Joan makes a splash

I'm panicking! I'm heading off to NY in a couple days and I don't have a thing to wear! I seriously need a fashion guru.

I didn't feel very compelled to draw in my harried state so instead, I found myself sifting through my old sketchbooks and found a drawing that brought back fond memories. Many moons ago, I lived along a beach on Oahu, in a small apartment off the main house; it was a great little place. When I moved in, I painted over the dingy white walls with a brighter, but still boring white (so much for creating a splash). But one evening, after being there only a week, I just couldn't stand looking at the perfect white walls any longer so unbeknownst to my landlord, I drew, in pencil, a lifesized image of Melissa Etheridge (similar to the one here) on the inside of my back door. When my landlord came over (which was thankfully rarely), I left the door open and she never noticed it. Of course, when I moved out a year later, I had to admit I defaced the door but fortunately, it wasn't a big deal ... an artist later moved in after me and decided to keep it. So I guess technically, that was my first gallery exhibit. LOL.

I can draw people

This has been my mantra lately, "I can draw people, I can draw people, I can draw people." I don't know if I believe it still but I've been avoiding drawing people for far too long so I promised myself I'd try every chance I get. I used my spankin' new micron pen 01 this evening. It's a nice blue, don't you think?

Wailuku River Bridge

It was just nice to get out of the house and adventure around town this morning. After imbibing way too much coffee at home and appeasing my vice for more Pigma micron pens at my local art store, I spent a little bit of time sketching Wailuku River Bridge, coloring it in watercolor at home.

Breakfast haiku

Breakfast at Keo's
While heading to a conference
Yummm, bacon!

LOL. I'm back! Just got back from the Hawaii Conservation Conference. I've been itching to draw ALL week and am thankful to be back home. Toodles everyone! I'm off to draw ... something! :)

Rockin' Girl Blogger

Thanks Tracy (Small Smackerels) for the great "Rockin' Girl Blogger" award! I'm honored and I've proudly displayed it. This meme was started by Roberta Ferguson.



I'm passing this award to the following girl bloggers that ROCK big time (in no particular order): Mariana Musa, Andrea Joseph, France Belleville, Kathleen Rietz, and Juj. They are lovely people, generous with their comments, encouraging, and above all, are kick butt artists! These gals are welcome to display the award on their blog and pass it along to others (or not :)).

There are many more art bloggers out there that deserve this as much (including the guys). Wish I had one for each of you. You're my inspirations.

Banyan Tree

Banyan trees are just fun trees to draw. This is one at Wailoa State Park. It's found at one end of the park, where I take Kanoe for a walk and watch people fishing for mullet or papio.

EDM #125 - Bird (8th Fact)

Fact #8: Geese freak me out!

I once watched one of these white jobbers attack my aunty and give her a humungous bruise on her butt. I watched this particular goose from the comfort of my driver's seat and didn't dare get out. No tasty morsel for this guy. I was just hoping he'd go away. LOL.

Ok, those are my 8 random facts.

Thanks again Mariana (Bit by Bit) for tagging me. These are the rules:
1-post these rules
2-each person tagged must post 8 random(... hopefully interesting) facts about themselves
3-tags should write a blogpost of these facts
4- at the end of the post 8 more bloggers are tagged and named
5-go to their blog and leave a comment telling them they're tagged.

Now, who to tag next ...

1. Kathleen Rietz (Kathleen Rietz - Artist)
2. DRB (Daily Art [mas o menos])
3. Brian Nelson (Brian's Art Blog)
4. Bev (Little Friday Stories)
5. Serena Lewis (Searen Art and Design)

(I am reserving the right to choose my next three in a bit. Anyone WANT to be tagged?)

One of my favorite illustrators

Hey folks, you have to check out Kathleen Rietz's drawing for Illustration Friday's theme: Discovery (here). It's a post I can totally relate to. And, if you know me, I think you'd agree that the little girl looks like a young me ... and a budding biologist no less! LOL. Since I don't have anything to post, thought I'd share this link and send you over for a peek. :) Have a great Wednesday everyone! I'm spending tomorrow planting Mauna Loa silverswords at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I'll take a few pics to share. Night all!

IF - Discovery (7th Fact)

Fact #7: I have a little wooden box that I fill with my little found discoveries, treasures, and mementos.

Many of these objects are things I've had since I was a little girl. Some, more recent. Some, mementos from past relationships, some gifts, some discovered on walks. Most just reminders of people I've known or places I've been. All memories I hold dear. Check out the notes on my Flickr post for info about some of these.

My prized posession: EDM #119 - Rock (6th Fact)

Fact #6: My most prized posession is a rock.

I guess that sounds kind of weird, doesn't it? Well, if you knew me, it really isn't so weird. I picked up this rock while walking along the shores of Milos (blogged below). Philip James Bailey best described what this rock means to me when he said, "Art is man's nature. Nature is God's art."

Note: This is my 100th post! Yay! I think this calls for a celebration!

Ok, I realize I better describe why this rock is very special to me or you'll all think I'm crazy if you don't already. This rock is inherently beautiful. It may be just a rock ... but if you took the time to really look at it, you'd notice it has a mix of greens, blues, yellows, pinks, whites, and browns. It is somewhat crystalline in parts and it seems like you could look right through it if you looked hard enough. This rock reminds me to not judge so easily. By stopping and really looking, I can see the beauty in the simplest of things. This applies to rocks and everything else.

