesterday to enjoy the gardens and shops. Cactus Mundi went with us and had a great time. He hung out with Elvis...jumped right up in his Blue Suede Shoes, giggled about the Elvis Christmas stockings, had then warmed up next to the big fireplace in the lobby.

Cactus Mundi warmed up in front of the big fireplace in the lobby.

For more Cactus Monday fun visit Teri's Blog:
http://painteddaisies.blogspot.com/

Judy in her scooter, left Joan and right Toni

The camellias started to bloom since I was there last week.
Just amazing in the gardens.

One of the gardens has beautiful stuffed animals
suspended from the glass dome.

People come from all over the states and the world to visit Nashville and all of its treasures. One of those great destinations is the Opryland Hotel gardens. Yesterday it was 14 degrees in our back yard in Nashville only 6 miles from the hotel.

You can Valet Park at any of the lobbies, eat in one of the Restaurants that will validate your parking ticket. (Saves you $20.00 for three hours). This gets you Palm trees and coconuts like you were at the beach. Now that is a Staycation worth its weight in gold... Staycation worth its weight in gold.

How about Palm Trees in Nashville in January?

Following are some of the photos from our Christmas visit with Milo, Judy, Paul and Kelly last week.

Flowers of the Opryland Hotel Gardens:

Hand painted Christmas Ornaments

2009-12-25T07:18:00.001-08:00

A friend, Cindy, gave me these blank Christmas ornaments back in November. They were perfect to draw and paint on for holiday gifts. I used sharpie fine markers for the outline. Then a layer of acrylic paint. Then a coat of Margaret's wonderful metallic paints that she sent to me several months ago. I love them.

Then for dots and squiggly lines some oil based pens for white, gold and silver.

Much fun and easy on hands.

Cactus Monday: Sending Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday Season

2009-12-21T18:08:00.001-08:00

My blogging community means so much to me.
No cactus Monday drawing today. But instead, this Holiday Message for all of you.

Dear Blogging Friends,

I have just had my second Chemo Therapy treatment in 8 days. Really challenging so I am reserving every once of energy for Family and Extended Family for the next two weeks. May not be posting much here. But will be trying to put up pictures of family fun on my Grandmother Blog: http://milograndmother.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for those of you sending me goodies although you do not always get an ATC or even a note in return. I had a wonderful week off from these chemicals before this round of therapy started again a week ago. I drew simple Christmas and Holiday themes in my journal and had much fun posting them during that week I felt pretty good. Hope some of you used them for packages. Thank you for all your comments.

I am sending wonderful thoughts to all of you even if I am not emailing or posting comments on your blogs and Flickr. Stay close to your loved ones, give them kisses, and appreciate every moment. Spend time on traditions that are dear to you and make time for telling those who are special how much you love them.

Here is one of my traditions:

Kelly and Seth got down just a few of my Nutcrackers from the collection.
I love the decorative painting all over these little crafted works of art.
I have been collecting them for over 20 years and love each and every one of them.
Maybe next year they will all come down from the attic for a visit.

Milo thinks they are great puppets.
We have conversations with them and he thinks it is cool.

Sending much love and hugs,
Take time for you collections!
Judy

Final posting of the hand-drawn Holiday Tags

2009-12-12T03:31:00.000-08:00

.
Stocking: Watercolor, Micron pens, and felt markers.
Moleskin small journal, 2009

Santa: Watercolors, Micron pens, felt markers,
Moleskin Journal, 2009

Did this pencil sketch in 2003 of a bear in a wooden wagon.
Have had the bear and the wagon for years.
I bartered for the wooden wagon at craft fair about 12 years ago. I traded for one of the craft items me and my Mom had made.
The bear is a reproduction of a vintage one I got at an antique shop.
This sketch has worked well for printing out, hand coloring and making into Holiday Cards.

Daisies with New WaterColor kit

2009-12-10T05:08:00.000-08:00

This painting done with my new watercolor travel kit on 90 lb. cold press paper. This is also a new pad of paper I am not used to--it came with the watercolor travel kit. I was experimenting with the paint and the paper.

This was done of our little yellow daisies that bloomed non stop all summer. They finally got nipped from our frost the first week in December. Unheard of to have flowers blooming in the last month of the year. Usually we have the first hard freeze in mid- October.

I rarely do paintings without a pencil drawing. But did this one without a preliminary sketch. After the first light pigment wash was dry I used Lw Plume felt waterproof felt markers to do the outling and squiggly lines. Then came back with a second and third wash of darker shading colors. 90 lb. paper is very sensitive to water so the washes had to be very light or the paper wrinkles.

My new chemotherapy medicine has helped the numbness in my fingers making my control of the brush much easier. I have several sketches underway and now hope to finish these soon.

More holiday cheer: Snowman Watercolor for Tags and Decorations

2009-12-10T04:29:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite of the new Holiday Tags that I painted this year.
Watercolor in Moleskin journal with Micron pens and felt markers. December 2009.
It snowed last week 20 miles from Nashville but not a flake here. We talked to our friends in East Tennessee yesterday and they had three inches on their farm near Roan Mountain. Must be beautiful!

Several years ago I made a set of these for my sister. They are vintage Dutch Girl 7 days of the week drawings that I hand colored. I thought this one for Saturday of baking would make a great Holiday Tag. I miss being able to bake for Christmas. Just not enough energy for that. But my daughter and husband fill in putting together some of our holiday favorites.

More Holiday Drawiings for Tags and Decorations: Poinsettia and Penguins

2009-12-09T05:41:00.000-08:00

Poinsettias, watercolors, and metallic watercolors, Micron and craft pens.
Much fun doing this one. I used Margaret's metallic paints she sent to me.
The scan does not do it justice, the original glows. Dec. 2009.

Did this little Penguin drawing in one of my daily journals in 2001.
Thought it would be fun as a Holiday tag. Colored pencils and ink.

Small Holiday Drawings for Tags and Decorations

2009-12-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

This Holiday Bunny inspired by all the rabbits that live in our back yard.
Wouldn't it be funny if one hopped up with a winter scarf on?

Watercolor, Micron Pens and Felt markers

Feel free to use these for your holiday packages. I will try to post one or two a day for the 6 that I drew. I put them in an Avery Label template and made bunches of tags for presents. This one prints out about 2 and 2/2 square but you can resize as needed.

Did this little tag several yers ago.

Colored pencils and ink.

Cactus Monday: ATCs on Christmas Wreath

2009-12-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

My friend Kate came for a visit on Sunday and brought me a wonderful wooden hoop with clothespins attached to hold my Artist Trading Cards. I am always showing her ATCs people send me from all over the world. Kate enjoyed the ones from Halloween that are still handing in the archway.

Great Christmas Wreath with ATCs

Kate thought I would enjoy a way to display the ATCs for the holidays. WOW, how great this is. Lew hung up the wreath for me and took this photo. Now this will make all the Cactusteers smile. I mixed cactus and other ATCs from all my pen pals. It almost held all my cards except the ones I am saving with dragonflies that Margaret recently sent. I am trying to get up the energy to put them on the beautiful dragonfly rope she sent. I do not have a chemo therapy treatment this week and hope I have lots of energy for crafts and painting.

THANK YOU TO EVERONE WHO HAS SENT ME THESE BEAUTIFUL ATCS!

For more cactus fun see Teri's Blog.

Cactus Monday: A visit by Cactus Mundi to My Daughter's Art Opening

2009-11-30T12:46:00.000-08:00

Cactus Mundi had an evening outing last night. We went to my daughter's Art Opening. She is Kelly Kerrigan and has a show for the month of December at the gallery at the Belcourt Theatre, an art film venue in Nashville. You can visit her blog and see each of the 24 acrylic on canvas paintings.
http://kellykerrigan.blogspot.com/

Here is Cactus Mundi who jumped right up on one of the paintings to look over the crowd.

Kelly had a great time at the celebration.

Of course Milo and the whole family were there. Milo became a wild Wild banshee after about 40 minutes. So Gran and Granddaddy came to the rescue. Paul scoped him up so we could whisk him off to our house. After he was scurried off Kelly could enjoy the lime light and then she and Paul could go out to dinner afterwards with their friends. We had a great time too partying with Milo at our house.

Milo thought it was very cool to sit on my scooter and honk the horn. Not sure this was a crowd pleaser so I turned the motor off. Worked well till he learned to turn the key back on! It was sure time to get him out of this venue.

My stamping buddy and long time friend Toni came for the fun.

Jeff, over 18 years ago he was a high school student of mine, now a life long friend. He is the one who took most of the photos.

Jackie on the right another Judy long-time teacher friend could not stay away from the funky art.

Kate who made it a real party.

It is amazing to me that several of my students from years long past are now my good friends. Tammy came in from California to visit her family but found time to drop by Kelly's show and see me for a short visit. Another one who was my student from over 15 years ago. Teaching is a wonderful profession. You leave behind the amazing legacy.

Seth made the hour plus drive in. He was so much help to Kelly helping her get her studio together and made this show happen. Thank you Seth!

