Category Archives: Copic Markers

Four Dogs, a History in Pictures

Wilson the Lhasa-Cavalier, very good boi
Wilson dog, the sweetest. Epilepsy and a too big heart took him at 12 in 2016.
Wilson.
Wilson.

Wilson came with Bert, my ex. He helped Bert survive the end of a relationship for a couple years before I showed up. He was our mutual best friend for six years until his health troubles overtook him. RIP sweetest boy.

Toki Wartooth, the extremely not ferocious, goofy, anxious boy. Havanese, adopted approx. 3 yrs old, late 2016.
Toki, still with us! Aug 2024.
Found Toki at petfinder.com in 2016. He was rescued along with other Havanese and Yorkies from a puppy mill.
Toki. Still a nervous boy these days, but much improved.

Goofy fella. Sticks his head out car window whether it’s 25 degrees or 85! (I draw a line at under 25 and over 85 but he is not happy about it.) Would not harm the smallest thing (at least not on purpose). Likes to say hi to strangers but prefers to keep it to a short interaction generally.

Toki was named Buttons when we got him, but I had picked out the name Toki and it suits him entirely. The full name Toki Wartooth comes from a terrible cartoon about a heavy metal band (Metalocalypse), but Toki is the sweet, naive guitarist character, without guile. Toki the dog was an only dog for about 5 months before we adopted Dexter.

Dexter Dog, a very big Shi Tzu, adopted approx. 3 yrs old 2017. Dexter was the name he came with. I always said he was a Dexter’s Laboratory type and not that other Dexter.
Dexter was adopted at a Petsmart store event. There was a long line hoping to adopt this guy but we were first!
We were warned he barked at night and could be reactive to dogs, but who is perfect? We did not say no. He met Toki at the event and came home the same day.
He did bark at night for a long time, and it was hard, but did not last forever.
Dexter and Toki. Sometimes friends, sometimes not so much.
Dexter and Toki, so much trouble! Would not trade it.

We moved out on our own and the owner of my construction office agreed to let them come to the office every day. It is a perk of enormous value and I know I am lucky

Dexter, lost at 9 yrs old, Dec. 2023.

My grumpy loyal friend, gone suddenly and too soon. I made an overly long remembrance video for Dexter and put it on YouTube.

RIP Dexter, miss you lots.

Stella Belle. Adopted Feb 2024 from a Havanese rescue group found online. She came from a horrible Amish puppy mill in Ohio. (I’m told some are worse than others but overall they are very bad. And sad.)
I chose a Havanese in hopes the new friend would be a great friend to Toki. Though, I think Stella may be part Bichon or part Maltese. Her foster mom named her Feebi, but I was looking for a Stella and she is it!
Toki and Stella. Stella was understandably afraid when she arrived, and the three of us had a rough week or so. But she found the stairs up to the bed, claimed my favorite blanket as her own, and settled in.
Toki and Stella are good friends now, just like I hoped.

So many haircuts! Expensive. May purchase clippers and give it a try, but these two are squirmy. Fortunately we do not demand perfect hair in this household. I will say I told myself no more longhair dogs but then adopted Stella anyway. :-)

When I think back on Stella’s rough early days it’s hard to believe this hilarious demanding dog is the same one!

Stella gets away with LOADS , partly due to genetic cuteness overload. Has Toki wrapped around her tiny paw and has stolen most hearts at the office as well.

Wow this post is way too long but I’m hoping it may help me get back to a really big painting I started last year, and which includes all four puppers listed above.

Hopefully next time (and soon), I’ll work on and post the painting, whether finished or still in progress. Thanks for dropping in… and making it to the end!

Acrylic Painting in 2019, Early February

I practiced acrylic painting every day except one in January, and am on track to do the same for February 2019. What I have not done is finished many paintings. But they are getting closer! Virginia Woolf from my last post is the first acrylic painting I can say I am happy with, and is finished. YAY!

This post contains two works in progress – Toni Morrison and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They are coming along pretty nicely. Learning to paint is a long process and often frustrating! But nobody can become a better painter (or musician or dancer or a lot of other stuff) without practice. The trick is just to keep going!

Toni Morrison, 11″ x 14″ Acrylics in progress, www.theslumberingherd.com
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes (AOC), 18″ x 24″ acrylics on canvas, in progress. www.theslumberingherd.com

Thanks for dropping in! Hello to Paint Party Friday! Let me know if you have any favorite youtube painting videos!

Back! (Again!) Pet Portraits & Sharpie Shoes

Hello and thank  you so much for dropping by! In this post you shall find three of my favorite projects from the past year.

Dog Portrait #1, January 2017, Deb’s Little Monster

Deb’s Little Monster, 9″ x 12″(ish), mechanical pencil (with photo reference)

Dog portrait #2, Dec 2017, ChiChi Machete Apple-Head 2017, an Xmas portrait.

ChiChi Machete Apple-Head, December 2017, approx 6″ x 8″ ink, www.theslumberingherd.com

ChiChi Machete Apple-Head, December 2017, approx 6″ x 8″ ink and Copics, www.theslumberingherd.com

Not that anyone asked, but I have not accepted any pet portrait commissions. For one thing, approximately a kajillion excellent artists are already doing those! Also, portraits are stressful.

