Drawing on Nature

Coloring book pages: Yellow-faced bee and palila

2011-12-16T21:32:00.003-10:00

I have the coolest friends. The theme of their wedding was the silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. sandwicense) and native species. Being the thoughtful couple that they are, they wanted something fun for the kids to do during the reception so asked if I could draw a few coloring book pages. Well, they took the idea and expanded it into an awesome activity book! Here are a couple of the drawings ...

Taos, New Mexico

2011-10-17T05:57:00.003-10:00

watercolor, Pigma micron pen 005

It was my very first trip to New Mexico and being able to help construct a pueblo seed storage building, visiting awesome farms, mobile slaughter house, meeting entrepreneurs trying to create a healthier community, and watching the San Geronimo Feast Day in Taos Pueblo filled a great week! This is a view of the mountains surrounding Taos Pueblo and Red Willow Farm.

10-minute sketch

2011-04-09T00:06:00.002-10:00

Just a quick sketch in my good ole moleskine before I head off to bed. G'night ya'll!

Illustration Friday: Bottled

2011-04-08T21:07:00.004-10:00

pen & watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Huh? Don't ask. :/ (heh heh, I swear I dunno how I come up with these).

Illustration Friday: Duet

2011-04-01T22:33:00.003-10:00

pen & watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Love is ... singing with your hunny bunny whenever the moment strikes! :D

Tim's small portrait

2011-03-22T20:21:00.002-10:00

watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Back to portraits for the Julia Kay's Portrait Party! This is Tim Clary, who happens to be an awesome artist so check out his Flickr site.

Thanks for letting me use your reference photo Tim!

Japan bunnies ... Please donate to help.

2011-03-16T20:50:00.027-10:00

Hi everyone! Need a bunny to hang out with? If you would like a one-of-a-kind, original work of art (2.5"x3.5") made by me, please consider buying a "Japan bunny"* of your very own. For a donation of $15 to the Red Cross or Seicho-No-Ie to support the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I will draw and paint a bunny similar to the ones shown here. Because they are individually done, they are all slightly different but still very cute.

For those of you that have already contacted me about your donation, please send in your donations as we've arranged and I will send that on to the Red Cross.

But from now on, we can do this in 3 easy steps!

1. If you would like your very own "Japan bunny", please let me know by leaving a comment below.

2. Make a donation directly to the American Red Cross or Seicho-No-Ie Japan Relief Fund** and save your receipt.

3. Email me a copy of the receipt with your address and I will mail the card to you!

Thanks everyone for donating to the relief effort! We've raised $495 so far (updated 4/10/11)! Woohoo!

(* Each bunny is drawn using archival ink and artist grade transparent watercolor on white 140 lb. Strathmore coldpress acid-free watercolor paper (2.5 in x 3.5 in). They are mailed in a protective clear plastic card holder.)

(** Seicho-No-Ie is a non-denominational truth of life movement and its Sendai Missionary Area experienced the brunt of the earthquake and tsunami. Your donations, if you so choose, will directly support its members and others affected in Japan. The donation link is in prep so please check back).

Japan bunny - for donation of $15

2011-03-16T07:42:00.008-10:00

watercolor & pen, 2.5"x3.5"

(SOLD)

We are all doing our part to help those in Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami and donations do make a difference. I wished I had the funds to donate more ... but then a brilliant idea struck! WE CAN DO MORE ... TOGETHER! I drew this before heading to work this morning and would like to offer it up for a donation of $15. All of the money will go to the Red Cross to help with the relief efforts in Japan.

In the spirit of gratefulness that we were spared such tragedies here in Hawaii, I'd like to also offer up my "Rainbow bunny" and "White bunny" below this post as well. Each for $15 and all of it going to the Red Cross.

If you would like to purchase any of these, please email me (see my profile to the right) and I will let you know if you were the first to claim them. We can make the arrangements for delivery and payment then.

Thank you!

Bunnies everywhere!

2011-03-15T07:43:00.004-10:00

"Rainbow bunny", watercolor & pen, 2.5"x3.5"

"White bunny", watercolor & pen, 2.5"x3.5"

(SOLD)

Venus de Milo

2011-03-13T20:21:00.002-10:00

watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Surfer dude

2011-03-13T08:04:00.003-10:00

graphite pencil, 2.5"x3.5"

Felt like I should change it up a bit and fiddle with my pencil this weekend. I used my mechanical pencil .05, 2B lead for this one only because I was too lazy to sharpen my other pencils. Still the Bristol vellum paper took it well. I tried this experiment to see how much of my brain filled in the missing lines ... and it filled it up pretty well, which made this a little challenging to draw. My hand kept wanting to fill those gaps!

Summer breeze

2011-03-12T16:27:00.007-10:00

watercolor, pen, 2.5"x3.5"

I'm taking a short break from drawing portraits and thought some nature is very appropriate. Amidst the craziness of the tsunami scare yesterday and worry about relatives and church members in Japan, I think a bit of calm is in order. It felt good to zone out, listen to relaxing music, and paint to my heart's content. Even looking at this I feel transformed. I hope you are too.

*deep breath* ....

From a black and white photo found in The Commons, copyright-free and public domain images on Flickr.

Michael's small portrait

2011-03-09T23:09:00.002-10:00

watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Still practicing at Julia Kay's Portrait Party! :) I'll get back to nature drawing soon, I promise!

Thanks Michael for letting me use your reference pic!

Tanya's small portrait

2011-03-07T07:09:00.004-10:00

watercolor, 2.3" x 3.5"

Constantly experimenting .... taking liberties ... adding color ... pushing my limits on an artcard ... trying to create an iota of resemblance. :/ It's a process. I know I should be sketching and working on achieving accuracy but I gotta tell you, painting little cards is still a lot more fun!