Below are some details from the show.
Following is Kelly's Bio explaining why she is so passionate about her subject matter for the paintings:

I am Kelly Kerrigan, a 35-year-old Nashville artist. For the last 6 years I have been creating hand made lamps out of vintage ladies undergarments. My Tramp Lamps have been a great Internet success with over 500 unique lamps made for customers all over the world including many celebrities such as Aerosmith, Robert Zemeckis, and Imogen Heap.

My home studio in south Nashville is a great space for all my artistic creations that include lamp making, toy-morphing/assemblage art, as well as painting. The space also provides plenty of romp room for my son, Milo Sparks. I started painting at Austin Peay State University where I majored in Theater and Art. I have worked as a scenic painter for several local stage production companies. I spend all my time now painting, making lamps, morphing toys, and being a parent to Milo along with my partner, writer and graphic designer, Paul Kerrigan.

This collection of new paintings at The Belcourt Theater is filled with animals dressed as icons from film, music and fable. The personification of wildlife and house pets seems to be something we read about and enjoy when we are children, but as we grow up, stories and books focus more on real people and real life human situations. For me, subject matter can be just as intense and emotionally engaging if we put animals in our shoes, literally. Who is to say they do not go through similar emotional events in their own lives? I hope that I can embrace the narratives that are generally restricted to childhood stories and bring the audience of my work back to a time when animals were the heroes. Making an audience laugh is the main goal of all my creative endeavors. I am available for all kinds of custom artwork. Please visit www.TrampLamps.com to find out more.

Cactus Mundi Vists art store and Thankful Monday to Blog friends

2009-11-23T07:00:00.001-08:00

Kelly and Milo took me for just a few minutes yesterday to buy some Christmas presents for some of my budding artist little friends. Cactus Mundi came with us. He says Happy Cactus Monday to all. For more Cactus Monday fun see Terri's blog.

For me everyday is Thankful Thursday. I have not been feeling well the last few months. Not much up to painting or posting on my blog. Apparently the word went out through Margaret (Peg) and Teri to my blogging friends. This Halloween was Milo's first Halloween that he is walking and aware of chocolate!
Below are the ATCs with pumpkin and Halloween themes that arrived in the mail the weeks before the holiday. Just amazing.
I taped them on to a string and hung over the archway in the kitchen. I have just not been able to take them down. Everyone who comes into the house admires the drawings but also stand in the kitchen and reads the greetings on the backs. The are over come that these gifts came from so many and from all over the world.
Thank you, thank you to you all. You make my life so bright.

I am posting this as part of Cactus Monday so hopefully all of you will see how grand it has been.

Took my scooter in the back yard Sunday Fall Photos

2009-11-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

I have not been able to walk in the yard lately so Lew and Kelly got out my scooter so I could wheel around and take some photos. I turned off the scooter and put Milo in my lap. He loves to blow the horn.

Here are some photos I took of fall in our garden.

There are two enormous elm trees, one in the front and one in the back of the house.

This island of the Nasturtium in the middle of the fall leaves.
Amazing that through the cold nights and frost all around Nashville
it has not killed the blooming flowers in the yard, yet.

You have to click on this one to make larger to notice the yellow butterfly blending into the yellow flower.

The coneflower also had one more spurt of blooms.
Never remember having these bloom on a 70 degree day in mid- November.

The Lantana were magnificent all summer and are still around, amazing.

IT WAS SO GREAT TO BE OUT IN THE GRASS
even if my feet were not touching the blades of grass
but the running board of my scooter.

Cactus Monday: Saguaro In Casa Grande Ruins, Arizona

2009-11-09T12:38:00.001-08:00

How about we call this Milo and Gran hanging out together in the desert.
I like that.

Another drawing from Casa Grande Ruins
Watercolor in Moleskin
for Cactus Monday

It says painted '90 but I did it today and got my numbers reversed when signing it . Ding Dang.

My excuse is that I have had pneumonia since a week ago today. Feeling much better, temperature free for two days. Hopefully this icky stuff will be gone soon. Milo has visited for two days and that has made me feel better. So named these two Saguaro after Milo and me!

For more Cactus Monday fun see Teri's Painted Daisies blog.

Paul won the logo contest for Burton/Wolfe Entertainment company

2009-11-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

Paul Kerrigan, our son-in-law won the logo contest for LeVar Burton's new movie/video production company. You may remember LeVar Burton as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge from Star Trek-- The Next Generation. He was also the host of Reading Rainbow on Public Television and in the mini-TV series, Roots.

The new production company is called Burton/Wolfe entertainment. The announcement about the logo is on LeVar's twitter page:
http://twitter.com/levarburton

See Paul's website at http://meepcamp.com/index.html
The logo is posted there and check out the Love link on the Menu bar, more Milo and Kelly photos. Just lovely.

Cactus Monday:Ocotillo cactus and ground squirrel

2009-11-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

We visited many of the National Monuments, Ruins, and Parks in our treks across Arizona since 2000. One very interesting place was Casa Grande Ruins. They had a lovely visitor center with picnic tables. We had lunch and watched the round tailed ground squirrels play in the many holes around the area. (Help me on this, I think they are round tailed ground squirrels?) There was also a wall-like row of Ocotillo cactus in bloom. Our visit to the Casa Grande Ruins was on our very first trip to Arizona. We were so enthralled with all we saw we have been back many times--it is our favorite vacation destination.

During my last Chemo therapy session four weeks ago I did these two little ATCs that kept me occupied.

Ocotillo cactus with watercolor pencils
ACT format on some kind of linen paper
This is not my favorite paper for watercolor pencils, real grainy

Photo taken at the picnic area

Round tailed Squirrel Watercolor Pencil Drawing
ACT format

Photo taken in the picnic area Casa Grande Ruins

Cactus Monday: Pink Flower

2009-10-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Did this today at the hospital during a three hour wait for some tests. Sketching makes the time go by a lot faster. I did three small cards. Will post others later.

From Photo taken at the Tucson Botanical Garden several years ago.
Watercolor pencils and Micron pens.
ATC format 2.5 x 3.5 on watercolor paper

The Last Persimmon Watercolor: Judy Butler

2009-10-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

Fall is upon us. The nights have turned cold with the first frost only days a way. The leaves are begining to fall and the persistent breeze shifts the leaves into swirling piles all over the yard. In the far back end of the yard are two very fickle persimmon trees, some years bearing fruit and others not a peep. This year there were a few lovely bright orange fruit that ripened just in time for the orange theme of Halloween. The Persimmon tree's leaves just shrivel up and do not turn bright colors. The hanging orange bobbles shine bright against the dark burnt umber green of their leaves.

Lewis went out and picked the LAST PERSIMMON thinking I might like to draw it. I thought that was a fine idea. I did this quick sketch trying to capture the shriveled leaves and the bright color of the fruit.

Cactus Monday: Our Garden Cactus Next to the fall Mums

2009-10-19T04:07:00.000-07:00

In our front garden our three native cactus plants live side by side by our fall mums. The mums are having a bumper crop of blooms this year. It makes for an interesting arrangement. Lew has dug up and put in pots the other cactus that wold not make it through the winter.

For more Cactus Monday Fun see Teri's Painted Daisies blog.
Click on each contributor.

Cactus Monday: Backyard Cactus Coming Inside for the Winter

2009-10-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful fall day...Low 70s, mild breeze, and bright sun. Milo came over to hang out in our yard. Lew dug up one of the cactus in our front garden that would not make it through the upcoming cold days in Middle Tennessee. So while Milo played with the recently harvested mild peppers, I sketched this ominous, very spiky cactus--yes, these splinters were well out of his reach! This cactus will soon be off to spend the winter months on the sunny window ledge at Lew's office. It almost doubled in size during its time in the garden for the summer.

I had not been out in the yard for over two weeks.
It was such a glorious time with the family.
Kelly and Lew were the photographers.

Preliminary sketch of cactus.
Will finish this week for next Cactus Monday.

One of these spikes is 3 inches long and the cactus is only ___ inches tall.

The sun was so bright for a change we had to take off the sweaters, put up the umbrella, and get in into the shade.
It has rained here for weeks, very little sunshine in the last month. This was wonderful!

The mild banana peppers are all shades of yellow and bright red.

For more Cactus Monday Fun see Teri's Painted Daisies blog. Click on each contributor.

International Artist Blog: Sketching In Nature

2009-10-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

Kate Johnson invited me to join the international blog of artist called Sketching in Nature. I am so thrilled to be an artist "Correspondent" for this group. Here is a little about me that I will share with the group.

My name is Judy Butler, an educator and amateur naturalist who has taught the art of journal keeping to students and teachers across the United States for over 20 years. Now that I am retired from school administration for over seven years, I am spending time with my educational consulting company, Dragonfly Enterprises as well as drawing and nature journaling. Keeping journals, taking photos, and doing watercolors of nature’s bounty is a respite from deadlines and reports that are a part of owning your own business.

One of my personal and professional objectives is to encourage educators to use journals with their students and to keep their own reflective journals. I developed a website to provide resources to teachers at JudyButler.com.

