Oil lamp

charcoal and colored pencils

Stuart from Scotland

white charcoal on recycled brown paper (Big Black Bee brand)

If you haven't checked out France Belleville-Van Stone's newly published book, "Sketch! The Non-Artist's Guide to Inspiration, Technique and Drawing Daily Life," you really must!

I admit that life has gotten a bit hectic this past year and it seems my art has gone by the wayside ... Eeek! I haven't posted anything for almost a year! However, France reminds us that it takes very little to get started and there are a zillion things around us that can inspire us to draw and she even provides helpful hints, from A to Z, on what we can sketch. She inspired me to get back to what I love to do so here is my drawing of Stuart from Scotland (scr1bbl3s at the Julia Kay Portrait Party) and I am glad to say I am back! :D Thanks France!

Little one

Graphite: 2B. 6B; 2.5" x 3.5"

I am SO SO SO lucky to live in an artist/biologist community! Our annual Volcano Art Sale is on this weekend and various artists have opened their homes and studios for us to view and buy amazing artwork ranging from fine art to ceramics, carvings, jewelry, etc. I was so inspired I decided to pick up my pencil this afternoon and got creative myself. :) This is a drawing of my friend's son, when he was a bit younger. It's one of my favorite pics of him.

Onions

watercolor, 7.5"x8.5"

I took a picture of some freshly picked onions during a trip to New Mexico while on our mainland trip for the Agricultural Leadership Program and have always meant to paint it. It took a few years but I'm glad to have finally done it. I haven't been painting or drawing much lately because work has gotten so busy, filling my weekends, but this reminded me that we need to make time for the things that make us happy ... and centered too.

Marmalade

Artcard, 2.5" x 3.5", watercolor and Pigma micron .005 pen

I have a feeling I will be drawing Marmalade a lot. He's my only subject that lies still for me. :)

JKPP: Mark B.

Transparent watercolor, ~7"x 10" ($50 USD)

Watercolor of Mark B. over at Julia Kay's Portrait Party on Flickr. It's a slightly bigger format than the other JKPP portraits I've been doing lately but it was a lot of fun using bigger brushes. It's good to switch it up once in awhile, no?

Day 7: Smilax melastomifolia (hoi kuahiwi)

Just a quickie of a hoi kuahiwi plant I bought at the Volcano Farmer's Market. I can't wait to plant it in my yard, which is really just a part of a native Hawaiian wet forest. :). One thing nice about our Hawaiian greenbriar is that it doesn't have thorns! Over the course of time, the thorny ancestor that arrived in the islands eventually lost its thorns in the absence of large herbivores. That's why a lot of folks call our Hawaiian forests "benign". We don't have the prickly and poisonous vegetation found elsewhere ... unless they're recent introductions.

Can't wait to color this drawing!

Day 6: Sole pepper

Here is my thought on green peppers: They are the ugly ducklings of the vegetable world. Leave them on the bush, wait a long while and the boring pepper will eventually turn into a luscious red, sweet, and rather expensive pepper worthy of the prettiest salad.

This sweet red pepper is destined for the dinner plate!

Harley for Harold

This is for my new mechanic, Harold, who replaced my radiator for ONLY $60, which included three trips to the house and a 45-minute trip to Hilo for parts! This is his dog Harley, who's a grown dog now but just as adorable. I hope Harold likes his surprise. :)

Day 5: Kiholo

Kiholo Bay, on Hawaii Island has got to be one of the most beautiful stretches of black pebble beach that I know. Aqua water, blue skies, green coconut palms ... heaven! When I'm stressed, this is where I lie on the beach if only in my mind's eye, warmed by the black smooth pebbles.

Day 4: Grapefruit

Insomnia is great for my drawing commitments! I'm on day 4 of 75 of my sketch challenge and I'm finding my joy again.

Day 3: Dashy Boy

Day 3: Little Dash is over for a sleepover! 

Day 2: Impatiens

Impatiens growing outside my back door. Such delicate flowers, aren't they?

This is my Day 2 of the 75-day pen and ink sketch challenge started by Brenda Swenson. When I finish, Brenda will send me an "artistic license." :) Goodness knows I truly need one!

Day 1: Marmalade

1:00 am. Can't sleep. Must draw.

As you can see, I haven't picked up a pencil or pen in ages. Work does that sometimes and I find myself a ball of nerves and stressed, forgetting what is most important in life: expressing creativity, being with friends, laughter, love ... all those good stuff that makes every day worthwhile. Like a little light of hope, Serena Lewis posted her pen drawings as part of a 75-day sketching challenge on Facebook. She reminded me that despite the challenges of every day life, we need to make time for the things that fulfill us. So, I dusted off my sketchbook and found my favorite Pigma micron pen and sketched away. I feel a bit rusty at drawing and my proportions may be a bit kapukahi but on the other hand, I did find my smile. :)

Sharpie, watercolor, postcard size

A fun challenge to do something different for Julia Kay's Portrait Party. This is Anders Musta and his JKPP discussion thread is here.

For Asta

Prisma micron .005 pen, watercolor, postcard

For Asta, who threw me the most incredible birthday party anyone could ask for! Food, Friends, Fellowship, Fancy Homemade German Chocolate Cake, Fairy Lights, and Freaking Fun Glow Lights! It's a birthday I cherish!

Thank you card for the Perry's

Pigma micron .05, sharpie, postcard

Just a little thank you to my friends for a wonderful birthday ...

A new portrait for JKPP: Steven (sketchysteven)

watercolor on illustration board, 2.5"x3.5" ($40 USD)

This was a fun one! Got back into drawing and tried my hand at another portrait for Julia Kay Portrait Party. Steve provided this awesome reference pic.

Coloring book pages: Yellow-faced bee and palila

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

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.