A Kiss On The Nose - sold

'A Kiss On The Nose' 

5 x 7 inches SOLD

colored pencil on Ampersand Pastelbord

I hope you'll excuse this post that is all about the feelings of my heart right now. 

Lately I have been overwhelmed with melancholy when I think of all my kids growing up. I know I shouldn't. That's my job as a parent right? To prepare them to leave home and live happy, successful lives as good men. Of course I love them no matter what stage of life they are in. But there's something so very precious about these early years when our bond is so strong and we are each others whole world. 

So, the only way I know how to express those feelings is through art. I've spent a lot of time looking through photos and shedding a few tears at the years that are gone. I don't know how to not feel this way. I love being their mom so much. I love how close we are. I hope things always stay this way. But I know things always change. At least a little bit. 

All I can do is love the moment, the season, that we're in and try to remember every single detail. And not mourn it's passing when little hands grow big. :) 

"This curious fact of life: that when parents are old and their children grown up, the grown-up children are not the persons they formerly were; that their former selves have wandered away, never to return again, save in dream-glimpses of their young forms that tarry a moment and gladden the eye, then vanish and break the heart."  - Mark Twain

Make the time to do what you love

Detail from new 5 x 7 colored pencil piece

on Ampersand Pastelbord

Worked on this the other day while waiting for my son at his guitar lesson. In the car. :) 

Some of you seem surprised that I draw in the car. I guess it is a little strange. I'm just weird like that. ;) And something that I can NOT stand is waiting with nothing to do. I hate it. I feel like that's such a time waster. And I feel like time is such a limited resource you know? Of course you do. We live in a busy world with hectic lives.

So I'm going to tell you guys how I do it. And why. First with the how:

I work small. I prefer working small. I don't know why I just do. I'm sure one day I'll get tired of working small, but right now I'm happy where I'm at. Working small, and with just pencils, makes it very easy to take on the go. Above is what I always take when I know I'm going to be sitting in the car for at least ten minutes. An envelope of photos I want to draw, a small box of colored pencils in the colors I think I'll use, a small sketchbook (mine's 6 x 6), and my 5 x 7 work in progress (protected in a clear bag). 

 

And here it is all stacked up. Not too big right? Since I'm usually bringing my four year old's bag of things to do too I stick it in there and we are good to go. And then while littlest Cook is busy playing his Leapster, I get to draw for a few minutes. Works like a charm. 

Now to the why? Because. . . well, see the pic below. :) 

Because I, we, need to make the time to do what we love.  And if that means drawing for ten minutes at a time in the car then so be it. :) Photo courtesy of namaste cafe.

So, how do you make time to do what you love?

Best Pals - SOLD

'Best Pals'  sold 

5" x 7" 

colored pencil on Ampersand Pastelbord

Finally finished. :) Usually when I have a painting that takes me a long time to complete I end up feeling frustrated, and I lose interest. But not this time. This drawing was a joy from beginning to end. A few bumps in the road that caused me a bit of a headache, but overall a complete joy. I really love how it turned out. 

I have a bunch of photos of my son playing with his toys that I think I'll start working on too. All in this beautiful light. I'm excited. 

Technique note: This drawing ate up a LOT of my colored pencils. The sanded surface of the pastelbord is very abrasive and hard on the pencils, I wore probably five of them down to little nubs by the time this was finished. 

But on the positive side, this surface doesn't require much layering. It is a very direct process, which was a sanity saver for me. I have come to realize that I am getting bored with layering paint, I'm an impatient person. ;) I will have to see if I can adapt my watercolor process to get the results I want but avoid all the layering (glazing of color) I typically do.

Have a great weekend everyone. :) See you Monday!

Making Progress

work in progress 

5 x 7 inch colored pencil on Ampersand Pastelbord

Slow but steady wins the race right? That shirt took me for dang ever. And his face caused me much angst. I think because of the angle of his head, and his features are tiny. Super hard. But I love how it's looking so far. Also, Tigger has been the funnest thing to draw yet. So much color!

In other news, have you guys seen the new cover art for the Harry Potter books?! So much awesomeness. I loved the originals, but I love these too.

 

Must. Have. Them.

My husband will be so glad he just cleared out some of our bookcases, so I can replace those empty spaces with these new lovelies.  ;)

Do Or Do Not

 work in progress 

colored pencil on Ampersand Pastelbord

5" x 7" 

My colored pencils were calling my name the other day. So I hearkened to their siren call and whipped those babies out and started on this new little piece of my son playing. 

