EDiM Day 7 - Something You Got for Free

Something I got for free? LIFE! Yup. I paid nothing for it. What a deal! "Pura Vida" is Costa Rica's national motto. It means literally "pure life" but probably is better translated "this is living." I shamelessly borrowed this design. I saw it in Costa Rica when we visited there. Of course, you can find anything on the Internet, and I was glad I could locate the Pura Vida design I remembered seeing in Costa Rica. I really enjoyed drawing and painting it. It was like a grown-up coloring book activity. So fun!

pen and watercolor on 90 lb. mixed media paper

EDiM Day 6 - Draw a Scent

Day 6 challenge is "draw a scent." In a month, my only daughter will marry and move far away, and her scent will leave with her. And, I don't want to talk about it!

pen and watercolor on 90 lb. mixed media paper

EDiM Day 5 - Pine, Fir, or Eucalyptus

Today, on Day 5, we are challenged to draw a pine or fir tree or eucalyptus. Many members of the Every Day in May group reside in Australia, so they've been submitting awesome drawings and paintings of eucalyptus trees and leaves. I thought I knew about eucalyptus. Obviously I don't. Add it to the LONG list of "All Things Nature" that I am ignorant of. The Australians drew beautiful, subtly colored, slender leaves—nothing of what I think of as eucalyptus. All I know of eucalyptus is the dried, exotic-smelling, Seuss-like branches sold in the craft store. I've always thought of eucalyptus as an exotic thing—foreign in appearance and smell—like how we felt in the 60s when we saw a whole pineapple in the grocery store. "Is it real? We thought pineapple only came in cans!" Eucalytpus remains one of those curious smells from childhood that I got many whiffs of before I knew where it was coming from. Other smells in that catergory for me: beer at the amusement park (I was so sheltered from alcohol!); pipe tobacco at the mall (I was so sheltered from smoking!); and diesel exhaust from downtown busses (I know it's toxic, but I love it!) It was years before I knew what those smells belonged to. Weird, I know.

pen and watercolor on 90 lb. mixed media paper

EDiM Day 4 - Socks

I knew immediately what I would draw for Day 4's challenge to "Draw Your Socks." I love to knit and wear homemade socks, so I knew my drawing would feature some of my handknit socks. I just had to figure out how I would design the picture. I find it hard to just draw an item. I always envision it in terms of a larger design, and that design almost always includes some kind of creative lettering. It's like I think in scrapbook page layouts! I like how this turned out, but drawing the socks so small was difficult. I wanted more details and truer colors. It just wasn't possible. It would be fun to redo this piece in a larger size.

pen and watercolor on 90 lb. mixed media paper

EDiM Day 3 - Something that Represents Joy

Day three's challenge is to draw something that represents joy. For me it's COLOR! For the most part, color is unnecessary to life. It is just gift—one of many reasons I believe there is a Giver. Color is for the beauty of it, for the beauty of whatever it rests on—sky or tree or feather or skin. This tells me that the Giver is also Artist. We, the small artists, get to borrow His color schemes for the beauty of our creations.

pen and watercolor on 90 lb. mixed media paper

EDiM Day 2 - A Favorite Sound

The Every Day in May challenge for day two is to draw a favorite sound. I love the idea of "drawing a sound." A favorite sound for me is Westminster Chimes pealing across the valley from the bell tower of my college alma mater. For four years, I was reminded of the time every fifteen minutes! I never tired of it. Whenever I hear church bells echoing through a town, I get nostalgic for 30 years ago: college; youth; potential; anticipation; most of life still being ahead. All that from the sound of bells.

pen and watercolor on 90 lb. mixed media paper

EDiM Day 1 - Something Bubbly

I've decided to post my entries for the Facebook group, Every Day in May (EDiM). Group members are challenged to draw and post every day of the month, following a list created by the group administrator. It's been fun seeing artists from around the world interpret each day's challenge. The assignment for day one is to draw something bubbly. I had a can of ginger ale in the fridge and decided that was as good as anything. I wish I could have achieved the shiny look of the can, but I was just getting over being sick, and I didn't really feel like fussing this too much. I hope to do better the rest of the month. This is another very small sketchbook (3.5" x 5"). The small size makes it easy to finish pages quickly. So, here we go. Bring on May.

pen and watercolor on 90 lb. mixed media paper