Illustration Fridays Challenge is ...."Ahead"

I decided to participate in this weeks challenge at illustration friday's web site. Every week a new word is added to the challenge, and this weeks word was "AHEAD". I came up with this little illustration in mind. Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday.

A Horse Named Azul

I wanted to post up some pictures of my Moms new horse named "Azul". 

He has the most beautiful blue eyes.  

I get to go see him in a few more weeks for the first time. 

Cant wait.

Red Head with a View

Today I finished up this little painting. I have been experimenting with colored pencils and oil paints.  I found product that I love called Liquin Original from Windsor & Newton. It smooths out the colored pencil and oil paints, and dries the oils pretty quickly.   Down below are a few photos that I saw on a blog a couple of weeks ago. For the life of me I can't find out who posted these pictures below.  If anyone remembers who these pictures belong to can you let me know?  I thought I would use them as inspiration for "Red Head with a View".

Cold, Freezing, Dana Point

Last weekend, my family and I went to Dana Point, CA for a little getaway surf weekend. I am not a surfer, but I was excited to spend my weekend on the beach painting. However, it was sooooooo cold that I really wasn't that inspired to paint.  I struggled for a bit, and I must say I am not happy with this painting.  I must also admit that I usually only like to post my best drawings or paintings, but I think that as an artist, most of us deal with only so so work on occasion. Therefore I want to post this and maybe I will learn something from it, like not expecting perfectionism from myself with every piece of artwork. 

Does this even make sense?.....hmmmm.

Sun came out briefly on this shot.

Me, freezing cold waiting for my husband and daughter to come in from surfing.

My daughter Tatum and my husband Helmut, and my daughter Capri, boogie boarding in the sand.

That Old Plantation Home

Art by JennyDraws

Title:     The Plantation Child's Lullaby

Author: Paul Laurence Dunbar [More Titles by Dunbar] 

Wintah time hit comin'

Stealin' thoo de night;

Wake up in the mo'nin'

Evah t'ing is white;

Cabin lookin' lonesome

Stannin' in de snow,

Meks you kin' o' nervous,

Wen de win' hit blow.

Trompin' back from feedin',

Col' an' wet an' blue,

Homespun jacket ragged,

Win' a-blowin' thoo.

Cabin lookin' cheerful,

Unnerneaf de do',

Yet you kin' o' keerful

Wen de win' hit blow.

Hickory log a-blazin'

Light a-lookin' red,

Faith o' eyes o' peepin'

'Rom a trun'le bed,

Little feet a-patterin'

Cleak across de flo';

Bettah had be keerful

Wen de win' hit blow.

Suppah done an' ovah,

Evah t'ing is still;

Listen to de snowman

Slippin' down de hill.

Ashes on de fiah,

Keep it wa'm but low.

What's de use o' keerin'

Ef de win' do blow?

Smoke house full o' bacon,

Brown an' sweet an' good;

Taters in de cellah,

'Possum roam de wood;

Little baby snoozin'

Des ez ef he know.

What's de use o' keerin'

Ef de win' do blow?

The Swan Thieves

I wanted to add to my blog a great book that I have been listening to while I paint or even do housework.
Its called "The Swan Thieves" by Elizabeth Kostova. Click here to see a quick video blog about the book.
www.youtub.com/watch?v=v2Cp943_gqA

If you are a painter, I think you will definitely enjoy reading this or hearing it.

Colonial Mexican Fountain

Well, Its been awhile since I've posted.  I get into a rut, and then I snap out of it.  This little 9 x 12 painting was fun to make. I used oil paints which I've always had problems with in the past.  I love the brilliance of oil paints though, and I would love to master them better.