I'm hoping that I'm not jinxing myself by posting this WIP because all the other colored pencil pieces on pastelboard I've posted as WIP's remain unfinished. But this one is very close to my heart right now, especially since my little one has been sick lately, so I'm sure I'll finish it.  I will finish this and I can't wait to show you guys. :) 

Which brings me to this: 

  

Wondering about the picture above? That's one of my favorite necklaces that I wear all the time, especially when I'm feeling like I suck at just about everything. Just putting it on makes me feel better, it's my talisman against negativity, and it gives me courage. It empowers me with positive thinking and belief in myself. 

One of my least favorite phrases ever is this, "I can't." 

People ask me how I learned to paint, how I make the time. I tell them you could do it too, if you want it bad enough. And what do they say to me?

"I can't" 

People ask me about why I run, and what the furthest distance is I've gone. I tell them 13.2 miles but if my knees would allow it I'd run 26.2. I tell them you could do it too, if you want it bad enough. And what do they say to me?

"I can't"

People tell me that they want to start selling their work, and entering shows, but they don't know how, or they think they're not good enough, or it's just too hard. They say: 

"I can't" 

Want to know what I can't do?

I can't make a perfect pie crust. 

I can't ever, ever, ever, keep up with the laundry. 

I can't organize my closets and cupboards as well as my sister in law (love you Laura!!)

I can't drive on the freeway without music that's too loud and losing my temper at least once. 

I can't go a day without chocolate. 

I know what you're thinking. "But you just said that you hate the phrase 'I can't' yet here you are going on and on about all the stuff you can't do! Hypocrite!"

Now let me tell you about my 'I can't' list. 

Why can't I do those things? 

Because I don't want to badly enough. 

It is perfectly fine to say 'I can't do' something if you simply don't care all that much about doing it in the first place. 

My mom makes the Best Pie Crust In The Whole World. And I'd be willing to arm wrestle anybody over that title. I don't need to, or want to make pie crust as good as her. Not today anyway. As long as we have clean clothes to wear I'm okay with never keeping up with the laundry. I'd rather be painting, or playing with my kids. And the last three don't really need an explanation, it's enough for me to say I don't want to badly enough. 

Some things keep us from our heart's greatest desires. Some of those are things that are out of our control, like my problematic knees. But most of them come from within us. We put limitations on ourselves, we say we can't do something before we've even made the attempt. We don't want it badly enough, because wanting something that badly would force us to make changes in our lives and get us out of our comfort zones.

The next time you start to reach for something that is just beyond your grasp and seems too hard, too impossible, tell yourself this: 

Do or do not, there is no try. 

Making the attempt = doing. 

Do, make the attempt. Believe that you can. And you will, one day. 

Happy Motivational Monday everybody! :)

You can get one of these cool necklaces too, right here. 

Shimmer - sold

'Shimmer'

4" x 4" colored pencil on paper

sold

 

I never get tired of the endless fascination of little children. I see it in my own boys every day, even now as they get older and are long passed the toddler stage. There is still so much innocence, and wonder in everything they see.

 

Children are my very favorite subjects. Which I'm sure comes as no surprise, but it's only been recently that I've realized it's not only my own children that are my favorite subjects, but all children. I love painting them. I don't know what else I can say other than that. Words seem to fall a little short.

 

I'll be out of town for the rest of the week on a vacation with my husband and won't be back until Sunday. So no paintings will be shipped until Monday November 12. And I won't be answering any emails until then either. :)

 

I'll miss visiting your blogs. :( But I'll catch up with you when I get back. Thanks for stopping by everybody. Huzzah!! Till we meet again!

 

Reference photo by Fennec Cooper, thank you!

 

Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust - sold

'Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust'  sold

6" x 7" colored pencil on paper

Well I finally did it. I managed to capture a fairy just long enough to draw her portrait. :) She was pretty happy with it, happy enough to leave me with my own personal stash of pixie dust that should last until my retirement. Pretty sweet deal for a simple portrait don't you think? ;)

 

I believe in fairies. :))) *clap clap* Do you?

 

"Tink was not all bad: or rather, she was all bad just now, but, on the other hand, sometimes she was all good. Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time. They are, however, allowed to change, only it must be a complete change."  J.M. Barrie

 

Huzzah :)

Photo reference by the awesome Katlinn Lewis, thank you!

