This assignment was to use reference material to draw just the most basic elements of an owl and create a design or almost a logo from them. So in my world, Pigwidgeon, Errol, and Hedwig all get designer makeovers.

Day 13's assignment is to create a visual narrative within one rectangle - no words, no speech bubbles. It should come as no surprise that this was drawn during a nice round of family D&D, but I've always had a soft spot in my heart for dragons ever since I read my first Anne McCaffrey book.

This lesson was supposed to be about refinement: to draw a subject many times in many different styles, or to draw the same image again and again with modifications until you've arrived at a happy place with it. You could choose from the following topics: Bigfoot, your boss, a shark, a skull, a pelican, an evil space villain, or a horse. No contest here.

We're continuing our tradition of reading a Harry Potter book each summer, out loud, as a family. You can guess which book we're on now! I made this sign after the kids went to bed and taped it up in the appropriate spot....



Only to find an addition when I got up early the next morning (Angela's handiwork).

The text reads: CAUTION! Moaning Myrtle may appear while using the shower, bath, toilet or sink. Do not mind the constant crying if she enters your home. Sincerely - Ministry of Magic.


I love my children and their amazing creativity SO MUCH. Wonder where they got it from?

(Just me in my mermaid suit, my pet cotton candy blue fox, and my trusty steed, a red cactus.)

So as some of you may have noticed, I get sidetracked. A LOT. I get caught up with work, and my family, and the kids, and other obligations, and then a little voice that says, "hey, you should go paint" basically gets told to shut up because I need more sleep.

I began using a new program which I just love called HabitRPG.com. It helps reinforce good habits, and help you notice when you're slacking (or when you're engaging in bad habits). It's kind of like Chore Wars except that it's much more personal. And way cuter. I've always been a sucker for 8-bit goodness. Especially when it's color coded and easy enough that I can have my kids have their own accounts too.

So what the heck does this have to do with painting? It's taken me two months,(!) but I've finally added "Studio Time" to my list of habits. And "Blog" as well. And added five entries on my to-do list that are all blog topics. Hopefully these habits will start to stick, because then will I not only actually be spending time on doing creative things for myself, I will be documenting and sharing them.

So watch this space.

Digital sketch on the iPad with inspire pro. Green is still totally my favorite color.

Ancient history, people…. who remembers this?

http://frenchtoastgirl.com/flash/index.htm

And it still works!

Another year, another valentine. Are they getting big or what?!






And now let's have a trip in the wayback machine!



(2013)






(2012)






(2011)






(2010)






(2009)






(2008)






(2007)






(2006)






(2005)

Over on my Facebook page I posted a link to what I thought was an awesome idea: get a free calendar and turn it into a small doodle-y journal. I can commit to that! And so could the kids. Luckily for us, our church was handing out free calendars. But oh no! What's this?



I am a Very Nice Catholic Girl, but I absolutely could not resist adding Kitten Kong to that top photo. And we're slightly giddy at the idea that I have 11 more pictures to add him to throughout the year.



Here you can see a few doodles and comments on the start of the month... and a giant kitten paw terrorizing the congregation.

My kids of course had to do it too. I swear I want this to be our holiday card next year, courtesy of Angela:



Sophie has a completely different take on it: she wants to write a story each month, and every day she will write a little more on each calendar square. By the end of the year, she'll have 12 stories!

Which may or may not contain giant adorable animals terrorizing the countryside.You never know with my kids.