Thanks Tanya for sharing your reference photo!

Inma's small portrait

2011-03-06T06:33:00.006-10:00

watercolor, 2.5" x 3.5"

I had a lot of fun painting this little thing yesterday. The textures of Inma's clothing and capturing her pretty hair was especially fun to do. I took some liberties with her hair only because I think the textures and warm colors played off her green sweater really well. If you're interested in joining the party, check out Julia Kay's Portrait Party.

Thank you Inma for letting me use your reference pic!

Mike's small portrait

2011-03-05T09:03:00.004-10:00

watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Another post to the Julia Kay Portrait Party. :) Thankfully, today is a Saturday and the first one in a long time that I don't have anything planned except drawing and painting. I'm so thrilled I'm vibrating with excitement!

Thanks Mike for allowing me to use your reference pic!

Derek's small portrait

2011-02-26T13:46:00.006-10:00

watercolor, artcard, 2.5"x3.5"

I am trying portraits again despite my fear of them ... yes, I said fear. People are super challenging to me and I apologize to Derek for making him look cross eyed and giving him a small mouth. Sorry dude, I couldn't help it. I still dunno what I did and I will have to stare at this for a long time to figure it out. Anyone have suggestions? I wish seeing proportions came naturally to me and could whip out accurate portraits like France or Mellanie. But I guess wishing isn't going to help so I've decided to get back on the horse and try a few. More portraits (and of course more bunnies) are forthcoming!

BTW, thank you Derek for your permission to use your reference photo. :)

Illustration Friday: Swarm

2011-02-25T21:08:00.005-10:00

watercolor, 2.5"x3.5" (SOLD)

My first thought for this week's Illustration Friday challenge was bees, as I'm sure a lot of folks do when they think of a swarm. Then I wondered, hmm, I wonder what a "swarm" of rabbits would look like. Terrifying, absolutely terrifying!

Hmmm, does anyone know what a group of rabbits is called?

Road walk

2011-02-20T06:54:00.004-10:00

pen & watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

(SOLD)

While driving home, I saw this fellow walking along the road. It was such a peaceful time of day that I tried to capture the image in my brain so I could draw it later on. Suffice it to say, it was a difficult job. But this is what I remember.

Illustration Friday: Layer

2011-02-19T13:23:00.004-10:00

watercolor

Small kid time, nothing beat Aunty Kay's 7-layer jello (well, her potato mac salad was pretty killer too). It was the coveted treat at Thanksgiving and New Years dinners and we'd peel off each layer, one at a time, savoring each delectable almond-flavored layer. To a kid with big eyes, the layered jello was like a giant coveted prize and we couldn't wait to dig in, especially when no one was looking! I took some liberties with the size of the piece but to a kid, this piece is the *perfect* size! LOL

Norfolk Parish Church

2011-02-18T20:07:00.005-10:00

pen & watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

I belong to a great Flickr group called "Artists Showing Photo References" where members post reference pics and arty folks interpret that into whatever art form they choose. I found this reference photo of Norfolk Parish Church (England) that Sigrid Frensen posted and this is my interpretation. The overcast English weather just does not process in this brain of mine so I Hawaiianized it. LOL That's just the way I see things!

BTW, Sigs happens to be an incredible botanical and all-around artist so I encourage you to check her website out. It's a pleasure.

Kilauea Iki

2011-02-16T19:42:00.003-10:00

pen & watercolor, 2.3"x3.5"

Kilauea Iki Trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is by far, my favorite hike! Being able to hike through the crater where there once were 1,900 ft high lava fountains is an absolute treat!

Joyful hero on Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T07:12:00.003-10:00

transparent watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Ever meet someone that you instantly like? I met this fellow while visiting Hana Fresh on Maui and if you see him, you will know what I mean. He's the easy-going, soft-spoken guy that smiles a lot and exudes joyfulness. You see, Sam is with a non-profit group that helps to feed his rural community healthful foods through their vast organic garden. He spends his day in the sun and knows what hard work is. If you're ever driving through Hana, please visit their Farmer's Market and support a great cause. So in honor of Valentine's Day, I'd like to honor Sam, a man whose love for his community challenges him to do great things.

I felt it very appropriate to paint Sam for my Everyday Matters Challengs #254: Something that represents joy. :) I love when we get to meet our heroes. I hope this watercolor does him justice.

Purple goat

2011-02-13T08:26:00.002-10:00

transparent watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

A purple goat? Not really. :D

This is also my entry for Everyday Matters Challenge #309: Something with more than 2 legs.

Illustration Friday: Sweater

2011-02-12T07:50:00.004-10:00

pen & transparent watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

I just think a sweater on a little chickie is awfully cute!

Mauna Kea and `io

2011-02-11T19:50:00.003-10:00

pen & watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

While my sister-in-law and I were picking liko for Christmas wreaths this past December, we were treated to a gorgeous view of Mauna Kea with its white snow cap and a majestic `io (Hawaiian hawk) circling overhead. Hawai`i no ka `oi!

All smiles

2011-02-04T07:33:00.000-10:00

pen & watercolor, artcard, 2.5"x3.5"

G'night Teddy

2011-02-02T21:41:00.003-10:00

pen & watercolor, artcard, 2.5"x3.5"

Ball of white fur

2011-02-02T17:01:00.005-10:00

pen & watercolor, artcard, 2.5"x3.5" (NFS)

Another drawing of little Layla when she was just a tiny ball of white fur. BTW, I am really enjoying making these tiny artcards!

Everyday Matters #266: Something I cherish

2011-02-01T15:46:00.003-10:00

pen & watercolor, artcard, 2.5"x3.5"

Her name is Kanoe. She looks like a pile of rags and sometimes smells like one, but I cherish her. I love her.

