Sketchbook blog

I'm very thankful for all those in this artistic community:  my circle of artist friends and art lovers, and my readers far and near. I am sending out my November newsletter to subscribers very late this month.  Subscribers will receive a link to a printable of the above quote by Picasso.  To make up for my tardiness, I added a special bonus in this blog post:   In the short film below, you can see my original hand-lettered sketches before I digitized them. Enjoy!

Very early Tuesday morning, I delivered 200 Endearing Young Charms to worldwide Art-o-mat headquarters, USA. This delivery included one batch of 50 keychains and 3 batches (of 50 each) of bottlecap necklaces.   I've never done 4 batches at one time.  This is my 13th Art-o-mat batch ever. (photo courtesy of Art-o-mat ) Clark loaded up his truck the next day to take a huge delivery to the Cosmo in Las Vegas. I have been staying up late at night, packing more handmade items that I painted on the weekends. Alex has helped me keep the creative juices flowing. Just a couple early process shots A couple necklaces went to some special people. Clarice and I will work a local craft fair next weekend, so I've been making more keychains and necklaces to sell. Then we'll get another Art-o-mat batch or two together for December delivery. Here is Peyton's necklace that he won on my Instagram ch

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's the time we come together and celebrate all the good in life. And life can be so good if you just let it. There is always something to be thankful for. I realize that many folks are not Americans and therefore don't celebrate Thanksgiving. I hope that today you can focus on something you are thankful for. Wishing you and your family much love and happiness this holiday season.

This year, I practiced my handlettering skills with excerpts from Psalm 100 . I sketched these in my Moleskine sketchbook, sometimes late at night while with my family.  This explains why I started off with a misspelling! As Julia Nunes says, "What I lack in accuracy, I make up for in enthusiasm."  :) Other times, I doodle during church or meetings. I enjoyed doing research from other artists to see how they portrayed similar concepts of gratitude. Most of all, this was a wonderful exercise in sketching and in gratefulness.  It's always a good day when you practice mindfulness - especially to remind yourself to count your blessings. Just for fun, here is Alex singing a song that his Kindergarten class sang at a local nursing home this week on a field trip. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

It's the time of year for fall crafts, and my thoughts turn to gourds. If you want a unique crafting class filled with bright colors and fun, organic designs, then please enroll in my Skillshare class .   Let me know you enjoy it!  Thanks so much for being a part of this artistic community.

Independence Day , watercolor on paper, Andrew Wyeth, 1961 I Vow to Thee, My Country by Cecil Spring-Rice (1918) Musical score by Gustav Holst,  Listen to trumpet setting here  performed Timothy Moke . Joel CARTER, Vietnam I VOW to thee, my country, all earthly things above, Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love; Charles STRONG, Vietnam The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; Looking for survivors, Vietnam The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice. Ralph BRADFORD, Korea AND there's another country , I've heard of long ago, Most dear to them that love her,  most great to them that know; Dr. Gordon ARNOLD, Vietnam We may not count her armies, we may not see her King; Her fortress is a faithful heart , her pride is suffering; In M