I found this rock on my most favorite Greek Island. It is not a gorgeous island like Thera (Santorini), Mykonos, or Crete. It is where most people speak only Greek; usually only get Greek visitors; when it's summer, the whole island is brown dotted with white-washed homes; and where an Asian woman is a bit of a curiosity to residents. It is for me a little reminder of a dream fulfilled and a hope to return.

Perhaps it's the way I was raised but I believe the value of nature, the stuff I call "God-made," far outweigh the monetary value of things "man-made." Oh don't get me wrong, I do love a Starbucks coffee every now and then and on certain mornings, I would pay a zillion bucks for a cup! But in general, that's how I see the world. Ever have something you look at and it makes you smile? Well, this rock makes me smile.

EDM #16 - Favorite tool (5th Fact)

Fact #5: I returned to school (as a "non-traditional" student) and obtained a nursing degree two years ago ... and I DID take that communications class! (blogged below)

Although I'm not presently an RN, I hope to be one in the future. Can't think of a more noble profession. For now, I'm happily being a botanist helping plants. I guess they're both caring professions.

This stethoscope was my favorite "tool" in nursing school. As a nursing student, we're never caught without it!

EDM #15 - Trees, leaves, or branches (4th Fact)

Fact #4: Years ago, I didn't enter the medical field because I was too frightened to take one communications class (that required me to speak in front of people). So, I became a botanist instead.

I know it's odd to think of it now since I have to speak publicly often, but I was a shy kid and well, nothing, and I mean absolutely NOTHING, would have made me take a class like that back then.

Thankfully, being a botanist means I now know the name of the plant from which this stump came. This is a stump of a Bougainvillea bush that I found at the airport while waiting for my plane home. I really liked its gnarly form.

EDM #61 - Grouping of 2 or more (3rd Fact)

Fact #3: I have two cell phones. One for work and one personal. Between them, I am within reach ... night or day. IF you have my numbers. :)

Sorry for not posting earlier. I've been traveling and just got home tonight. I figured that folks are probably waiting anxiously for the third installment of my exciting and spell-binding random facts (hah!) ... so I drew my two cell phones before I went to bed last night. I do realize how silly it is for me to carry two cell phones but such is life these days. Technology has caught up with me (*head shaking*)! But it's a plus when I can do my banking while in the mountains!

EDM Challenge #50 - Entryway (2nd Fact)

Fact #2: I have a fascination with Greece that is beyond my comprehension.

This is the entryway to a home on the island of Milos, Greece and for a bit, I considered it my home. I just remember it being a very happy time. While there, the elderly man next door would yell, "Anna, Anna (my landlord)! I have some eggs for your guests!" Then he'd ramble over with a couple eggs his chickens just laid. I did a quick sketch here to remind me of this fleeting memory. Maybe I'll get to live out my dream someday and run a motel on some remote Greek island. That would be a lovely homecoming.

EDM #17 - Instrument (1st Fact)

I've been tagged by the wonderful artist Mariana and requested to present 8 random facts about myself. I thought ... hmmm ... this is going to be tough! So, I've decided to illustrate each fact as a blog entry. To be honest, this has less to do with being creative as giving myself some time to think of 8 interesting enough facts. LOL. And, I might be creative enough to check off some of my EDM challenges! :) P.S. I'll post the rules on my last entry.

Ok, here's fact one ...

#1. I can't get through a cello concerto without tearing up. I swear, if we went to a live concert, you'd better have hankies available.

Handsome dude

I've been busy with life things this week and haven't had the chance to draw much. While rifling through my old drawings this morning, I came across this one that I thought I'd like to share. It was done way back in 1986!

I was young ... I remember this fellow from a magazine. I thought he was sooo handsome that I had to capture him. I guess in the years that has since passed, I forgot how wonderful it is to commit things around me to paper. You see, I was a closeted artist. Drawing was my passion and I was the only one that knew it; I don't think I ever showed anyone my artwork. Back then, art was considered trivial (I suspect there are a lot of people out there that can relate). Well, I eventually set it aside for college, life, career, and adult responsibilities and didn't pick it up again until much later.

Now, looking back, I'm glad art found me again and that I can now admit to the world that I really like to draw. It's very liberating!

And, I'm really glad I took that moment years ago to commit to paper this handsome fellow ... if only to come across it two decades later and relive the moment again.

Doodles in color

After using my Micropen 01 on Bristol paper, I tested some watercolors on it. Had to use dry-on-dry and wet-on-dry techniques but the paper held. Any more water and I would have ended up with mush!

This is the kind of fun, distracting, no pressure, mindless 4th of July painting projects I like.

Doodling

Couldn't help doodling while watching television tonight. LOL I dunno where the heck these creatures came from. I guess they came to visit from my deep psyche. It could be worse.

EDM Challenge #18 - View from a window (almost done)

Hmmm, not quite sure how to finish this one. Anyone have suggestions?

EDM Challenge #18 - View from a window (draft 1)

This is a pen and ink drawing of my backyard as viewed through our back window. The big thing on the left is a tree fern (hapuu) and the rest are ti plants, a plumeria tree, and assundry weedy plants. This started as a doodle but then I kept going! It might turn out to be my biggest work ever!