Everyday Matters #301: Draw something cute

2011-01-28T22:57:00.007-10:00

pen & watercolor, artcard, 2.5"x3.5" (traded)

I think my little bunny Layla is the definition of cute, but then, I'm pretty biased. :) I felt like doing a little watercolor tonight, with no pressure to create anything very detailed. The folks at Everyday Matters Yahoo Group remind me to just draw something, everyday. That's what matters.

Meeeeahhhhh!

2011-01-18T20:49:00.003-10:00

transparent watercolor, artcard, 2.5" x 3.5"

Goats have funny-lookin' eyes, don't they? This was painted from a picture of the most adorable goat at the Friendly Aquaponics Farm in Honoka`a. If you ever get a chance, sign up for their free Saturday aquaponics tour and say hi to the goat for me. :)

Popcorn

2010-12-28T20:24:00.003-10:00

2.5"x3.5", artcard

Drawing with a pencil feels natural to me. Can't get more basic than a pencil and a piece of paper. It's the first thing they give you in kindergarten and it's the first thing I reach for when I feel the need to create. :) This is a very small drawing of my first harvested purple popcorn that I grew in my front yard. It might be the only ear that I get this season and although it's really tiny, it's a pretty one, isn't it? I'm drying it right now and maybe in a few weeks, I'll pop it. That will be an adventure!

Laua`e fern

2010-10-08T19:41:00.006-10:00

2.5"x3.5", transparent watercolor

I have to admit that painting is not as fun as it used to be, and I miss those days when I could actually see what I was working on. I've needed reading glasses since last year and getting used to them has been a challenge. Then again, I have to remind myself that I can still see and that is something to be very grateful for. So, despite the urge to toss my reading glasses into the toilet :O (!), I decided to paint tonight. It felt good. BTW, laua`e fern is often used in lei.

Tulips for Reyna

2010-08-17T16:18:00.002-10:00

2.5" x 3.5", Prismacolor colored pencil

For my friend Reyna U., who is a nurse doing one tough job! Hang in there girl! This one is for you! Hope it brings a smile to your face. *hugs*

Oh, hello!

2010-08-15T01:33:00.007-10:00

2.5" x 3.5", colored pencil

`Ohelo kau la`au (Vaccinium calycinum), a native Hawaiian relative of blueberries, grows in the wet forests and bogs on all the main Hawaiian islands except Ni`ihau and Kaho`olawe.

PS: How boring! When I posted this at 1:30 am, my brain was jello and believe me, saying something witty or interesting was the farthest from my mind. I was thinking "pillow." LOL Thanks for stopping by and leaving me comments! They always mean a lot to me! :D Have a great day peeps!

Illustration Friday: Artificial

2010-08-04T21:10:00.005-10:00

2.5" x 3.5" artcard

Aren't all tree-climbing goats of Morocco most happy when they are balancing on artificial trees with pipes spewing what not? Don't ask. LOL

Evening silliness

2010-07-26T21:45:00.007-10:00

each 2.5" x 3.5"

It's good to be silly once in a while.

Illustration Friday: Double

2010-07-24T14:33:00.008-10:00

artcard, 2.5" X 3.5"

Laysan albatrosses have got to be the coolest birds on Earth! They're really inquisitive so they'd stop by for a visit when I'd hang out at Mokuleia Beach Park on Oahu, hovering a mere 10-15 ft overhead. They have a 13-ft wingspan so it is a pretty impressive visit, if you know what I mean. Not only are they cool-looking but they mate for life, staying together for the time it takes to raise a chick and return year after year to the same nest and same mate to do it all over again! (And yes, males and females look alike!)

artcard, 2.5" X 3.5"

Juvenile albatrosses look like a cross between a chick and an adult and are really goofy looking. Laysan albatrosses are vulnerable to longline fisheries and ingestion of floating plastics, including land-bound threats like cats, dogs, pesky Big-headed ants, etc. For more information, check out Joan Goes Green, where I share some pics taken on Kauai by a friend of mine.

Under and over

2010-07-23T10:01:00.005-10:00

When things got tough, I used to crawl under a pumpkin cherry bush ...

I've been experiencing a bit of a creative dry spell lately and I can't really put my finger on the reason. I think we all go through that once in a while. But today, my fingers itched to put this on paper. I can't explain why or how it came to be, but this is what they produced. It reminded me of important things.

Illustration Friday: Ripple

2010-06-12T22:18:00.010-10:00

pen and watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

(SOLD)

A black-bellied whistling ducking, rippling through the water, rushes toward its mother and toward safety. Unfortunately, this little one is just one of the countless animals affected by the Deep Water Horizon Gulf oil spill and its fate will be sealed if it comes into contact with the oil. What can we do to help?

This art card will be donated to Kelly Light's Ripple blog and sold for $10 to benefit The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center. If you'd like the card for a $10 donation, please look for it on Kelly's blog. Kelly, driven to help with the cleanup effort and saving our wildlife, started selling her sketch cards for $10 each and donated the proceeds to these two organizations. Quickly, other artists joined her efforts shows us that we can each play a part in the cleanup. As of today, Kelly has raised over $1,350! You go girl! Please help with the effort and consider donating for a card on Kelly's blog. Thanks!

Roostering

2010-05-22T16:30:00.007-10:00

watercolor

(SOLD)

My pet chicken has a father! I met this rather handsome rooster (Lily's father) at the Farmer's Market where "Jus' Tom", the local silkie chicken guy was carrying him around town. He was looking rather regal so I got a couple shots of him before he padded away.

Watercolor on Arches, cold press, 140 lb.

