Happy Spring!

Hello everyone and Happy Spring! It was such a lovely day today and I felt like drawing something silly. Perhaps it was the weather or the book that I just purchased (shown below) that inspired me.

I haven't finished reading it but I thought it was well written and the pages were filled with delicate and beautiful pencil drawings, illustrated by Tricia Tusa. Consequently, I thought it would be fun to draw with pencil – it's been awhile since I've held a pencil sharpener. So, I rushed to my room and found an old, untouched sketchbook and began drawing with the pencil I found in my brother's room. It started out okay but it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. I was a bit disappointed and I thought I could fix it in Corel Paint. I have never used Corel in my life, the only reason I have it because it came with the Bamboo I purchased last month. And I was surprised by how easy it was to navigate the program and it had all kinds of brushes and tools. Although I had no idea how to use half the tools, I had fun experimenting and coloring – I think I'm going to be using Corel a lot. So, here's the finished product.

"I found you, you Spring Bandit!"


I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.
~Ruth Stout

Doodles & Quotes

A sketch from my sketchbook that I scanned. I was doodling today, just trying various things. I experimented with different types a little bit and played with different colors. I love the retro feel of the illustration. I thought the quote by Mark Twain was perfect. It looks like the cat is trying to cheer her up.

More quotes by Mark Twain:

TOP 10 QUOTES


1. Education

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.

Tidbit: Mark Twain, who is recognized as the “father of American literature,’’ was not educated beyond elementary school.

2. Courage

There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice.

3. Wit

One of the striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.

4. Friendship
The holy passion of Friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money.

5. Humor
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.

6. Success

Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.

7. Courage

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.

8. Education

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.

9. Age

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.

10. Health

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.

HAPPY THANKGSGIVING!

A page from my sketchbook.

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Little Things Matter

A page from my sketchbook with Leo Buscalia’s quote:

‘‘I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things...I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.’’

Dr. Felice Leo Buscalia is a renowned author of many New York Times bestselling inspirational books such as: The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, Bus 9 to Paradise, Living Loving and Learning, Love and My Father.