For 11 years I coordinated a large environmental program called the Harpeth River Environmental and Educational Project for Williamson County Schools in Middle Tennessee. This project was part of my responsibilities first as the Gifted Education Coordinator and then as the Curriculum Director for the school system. We raised over a half million dollars in grants to support the project that focused on the marriage of science, social studies, creative writing and the arts. A description of some of the activities for this program is available on one of my blogs called Reflections on the River.

I am not a trained artist having had no formal art school classes. I remember being in elementary school and being "the Pet" of all the teacher because I loved to draw and put up fancy bulletin boards for them. I learned early you could get a lot of positive attention with art skills. While in college getting my undergraduate and graduate degrees in speech pathology and special education my family opened an arts and crafts shop in the suburbs of New Orleans. This allowed me to attend vendor training and then teach non-stop classes in the art shop in the evenings and weekends: learn the craft one day and teach it the next. I know many of you understand that strategy. From flower arranging to tile mosaics to decorative painting in oils, I received an in-depth arts education over the years the shop was open. The morning glories shown here are typical of the influence of decorative painting on my work with squiggly lines and embellishments. See my blog, Naturalist Journal: Down The Nature Trail, for examples of other paintings with stories and descriptions of the art pieces.

As an adult and a stay-at-home mother for a while, I brought in extra money teaching decorative painting and running art summer camps for elementary children in my back yard. My daughter grew up with paint brushes in her hands before she could walk. Not surprising she got her undergraduate degree majoring in drama and art. She also attended graduate school at the Savannah College of Art and Design for a year. Visit her blog and website for her unique artistic designs. She has three art exhibits coming up between now and the end of the year. I am very proud of her. My husband is also a fine artist in the areas of music, writing and the visual arts. Our daughter was surrounded by a love of the arts all of her life.

I think my drawing skills have improved over the years because of frequent practice, pushing myself to do detailed nature study, such as the nautilus, and my obsession for art books. My first teacher in this book world was Clare Walker Leslie. I notice that so many of the "Correspondents" mention her in their introductions. I have worn her books thin over the years. I only discovered Flickr and blogs in the last year. Imagine my astonishment to find one of my other heroes, Cathy (Kate) Johnson was part of these online social networks. Kate's book, The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature was part of my art learning arsenal. I would get giddy when Kate would comment about my work on Flickr. I thought that was so exciting. My secret dream was that I would be invited to the Sketching In Nature blog as a "Correspondent." Wow. A dream come true. Just amazing.

Cactus Monday: Sedum Undergo changes over the summer

2009-10-05T01:16:00.000-07:00

For Cactus Monday I featured the photos we have taken over the summer of our favorite succulent, sedum. Lew planted it last summer and it made some small little plants. But this summer it was an unfolding story of beauty.
We think this sedum is called Autumn Fire.
If any one knows four sure let us know.

July 2, 2009 the sedum was planted in 2008 as just a small cutting from a friend.

For the second year of growth is got tall in just a few weeks.
It was a rich bright summer green.

By the end of August the sedum had grown several feet and

was covered in fluffy big balls of soft green blooms.

What a great surprise! The green blooms turned a pale pink and then burst into a bright red crimson.

The photos do not do justice to the color.
The red color looks like the plant is on fire.

For other paintings and photos of cactus and succulents see Teri's Painted Daisies.

Tennessee Once a Shallow Sea: Watercolor of Coral Fossil

2009-10-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

It is hard to imagine that land locked Tennessee was once covered by a shallow sea with coral reefs. But that is the way it was 450 million years ago when this continent looked very different. I enjoy finding the remnants of the animals that lived here when it was under water. My favorite fossil to find is coral with its star shaped rock crystals.

Watercolor of coral fossil middle Tennessee.

Photo of coral fossil taken from rock wall in Nashville.

Nancy Stetten on left with teacher at a workshop in Nashville in 2006. We found buckets full of coral fossils. Beautiful. Nancy led the field trip.
See her website nashvillefossils.com

Workshop participant holding up a coral fossil treasure. See the rock wall in the back ground. It is has layers and layers of coral. Imagine how thick the reef was. See the website about this teacher professional development. I am the project coordinator for this curriculum development project.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has available this beautiful map of the different geologic formations: http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/tdg/bigmap.shtml. We bought a large one for our after school program at Tennessee State University. It is about 12 feet across. Very swell!

Another place Lew and I enjoyed exploring the fossil beds of coral was our trip to the Florida Keys in Jan. 2008. We stayed in Key Largo and enjoyed exploring the cost line for coral rocks. We watched road construction where the big bulldozers scooped up tons of the glistening white boulders. Here are some photos of the fossils.

This is the best. I sat on the beach with my laptop on a outdoor table made of coral fossils. Nifty.

Close up of the side of the coral fossil table.
Even closer enlargement of the coral fossil in the table.

A state park that preserved an old quarry with a small but lovely museum.

Article about the State Park

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park Website

One of the areas we picked up fossils in the Keys. This was a pull over area with a safe place to park and not a restricted area. This spot was recommended by someone in the Park museum. Don't pick up rocks or fossils in state or national parks. This was a lovely spot with a great view of the water.

Look how the foliage is growing right out of the hard fossilized rock with almost no dirt. Amazing!

Cactus Monday: Superstition Mountain and Cactus Wren Watercolor

2009-09-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

I visited Superstition Mountain outside of Phoenix several years ago. I thought it was just wonderful. So I did this watercolor of the wren on a Cholla cactus with the mountain in the background. It is a composite of many different photos from Arizona.

For more Cactus Monday drawings and photos see Teri's Painted Daisies Blog.

Daisies watercolor from 1997 journal

2009-09-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

I have used masking fluid only a few times in all the years I have been doing watercolor. This was one of those experimentations. I do love painting daisies but this is a real departure from how I usually draw them.

Cactus Monday: Wtercolor Cactus drawing

2009-09-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

Another drawing inspired by Toni's trip to Peru
ACT format 3.5 x 2.5
Watercolor Pencil

Another small drawing done in the Recliner during Chemotherapy two weeks ago. Helps to take my watercolor pencils and little journal. I use artist masking tape and secure an ATC commercially made card onto a journal page. This one is spoken for and will send off this week. I love the big sun. Was inspired by Margaret who frequently puts a squiggle sun in hers. I thought of her when I was doing this. Also helps to think of my blogging friends during these long doctor office visits.

Happy Cactus Monday. See other cactus art and photos at Teri's blog.

Panda at the Nashville Zoo 2003: Pastel Drawing Panda

2009-09-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

My only photo of the panda at the Memphis Zoo. One glimpse then he got up and wondered out of view. Dang.

In 2003 Toni and I visited the Memphis Zoo. The Panda exhibit is the centerpiece of the Zoo's exhibits. In the gift shop Toni bought this cute little hat. Several years later our friend Joan brought me back a similar hat from Hong Kong. We love our hats.

Toni and I have literally traveled around the world together. She is my good buddy for going down the nature trail. Here are some other photos of the Zoo.

Is this cute or what? The only panda in a carousel I have ever seen.

Bright Yellow Daisies in My Back Yard: Watercolor Pencil drawing

2009-09-17T12:50:00.001-07:00

Did this from a photo while I was in the doctor office a few weeks ago.
It is in my handmade journal of watercolor paper 4 by 5 inches.
I keep this in a little bag in my purse with pencils, eraser, and watercolor liquid brush.
I just hate the thought of Oct. 15, our average day of first frost and all the garden flowers will fade.

Cactus Monday: San Miguel de Allende Garden Cactus

2009-09-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Julie who identified this plant. Her blog, A Succulent Life, is an inspiration to all of us who love succulents. This plant spotted on our Mexico vacation is not a cactus,
but a succulent called Euphorbia Milli or Crown of Thorns.

Succulent with flowers: ACT format watercolor pencils on watercolor paper 3.5 x 2.5

Photo of Euphorbia Milli or Crown of Thorns in Villa Garden.

When we vacationed in San Miguel de Allendel, Mexico we so much enjoyed the gardens of the Villa we stayed in. There were many cactus plants I had never seen before. One of my favorites was this spindly cactus with the lovely small red blooms and very large thorns.

Following are photos of the terraced gardens of the Villa.
It was so peaceful and beautiful.

Over looking the town.

This was in our private courtyard of our apartment.

Sunflower Watercolor Drawing: Handmade Journal

2009-09-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Watercolor tubes and brushes on Cold press 140 lb.
Page 2 of new handmade journal 5 x 7
September 2009

For weeks during late summer we have enjoyed a small garden of large sunflowers on the drive to my daughter's house. On our last visit my husband stopped so I could take photos out the car window. The flowers were a little droopy from a resent rain storm and the hard work of growing so big during the summer. I will be sad to see them disappear as winter grabs all the annual blooms. So I thought I better capture their happiness to save in my journal.