Life

2010-04-06T08:03:00.002-10:00

Hi all! Just want to let you all know that I am actually back to drawing. I hope you don't give up on me! Will be posting some new stuff soon ...

I just had to show you some pics of my sweet chickies. They are 1 month old right now and if you have had chickens, you realize how sweet I am on these fuzzy butts. :) They've been keeping me busy. If you're interested in seeing the progression from egg to now, check out my Joan Goes Green blog. See you again soon! *hugs*

For Danny and Jack...

2010-03-21T07:34:00.004-10:00

It is with a sad heart that I report that Danny Gregory's wife, Patti, passed away on Thursday. Danny started Everyday Matters, a drawing group that has inspired thousands to pick up their pencils and draw, including me and I owe him so much! My heart aches over what he and his son, Jack must be going through now and my eyes have been filled with tears since I heard the news. My heart goes out to both of them and their families. I pray their hearts and soul will find comfort and peace through this very difficult time. Praying for you ...

Road find

2010-02-06T15:09:00.000-10:00

Is anyone like me? Do you pick up interesting and sometimes dead things to take a closer look later? When I saw this while walking around the neighborhood, the biologist in me instantly thought, "Oh goodie!" I also picked up a fluorescent blue fly and a penny! I'm such a nerd and I can't help it!

EDM Challenge #234 - Something that belongs to someone else

2010-01-29T23:20:00.003-10:00

Aren't kids' toys the best? These little buggers are my friend's son's ... and of course Aunty Jo had fun playing with them too! The little giraffe is a finger puppet and the frog ... apparently, is a chew toy (he's teething). I added a little bit of watercolor to the pen sketch in my moleskine; it accepts color, if applied carefully.

EDM Challenge #250 - Something I got for free

2010-01-23T16:52:00.006-10:00

A few tomato seedlings came up in my worm bin after I had thrown some tomatoes out. I transplanted the little seedlings and months later, I have huge plants dripping with plump, luscious tomatoes, fertilized with my vermicompost, of course. One of the plants produced yellow tomatoes! I love when I get free stuff like this! (Transparent watercolor on Arches, cold press, 140lb.)

EDM #253 - Draw your socks

2010-01-17T19:51:00.007-10:00

Felt like a quick sketch tonight, nothing planned, nothing serious. Just an ordinary pair of socks on the floor ...

If you feel the urge to draw but have a creative block, Everyday Matters group is a great way to overcome your hurdle. Everyone meets at the Everyday Matters Yahoo group and California artist Karen Winters provides the EDM list on her blog site. A new subject is posted each week. Start at number 1 or start at 256 or anywhere between, at your own pace, in your own medium. Pretty much anything goes. When you're done, you may post your work on the Flicker EDM group site after you've joined. It's easy and fun! All levels welcome! Come draw with us! :D (PS: I'd like to acknowledge Danny Gregory who started the group)

Daisy girl

2010-01-13T22:50:00.002-10:00

Chickens are funny-lookin' creatures, aren't they? Daisy is a "blue" (but really black) Japanese silkie chicken ... all fluff and tons of personality. She is sitting very quietly on a little non-fertile egg day after day and I'd hate to tell her that it is to no avail. She looks serious, doesn't she? She'd be a good momma, that one.

Kamoamoa

2010-01-09T20:14:00.004-10:00

Transparent watercolor on cold press Arches, 140lb, 26x36cm (Sincerest apologies for the blurry photo). :)

I've been obsessed by rocks lately, huh? The layers of red cinder between layers of gray pahoehoe rock was obvious in the sea cliffs of Kamoamoa, down by the ocean in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Pretty fascinating for a naturalist-type. Plus, the sound of waves crashing on the rocks is still in my ears and salty sea breezes still in my nose. It's a lovely spot.

Pahoehoe rock sketch

2010-01-05T22:02:00.003-10:00

Spent the day at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and found beautiful forms of pahoehoe rock doing their "dance" at the coast. Thought I'd share this quick sketch I did of the rocks and some pretty beach naupaka plants (Scaevola sericea) (from my reference pics).

More drawings to come, I promise! :)

Ciuccio's Challenge

2009-10-07T21:09:00.004-10:00

I love a good challenge. I came across a nature scene challenge that Ciuccio51 had provided with the Flickr group, Watercolourist, Painting with Light. So, being a good Aries that I am, took up the challenge despite it being rather late in coming. It was a bit challenging to create areas of focus and I'm not sure if I achieved that but it was fun to do nonetheless. I just might try to do another one of the same scene, which you should know, is totally out of character. Check out the link for other interpretations of the nature scene. To get you started, here are a few that I love. One is done by Sigrid Frensen, or Sigster as I like to call her, from Noordhorn, Netherlands. Another by none other than ciuccio51 from Florence, Italy. And finally one by linfrye of the View from the Oak blog. Please check out their Flickr sites. All are totally gorgeous and worth a visit. :)

Why?

2009-09-14T07:28:00.003-10:00

"Please explain why your silence makes more noise than thunder." - Anon.

Figured this image speaks for itself. Don't you just wonder what she's thinking? Transparent watercolor on Arches, cold press.

Orchids preparing for the fall

2009-09-08T20:40:00.004-10:00

I am so thrilled about my orchid plant because it has a new sprig! The flowers are whitish yellow-green, if you can imagine that. :) I did a bit of hatcharoo using the classic "Belleville-style" (now turned "Van Stone-style") in my moleskine and I think it gave the flowers a lot of depth.

Flow front

2009-08-23T08:18:00.004-10:00

We made a special trip down to the lava flow front this weekend and caught a glimpse of the lava entering the ocean about a half a mile away. Huge billows of steam blew bits of rock up to form a small black sand beach near the entry way. Pretty cool. Smells of the trip: salty ocean breeze, newly formed pahoehoe rocks heating in the sun, ripe guava picked off a nearby tree, and a tall glass of Heiferweisen at Luquin's in Pahoa. I did this very quick watercolor to capture the moment.

