Yogi Bear in Colored Pencil

“The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started.”
– Norman Cousins

Yogi Bear – 4″ x 6″ Colored Pencil Postcard

Scary, huh!  I am not very good at colored pencils.   I did this postcard back in 2008.  It says on the back that it took me 30 minutes to do it, so I feel a little better.  I did this same reference (from my own photo) in watercolor and pastel.  I thought I’d share them on Thursday and Friday.  Sorry there is no new art to share.

I have been super busy at work.  I am very blessed to have a shop full of work and no free time to play, but I sure miss my art.  I am studying in all my free time at home.  I really must finish up and get my pilot’s license.  No more dilly-dallying.

I am not complete when I am not creating art.  This is really hard, being so disciplined.  When I get my license, I’m going to celebrate by painting for an entire weekend… then I’ll go fly! 

About Norman Cousins

American writer and editor Norman Cousins is best known for his book, Anatomy of an Illness, an account of how he used nutrition and positive visualizations, including laughter, to heal from an illness diagnosed as fatal. He was born in New Jersey in 1915. He served many years as editor-in-chief of the Saturday Review, a job he loved. Under his guidance, circulation increased from 20,000 to 650,000. He received the UN Peace Medal for his world activism. He died in 1990.

Possum - December 21, 2009

“Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm.”
– Charles Caleb Colton

Possum

6″ x 9″ Colored Pencil on Canson

I rarely use my colored pencils, so excuse the calamity and confusion, that is Possum. I could not have added another layer, if I tried.

Did you notice his Andy Rooney eyebrows? Fun!

About Charles Caleb Colton

English minister and author Charles Caleb Colton was best known for his book of essays, Lacon, or Many Things in Few Words. He was born in 1780 in England. He was an avid collector of both wine and paintings and was known as an eccentric for his lifestyle, which was both lavish and ramshackle, and for his church work, which was sometimes brilliant, sometimes slipshod. After leaving the ministry, he lived in Paris for many years. He died in 1832.

Nestled in to Autumn - October 29, 2009

"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash."

– George S. Patton

Nestled in to Autumn

4.5" x 7" Watercolor

I painted this little watercolor from one of my photos, taken on my recent trip to Idaho. It just didn't look finished to me. There was no real depth. After reading Leslie White's blog last Friday, I was inspired by her technique of using colored pencil to bring more detail into a painting. So I tried it.

It worked better for Leslie. I kinda just made a mess of my little painting. Not being one to give up easily, I took an eraser to it, then played with watercolor on top of the colored pencil that remained. I used a bigger brush than I would normally use, so I wouldn't be as tempted to fuss too much.

I like it. It's still not a first class painting, but I was tickled with the possibilities. Who knows what the next step may be. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Thanks, Leslie!

About George S. Patton

George S. Patton, the American Army general who fought in both World Wars, received numerous awards during his 46 years of service, including the Purple Heart and the French Legion of Honor. He was born in 1885 in California and was descended from a long line of soldiers. He was an early advocate of armored warfare and led the U.S. Tank Corps in World War I. The 1970 movie Patton cemented his reputation as "Old Blood and Guts." He died in 1945 of injuries sustained in a car accident.