Cactus Monday: Prickly Pear Flower Drawing From Mexico Vacation

2009-09-07T05:35:00.000-07:00

Moleskin Journal Watercolor 4 x 8 Watercolors, watercolor pencils, and watercolor crayons. Micron Pens

This is how to spend a good Sunday afternoon. Deciding what to paint for Cactus Monday and then doing it! There are so many wonderful artists who contribute to this project you want to do something enjoyable for others to see. Usually I wake up on Sunday morning and tell my husband, oh boy it is the day before Cactus Monday, I need to get busy and decide what to do. What will I post? Hummm..... lately I have not been much up to painting and have been searching my photo achieves for cactus pictures. But this Sunday I was determined to do a drawing and selected as my inspiration a favorite photos of our trip to Pozos, Mexico.

Tuesday March 27, 2007
We spent the day in the town of Mineral de Pozos that is a 45-minute ride from San Miguel, Mexico. It is home to an abandoned mine area where many kinds of ore was unearthed over the last 100 years including gold, silver, nickel, lead, mercury and copper. In the week of vacation that we were in Mexico this was my favorite part of the trip. Stark landscape with enormous cactus in every direction. It is also a wonderful art community with great artists and many different kinds of artistic endeavors.

Used this photo as inspiration for my drawing.

Look at those amazingly long thorns. Yikes. They were imposing. See the description of our trip to Mexico on my travel blog and other descriptions of cactus at Mineral de Pozos in this blog."

For more Cactus Monday fun visit Teri's Painted Daises Blog for a list of the Cactus Fanatics.

Nashvillians Can Now Have Chickens in the City: Chicken Watercolor Drawings

2009-09-05T20:36:00.001-07:00

I grew up in a small town right outside of New Orleans called Metarie. We were one of the few houses in the area in the early 50's and were next door neighbors to a pig farm. We had chickens, lots of chickens in our yard which meant chicken for dinner every Sunday. I remember vividly the smell of hot feathers in the plucking process. That area of the greater New Orleans metropolitan area is now wall to wall high density housing and a busy suburb of the Big Easy.

I see in magazines these lovely gardens with a few really cute chickens and I wish we could have a few as pets. No plucking their feathers. Lew thinks I am more than a little crazy. So instead I visit the State Fair and get my chicken fix.

Sketched after visiting the Tennessee State Fair
Mom and babies

Nashville just passed an ordinance that you can have up to six chickens in the suburbs, roosters prohibited.

No crowing in the Burbs!

ORDINANCE NOS. BL2009-499 & BL2009-510 – These two ordinances, commonly referred to as “the chicken bills”, amend the zoning code provisions pertaining to the keeping of animals on residential property.

Fossil Drawings in Rock Journals

2009-09-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

I have a large collection of fossils and rocks. My husband teases me. It takes shed number 1, shed number 2, the carport and the barn to hold them all. I love my fossils and rocks and I really enjoy drawing them. I have one journal devoted to rocks and have other journals with many drawings of fossils and rocks along with notes during scientific workshops.

Brachiopod pencil sketch

Brachiopods are the most abundant fossils around where I live. They are found all over middle Tennessee. You can drive up to a gas station or hotels built close to a rock wall and pluck them right out of the limestone.

Brachiopod pencil sketch

In a way the pencil sketches convey more the look of the fossils in Middle Tennessee because they are the gray color of the limestone they have rested in for 450 thousand years.

Brachiopod pencil sketch

Watercolor sketch in one of my many rock journals.
The watercolors and shadows do make them pop off the page, I think.

Watercolor drawing in one of my rock journals.

I like this one because it conveys the ridges in the shells and the indentation in the middle.

Cactus Monday: Galápagos Islands and Mr. Cactus Mundi Visits Barnes and Noble

2009-08-31T04:27:00.000-07:00

Hi, from Mr. cactus Mundi!

He enjoyed his cup of coffee at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

Toni and I went out for some Shopping Therapy.

Lew took me and Toni to Opry Mills Shopping Center to set up my scooter for our outing. We went Zoom, Zoom around and Lew came to get us several hours later. My scooter lets me get around when I could otherwise not be able to get out. Much fun.

Yes, this is the Toni of the African Safari and the trip to the Galápagos Islands . My blog is filled with her photos and the drawings I have done from these photographs. Here are a couple of her photos of cactus from the Galápagos Islands and some cool photos of the Giant Tortoises. I love taking "Virtual Vacations" with Toni. It is also wonderful to go on safari to the shopping center. For more Cactus Monday fun visit Teri's blog.

Toni photo of Cactus from Galápagos Islands

Brings new meaning to sticking your neck out.
Giant tortoises

Reminds me of me and my girlfriends having a snack together!
Giant tortoises

Looks like a cactus tree!

Nasturtium Watercolor Painting In Journal

2009-08-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Painting in my new handmade Journal 5 x 7
Heavy Watercolor Paper

Nasturtiums were my mother-in-law's favorite flowers. She had them on her kitchen table all summer long. Now we plant them every summer and I think of her every time I look out my kitchen window into the back yard. They are one of the few things blooming in our late summer garden. Lew has picked them for me to bring into my painting area every few days. I have drawn them often in my journals over the years. I find their bright orange flowers and unusual round leaves very cheerful.

Wildflowers of the Harpeth River: Colored Pencil Drawings & Watercolor Paintings

2009-08-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

Page from one of my Harpeth River Journals with the Wildflowers that grow along the banks. 1997

Harpeth River Environmental and Educational Project 1993 to 2002

This environmental educational project was intended to motivate student to achieve in academic subjects like science, math, reading, writing, and art by using a local river.
I managed and wrote grants to support this project for my school system for 10 years. During that time I kept a journal that I used to work with students to motivate them to notice the beauty of the river while learning to measure the indicators of water quality using chemistry and biology. Art became as important as science and math through grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission bringing in all kinds of artists including poets, potters, musicians, and mixed visual media.

Poem written by Ian Menard in 1994 Part of Class Project Designed by his High School Teacher to Personify the River

This poem is on the marble wall at the Bicentennial Wall in downtown Nashville. Ian’s work is side by side with Wilma Dykman, Langston Hughes, and Mark Twain. At the time Ian wrote this poem he was in an English class at Page High School in Williamson County. The assignment was to write a poem personifying the river. His teacher saved his poem and sent it to me.

I was contacted by the Nashville Bicentennial Mall Planning Committee and asked if I knew of any good student poems or essays about rivers. The committee was designing a monument to commemorate rivers of Tennessee. This is the poem that was submitted and then chiseled into the granite for ever. The full text of the poem appears at the end of this post.

Page from one of my Harpeth River Journals with the Wildflowers that grow along the banks. 1997

Page from one of my Harpeth River Journals with the Wildflowers that grow along the banks. 1997

I got a little obsessed with studying the structure of plants and grasses. The grasses are taped in the journal with transparent packing tape.

Love this little poem that a naturalist friend taught me to help me remember the difference between sedges and rushes.

Sedges have edges,
Rushes are round,
Grasses have leaves
That go to the ground.

Little wildflower embellishments in and about the journals.

Here is the beautiful river we are talking about with 100 liner miles of beautiful winding rivers, streams, and creeks. I have walked many miles along the banks and many more in the river.

Smartweed Watercolor From sketches in Harpeth River Journal

All of my early journals are colored pencil. I never used watercolors until about 1997.
Here are my first watercolor paintings. I had sketched so many wildflowers in my journals, I decided to try to do a small painting in watercolors. Bought some tube watercolors and immediately got hooked.

Watercolor From sketches in Harpeth River Journal

Watercolor From sketches in Harpeth River Journal

Here are four of my high school students.
Photo taken at conferees of Tennessee Fishery Biologists

We are accepting an award for our work in conservation. See the Reflections on the River blog. See the young man on the right, he still works for me part time keeping all my business networks going. He earned degrees in agricultural economists and technology at Clemson and now works full time for Vanderbilt University.

I Am the River:

Poem by Ian Memard

Page High Sophomore, 1994

I am the river, the raging foe who will always be your friend.
Sit and listen to my wisdom.
Lay on my banks of knowledge and dream the world of imagination.
Soar to the heavens, while I whisper words of comfort.

I am the river.
With all my soothing sounds,
I calm the troubled spirit.
I give soundless advice to those who seek, yet my mysteries will never be revealed.

I am the river.
I hold the powerful secrets of old.
I am life, breath me, drink me, savor me.
With my healing waters, you can forget the worries that hold you.
I can expand your knowledge, use me, if you will.

Cactus Monday: a few cacti from our Nashville Garden

2009-08-23T16:40:00.001-07:00

Our little cactus taken out of the pot and put in yard for the summer.

Will have to put these little cacti back in their pots and take them in for the winter.

Little, very prickly one.

Beautiful Hen and Chicken, Love this one...

and the cool pot the Hen and Chicken is in.

For more Cactus Monday paintings and photos, see Painted Daisy blog.

Beautiful Day in the Garden: Orange Daisy Watercolor Painting

2009-08-22T13:26:00.001-07:00

Watercolor tube paint and brushes
August 22, 2009

Beautiful day in Tennessee-- did not even get to 80 degrees this August.afternoon. Picked daisies from my garden and sat in my chase lounge and made this drawing of these bright orange flowers. Feels great to be outside and painting. My Nature Trail today is my patio.