Still life goes on

2009-08-11T20:28:00.006-10:00

Ever get the craving for a splash of color and the feel of paint brushes in your hand? I got the craving last night and started this painting of some fruit I pulled from my fruit basket. I probably overworked the colors ... but I had fun putting glaze over glaze over glaze. The entire time I could smell the ripe fruit and already took a bite of the one on the left and alas, it is no more. Thanks for stopping by!

Textures study

2009-08-07T18:56:00.003-10:00

Using a pen definitely has its challenges, including capturing textures and I surely needed some practice so this is it. I had such a fun time with it that I may start another texture study tonight! (Click on the image to see it larger)

I am hopeful

2009-08-01T18:34:00.006-10:00

"It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today." - President Barack Obama

I was watching an episode of the Ellen Degeneres Show on YouTube last night and she was talking with Jennifer Aniston, her guest that day, and Jennifer Aniston said something that struck me as being a very different mindset from the past 8 years. She mentioned that with our new leader, there is shift in what we want and said, "Maybe we want good news! it's sort of like `Oh! the country had a really bad boyfriend for awhile' and then all of a sudden, its like, `Oh! She finally met a nice one!'" Ellen agreed and challenged the news to cut back on the bad news and focus on the positive wonderful things that happen! I am ALL for that!

I was so inspired by that that I picked up my color pencils and drew this freehand ... I just let the pencil do its thing starting with the highlights. Ok, it may not look like President Obama so much but my heart was in the right place. :)

Thanks Karen!

2009-07-25T21:06:00.004-10:00

I'd like to thank Karen Blados for this beautiful Kreativ Blogger Award! :) I am grateful. Please stop by Karen's blog and website. I guarantee you will be impressed by HER creativity! I will be passing along this award to 7 creative bloggers soon but it's getting late so it will have to wait until tomorrow! :) Stop by again, ok?

After the rain ...

2009-07-14T20:27:00.001-10:00

Thanks for stopping by folks! I finally have a post after what seems like FOREVER! :)

I love summer!

2009-06-09T19:32:00.008-10:00

I love the fruits of summer! Last week, I had a juicy pineapple, lychee, longan, and some of these strawberries from Waimea! My friend, Ron of RYH Pottery, made the bowl. He's such a talented ceramist who lives in Volcano. I drew this with my Prismacolor colored pencils on some Strathmore bristol vellum paper, which I find is nice and toothy and takes colored pencil extremely well. This is my homage to the tasty treats of summer.

Whew, I finally redid the strawberry drawing. I wasn't happy with it but I couldn't figure why I didn't like it. I finally darkened the entire thing and feel much, much better. Now, I can move on to the next one! :)

Daisies are everywhere

2009-06-07T18:57:00.003-10:00

One of the wonderful things of summer is the daisies that fill my little daisy garden.

Last piece

2009-05-09T20:13:00.003-10:00

I've been savoring my last pieces of Godiva chocolate that my friends Leon and sweet Sunshine sent me. Yummm, creamy dark chocolate! This is the very last piece of my stash and while I held off biting off pieces so I could draw it, it is now safely tucked away in my belly. LOL

A birthday quickie

2009-04-14T21:35:00.005-10:00

This is just a little artcard that I started last night and finished this evening. It is only 2.5" x 3.5" so just the right amount of effort I can deal with after a long day at work. Thanks everyone for your well wishes for my birthday! I dedicate this little piece of nature to my dear friend France Van Stone (Wagonized) who was also born on April 14!

Marigolds are a delight!

2009-04-10T20:38:00.003-10:00

For some reason, my once color-accurate scanner has now morphed into some weird color-mixing machine since I switched to a mac. I think it is because it is as perimenopausal as I am! My marigolds are blooming nicely and are producing their own seeds now ... so I will be sharing them with friends as Kate has shared them with me. I'll be passing on the Rietz legacy. :) I just had to take the opportunity to draw my little flowers because their little bursts of color light up my morning when I sit amongst them and drink my coffee.

Proof!

2009-03-26T10:49:00.005-10:00

I've been drawing, really! : ) Hope this little teaser post finds you all well. I'm in the middle of drawing some marigolds that I've grown from seeds (feeling like an adoring mama). I love their splash of color *smile* !

Fishy pagoda

2009-03-10T21:53:00.006-10:00

Sorry I haven't been drawing much these days. But if you stand by ... I have a drawing to share soon ... But for now, you're stuck with this. When I was in college, I owned a bubble-eyed goldfish. You know the ones that have transparent water balloons for eyes? (Stay with me, this is going somewhere). Well, I needed a backdrop for my aquarium and because I was a struggling student, I created my own with my number 2 pencil and some typing paper. So, this is the drawing I did for my goldfish, Bubbles. May he/she rest in peace. (PS: Can you believe I still have this? I amaze myself sometime).

Valentine doodle

2009-02-14T20:10:00.004-10:00

Hmmm ... what to choose. I'm in a bit of a quandry. If you felt that you deserved a valentine gift and you know no one is going to buy it for you, would you choose a Hovabator incubator (for chicken eggs and mind you, it comes with an egg turner AND is air-circulated!) or a new light blue satchel that will go so so so well with my dress? Or maybe a bright red umbrella (because it is dumping right now and I need a proper one)? I doodled tonight as I contemplated. I still haven't decided.