Lucy and Gabriel - sold

'Lucy'  sold

private commission ACEO 2.5" x 3.5"

colored pencil on bristol

'Gabriel' sold

private commission ACEO 2.5" x 3.5"

colored pencil on bristol

A sweet woman contacted me a few weeks ago and asked for two commissions of her two pets. Don't you just love Lucy's face? And Gabriel looks like he's up to something doesn't he?

Today I opened up my watercolor palette and started painting and I had the most peaceful feeling come over me as soon as I started swirling my brush through the colors and water.

It was awesome. :)

Huzzah for stress-relieving art making!!

Sliced - sold

'Sliced' sold

2.5" x 3.5" ACEO colored pencil

click here to purchase

Decided to try something a little different this time. A smaller size (holy cow was that tricky!!), a different point of view, and a bit of an edgy feel to this portrait.

I kinda like the results. Although I don't know how often I will do these itty bitty pieces (do you have any idea how difficult it is to draw a face that small?) but it was fun, so I guess that means I will have to try these ACEO's again. One day. :)

This was last week's Daily Paintworks challenge, paint a miniature. And honestly I had no idea how hard it would be when I attempted it, or I probably would not have.

It seems to betray all logic that something so small was so blasted difficult doesn't it?

Yep. I thought so too. Have a good weekend everyone! Huzzah!

reference photo by Kelsey's love fusion on flickr, thank you!

Icy Eyes - sold

'Icy eyes' sold

3" x 5" colored pencil on bristol

So. . . I'm kind of in love with my colored pencils right now. I used to think that I could only draw really large and complex pieces with colored pencils. I don't know why because I haven't ever really thought like that about watercolor. But then I thought, why? Why not just do a small piece and focus on what you want to draw the most? Which in this case was this sweet puppy's icy blue eyes and shiny fur.

And so I did. And it was fun. And now I'm addicted to doing these small portraits in colored pencil. I'm adding this to my series of eyes (and I use the term 'series' very loosely here) and hope to paint more. The eyes are always my favorite part of every painting or drawing I do.

Now I must go and cuddle up on the couch with a blanket and my youngest little boy (who has a summer cold. Bummer) and listen to the rain fall on our roof. It's been so long since we've gotten any rain and I love it! Huzzah!!

See you soon friends. :)

photo reference by cogdogblog on flickr

Oh yeah, and is another pic I took for my etsy shop of this drawing. I got the idea from Carol Blackburn who suggested I set my painting up on an easel. Why that never occured to me I'll never know, so thank you Carol for giving me the idea! :)

Flawless - sold

'Flawless' sold

6" x 6.5" colored pencil on Bristol

click here to purchase

The other day I really wanted to draw a portrait where the features were the focus and the skin tones were very light. This is what I came up with. I like how it draws your attention to her eyes, which are always my favorite part to draw or paint.

I usually start with the eyes when I draw in colored pencil, but then I get bored with the rest of the drawing and quit after a while, so this time I was a good girl and drew her hair and the base of her skin tones before I drew her eyes. :)

This drawing is also my loose interpretation of another character from Cassandra Clare's book series The Mortal Instruments. This is close to how I imagine Clary Fray. 

And I've been experimenting with taking different photos of my artwork for my Etsy shop listings. Etsy gives you five different spaces (I think) for different photos of whatever you're listing so the viewer can see it from different angles. Here are a couple me and my son did today:

What do you think? You guys have any other ideas for photos I could take? I'd love some suggestions.

Reference photo by Katlinn Lewis, thank you!

A closer look at the WIP, colored pencil on pastelbord

colored pencil portrait (of my handsome oldest son. . . sshhh, don't tell him I said so, "EMBARRASSING Mom!!") 

work in progress on Ampersand Pastelbord

5" x 7"

Here's a closer look at my colored pencil piece I showed you the other day (the one I worked on while waiting in the car for my kids to get out of school).

I'm really happy with how it's coming along. I always forget how much fun it is to push pencil around on paper (ahem, or board as is the case here) and watch colors begin to glow and the face start to come to life layer upon layer.

Art is really kind of like magic right?

Yes. Why yes it is.

Know what else is magic?

A quiet moment in my house when the kids have been home all week for spring break. I've just tucked them into bed and the only sounds remaining are the click of the dog's toes on my kitchen floor, and the dryer quietly tumbling a load of laundry down in the basement.

Just listen. . . Wait for it. . .

*crickets*

Le sigh. Who am I kidding? I miss those little voices! Except for when they argue. That I don't miss. :)Off to paint I go. I hope you all have a very Happy Easter weekend with your family. :))

From Within SOLD

From Within

6" x 6" watercolor SOLD

This is my friend Taylor. I loved the lighting in this painting. I loved how it emphasized Taylor's personality, how she has so much light and kindness from within that radiates out to others when she smiles. She's awesome and I loved painting her. :)) Thanks for volunteering to model for me!

