Shadow Shot Shaggy

This fellow knows how to make the most of an umbrella-cast shadow.

For more fabulously cool shadow shots, visit Hey Harriet! and clink on the links!

OBX Dreamin'

I'm longing to be back here, sitting on the sand,

listening to the waves as they crest on the sandbar,

watching the pelicans dive,

and the dolphins slap the water with their tails.

I'm longing to feel the sun on my skin, gazing at the horizon,

hearing the delight in my sons' voices as they ride another wave,

seeing the gulls slowly inching toward my potato chip bag,

and the dogs dashing away from the encroaching water.

I'm longing to go and never leave, becoming a local,

riding my bike barefooted to the market to fill up the basket on the front,

walking into Sonny's and being greeted by name,

and knowing the names of those greeting me.

Free, to a Good Home

It's giveaway time!  Happy Friday, everyone!

I'm giving away this original gouache and ink painting to one of my dear readers as a lead-up to opening my new etsy shop on July 31.  It is 5x7 on pastel paper - ready to be matted and framed and hung in your favorite corner.

This is a different view of our friend, the bluebird.  I was so distressed to hear, yesterday, that some of you haven't seen a bluebird, I figured it must be the right thing to give away.

So here's all YOU have to do!

Leave me a comment, in this post, any time between today (July 17, 2009) and Sunday, July 19, 2009, at midnight and I'll enter your name into the drawing one time.  Easy!

But wait...there's more!  Write a little something about my giveaway on your own blog or Twitter feed, link back to this post, and email me to tell me about it at diahnott at gmail dot com...one more chance to win! 

I'll stir all the entries up in a random number generator and have it spout out a winner on Monday morning!

Don't forget to make sure that your name is included in your post!  I had one anonymous entry with no contact or name last week, and so I couldn't add that one to the drawing. 

Have a great weekend, everyone - and good luck!

Mr. Bluebird's on My Shoulder

I'm the kind of girl that gets really excited when I see a bluebird. Is that normal? Ever since I was a kid, I'd spy one sitting on the fence in the backyard and just get overwhelmed with the thrill of watching those cerulean-wrapped fluff-balls preen.

I guess I was an overly excited kid, because bluebirds are quite common where I live and have lived most of my life.

There's something about them, though. They are common, but they stand out in a crowd of sparrows, now don't they? They don't have to work overly hard or bully less fortunate birds for us to notice them. They just fly around, being themselves - being BLUE - and we love them for it. We love them so much, we build them houses and help them raise their young. We cry when a corn snake finds its way into their house and eats their eggs. (Actually, if you're my mom, you cry and then kill the heck out of that bad, bad corn snake. Bad snake. What can I say - she's Irish.)

Anyway...

This is another of the bird sketches out of my Paperchase recycled kraft paper sketchbook. I actually removed this one from the sketchbook and experimented a little with mounting it on a piece of all media board, using acrylic gel. It actually worked pretty well - flattened out all the buckling in the paper, and even though I've got another one on more refined paper in the works, I'm considering putting this one in the etsy shop when I open. I love other people's sketchbooks, and think they look really cool framed with the unfinished edges showing, so maybe other people do, too!

I'd love to hear your opinion on that...

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Bird on a Wire

This is another sketch out of the Paperchase book. I was still experimenting here, with different inks and colors for the background, as well as for the drawing itself. I really like the layout of this one, but I'm not happy with the darker inks in the background design - I like the watermark look much better. I also am not very happy with using the sepia pen for the bird - I think I like the way the black ink plays against the strong colors of the gouache.

For sure, this birdie will be making an appearance in a finished piece - I like his saucy little attitude, balanced precariously on his wire, and his feet are fabulous...

edit: I picked up the Paperchase sketchbook at my local Border's bookstore for cheap. It's made of recycled kraft paper, wirebound, about 5 1/2 x 8 1/2. It looks similar to one of these, but it isn't exactly the same. I can't find it on the Border's website, and you can only order Paperchase online if you live in the UK.

Anyhow - the paper is plain brown, then I stamp it kind of randomly with an assortment of stamps...I like the look of the "watermark" ink best - it's basically clear ink that dries just a shade darker than whatever paper color you're working on.

A Progression, of Sorts

I've been toying with this idea of bird portraits for a while. I guess it started with this one back in February.

That bird led to this one, and then this one, and of course, this, this, and this. And that's not even counting all the paper collage ones. I tell you what. Just go here and have a look...it's really ridiculous - the birds.

Linda pointed out to me that I was drawing an awful lot of birds and there were some birds and maybe I was on to something like, say, birds. So - we're officially calling it the year of the bird, at least for me.

I drew this tree swallow in my little Paperchase recycled paper sketchbook and was taken with how the gouache looked against the tinted paper...

But, I still thought it lacked something, so I tried it on some cool paper that Linda gave me...

And I pretty much hated how THAT paper handled the gouache. A lot. Big hate. But I kind of liked the background. So I went back to the brown paper and added in some watermark stamps (again...from Linda...did I mention I love Linda?) and suddenly, I started liking it...

At least a little more. I love how the white gouache pops against the brown paper. It makes me very happy.

The only drawback is that the paper is kind of thin, and tends to buckle when I apply the paint (see the top of that last picture, there?) So I've been experimenting with other papers. Right now, this is working really well...

Seems strange to find a paper specifically designed for dry media and use it for wet, but hey...we're thinking outside the box, people...

And the Winner is...

Owen!

Owen - send me your snail mail and I get this posted ASAP! Congratulations!

Everyone else - I'll post a new painting on Friday for another chance to win! Be sure to come back and comment...and don't forget to bookmark my etsy shop - opening July 31!

A Bit Delayed

I'm doing this...

So the contest will have to wait a bit. I'll continue to accept entries until I get back to Arlington this evening, so jump down 2 posts and comment if you haven't already!

-- Post From My iPhone

Shadow Shot Shell

For more great shadow shots, visit Hey Harriet! and click on the links!

Also - there are still a couple of hours left to enter to win my seagull painting - click here for more information!