Small Sketchbook 2 x 3 inches and Watercolor Supplies

2009-08-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

This very small journal has been my companion for several months. I bought this 2 x 5 sketch book at an office supply store. The booklet was index cards that are not archival quality and now it is all used up! I had a dilemma of what to do?

Sketch of Lily Spring 2009

Supplies for painting Lily in Small sketch book 2 x 5

My small nest by my recliner. Has my watercolor paints, pencils, and Lily from the garden to examine and paint. I take photos with my digital camera and have them on the computer screen. I need all the design help I can get. My camera gets such amazing closeups I can see the smallest of details.

Supplies for painting Geranium in Small sketch book 2 x 5

Supplies for watercolor painting of geranium from my garden in the spring of 2009. Notice the magnifying glass in the cup with the pencils. Can't hardly paint lately without it. The computer is a nice tool, but I love the feel of the flowers and the view through the magnifying glass looking at details. Have to see all the parts of the flowers and leaves up close. I like to see just how the leaves are attached to the stems and all the detailed parts of the flower. I get out my field guides and look up the name of the parts of the flower. Usually can't remember this for more than an hour our two but it sure makes me happy for the moment. ho ho.

Geranium Sketch with Mechanical Pencil

Since I ran out of the pages in this index card journal. I needed a new one this very same size that I kept in my purse. I watched the PowerPoint by Elizabeth Smith and used her directions to make my own journal this size with watercolor paper and it is archival quality. A great solution thanks to Elizabeth. Yeepee.

Handmade journal 3 x 5
Put a variety of water color paper in a stack, took to Kinko's and had it bound.

The top page is a very heavy water color paper. Decided to use a Chinese Water Color Design on the cover. The very tiny stamps on the left, less than 1/2 by 1/2 inch, cute. I can't do traditional brush painting or Chinese Calligraphy right now since it requires a series of single strokes, holding your brush upright. Instead, I used a pencil sketch washed with watercolor and traditional watercolor brushes. Margaret of Water Blossoms was also my inspiration for the technique and the design. She sent me a drawing that is very similar as and ATC. One of the first I ever received.

Margaret of Water Blossoms ATC traded to Judy

I so admire the work of Margaret of Water Blossoms. I had some difficulty finding the metallic paint she recommended so she sent me a little tin of these colors. I used them on the cover of my new small journal. They give it a wonderful little glow. Now, I will think of her every time I get this journal out of my purse to work on.!

Trade from Margaret at Water Blossoms.
See the small box with the tag along with the spectacular ATCs.
Guess what is in the BOX?

These glowing metallic paints. What a surprise and treasure!!
They make the watercolor paint glow.

Cactus Monday: Adventures of my guy, Cactus Mundi

2009-08-17T02:00:00.000-07:00

I was feeling so great two weeks ago that the whole family went to Chattanooga for the weekend. We had a grand time and Cactus Mundi enjoyed it, too. For more on other Cactus Monday contributions see Teri's Painted Daisies blog.

Cactus Mundi joined us for all parts of our Chattanooga Vacation August 2009
He drooled over the pancakes at Cracker Barrel, yummm....

Cactus Mundi loved the Tennessee Aquarium

Mundi hung out with the whole family, Kelly, Paul, and Milo. Of course Lew is taking the photo of the group. Here I am in all my regalia on my scooter with my big yellow hat and pink umbrella, which is the only way I can make the sun-filled trip across the plaza to lunch.

Cactus Mundi thought the jellyfish tanks were amazing glowing with floating ballets of light.

Lew picked up fossil filled rocks for me right in the parking lot behind the hotel. Yippee!
Turns out that Cactus Mundi loves rocks, too.

Tennessee Journal Page: Elizabethton and Sycamore Shoals

2009-08-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our wedding day in an East Tennessee State Park. Fitting I would say for two people who have spent so much time in the out-of-doors. In about a week we are coming up on our 38th wedding anniversary. How Sweet It Is! We lived in Knoxville at the foot of the Smokies for several years before finding our way to Nashville as our permanent home.

We love going back to the hills and mountains where we fell in love. On one of those visits in 2002 we toured Sycamore Shoals State Historic State Park. This lovely spot along the Watauga River played an important role in the development of America and the concept of the majority-rule system of our democratic government. In 1772 this spot was the first permanent American settlement outside the original 13 colonies. It became the center of frontier life during this important period in the foundation of our country. It just gives us goosebumps to visit historic parks and relish in collective past.

There is a small museum there where they had patterns for sale for basket weave stars. I bought the pattern with high expectations for making these stars for Christmas presents. So often I dream about these big kinds of time consuming projects that stay in my dreams and never materialize. In my 30's and 40's I did a lot of basket weaving and still enjoy it when my hands and arthritis cooperate. But miracle of miracle, I actually made about 10 of these. They are beautiful and the two I kept have been hanging in my kitchen all this time since 2002.

At the top of the photo is one of my handwoven baskets in the Amish style done about 25 years ago and hanging below it are two of the Stars woven at Christmas 2002.

This photos is a silhouette of the stars shot through the glass doors against the light of the yard.

Historical reenacting and living history is a highlight at many state and Federal parks. Here a volunteer showing a gun of the time period and...

another authentic weapon of the time period.

Judy Butler's Travel Journal: Covered bridge

Watercolor and pen

Another wonderful spot in Elizabethton is the Covered Bridge. Above is my journal entry. The page is small so the bridge looks little. But it is enormous. This page is to the left of the one above when you open my journal. See the photos below. Very beautiful spot.

2004 Journal: Fall Trees and Visit to Jack's Farm East Tennessee

2009-08-15T03:24:00.000-07:00

Journal Entry--Top Sketch The bird feeder nailed to the railing on the deck at our friend's farm in East Tennessee. I did these sketches with my feet propped up on the railing looking at the birds, the road winding down to the main road, and the magnificent view of Roan Mountain.

Journal Entry--Bottom sketch There is a beautiful winding road leading from their house to the main road. We were there in the fall when the amazing orange and red leaves made a dreamy canape of brilliant colors.

Photograph of the Fall Trees East Tennessee 2004 At Jack's Farm

Painting with earth tones and opaque water colors:
Road to Jack's House

My friend Nancy Steeten asked me if I could create a drawing using the earth tone pigments of rocks and dirt found in Tennessee. Well, I thought this was a fun challenge. So I went back to this sketch of Jack's beautiful winding road and fall trees.

It was interesting trying to match up the colors of rocks and dirt found in Tennessee and correlating them with water colors hues. I used ochre, burnt umber, raw umber, and grays. It turns out all the colors were opaque that resulted in a painting that was very dull. I like the more transparent water colors but it was fun to experiment with the idea. Startling the difference between the transparent sketch at the top of the post and this painting with the opaque colors.

As friends know, I love rocks, so a painting targeting the colors of rocks was pretty cool.

2006 Natchez Trace State Park: Pencil Sketches

2009-08-14T04:23:00.000-07:00

Journal Entry: Natchez Trace State Park Pencil Sketch 2006 Chipping Sparrow and Random

Chipping Sparrow on the Balcony Enjoying the breakfast leftovers

Chipping sparrows are lovely. They have a pretty rusty colored crown, a white eyebrow with a black stripe through their eye, with marbled gray and brown feathers. They were bold in coming for any scraps from the meals we ate on the balcony. They particularly loved the garlic grits at breakfast.

View from the balcony at the State Park

Natchez Tracy is our most favorite Tennessee State Park. We have visited once a year for the last 6 years. Fall, Summer, Winter, or Spring, the seasons are all good for an outdoor experience. Although the summer is our least favorite because of the ticks. You can be covered in them in a matter of seconds on the trails. We usually take Kelly and Paul and now their baby, Milo. We went again two months ago and Milo who took to the Park in a big way--he spent a lot of time on the balcony where he loved chasing the birds and Random, the best Lab in the world. He enjoyed the long walks with his Mom and Dad, blazing the way down the nature trail in his stroller.

Milo, Random, Kelly and Paul Ready for the Nature Trail

Random taking in the view from the Balcony

Parrot Pencil Drawings

2009-08-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Parrot Pencil Drawing

These parrots were in a booth at the National Science Teachers Association. It has been so long ago I can't remember which group they were supporting...maybe a save the rainforest cause. The were colorful and large. I did the sketches in my hotel room the night I saw them.

New little pocket journal

2009-08-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, I bought a tiny little journal for my purse just 3 by 4.5 inches. I purchased it at a lovely local bookstore called Davis Kidd. It pretends to be Moleskin. The paper is very thin. Would not take any water. Walked out of the bookstore and into Panera Bread Company. Thought immediately of Fred and got out my new pencil box which I drew on the right and tried to draw a young woman ordering at the counter. She had on a black dress that looked like a ballerina costume. Fred says just try it. Shaky, but I tried it. Each page sketch took less than 3 minutes. My daughter was in line making our order.