It's nearly time for spring break around here (next week), and kiddos are running around my house more frequently since it's early out day every day this week at school. Painting time is precious and harder to find, and that's completely okay. I love having my boys home more.

But it does force me to make the most out of the time I do have. Here's a photo of what I did yesterday while waiting in the car to pick my boys up from school.

A new little colored pencil piece on Ampersand Pastelbord. I'm pretty happy with how it's coming along. I'll get a better shot of it for my next post so you can see it a little more clearly.

This brings me to two things I want to say today:

1. Make time to do what you love. The time is there, it might not be the 'ideal' time, but you can make it work if it's something that you LOVE doing.

And 2. Paint what you love, or what excites you. Don't let yourself think that there's only one subject, one way that you can paint. That's part of what makes us artists,  our constant striving, and reaching, and trying new things to stretch creatively and create work that moves people and makes them feel something, that makes us feel something. There are no absolutes in the life of an artist.

And in a totally unrelated note, I went and watched The Hunger Games movie and was completely blown away. I loved the books and the movie was the best book to movie adaptation I've ever seen. I'm more of a book person than a movie person, but this is a must see. Seriously. It's inspiring a new portrait (not a character from the movie, but the result of the feelings I had while watching it) that I am dying to get to work on. Here's a link to the best review, by my favorite author Maggie Stiefvater, that puts my exact feelings for this movie into words that I couldn't.

Have a great week everyone. See you Tuesday. :)) Huzzah!

Continuing Adventures With Pastelbord, colored pencil WIP

more work on this colored pencil portrat

11" x 14" on pastelbord

Is it just me or does it feel like Christmas is approaching at warp speed? I'm not even done with my Christmas shopping yet! AND we don't have any snow on the ground. . . and I live in Utah! Home of the 2002 Winter Olympics. And we are currently in a snow famine. Man, what a bummer.

But, it is still such a magical time isn't it? Every time I hear my boys talk about Santa, or watch them look at photos of past Christmases I get so excited. I LOVE Christmas time.

Of course I had planned all kinds of festive Christmas paintings, but haven't seemed to have the time to get to any of them, except the jingle bells. Which is fine by me, since I'd rather be decorating my Christmas tree and making treats with my family anyway. Chocolate covered salted caramels anyone? Oh, wait, they're all gone. Sorry! :)

I'm also working on a super secret commission that I don't dare post until after Christmas, since it's a gift. It's turning out nicely, I'm pretty happy with it. But constantly plagued by the fear that the next brushstroke I place will ruin it and I'll have to start over!

So, any extra positive vibes you may have, feel free to send em my way. :)

In between all of that I got this older colored pencil piece out and started working on it again. I always forget how much I enjoy working with colored pencils until I have one in my hand again. Very therapeutuic and meditative. And lots of fun.

So, I'm off my friends. Hope you're all having a wonderful Holiday season! And next time I make chocolate covered salted caramels I promise to save you one. . . Or at least take a picture of them. :)

Huzzah!

And if you're looking for a one of a kind Christmas gift I'm having a holiday sale on all the items in my Etsy shop until December 18. There's a variety of paintings and drawings, all originals. Just use this coupon code TTTEAM20 at checkout. :)

Pastelbord is a beautiful thing, new colored pencil work in progress

Untitiled colored pencil on pastelbord work in progress (detail)

Way back earlier this year when my computer got sick and had to be rushed to an electronic medic I took some time to experiment with my colored pencils.

I'd been hearing good things about using colored pencils on pastelbord (which is basically a sanded surface mounted on hard board), mainly that:

1. it's faster because of the sanded surface there is no need to layer color super lightly (which takes hours) 

2. colors appear brighter and more intense on pastelbord than on traditional paper 

3. there is a possibility of framing a piece painted* on pastelbord without glass.

Which meant of course that I had to rush to my local art supply store (Ogden Blue FTW!) and stock up. 

I came home SO excited I could hardly stand it! And as soon as I had some free time I laid out all my lovely pencils and got to work. 

And here's what I found: Numbers 1-2 were dead on.  

It was faster! Because the tooth of the sanded paper is able to hold much more color, much more quickly there is no need for laborious layer upon layer of colored pencil! Of course there is still some layering involved, but not nearly as much because the tooth of the surface fills up pretty quickly. Which means that you must be decisive and accurate about what colors you will layer early on.