A time for work ... a time for play

2009-02-14T13:12:00.004-10:00

I have this pretty planter in my living room, which stands about a meter tall and am still looking for the perfect plant to put in it. Being a lazy Saturday, it was really nice to bust open my moleskine this morning and break the drawing block I've been struggling with the past several months. In the meantime, I've been getting outside and enjoying the blue skies and warm weather we've been having ... which has been pretty rare lately.

Top 100 Botany Blogs

2009-02-05T22:59:00.005-10:00

Dragon fruit ... sounds and looks like famine food that is roasted over open flames and eaten by medieval beasts doesn't it? But on the contrary, dragon fruits are sweet, succulent fruit that tastes a cross between strawberries and prickly pears! No wonder they are called Strawberry pears in some parts of the world. They are so juicy, the nectar drips down my chin every time I eat it. I found these at the local farmer's market and they are still in season. Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus of Cactaceae or Cactus Family, for those botanists out there), were probably imported from Taiwan so no, not medieval at all. : )

I felt inclined to add its scientific name here to justify the honor of being included in Top 100 Botany Blogs in the Online College Blogs. I'm down there at #76 in case you're looking. It really is an honor since I'm a botanist and well, the resources they list are great : )!

Ohia ... and o'er deah

2009-02-01T22:45:00.002-10:00

Ever have one of those days that you just need to plop your butt under a tree and watch the clouds float by?

Orchid Isle

2009-01-14T20:49:00.004-10:00

I live on the "Orchid Isle". At least that's what the tourism authority says. To tell you the truth, there are only three native orchids in Hawaii and all of them are pretty rare and not very showy. So, I suspect we're called that because orchids from all over the world grow really well here.

I was feeling a bit nostalgic tonight. This type of cymbidium flowers grew in the front lawn of a house I rented in Volcano and they always take me back to a simple time. What better medium to capture their simplicity than a plain ole pencil.

More cymbidiums here.

Mistake masterpiece

2009-01-07T21:04:00.004-10:00

I am still learning ... and still making mistakes. I posted a snippet of this painting a little earlier to hide my embarrassing mistakes with perspective and probably a few other things. But I'm sharing this entire painting as a lesson to myself that developing skill involves trying, making mistakes, and improving. There's no embarrassment in that! : )

Rooting around

2009-01-04T22:01:00.006-10:00

I had been "rooting" around the pantry for some tea (sorry, couldn't help myself) and found some ginger and decided to make some ginger tea. For some reason, it settles my stomach and after two weeks of holiday feasting, I really need it! Plus, it is supposed to be good for motion sickness and to ward off colds.

If you'd like to make your own tea, just slice up an inch or so of ginger root and boil it in a couple cups of water. I drink mine plain but you could add honey and lemon to taste.

This is my pen and ink tribute to my favorite cure-all.

Pepper Study

2008-12-30T00:47:00.002-10:00

Tonight, I celebrate my almost-completed chicken coop (stay tuned for pics) by getting back to my drawing! It feels so good to have my pencils between my fingers again! So this evening, I busted out my colored pencils and took a stab at creating shadows using complementary colors. Mheh, it's okay, I guess. Gotta love goofy shaped peppers!

Thank you Siggy (I think)! I've been tagged!

2008-12-23T21:03:00.006-10:00

Very talented and utterly amazing artist Sigrid Frensen tagged me and asked me to share 7 facts about myself. If you don't know Sigrid's work, you MUST check her botanical drawings, which make me totally envious!

Ok, these are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog
2. Share 7 interesting/random facts about yourself on your blog
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post, leaving their names as well as links to their blog
4. Leave a comment on each of their blogs to let them know they've been tagged!

1. I was born on Easter Sunday. That has always made me feel special.
2. I suffer from shortness. I'm only 5'2" so I wear heels to compensate.
3. I wish I could design and build houses (hence the "chicken house"). When I was in grade school, I designed a 4-story home with an indoor pool and all the amenities a young girl would want. I probably would have painted all the rooms pink if it came to fruition.
4. I don't like being hot. I've actually plan where I live to ensure cool breezes year round.
5. I am grouchy on only three occasions, when I have not had my morning coffee, when I'm hungry, and on occasion, when I'm PMSing. Other times, I'm rather pleasant to be around.
6. I am studying Greek language at the moment (Yay, Rosetta Stone!). I totally realize that Spanish is a more practical language to learn but ... I still have dreams of backpacking through Greece.
7. When I sit with my little fluffy chickens they make me so happy that I worry I'll be one of those "chicken people" that call their hens "girls" and talk incessantly about them. (It's already happening! Yikes!)

This is a little artcard that I drew earlier and is now in the possession of a dear friend, Mariana Musa, in France.

A birthday wish for Kate

2008-12-23T20:43:00.005-10:00

This is one of my favorite drawings, which I did last year. I love it because it's just a little glimpse of things I saw while on one of my weekend walks, reminding to stop from time to time and enjoy the simple things around me. I'm posting this again in honor of Kate Rietz who celebrates her birthday today. This drawing is one of Kate's favorites too. Happy Birthday gurl!!! *party horns blasting* *confetti thrown about* *balloons and streamers floating around*

Creative, nonetheless

2008-12-20T08:53:00.005-10:00

I've been decidedly absent from the blogging world recently, not because I haven't been wanting, needing to draw, but because I've been needing to take care of my recently acquired additions of two little hens. So, if you're a spoiled hen in my household, what do you need? A spiffed out, two-story condo complete with nesting boxes, roosts, and a flower box! I've been tempted to add a sound system but that would be overdoing it, yeah?

The coop will be raised on legs with a little ladder going down to the lower fenced "yard" where they can lounge on grass and sip MaiTais. The roof is removable to make the coop light enough to move around in case the chickens need a change of scenery. As you can see, I have a lot more work to do, including painting and adding trim and of course, the roof. Maybe I'll add a sun roof ... Hmmm ... Whatever I decide, I'm hoping the good life will inspire my hens to lay lots and lots of eggs!