A visit to Seagrove, Florida: Watercolor Journal

2009-08-11T04:51:00.000-07:00

My friend Toni has a condo in Seagrove, Florida. We visit at least once a year. I sit on the balcony and sketch in my journal while she and other friends walk miles along the beach. I am good for short walks and retreat to my paints. I draw what we collect in our little bucket. This day it was beautiful crabs sadly baked in the sun.

We most often find feathers and a lot of broken shells but occasionally we get whole beautiful gifts from the sea.

Sea Side Beach is just down the road from Seagrove. Famous for the movie "The Truman Show." I love the the metal bucket we bought in a shop there.

The rare, rare find on the beach...a whole shell.

Sea Gull watercolors on watercolor paper done in Sea Grove, Florida.

Cactus Monday: Superstition Mountain Fieldtrip

2009-08-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

It was in 2003 that I was lucky enough to be part of a geology-Astrobiology field trip to Superstition Mountain just outside of Phoenix. The conference was held at Arizona State University (ASU) and sponsored by the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The field trip was an extra science expedition offered for those interested in the geology of he area. It was thrilling because the science information trip was led by one of the world's authorities in this subject area, Dr. Jack Farmer from ASU.

Superstition Mountain..
Very sunny day and the light was right in my camera lens.
Too bad I was not there at a better photo time of day
but it gives an idea of how beautiful this area is.

Beautiful Saguaro Cacti were everywhere on our field trip.
Notice the small bird right on top.
Who knew 6 years later I would be displaying this photo for Cactus Monday?

Oh goodie! This is what I went for...
To listen to Dr. Farmer talk about ROCKS!
No, I did not take any rocks from the park area...just took away photos.

Dr. Farmer leading the expedition and lecturing about the geology of this area.

Yes, here I am with my journal writing down every word Dr. Farmer said.
I know.. I know.. I am a rock and science geek.

We stopped at the tourist town of Tortilla Flat on our way back to the university. At least I think I am right about the name of this little town which is near the Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountain Range. We had a very welcome ice cream cone which was a fun break in the road trip. We were not there long but I took as many pictures of the surroundings with cactus as I could before they started yelling at me to hurry and get back on the bus. Not the first or last time I have been yelled at to stop taking pictures and get back ont he bus!

One of my favorite photos... cactus growing among the wagon wheels. As usual, watch out for the Cholla!

The best I can remember there was no water in the bucket brigade well!

For links to more Cactus Monday posts or art and photographs see Teri's Painted Daisies site.

Are you wondering why I have been going to these astrobiology conferences? For a summary of the curriculum development program that I am the project manager for see Astrobiology In Secondary Classrooms: http://www.astroclassroom.org/

For a bio of Dr. Jack Farmer click here.
For information on Astrobiology and the NASA Astrobiology Institute see: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai

I also post for a blog on Astrobiology: http://astroclassroom.blogspot.com/
Way behind in my posts there, need to catch up soon.

Cactus Monday: Introducing Mr. Cactus Mundi

2009-08-01T12:08:00.001-07:00

Mr. Cactus Mundi on my Laptop Keyboard.

Introducing my new friend, "Mr. Cactus Mundi". My neighbor Ellen gave me this little plastic toy. She knew of my obsession with the Cactus Monday art project and thought I would like him. It occured to me to take him around with me on any adventure. If you are familiar with "Flat Stanley," this project will be similar to that. In the book, Flat Stanley, a normal little boy is flattened by a bulletin board falling on him. As a flat boy he can fit in an envelope and can be mailed all around the world...now here is a fun way to teach kids geography. Teachers have taken Flat Stanley all over the world making his pictures in unusual locations. Flat Stanley projects exist in thousands of schools around the United States.

Now begins the adventures of Mr. Cactus Mundi. We can follow the adventures of Mr. Mundi who fits into my little change purse allowing him to go were ever I do. I don't get out of the house much during the weeks I have chemotherapy. But on the the weeks I feel good it is off with friends and family as much as possible.

This weekend we are off for a two day vacation to Chattanooga--very unusual to go out of town--how wonderful! Sunday afternoon we arrived at our hotel and went to the top of Lookout Mountain. On the summit is the Point Park Civil War National Military Park. Spectacular view of the city and the Tennessee River.

Here is Mr. Mundi on the entrance sign for Point Park Civil War National Military Park

Closeup of the little cactus man on the Park sign

Mr. Mundi catching a view from a Civil War Cannon

View from Lookout Mountain

My grandson, Milo, Loved Lookout Mountain

Little cactus man's adventures will continue....

Along the Inca Trail in Peru: Watercolor drawing of cactus and llama for Cactus Monday

2009-07-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

Cactus Monday: Down the Inca Trail

Moleskin Journal: Sketch of cactus and llama along the Inca Trail
July 2009

My friend Toni went to Peru a year ago. Yes, the same Toni who when on African Safari the year before. She just sent me a disk of all her photos. What fun! I combined a bunch of reference photos to come up with this sketch of one of the llamas that packed some of the camping stuff up the mountain. This was done for Cactus Monday.

For more artists who contribute to Cactus Monday see Teri's Painted Daisy blog.

Lisa's Turtle and Phlox: watercolor pencils ATCs

2009-07-26T04:46:00.001-07:00

Painting July 2009 From a Photography From Lisa's Blog
Turtle crossing the road in watercolor pencils
July 2009--ATC "Perseverance" Mailed to Lisa

I loved this story of a Turtle covered in mosquitoes that one of our fellow bloggers helped to get across a busy street. Visit Lisa's blog. Be sure and enlarge the photo in her story so you an see the mosquitoes attacking this poor turtle. I left the mosquitoes out of my drawing. Just could not bear to see them.

Phlox Drawing In Watercolor pencils and Micron Pens
Reference Photo from From Lisa's garden Blog

I visit Lisa's blog often and she gave me permission to use her photos as resource material for my drawings. I sent her 2 ATCs as a little thank you gift. I can't get out into my garden very much and enjoy visiting hers and mine through photos. Every few weeks my husband and I go on Safari into my yard and he and I take lots of pictures for me to use. I have a wonderful young man you comes once and week to be sure my garden it taken care of. I look forward to a time when I will be able to get out there and help dig in the dirt!

Sunflowers from Friend's Garden: Watercolor pencils

2009-07-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sunflower Watercolor Pencil Drawing No. 1
ATC Format July 24, 2009

Sunflower Watercolor Pencil Drawing No. 2
ATC Format July 24, 2009

A friend brought me a bouquet of sunflowers from his garden. They were all colors with yellow, red, and orange leaves along with different colored centers. Just spectacular. I hope to add to this series, these lovely flowers are so much fun to look at and draw. They are aptly named and bring the sunshine into your yard, home, and heart.

Judy's Beetle Drawing and Sunday Safari at Lisa's Greenbow Garden Blog

2009-07-23T07:16:00.001-07:00

A beetle I drew in one of my academic journals at Natchez Trace State Park several years ago-colored pencils and ink on sketch paper.

I loved all the insects that Lisa posted on her Sunday Safari in Lisa at Greenbow's Garden. See her beautiful photos on her post.

Lisa has given me permission to use her photos as reference material for my drawings. As a thank you present I made her 2 ATCs that are on their way to her garden house. I will post once she has received here cards.

Thank you Lisa for your lovely blog and photos. It brings you garden into my house to enjoy. I hope to sketch many of these bugs very soon.

Cactus Monday: Bed and Breakfast Cactus and Long Horn Bull

2009-07-20T02:00:00.000-07:00

For other artist's who are part of Cactus Monday visit Teri" Blog

February 2004 Journal Page Watercolor and Ink

February 2004 Cactus and Long Horn Bull in Watercolor
Travel Journal Page Watercolor

Suncatcher Bed and Breakfast Photo Great Room
(visited there site recently and it looks like they have redecorated--no Long Horn Bull)

Cactus and Plant pictured in the Drawing in Journal

The bed and breakfast had a superb cactus garden and the neighborhood was dotted with large properties that offered up great vistas and sunsets. In July of 2004 Lew and I spent a wonderful long weekend in Tucson at the Suncatcher Inn that provided gourmet snacks and an elaborate breakfast. For other drawings and photos from this weekend see the post on Cactus Monday: Century Plant.

Here are some photos of the grounds and neighborhood of the B & B. Click on the photo to enlarge the view:

The mountains in the distance turn a beautiful pink at sunset

Small terracotta sculpture

Barrel cactus in the sunlight

Barrell cactus at sunset with flash on camera

Beautiful metal sculpture of Javelina on gate

Lovely sunset with cactus skyline

Nature Journal: Flamingos Pencil Drawing at the San Fransisco Zoo

2009-07-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sketches from the San Fransisco Zoo October of 2005
All are graphite, colored pencils, or watercolor pencils and pen

Coreopsis Colored Pencil and Pen Drawing

2009-07-16T04:05:00.000-07:00

Here is another hotel garden Coreopsis drawing. As I mentioned in a previous post these plants end up a lot in my journals because I love the way they look, soft and delicate leaves and a color I enjoy working with, that soft dark to pale pink. They are easy to pluck and bring inside for reference when I am out of town. I had forgotten about this one, I scanned a ton of years ago. I believe drawn on an overnight excursion to East Tennessee. A quick drawing I think done in colored pencils even though it looks a little like water colors. I will have to find the journal it is in among the 15 or 20 in storage in my cottage office. These are my academic journals where I would take notes and sketch in among the pages of notes. Sketching helps me think about unrelated ideas!