So, basically I'm in love with colored pencil work on pastelbord. It is a beautiful thing. :)

Huzzah! See you next week everyone!

*colored pencil work, when done in a way that the entire surface is covered with pencil is often called 'painting' even though there is no paint or brushes involved.

P.S. I don't think I've taken the time lately to let all you guys know how much it means to me that you read my posts, look at my work, tell others about it, and say some very nice things to me and about me. Thank you, my friends, so much for your support and kindness, you rock in an all out glorious way. :))))

A Reason to Pout and three pictures of pure AWESOMENESS

"A Reason to Pout" acrylic on gessobord, 8" x 10"

The Work of Childhood series #2

Lately I've been feeling very drawn to acrylics. I don't know why. It's not because it comes easily, because it doesn't. It's not familiar and comforting like my watercolors, or soothingly meditative like my colored pencils. It's unpredictable and challenging. Maybe that's the appeal. I love a good challenge.

I really like this painting. I like the colors in his face and I like seeing the brushstrokes. And those pouty lips. :)

But. . . I kind of feel like a traitor for liking these acrylic paintings so much. I feel like I should not enjoy painting with them as much as I do, because they're not watercolors and that's sort of what people expect from me.

But they are fun, different, new. And sometimes that's just what I need. And it's not like I'm giving up on watercolors. Not at all. It's just nice to try something else for a change you know?

Now, onto pictures of AWESOMENESS.

The other day the Utah Watercolor Society hosted a demonstration given by one of my favorite artists ever.

Can you guess who it is? (If you follow my Facebook fan page you probably already know)

That's right! Alvaro Castagnet!! Can you even believe how awesome that was? Seriously, I felt like I was meeting a rock star. I may have stuttered when I asked if I could have a picture with him. I was a little bit fangirl. . . ok, ok I was a lot bit fangirl.

It was incredible to watch him paint, he's so confident and passionate that it was infectious. It made me want to run for my brushes. And hearing him speak about painting with passion, and being bold, holding nothing back, going for major impact was so cool. 

He was funny, and warm, and just plain AWESOME. 

I wish you could have been there. :)

And then last week I got to meet one of my favorite authors of all time!

Photo by Jenny Martinez Photography

Sarah Dessen! I have loved her books for years, read all of them, own most of them, and she is a major source of inspiration for my writing. I just love her. Her book "The Truth About Forever" is coming with me if ever I get stranded on a desert island. It's one of my top five favorite books of all time. (Which is saying a lot considering my list of favorite books is about five miles long)

And she was so nice and humble and just truly genuine. I think she and I could be friends if we were neighbors. :)

And yes, once again I was a fan girl of epic proportions. I just couldn't help it. I mean this is the Dessen we're talking about! She is incredibly AWESOME!

It was so cool. :D

It's inspiring to be around creative people who want to share and help other creative people. It's just one of my favorite things in the whole world.

See you next week everybody!

P.S.

Dear Alvaro,

I hope you will forgive me for posting this photo of you with your eyes closed, but I simply had to. For the sake of AWESOMENESS. I hope you understand. :)

Sincerely,

your most devoted fan girl,

Crystal Cook

KW4DZDF82V2W

Colored Pencil Work in Progress (or the most boring title for a blog post ever)

untitled colored pencil work in progress 8" x 10"

Prismacolor on bristol

I've been working on and off on this colored pencil piece since July of last year. Why has it taken me so long you ask? Because I am very impatient and sometimes I just get frustrated with how long colored pencil takes me.

I look at how much work I've gotten done in the last hour and realize that I could have accomplished the same thing with my watercolors and a hair dryer in about ten minutes. Which then makes me put this colored pencil piece away and go work on my speedier watercolors.

But still, there's something about colored pencils that appeals to me. A lot. I don't know if it's because it's more similar to drawing, one of my major loves in my art life. Or if it's because looking at a box of colored pencils with hundreds of color choices feels like the best grown up 'coloring' experience ever.

Probably both, but maybe a little more with that last one. I still look for excuses to color with my kids in their coloring books. So fun. :)

So, now that I've played around with acrylics and colored pencil I think I'm ready to get back at home with my watercolors. I kinda miss them. I have a couple of paintings that I'm REALLY excited about that I can't wait to get started on. I think that's one of the best thing about the whole painting process. The anticipation of getting started on your next great project. Don't you think?

See you next week everybody!

Huzzah!