If you want to see pics of the coop in its development and pictures of my hens, check out the coop construction page on Backyard Chickens.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2008-11-27T18:01:00.002-10:00

Ok, I really didn't mean for this to be a sarcastic post at all. Despite the fact that I missed my Thanksgiving lunch with family and my Thanksgiving dinner with friends and despite lying in bed all day with a terrible cold, I am thankful. I am grateful to God for giving me life and for blessing me each day with all that I need. I am thankful for my friends who bring me joy every day and who love me despite my faults. I am thankful for my family; my brothers and their families who are so dear to me. I am thankful to have a job in this difficult economic times. I am thankful for a roof over my head and food in the fridge. I am thankful for Robutussin DM and Ricola and Theraflu and for the other medical and natural wonders that are getting me through this cold. I am thankful to those I meet everyday on my blog and in person and for those I've yet to meet. Thank you all for being a part of my life! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Yes, I'm beautiful!

2008-11-09T20:29:00.010-10:00

I added to my menagerie this weekend! Lily, a white Japanese Silkie Bantam chick, is just over 3 mos old and already showing off her spiffy doo! Isn't she beautiful, ... in a Solid Gold dancer kind of way?!

Yep, it's stew

2008-10-29T21:20:00.003-10:00

Mom and Dad's Beef Stew Recipe

1 lb beef stew meat
2-3 cloves garlic
1 medium onion
3-4 russet potatoes
3 celery whatchamacallits
3 carrots
2 small cans tomato sauce
2 bay leaves
optional: 2 beef bullion
salt, pepper to taste
sugar to offset acidity of the tomato sauce
2 T flour

Brown meat with smooshed garlic. Add chopped carrots and celery and cook a little but not too much. Add onions and cook some more. Add water to 3/4 to top of stuff in the pot and bring to boil, cover, and simmer for an 1 hr 30 min. Sometime along the way, add the potatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, salt, pepper, beef bullion cubes and cook a bit longer, say, for 30 min. Make a paste and slurry with the flour by adding water. Add to the stew to thicken. Dat's it!

Dinner time!

2008-10-28T21:53:00.003-10:00

Hmmm ... can you guess what I made for dinner last night? It's not quite done but I think you might be able to guess what it is. I'm drawing this for friends of mine who tried to make it themselves but felt they didn't quite get it right. So, when I finish this drawing, I'll include the recipe for them ... and for you. :)

Ernie and my 50,000th visitor

2008-10-26T18:08:00.003-10:00

Ernie was just lying around the house today. My Godson was over and I found this on the living room floor, under a chair and figured what the heck, I'll draw it as is.

Thank you everyone for all your visits. I'm having a glass of wine to celebrate my 50,000th visitor. Whoever you are, thank you! This one's for you.

Wise words

2008-10-19T20:47:00.002-10:00

"The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend." - Abraham Lincoln

A blessing

2008-10-19T14:16:00.002-10:00

Once in a great while, we are blessed with the truest of feline companions. Mamo, my friend for over 14 years passed away on Friday. She was the sweetest cat ... but she was no pushover. She managed to survive the loose dogs on Molokai, traffic on Oahu, and lived the rest of her life in peace on the Big Island. I buried her under a large `ohi`a tree in Volcano, under flowering gingers ... in a warm afternoon shower.

A Smart Computing Interview!

2008-10-14T22:10:00.007-10:00

A few months ago, I was approached by a writer from Sandhill Publishing and invited to be interviewed for the November issue of Smart Computing magazine that featured art-related websites! I was so thrilled to come home from my vacation to a package that held a couple copies of the magazine with this Drawing on Nature Artblog featured in the "That's News to You" section (green box) on page 41! You may read the article if you subscribe or just google "Joan Yoshioka" and "Smart Computing."

The article shows three drawings, my tropical flowers in colored pencil, Shaggy the dog in watercolor, and my Star Wars figurines in pen. I was quick to call my friend to let her know that her dog is featured in a national magazine! Of course, the world is now privy to my little-known Star Wars obsession, but I figured that is just a small price to pay! LOL.

Thanks Kris Glaser! (the very professional writer who was so generous to send me the magazines and so pleasant to deal with).

Garlic, anyone?

2008-10-09T19:31:00.003-10:00

While sitting at the kitchen table with Kate on my last night in Illinois, we began drawing potatoes and garlic that we had saved just for the occasion. It was fun but also bittersweet, knowing I had to leave bright and early the next day. I finished up the drawing on the plane back to Hawaii and you can see what Kate finished later, here. This special time was such a nice way to cap a very, very special trip.

Chicago waterfront

2008-10-08T17:45:00.003-10:00

Chicago is gorgeous in September! I had some time to myself so I stationed myself at the end of a walkway, sat with some gulls, and drew for a bit in my moleskine. I added the color after I got home. Looking at this drawing, I can practically smell the ocean, er, uhmm, Lake (heh heh, thanks Kate), and the sound of the waves lapping the sides of the boats and gulls flying about. :)

More images from IL

2008-10-07T17:55:00.006-10:00

Splat!!!

... a smidgen of images from my trip to Illinois. There was so much to see and do that I wish I lived there! More photos and drawings can be found on Potluck Sunday and on Kate Rietz's blog.

A smile that lights up a room

2008-10-05T13:14:00.004-10:00

I was able to capture Sunshine's sweet repose with this quick sketch as she lay at Kate's feet while Kate worked on her latest illustration project late one night.