Texas Bluebonnet Watercolor and Colored Pencil Drawings

2009-07-14T23:40:00.000-07:00

Watercolor of Bluebonnets from Journal

In 1998 a friend, Marge, and I went to San Antonio and visited the Botanical Garden there. A happy coincidence was that the Bluebonnets were blooming. There were fields of them. It was amazing. She and I sat in several different locations and sketched. What fun surrounded by a sea of blue. I started the colored pencil drawing in the gardens and worked on them in the airport. I remember "drawing" a crowd of kids as often happens when you sketch in public places. They always make you feel good. Kids think the stuff you are doing is great even when sometimes it is not.

Journal Page from San Antonio Botanical Gardens
Colored Pencils and Ink

Bluebonnets Colored Pencils and Ink
From Journal, Photo taken of one of the fields of Bluebonnets

San Antonio Botanical Garden

Cactus Monday Mexico

2009-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

For Cactus Monday I wanted to share some of the photos of cactus I took while on vacation in Mexico in 2007.
To see more cactus Monday entries visit Teri at Painted Daisies

Mineral de Pozos Silver Mine Ovens

In March of 2007 we visited Mexico for a vacation and some cooking classes. As a side trip we visited the town of Mineral de Pozos about a 45-minute drive from San Miguel de Allende, our home base.

Tailings and debris from the silver mine

Mineral de Pozos was a bit of heaven for a rock hound like myself. We visited an abandoned silver mine outside of this small village. The tailings and debris was left all around the mine from almost four centuries of lowering men on ropes to depths of 200 feet below ground to dig ore by hand. I filled all my pockets with many different kinds of rocks… lava, shale, sandstone, and crystals—the geologic history of millions of years. Unfortunately I packed the prettiest ones in my backpack and tried to take them as carry-on luggage when we flew home. Did not work. The Mexico inspector made me leave them behind. I was a very, very sad puppy.

It was an interesting trip and between my time touring the ruins and picking up rocks I took a lot of photos of cactus. The cactus here seemed so different than those I have photographed in Arizona and New Mexico. They seemed bigger and to have much longer and pricklier thorns than any I have seen before.

Lew took this photo of me taking pictures of cactus.
It gives a perspective of how thick and big the cactus were.

Beautiful with the mountains in the background

Century Plants were a very tall back drop for some type of prickly pear cactus

How lucky we were that the cactus were in bloom

Ruins of Building Scattered around the Mine Area

Large House on the Mine Property

For more about our vacation to Mexico see my Travel Blog

For more information on Mineral de Pozos

Roy Rogers Boots Pencil Sketch

2009-07-11T01:56:00.000-07:00

Lewis' Roy Rogers Boots Pencil Drawing

Lew wore these little boots when he was three years old. He thought he was a rootin, tootin cowboy. I drew these years ago and have been very partial to these. I bought some Roy Rogers memorabilia including the lunch box that came with cookies and an alarm clock. Now that I have a grandson all these decorations are in his room at my house. He is here so often we turned a spare bedroom into Milo's room. It also has a lot of space decor. So we call it the "Space Cowboy" room.

Pictured here on the left are Lewis's little Roy Rogers boots,
for very, very small feet.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans From their official website

Coreopsis with Butterfly Drawing Using Colored Pencil

2009-07-11T01:33:00.000-07:00

Thread leaf Coreopsis with Butterfly

And Butterfly: Medium Colored Pencils and Micron Pens

Photo Taken in 2002 In Nashville Tennessee
Flowers Planted in front of State Building

Goldfinch visited our garden today

2009-07-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Coneflower Watercolor Artist Trading Cards

2009-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Coneflower No. 1 with Bee Watercolor Pencils and Micron Pens
2.5 x 3.5 ATC Format
Drawing July 2009

Coneflower No. 2 Watercolor Pencils and Micron Pens
2.5 x 3.5 ATC Format
Drawing July 2009

Coneflower No. 3 with Bee Watercolor Pencils and Micron Pens
2.5 x 3.5 ATC Format
Drawing July 2009

We have a beautiful Purple Coneflower in our front flowerbed. Although we are in Tennessee this is not the native Coneflower in our area. The native plant is endangered and lives in areas like our Flat Rock Ceder Glades and Barrens Natural Area that is a short drive from our house.

Some alternative names for the Conflower are Echinacea, snakeroot, Indian head, and hedge hog. This is information from the US Department of Agriculture.

PS: I have become a little obsessed with bees lately.

Giraffe and Elephant Pencil Drawing: Memphis Zoo

2009-07-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

Elephant Pencil Drawing

Toni's African Safari Photos

Giraffe Pencil Drawing

Giraffe at Memphis Zoo

See other elephant post, click here.

See other giraffe post, click here.

Something Comforting about Teddy Bears: Pencil Drawing

2009-07-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Teddy Bear Pencil Drawing

Nasturtium Watercolor Drawing

2009-07-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Nasturtium Watercolor Drawing

Our Nasturtium seeds came up several weeks ago. So far we have a great crop of leaves. No flowers yet. We are hopeful. This drawing was done several yers ago when we had a bumper crop of flowers.

See other post with another Nasturtium drawing in this blog.

Cactus Monday: Aloe Vera in Rabbit Pot

2009-07-06T04:47:00.000-07:00

Aloe Vera Watercolor Drawing
Terracotta Rabbit Pot 5 x 8 Moleskin Sketchbook

Photo of Aloe Vera in Terracotta pot in garden

Our Aloe Vera has been climbing out of its rabbit terracotta pot for several years. We leave it in the garden every summer where it flourishes and Lew takes it to his office during the winter where it languishes and turns a little pale. We have always thought that Aloe Vera was a type of cactus until I started researching it for my Cactus Monday drawing. Alas, it is a member of the lily family more like garlic than cactus. That seems so wrong. We have a small pot close to the house and bring it inside in the winter. In China it is called the "harmonic remedy". We have always kept Aloe in the house for burns and consider it an essential. I love this name HARMONIC REMEDY. Plus when I look at the rabbit pot, it makes me smile.

Sadly, the rabbit has a big crack and may not last many more summers.

Hydrangeas Watercolor Large Painting

2009-07-04T23:04:00.001-07:00

Hydrangeas Watercolor Large Painting

This painting was done about 10 years ago on a large sheet of Arches watercolor paper. This was my 2nd large painting. I have not done many of these kinds of big framed pictures. I prefer to draw in my journals and now to draw on ATCs that I can trade with other artists.

Happy Red, White, and Blue: Flowers to Celebrate Independence

2009-07-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

HURRAY FOR THE...

Indian Paint Brush Watercolor

RED

Dogwood Watercolor Painting

WHITE

and

Violet Watercolor Drawing

BLUE

Happy 4th of July!

Beautiful July 4th bouquet from our Garden

2009-07-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lew picked this beautiful bouquet for me from our Beautiful
4th of July Garden

One of My Most Favorite Drawings of Flowers: Daisies and Violets In Colored Pencils

2009-07-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

Colored pencils and Micron Pen

I have not been up to drawing this week so I have been going back to some of my older journals to find some interesting drawings. I did this sketch about 10 years ago. It portrays two of my favorite flowers, daisies and spring violets.

Some Flowers from from my 2000 to 2003 Nature Journal

2009-07-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

Gladiolas Drawing Colored Pencils with light touch Micron Pens

We have one gladiola plant. They are difficult to grow in our garden where there is a lot of shade. When they are in season I just go buy a bouquet at the grocery store and add our one stalk. This looks good in a vase and lasts for days. They have such a lovely and delicate bloom. Gladiolas make you feel good because they are unusual and make you wonder how this beauty sprung out from out of the dirt. Dirt is good.

Blue Daises Drawing with Colored Pencils with a light use of Micron Pens

Honestly, cannot remember if I saw these somewhere or just dreamed it up. Dreaming up stuff is good for an artist. I usually draw from reference material. I am trying to dream more and draw what I see on my eyelids instead of precisely what is in a photograph. This is hard for me...well not day dreaming, but seeing a drawing on my eyelids.

My daughter, Kelly, sees art in her mind. I am a little envious but admire her greatly. She and I have painted together since she was old enough to hold a brush. She is my inspiration, friend and treasure in my life.

Coreopsis Drawing with Colored Pencils
with light use of Micron Pens

Over the last 15 years I have done a lot of traveling across the country for conferences, teacher workshops, and for just the sheer pleasure of being with my husband exploring the back roads of our terrific country. I have noticed that hotels with gardens plant Coreopsis. These plants end up a lot in my journals because I love the way they have fat tips, the petals sweep up, and sway in the slightest breeze. This flower works with you creatively. I wonder if the hotel managers noticed that I would scarf up one or two for my room so I would have a reference to look at? I bad.