Sharpie on Canvas Shoes, December 2017, Colorful Doodlin’

Sharpie Shoes, Dec 2017, 1 0f 3, www.theslumberingherd.com

Sharpie Shoes, Dec 2017, 2 0f 3, www.theslumberingherd.com

Sharpie Shoes, Dec 2017, 3 0f 3, www.theslumberingherd.com

My First Sharpie Shoes Ever, Stats:

  • Hours to complete: approx 15 (with Miss Marple or The Great British Baking Show reruns in the background).
  • Method: None! Just doodled. Drew some shapes. Colored stuff in. More shapes, more coloring. Most areas required multiple layers. It went quicker on the second shoe because I had a better idea what I wanted.
  • Reception: Quite nice. People are telling me to sell these. Probably not, though. Would have to charge… hmmm. Quite a lot. :D

p.s. Thank you Metafilter for the push to get back to my blog! Admittedly, a variety things probably need updating around here. Categories and tags, for instance. I don’t even. But we’ll see how it goes!

Hello to Paint Party Friday, it’s been ages!

Art for the Revolution

Hello visitors! First, this is primarily an art blog and not a political blog. Though frankly I wish the fundamental values of kindness, inclusion and rejection of hate were not political. Others don’t agree, including those who have recently gained power. So, humankind is experiencing a kind of setback. I suppose it may have been inevitable for the pendulum to swing so violently right after our excellent if imperfect Black president. Anyway, here we are.

I have been continuing to practice – most recently word art with ink and Copic markers. I hope to make the jump to painting this month. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Do the Most Good (quote by Hillary Clinton)
9″ x 10″ ink on Bristol

Do Unto Others
9″ x 11″ ink on Bristol

Justice for All
9″ x 11″ ink on Bristol

My Facebook art page is updated more frequently, if you’re over there. Hello to Paint Party Friday and thanks so much for stopping by!

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

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

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

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

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!

Our Boy is Gone

He had a steak his last day. And a princely ride in a dog carriage.

Wilson is gone. The sweetest that ever was. He loved us. We loved him. I think it was September 12th. Could that much time have already passed?

Our boy Wilson

Our boy Wilson

His water bowls have less water every day and will soon be empty. The water is cloudy but I can’t bring myself to move it or clean it or touch it. I picked up some of the rawhide bones, but left others. In every room. He trusted us. We let him go.

Wilson Curtis After being skunked April 2015, and kitchen Sept 2015

Wilson Curtis
After being skunked April 2015, and kitchen Sept 2016

I want to take it back. I changed my mind! But I couldn’t. His daddy Bert couldn’t.

He felt too bad too much of the time. So much coughing and trying to catch his breath through so much of his waking hours. And seizures. And staring off. He never complained.

The most helpful thing we read in those days before deciding was a vet, whose name I should have kept. He said, if you don’t have any doubts, you waited too long. I read too many horror stories from others who waited too long, all the pain and terror, and wished they could go back.

She came to the house. He ate snacks to the end. Of course he did! When she said he was gone I didn’t believe it. So warm still. Just eating a snack! Just moments ago.  Wilson’s daddy Bert helped the vet carry the stretcher to the van. It drove away.

I talk to him still and try to pretend he is there. He is not. I am careful with my feet when getting up from my desk, so as not to jostle or wake him.  I look at his pictures and tell him I’m sorry.

Our boy has gone. He was the sweetest and cutest that ever was. Ever ever.

Wilson Curtism aka The Cutest. September 2015.

Wilson Curtis aka The Cutest. September 2015.

Wilson.

 

Tiny Ink Art with Masks, Flowers, Antlers

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

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

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

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!

January One, Sketches and Musings

Horace with Friends, 6" x 6" pencil sketch

Horace with Friends, 6″ x 6″ pencil sketch (with lots of smudging, d’oh)

When she saw that Horace was feeling melancholy, Gina called in the troops to cheer him up. Just moments after this image was captured, Horace cheered up immeasurably, grabbed his bright green mandolin, and led them in a rousing rendition of “I Want to Be Your Friend” by 11 Acorn Lane.  Gina beakily provided horn accompaniment, while Oditi (far left) insisted on repeating the  Deedlee-doo, Deedlee-dee bit. They jumped and clapped and spun around.

Happy January 1! The year ahead is filled with promise, opportunity and undreamt surprises. New discoveries, rediscoveries and unwelcome news. Birthdays, lazy Saturdays, and days when the sun will seemingly fail to shine.

But you are here! Thank you for coming. I hope this year holds lots of the good things and less of the bad things, for everyone. More recent sketching below.

Two sketch Dec 26 2015

2 with Birds, 6" x 6" pencil sketches

2 with Birds, 6″ x 6″ pencil sketches

And then there were fish, and things became muddled. pencil sketch, 5" x 7"

And then there were fish, and things became muddled.
pencil sketch, 5″ x 7″

 

 

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

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

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

Three 5x7 pencil sketches, Dec 2015

Three 5×7 pencil sketches, Dec 2015

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

IMG

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 one

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

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

Pencil sketches, 2.5" x 3.5", Poirot set three!

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

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. :)