Category Archives: ATCs and ACEOs

Still Painting in Acrylics, Haltingly, Dec 2018

Ok, so apparently WordPress has changed quite a bit since my last post three months ago and/or the WordPress update I just did this morning. Dangit. I liked it the way it was. Isn’t this always the case? I am just now, begrudgingly, used to the new Gmail. Grrr.

Here is a painting of fish bones!

Fishbones, 8″ x 10″ acrylics on canvas board. www.theslumberingherd.com

I can tell you these fish bones were painted under some duress. Already days late for a Secret Santa at illustratedatcs.com, the themes I had to work with included Corgi dogs, skulls or other anatomical type bone studies, famous artists, cityscapes. I found some nice reference photos for Corgis and these fish bones. And while some of you reading this thing may be able to produce art on a tight deadline, that is not a thing I have ever had much success with.

Perhaps as a result of completing these fish bones – at the fifty-second hour, til the wee hours of the morning (and including the mini Corgis in ink, below) – I should start considering myself someone who can, in fact, finish pretty decent work on a tight deadline. The stress though. Dang.

Here’s progress pics! And like every painting I have ever painted to date, I almost gave up several times. I actually started a new canvas, thinking I’d try a Corgi. But since I was already a couple hours in, I decided to try to finish it. Always try to finish it! That is important. ;)

New WordPress Gallery it seems! Bummer you can’t click on each photo. Progress pics of 8×10 acrylic painting. www.theslumberingherd.com

Oh! And here are the corgis! Three ATCs (2.5″ x 3.5″ miniature art)

Three Corgies, each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, ink, gel pen on smooth Bristol paper

Art Auction Benefiting the ACLU!

Here are some of the excellent items currently up for grabs in the second annual Art Into A(u)ction, started by the stellar Ann D’Angelo with a tiny bit of assistance from me. Many artists have contributed artwork to benefit the amazing and tireless ACLU – a stalwart defender of our constitutional freedoms.

I’m Down with RBG (5.25×5.25) and Todd V. Rochester Community Schools (5×7) by Ann D’Angelo, and Soul of Liberty (12×12) by Ginger Danz

Better Swim! (9×13) by Sarah Trumpp and Doreen Poutine (12×12) by Karen Leigh

Resist!, and Zoe and Ruby Meadowlark, each 2.5″ x 3.5″ ACEOs (by me!). The Meadowlark art cards are a set.

Elven Daydreams (9×9) by Danielle M. Williams, and Bella Red (7.5×11) by Sal Scheibe

This is just a fraction of the 40 items (with the possibility of more added during the week). I put several of the word art pieces from my last post in the auction as well, and there are loads more things. You could take a look if you like! No obligation!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope to have new art soon. Hello to Paint Party Friday!

Creepy Art for Halloween! Ink and Copics

It’s been quite some time since my last post. It was a sad one. About my dog. But, I have continued drawing most every day, so here are some of my faves since my last post which was holy cow! August 21st. I do not know where the time goes! And I do not like it going!

That Time Scorpius Lost the Halloween Wager, 6″ x 8″ progress shots

Here is Scorpius, a baddie from the show Farscape who most certainly does NOT normally wear a bunny hat, made for AnnD for a Halloween secret swap! The four atcs below are from the same pack of swag!

Bride, Creepy Prom Date and two sets of Circus Creepers! Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ art cards, Copics

The next group are my favorite cards made recently or for the illustratedatcs.com Halloween-a-thon.

Six creepy creeper cards! Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, gel pen

Also these creepy eyeball ones!

Creepies with Creepy Eyes
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ ink and Copics

Thanks so much for stopping by! I shall make no promises about forthcoming posts because I will post when I can. I do post recent art more frequently on my facebook art page. Hello and thank you to Paint Party Friday!

Tiny Ink Art with Masks, Flowers, Antlers

Four with Masks
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Ink, Copic Markers

Well, it’s been another month since I posted! I started this blog back in 2011 when I got back into drawing. These days I am less consistent about the posting but more consistent about the drawing. Really, we just need a couple more hours in a day. Right?!

Three More Flower Masks
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ink, Copics

If you visit from time to time, you know I switched to larger pencil drawings for a while, and I am planning to get back to that, maybe with some new projects! But I took a break to do all these pretty girls and their fancy accessories, for mail art swaps with other artists from illustratedatcs.com and atcsforall.com. (“atc” stands for artist trading cards, and their standard size is 2.5″ x 3.5″ – so I need to wear my glasses and I use an 005 Uni Pin pen for the tiniest details.)

Four with Antlers
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ ink, Copic markers

Thanks so much for stopping by! Thanks so much to Paint Party Friday which includes many other artists with whom I trade blog visits – though not on a regular schedule these days!

More Fluffy Things! And Still in December!

Thank you so kindly to all you folks who came to visit my neglected blog for my last post! I have been inspired to do another in (comparatively) record time!

Some of the fluffy critters have been colored! Colored pencils and Copics.

Three in Color, each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, Prismacolors, ink

Some new ones have been made in larger sizes (gasp!)

Three 5×7 pencil sketches, Dec 2015

I am fond of this fellow. Perhaps it’s the teeth?

