Filigreed Orb

I was inspired by a movie to try to render a filigreed metal orb from memory. It was a fun study. The movie was Guardians of the Galaxy.

Filigreed Orb; 5.5x8" watercolor

EDM 231 - Junk Drawer

I have no explanation for this except that I didn't want to draw the insides of any of my junk drawers.

EDM 231 - Junk Drawer; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 230 - A Map

I decided to just draw a quick "map" of our house's first floor. I used to love to design floor plans of dream houses, complete with indoor pools, odd-shaped rooms, and totally unfeasible ideas from an actual construction standpoint. That was decades ago. Now I'm perfectly content to simply dream in the old, solidly constructed house where I live. That makes THIS house my dream house.

EDM 230 - A Map; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 229 - A Summer Joy

My Summer Sammy speaks summer to me. It has to be made just right and not at all until the tomatoes are perfect. The non-negotiable ingredients are: good, hearty wheat bread (homemade, all the better); Hellman's real mayonnaise slathered on in a heart-stopping amount; thick slices of deep-red, ripe tomatoes (the best cuts from the center); and a very generous sprinkling of flaky sea salt (if in doubt, add more). It's only here for a short time, so I don't skimp on any of the ingredients. There is no neat and dainty way to eat this. It gets messy fast! You've been warned.

EDM 229 - A Summer Joy; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 228 - What Makes Me Laugh

I am not really a drinker, but a metaphorical mixed drink can be fun! In case you can't read this over-crowded drawing, it's a recipe of sorts. It says:

A Good Stiff Laugh

• Place a day's worth of icy, hard facts in a generous-sized glass. 
• Cover with a bright liquid dose of what you know to be true. 
• Add a strong shot of quirky perspective, borrowed from a fellow life traveler. 
• Stir mixture vigorously until lots of bubbles surface and pop. 
• Drink every last drop. 
• Repeat as needed. 

Feel free to adjust my recipe!

EDM 228 - A Laugh; 3x3" watercolor & marker

EDM 227 - A Tote Bag

I have so many totes! My favorite is a Hobo International leather shoulder bag that I bought at Goodwill while on vacation a few years ago. I am sure I would never think to buy a bag like this new, because it would seem too expensive for a bag to tote stuff around. But, it caught my eye with its robins-egg-blue lining and has proven to be extremely useful and sturdy. I think I paid $15 for it, which I think is a lot for a Goodwill purchase. The bag probably sold for $80-100 brand new, so I'm going to say, "Yay, for a great deal at the thrift store!"

EDM 227 - A Tote Bag; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 226 - A Screw

I thought it was about time for another one of my imaginary store "shingles." This is the third, I think. Why do I do these? No idea.

What I do know is that if I'm told to draw a screw, I won't be drawing a boring, metal piece of hardware. I'm rebellious that way. Instead I thought about what my grandma used to call earrings. She did not have pierced ears, so none of her earrings were actual "rings." She called hers ear screws, because that's how they worked. They were torture to wear. Put holes in my ears any day rather than ask me to wear ear screws. Grandma was tough!

EDM 226 - A Screw; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 225 - Something Sticky

As a pianist and artist, I can testify to the truth of this statement. If you want to get better in the arts, you MUST practice well and often.

EDM 225 - Something Sticky; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 224 - A Pitcher

If you don't like where a watercolor piece is going, just keep painting and lifting and painting and lifting and painting some more. Before you know it, it looks like an oil painting! The little cream pitcher I used as a model is actually cream-colored! Needless to say, I gave up on painting it realistically, but I ended up liking this painting. Never give up!!

EDM 224 - A Pitcher; 3x3" watercolor

Kaylin's Elephant Is Done

I finally got back to my daughter's elephant painting. It was easy to finish, since I had roughed in the watercolors a few weeks ago. And, here he is, all decked out in imaginary flowers and ferns.

Kaylin's Elephant; 8x10" watercolor

Here's what he looked like without the fine details.

EDM 223 - A Favorite Sound

This is a common sight where we live, and the accompanying sound of horse hooves and metal wagon wheels on the road in front of our house is a sound I never tire of hearing.

EDM 223 - Favorite Sound; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 222 - My Favorite Drawing Tool

Even though I work mostly in watercolor, I would be a lost art soul without my collection of fine-line, permanent pens. I'm always hoping they'll come out with even finer and finer ones...until the line completely disappears. Don't try to figure me out!

EDM 222 - Favorite Tool; 3x3" pen & ink

EDM 221 - A Handheld Game

I know that the point of most games is to end up with one winner and many losers. This is how you know the game is over. Well, back in my day (beware of stories that begin that way!) we whiled away many a recess on the playground with two sets of hands and a long string, because the ultimate point of playing any game should be to have fun with friends. It's actually possibly to have all winners and no losers. I know. It's ridiculously quaint.

EDM 221 - Handheld Game; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 220 - The Moon

I'm going to let this one speak for itself. I don't let my art do that often enough. Shine on!

EDM 220 - The Moon; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 219 - A Window

It's a good thing poppies thrive all on their own because I don't think about ours, growing along the forgotten side of the old garage. Then they explode into blazing orange blooms, and I can't NOT notice them!

EDM 219 - A Window; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 218 - A Knife

I think this is my fourth or fifth version of a knife, painted as a challenge, in the past year. I'm running out of enthusiasm for knives! This gorgeous folding Sheffield knife belongs to my husband. I think it's too pretty to use!

EDM 218 - A Knife; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 217 - An Umbrella

Even though I loved math in school, I was just like most of my friends in believing that high school algebra and geometry would prove useless in real life. "When am I ever gonna use this?!" Well, I have used it so many times! Just the design potential alone should have made me, the wannabe artist, a champion for geometry. Here is my homage to Fibonacci and the fascinating golden spiral. I call my umbrella design "Geometry for a Rainy Day."

EDM 217 - An Umrella; 3x3" watercolor & marker

EDM 216 - Draw Your Inner Critic

Well, this is rather personal to share, but what's the worst that could happen? I'll bet my inner critic can beat up your inner critic!

My inner critic whispers to me, and everyone knows whispers are far more intimidating than shouts. Mine reminds me that I'm more of an illustrator than a fine artist, and therefore my art doesn't really belong in a frame on a gallery wall. This is actually fine with me because I would hate the whole gallery scene, making small talk and watching people stare at my art. Yeah, no thanks!

EDM 216 - Inner Critic; 3x3" watercolor

EDM 215 - My Thumb

I'm a little creeped out by thumbs and toes out of their natural contexts, so I didn't spend much time on this.

EDM 215 - My Thumb; 3x3" watercolor

And, below is the real thumb. Did you know you can use metallic gel pens to decorate your nails? Now you do.

My Left Thumb