Just to be clear..I don't do this in parks although it has been tempting from time to time. I am good about this. I just take away pictures.

However, Gas station weeds are fair game.

Photos and Drawings of October Asters: A Ventage Flower

2009-07-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

Drawing done 2006 Colored Pencils and Ink
Journal Sketch of Butterfly on October Aster
From Photo

My husband took this photo several years ago capturing
this Butterfly on our October Asters

Drawing done June, 2009 From Photograph
October Asters with Bee
Watercolor pencils and Pens on Sketch paper.
Bled through to the other side of the paper, but that is OK.
5 x 5 inches.
My new journal is just 5 x 5. I like this size. It has sketch paper that is not multimedia but will tolerate watercolor pencils which is my favorite medium.

My October Asters came from Rippavilla Plantation in Columbia, Tennessee. I was attending a teacher workshop at this beautiful plantation as part of a Teaching American History Grant that my company evaluated. The staff of Rippavilla was thinning their patch of these beautiful flowers while we were waiting for the teachers to arrive. They and going to throw the excess flowers away. Instead I had them throw them in my truck. What great good fortune...right place at the right time.

ATC Format Watercolor Pencils
October Aster June 2009

These beautiful blue flowers attract butterflies and bees. These drawings and photos do not do their height justice. They grow 6 to 10 feet tall. Beautiful in October, of course. In this oppressive heat we have had this month I am wishing for the cool fall days and the blooming of the asters.

Daisies are a sign that summer is here: Watercolor Pencil Drawings

2009-06-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

Daisies Watercolor Pencils with Micron and ZIG Pens.
Composite of lots of yellow daisy-like wildflowers I have seen on our journeys.
ATC Daisy Series No. 1

A photo behind a gas station on the Interstate Between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Arizona State Line
These daises were growing in piles of Ancient Lava Flow rocks

Daisies Watercolor Pencils with Micron and ZIG Pens
ACT went to Margaret June 2009
ATC Daisy Series No. 2

Lew snapped the photo of me climbing around the lava flow for specimens (on gas station property... where they had bulldozed up piles of these great rocks).
I was also searching for pictures of the wildflowers.
Can't you just hear Lew behind the camera yelling, be careful!

Cactus Monday: Century Plant Fanciful ATCs

2009-06-28T17:17:00.000-07:00

Agave or Century Plant Agave americana

Century Plant ATC Series #1

Century Plant ATC Series #2

Century Plant ATC Series #3

In 2004 we stayed in the Sun Catcher Bed and Breakfast on the outskirts of Tucson. This is an area of large properties and a beautiful neighborhood just perfect for long walks. I took many photographs along the safe and secluded streets including these of the Century Plant that I used for these Cactus Monday drawings.

For more information on the Century Plant see The San Diago Zoo.

Beach Landscapes in Watercolor Tybee Beach, Georgia

2009-06-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Lighthouse watercolor painting Tybee Island, Georgia

Oats and fences Beach scene watercolor painting

Tybee Island Lighthouse (dated 1773)

When Kelly was at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) we visited Tybee Island several times. The beach is a short drive from Savannah. Cozy and small. There is a lovely beach and historical sites including the beautiful lighthouse built in 1773. Great view from the top. I never made it up there but Kelly took a bunch of photos for me so I could appreciate it from the ground.

Pennsylvania Dutch Style: Watercolor Pencils and Ink

2009-06-27T05:06:00.000-07:00

June 2009
Watercolor Pencils with Micron and ZIG pens
3.5 x 2.5

Started my road to art, well the path after college, taking classes in decorative painting. This was in my early 20's. I spent years using this technique and teaching classes in my 30's. Now this Pennsylvania Dutch style has spilled over into my drawings into my 60's. I love dots and squiggle lines.

In the early 70's our family owned a craft shop in Metairie, Louisiana. I was a full time teacher and worked in the shop in the evenings and weekends. I took a lot of classes in craft designs over the years. My favorite were those in decorative painting where we learned the brush stroke style of the Tole Painting single stroke loaded technique. Lately as my fingers don't work as well with this technique so I am converting the brush work to watercolor pencils and ink. Hope to make a series of this in the ATC 2.5 x 3.5 inch format. Does not have the same glow as the loaded brush but fun just the same.

Bougainvellia: Watercolor pencils and pen drawings

2009-06-26T05:00:00.001-07:00

ATC of Bougainvellia Series No. 1 Traded with Margaret

ATC of Bougainvellia Series No. 2

Bougainvellia Drawing with Watercolor pencils Micron and ZIG oil-based pens
On dark greeting card above and envelope below
purchased from local craft store.

I recently received an ATC from Margaret that inspired me to try some drawings on dark backgrounds in the Chinese Brush Painting style but with watercolor pencils.

Both of of these on dark card stock require a lot of white watercolor pencils put down before the other colors.

See Irene Brady's Blog with a demonstration on how to put down white watercolor crayon on a dark background prior to using other light shades: http://naturejournaling.blogspot.com/

I am still experimenting.

Iris Watercolor Pencil Drawings

2009-06-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Iris Drawing Watercolor Pencils, Micron and ZIG Pen June 2009
This ATC went to Teri along with one of the Rabbits from previous post, and the lucky 4 leaf clover in that some story.
They were mailed in the card and envelope below.
The dark card stock blank greeting card was purchased at a local craft store.

Iris Drawing on Dark card stock with lots of white put down first.
I was experimenting wit how to lay down watercolor pencils on a dark surface.

See more information about the watercolor pencil on dark backgrounds in the post on Bougainvellia.

Cheekwood Botanical Garden: watercolor paintings on the grounds

2009-06-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Watercolor painting Done at Cheekwood Botanical Garden

The only watercolor class I ever took was a two day class at Cheekwood Botanical garden with Gail Mc Daniels a local art teacher in Nashville. We went out into the gardens to sketch and paint. It was wonderful and fun. These are the two things I did in the workshop.

From my journal from the class. Damselfly
on one of the beautiful blooms
at the botanical garden.
It is a permanent resident on the right hand border of this blog.

Flower Drawings with Single Bloom: Rose, Daisy, Daffodil, and Pansy

2009-06-23T18:00:00.000-07:00

Daisy Watercolor and Pen Drawing

Pansy Watercolor and Pencil Drawing 1999

Rose Watercolor and Pen Drawing

Daffodil Colored Pencil and Pen Drawing 1997

Wildflowers of the Harpeth River: Colored Pencils 2004 to 2005

2009-06-23T02:22:00.001-07:00

During the period of 2004 to 2005
I drew a lot of wildflowers along the Harpeth River in Williamson County TN.
Here is a PhotoShop Collage of some of those flowers.
All were done in colored pencil and ink

Grandmamma cactus: Watercolor Drawing for Cactus Monday

2009-06-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Euphorbia Ingens Cactus Watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons,
Micron, ZIG, and Pitt Pens June 22, 2009

Lewis mother, Anna Butler, gave us her potted cactus many years ago. She cultivated it from a plant that belonged to her father, Dr. William Barton Dalton, the town doctor in Gordonsville, TN. We think the root base of our cactus could be as much as 70 years old.

The photo below of the small cactus was taken in 2002 when it would still fit on the kitchen counter. The photo of the cactus in the yard next to the office cottage was taken in June 2009. In those seven years it has grown about 4 feet. In our search of the Internet we think it is the variety Euphorbia ingens.

Grandmamma cactus last week in 2009

Grandmamma cactus was taken in 2002

Closeup view Euphorbia Ingens Cactus June 2009

Every winter we move this monstrous plant into the cottage office where Lew faithfully waters it sparingly through the cold months. Then on wheels it is rolled out into the garden. It has gotten very woody over the years but keeps on growing and growing. In the spring it breaks out into these frilly little leaf-like structures all over. Then it seams the thorns break out where these pretty little leaves were. Not sure about how that process works. We have it propped up with stakes and weighted down with rocks because in our high-wind storms it has fallen over a few times. Getting a 5-foot tall cactus with what seems like a ton of dirt and a bunch of rocks upright again is no simple matter while avoiding those thorns. Sometimes it just does not seem grateful for all our attention!

Happy Father's Day: Grandaddy Lewis and Dad Paul

2009-06-21T07:59:00.001-07:00

Drawings from the Travel Journal of Judy and Lewis

Paul, Kelly, and Milo
Our family vacation at Natchez Trace State Park June 2009

Happy Fathers Day to the two men in my life: Lew, my spousal unit (foundly nicknamed after the Conehead Movie, ho ho) and Paul, the father of our precious Milo.

Here are the journal pages from one of mine and Lew's favorite places to visit, East Tennessee. We love to travel together and both take photos of nature as we run the back roads on our trips.

Lew in the doorway of Saint John's Mill

St. John Milling is the oldest business in Tennessee since 1778
One of the Outbuildings, Watercolor drawing done in 2003

Watercolor drawing in Travel Journal
See photo below, these flowers were growing
in the rocks along the back of a gas station parking lot

We traveled on to Elizabethton which is not far from the Mill
This lovely small East Tennessee town
has a beautiful covered bridge