Wulfrid, 7″ x 5″ pencil sketch

Wulfrid is both friendly and adaptable, though he has been known to spit at squirrels. Squirrels on the other side of the sliding glass door. So, lots of spit on the sliding glass door! But otherwise extremely sweet and only sheds ten months of the year.

Thank you for dropping in! it’s nice to have a community of bloggers, even if it means checking in just a few times a year. More is always nice! But as noted ad infinitum, one does not always have the time for the things one wishes to do. (Like more progress slideshows. Maybe next time!) Happy Hannukah and Christmas and Solistice and all the other things!

Fluffy and Big-Nose Sketching, for December

Hello! Thank you for stopping by my neglected (again!) blog! I also have a neglected Tumblr and Flickr account. Woo! I do try to post new art to Facebook, if you want to see more things.

It is December 13th. I wanted to write a book this year, and though I did not finish a book, the plan to write a book actually did spur some book-related writing! So, now instead of a vague idea for a book, I have 3-5 ideas and some scribbles to go with each!

Meanwhile, I’ve been sketching a variety of big-nose and fluffy creatures, while watching my current favorite show in all of the universe – Agatha Christie’s Poirot. I don’t know if the show has influenced the drawings, but if so, I don’t mind!

Pencil sketches, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Poirot set one

Pencil sketches, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Poirot set two

Pencil sketches, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Poirot set three (includes one in color from set 1)!

Pencil sketches, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Poirot set four

I have this idea to paint some of these characters, likely in acrylics. But as some of you may know, I have had the HARDEST time getting myself to start painting. It’s the whole – tons of supplies to set up, cleaning up, the brushes the mess, oh my! But it could happen. And if it does, I shall post about it here.

Thank you kindly for stopping by! If it’s your first visit, I will try not to wait another six weeks for the next posting! If you’ve been here before and returned, thank you ever so kindly. You’re all the very best. :)

Well Hello There, November

Wow, two months since my last post! I believe that is the longest I have gone since the first one back in May, 2011. If you’ve come to visit, welcome! If you’ve come BACK to visit, welcome and thank you!

Most recently, over at the trading site illustratedatcs.com, I’ve been doing tons of Halloween-themed art cards. Some of my faves:

Six Halloween Art Cards Pen, Pencil, Copic markers, gel pen

Six Halloween Art Cards, each 2.5″ x 3.5″
Pen, Pencil, Copic markers, gel pen

House listing: Quaint fixer-upper in quiet neighborhood with the occasional homicidal ghost.

Also a little bare-breasted ghost, a dragon in mostly pen and pencil, a magic amulet, a scarecrow, and a teeny pumpkin house with some potted candy corn flowers. Sounds like Halloween to me! Mostly cute Halloween, admittedly.

So last time I was hinting about writing a book. I have not forgotten. Or gotten very far. Lots of life goes on while one is trying to, you know, do stuff. On the other hand, I have some new ideas! We’ll have to see how it goes. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy November!

Fancy Animals Make a Return Appearance

Four Fancy Animals, August 2015
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics, fine liners, gel pen

From left to right: Sapphire Spaniel, Waldrich Wombat, Timothy Peppercorn, & Koala Princess.

I am just going to come right out and tell you, I have not found, let alone joined, a life drawing class. I did get a new easel and started a 12″ x 16″ canvas. It shall probably be a cat in fancy clothes. I will let you know!

Thanks for dropping in!

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Dr. Who, A Pack of Dogs, and Dick Blick

Sister of Plenitude, Clockwork Droid Bad Wolf
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics and Prismacolor Pencils

I turned around and August was mostly gone. I did a variety of oddments this past few weeks. The Dr. Who themed swap, above, as well as a variety of dogs, some in an older style and some experiments with Prismacolor pencils.

Jimmy Fluffball, Brother Cyril, Hap (with bird)
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, Prismacolor Pencils

I liked these a bit better.

Fennec Fox and Junebug
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Prismacolor pencils, Copic markers

And I have made my second appearance in the Dick Blick catalog! I think they found me on Tumblr. Which reminds me, I haven’t posted there in ages. Keeping up is hard.

Thanks for dropping in! I know these posts are fewer and further between, but I hope to be working just a few fewer hours soon. Which should help. :)

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The Mushrooms Continue to Multiply

Recently I’ve been wondering whether I should stick with mushroom houses and make that my thing and do them for a couple years until I am making the coolest mushroom houses in the land. I do not know the answer but the production of mushroom houses continues unabated. (Also snuck in a pumpkin house a few months early for Halloween.)

Eight Mushroom, One Pumpkin House (click to embiggen)
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, gel pen

Row One: The Jolly Cot, Quilt Topped, Micro Units

Row Two: Blue Fae Cabin, House with Plant Monster, Unintentionally Suggestive Mushroom Home

Row Three: Daisy’s Fixer Upper, Mail Day!, Flower Top

And then I thought, let’s put them all together. Because large groups of tiny things are VERY NEAT. imo. Here’s twenty. (click to embiggen)

Twenty Mushroom Homes, woo!
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics. www.theslumberingherd.com

Thanks for dropping in! A few progress pics below.