Easter Reflections

I wanted to share my latest Colored Pencil of the Month Club project called "Easter Reflections" with you. I just love the way it turned out, dramatic and contemporary with a little sweet twist the jelly beans of course. It was a lot of fun to do and if you can believe it, it wasn't very hard. I show you a lot of step-by-step photos to make it successful for you too. If you want to give it a try, you can read more about my Colored Pencil Club at www.kellyhoernig.com. I can promise you'll never know what's coming up next, it's always a surprise. So, I hope you'll join me on this exciting journey of creativity and inspiration. Let's color...

Just Delightful

Some Thesaurus words for "delicate" - aerial, choice, delectable, delightful, elegant, ethereal, exquisite, faint, filmy, finespun, flimsy, fragile, frangible, gauzy, gentle, graceful, mild, muted, nice, pale, pastel, rare, select, slight, soft, subdued, subtle, tender. Another great photo to share and I just love these words from above as the description - delightful, ethereal and tender - perfect words, just wonderful! They almost look made out of crepe paper don't they? The ruffles of the petals and the strong sunlight make this almost imaginary and I want to believe...

Word - Delicate

The word for this week is delicate. Its adjective meaning: pleasing to the senses of taste or smell; marked by daintiness or charm; exquisite; easily damaged; fragile; requiring skill or tact; marked by minute precision; very sensitive. I'm not even sure what kind of tree this was but the photo came out so interesting I had to use it. It looks like a beautiful watercolor painting to me. I appreciate all the little delicate values and intricacies it has to offer, just breathtaking. Can you believe how many intense violets are in the shadows? I don't know that I would have been so bold with my color choices. Sure makes me want to try one though!

Tulip Farm

It's cold again here and I'm so wanting the daffodil and tulip bulbs to bloom that I went to my photo archives and found some. This is a picture of a tulip farm in Holland Michigan. Love the colors and the rows just go on and on forever. They even have bison roaming around with them, how cool is that! Talk about beauty and the beast :) We won't have near that many LOL but we do have some amazing ones to look forward to. We planted over 300 spring flower bulbs in the fall and are awaiting their appearance because right now, we don't remember what we put where. No one has ever done that, right? I have been checking on the planted spots and the greenery is coming up so this year the driveway up to the house should be spectacular with blooms. I will keep you posted with lots of colorful pictures, promise!

Take Flight

I have to admit, I got lucky with this shot. My battery was going and I only had a couple photos left - yep, this was the last one WHEW!

The setting was perfect, the color combination awe inspiring and the mood, well it speaks for itself. It looks as if this dogwood flower is about to take flight reaching for the sun with all it has to offer. Beautiful and very exciting to the creative being inside myself. It just makes me smile and I hope it brings a little brightness to your day too :)

Sunshine + Creativity

Maximus our great cement lion is sure smiling with the sun upon his face. I can relate, wanted to spread a blanket and take a nap with the puppies beneath the heat of today's sunshine. If only it would last, cooler days are expected in the Midwest this week - drats!

With gardening and painting catalogs piling up, there is a no end to the things that get me inspired. I even took an e-course online for the last couple of weeks and have to say I loved it. Not only was the "She Art Workshop" creative fun but Christy a great teacher that shared her art and soul with us all and I appreciate that more than ever. If you are interested, check out this link to do your own She Art! www.christytomlinson.typepad.com/christytomlinson/workshops.html

They're Here...

The crocus are finally here and popping up all over the place YEAH! It is the second thing that reminds me Spring is on the way, the first being the wonderful robins back in the yard. I was out taking photos all day so don't be surprised to be bored by crocus flowers very soon :)

Dappled Sunlight

These little crab apples are a great representation of the power of light. It creates such movement with the dappled effect of light and dark being spattered amidst the photo. It shows off the beautiful fall colors and all their values in such a way, that I am totally inspired by.

What kind of mood does it capture? For me, it's mysterious because I want to see the whole photo. The details are intriguing, making me want more. I love that the composition is unexpected and as an artist, something perfect to render in any medium. What does it inspire in you?

Stealing a Moment

Some Thesaurus words for "drive" - actuate, act upon, animate, arouse, chase, compel, constrain, encourage, force, harass, herd, hound, hurry, inspire, instigate, kick, lean on, make, motivate, nag, oblige, overburden, pressure, prod prompt, propel, provoke, push, rouse, send, shove, spur, stimulate, worry.

This statue stands in front of our house on a huge cement birdbath filled with a creeping sedum. I love it because it looks as if he is trying to encourage a kiss out of the fair maiden. Although luscious in color, this picture is about a chase. Do you see her skirt in his hand? She, acting all coy and innocent, don't we all know better. We all know she slowed down so he could catch her :)

Word - Drive

The word for this week is drive.

Its verb meaning: to urge, push or force onward; to carry though strongly; to set or keep in motion or operation; force, compel; to project, inject or impress forcefully; to produce by opening a way; to progress with strong momentum.

This little bee reminds me that no matter what only you are responsible for striving forward. I'm struggling to wear the many hats and keep up with the various demands an artist faces but I will push forward and see the silver lining at the end of the deadline schedule. Please, let it be soon!

Elongated Elegance

I just had to share this wonderful photo of the little tiny violets that pop up all over our yard in the springtime. I loved the color combination and the exquisite sunlight, couldn't ask for a better photo opportunity. Of course you know I was drawn in by the interesting shadows by the top violet. Not only do they catch my attention but it would be a center of interest for my rendering as well. It would be quite a challenge to pull off with such a vertical design but I have some tricks up my sleeves. First and most importantly, the brightest and darkest values need to be up there to bring your eye to that spot. It should also have more intense coloration than the bottom of the design. Notice how the lower section is still interesting but it doesn't make you want to stay there because all that bright goodness is calling your name. The only thing I would probably change is make the bottom violet a whole one. I don't like it being cut off so violently. It would also frame that beautifully heart shaped leaf and be more pleasing to the eye. I would position it a little askew but make it so your eye would travel right up that long stem to bring you back to the main subject. Will you see this later? Oh yeah! But as always which medium to use - colored pencil or acrylics?

Just Happy!

I woke up to snow on the ground and ice covered trees everywhere. Although beautiful, it just looked crystallized, wintry and freezing. So, went into the photo archives and pulled out something warmer that made me smile. These little tardiva flowers just make me happy with all their cheery yellow petals tipped in white - beautiful!

Golden Giddiness

Some Thesaurus words for "sunny" - beaming, blithe, brilliant, clarion, cheerful, cloudless, fine, light, luminous, pleasant, radiant, shining, smiling.

The brightness of these tiny daffodils just make me happy. How can you resist the smile wanting to spread across your face? I knew you couldn't do it :) The shocking pumpkin orange against the vibrantly intense yellow makes these miniatures a special treat when they finally arrive. We have a wide variety of daffodils making the hundreds of blooms that come up each year always something to look forward to.