Kate and me in Chicago

2008-10-04T10:00:00.003-10:00

I am back home after a wonderful two weeks in Illinois where I stayed with my blogging friend, Kate Rietz, and spent the time exploring her incredible city of Chicago and drawing together. It is something we've wanted to do for a long time and we finally got our chance! Kate is as wonderful as I knew she would be and we shared many, many laughs together. It was so difficult to leave!

Kate and I have been posting our drawings from the past two weeks on our blogs so check them out! We also have a joint blog, Potluck Sunday, that we started back in Nov 2007 so there are postings there from time to time. Some are related to art, some not, but always a bit of ourselves.

P.S. Kate is selling her prints now so check out her professional website for more info.

"frenz 4-ever"

2008-09-29T19:25:00.006-10:00

I've spent the past week and a half hanging out with my wonderfully talented and great friend, Kate Rietz, here in Chicago. Yes, this island girl finally made it off her rock in the middle of the Pacific to draw and spend time with her blogging buddy. These are some drawings I've done at Kate's house, of things found along our afternoon walks with pup, Sunshine, or at Starbucks. If you want to take a look at Kate's drawings, check the out here. Drawing is best done with a friend ... and one as cool as my bud. :) (PS: I am already sad about leaving).

One of three

2008-09-14T13:05:00.004-10:00

This is a little guy I did for Leigh (Beegirl) for our Moly_X_9 group. To check out the other two, you can find them here.

Peeking allowed

2008-09-13T15:18:00.006-10:00

Thought I'd give you a peek of my Moly X9 entry in Scoach's accordian moleskine. The full layout and other member's drawings are here. Thankfully, my team members have not hung me out to dry for holding up two molys. *smiling meekly*

Thanks everyone who has been of great support to me the past few months. Since April, I have had an issue with an ovarian cyst that has caused me to rethink my life. Apparently, it is not an uncommon thing for women *ehem* my age, but my cyst caused me to bleed heavily for a month and a half ... continually (too much info perhaps?)! Ok, and then there were the cancer scares, serious anemia, and getting sick as a result a few times the past two months. I am recovering right now and on five medications (I feel like a walking medicine cabinet!). So, that is the scoop. Sorry for being a poop and posting only a couple drawings the past month. That was about all I could handle. But, I'm eating better now, exercising, and feeling much, much better. The road to recovery is so sweet.

Thank you everyone for your emails and calls! Makes me feel glad to know I have friends out there that care. *hugs*

Thank you!

2008-09-09T20:40:00.005-10:00

Thank you Karen Blados, Ryan Wolf, Kate Rietz, and Derrel Blain for giving me feedback on the problems I had with my computer, email accounts, and blog posts yesterday. I slept on it (although I did toss and turn all night) and let God handle it, because really, of the support people I wrote last night, He was the only one that responded to my requests :). After I got home from work this evening, I turned on my computer and all the problems with my blog and email accounts had disappeared! Really! THANK YOU for answering my prayers! Woohoo! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I figured we could celebrate with a picture of my favorite plant, ohelo (Vaccinium reticulatum) and one of the miracles of nature. It's related to blueberries but it's our very own Hawaiian version.

Pupster

2008-09-06T13:23:00.005-10:00

Just a quick Saturday morning sketch of my friend's pup. I love his shape ... such a cute, compact dog that followed me around when I was at her house. I hope she recognizes him. :)

Day 21 of 21! I finished my 21-day creative challenge!

2008-08-27T21:36:00.006-10:00

LOL Ok, I totally bastardized the 21-day daily creative challenge, eventually turning 21 days into 120 days! But alas, I am officially finished! Thank you all for visiting and encouraging me through the painfully slow points and always leaving me wonderful comments. This painting is only about 3X5inches and are of some orchids we have in the office. The flower pot is now dripping with these beautiful purple and reddish flowers that make my heart a little lighter whenever I see them.

Hi everyone!

2008-08-24T14:01:00.011-10:00

Hi Everyone! *WAVING* I've been feeling like you are all getting to know me through my drawings and I really haven't made much effort to show myself. I always figured that my art should reflect me. But, having "met" other bloggers and knowing what a huge difference it is to know what they look like, I figured what the hell. So, here I am ... SO THERE!

It is a little nerve-wracking but quite liberating to tell you the truth.

I really must thank Karen Opp, of natur_illustration for inspiring me to share myself with you all. She is working on a 365 photo journal of herself, in part to explore the side of her that is hesitant to be in front of a camera. As she says, "Nothing like putting yourself out of your comfort zone in front of a bunch of people." She's awesome ... and her photos are awesome!

(Photographing oneself is a very good exercise ... I discovered one of my eyes is really bigger than the other. Strange I never noticed that before. Alas, I am beginning to love my imperfections).

Day 20 of 21: For Ryan

2008-08-09T08:53:00.007-10:00

Ryan Wolf of Bone & Shadow fame and more recently, re: wolf, has been posting some really cool pics of his Star Wars figurines in odd and brain kinking situations. A trip to his Flickr site keeps me entertained into the wee hours and has elicited more than a chuckle (check them out on his Flick photostream here). Being a Star Wars fan as well, I had these figurines although they were boxed up and destined for donations. Instead, I decided to bust them out and draw them as an assemblage in honor of Ryan. (I've decided to keep them)

Day 19 of 21: Restful

2008-08-03T22:15:00.006-10:00

I love the way dogs rest. They look so comfortable in whatever pose. This is a painting of my friend's dog that has short hair over most of his body, but with tufts of long hair in the oddest places ... like on the top of his head, giving him a mohawk look. He is the cutest tho'! I felt like watercolor tonight after being inspired by other artists in cyberworld. Aren't art blogs great for inspiration? I suppose I could have darkened the background more, but I'm tired and this is about all I can do tonight. As always, comments and critiques are welcome! :)