In the USA

Arrived safely in the USA.  SF was fantastic..  We walked so much and saw so much.  Walked from The Hilton to the Golden Gate Bridge.   walked over the bridge and back.  wow sore feet but a great day.
We then flew to Las Vegas.  Tinsel town  LOL   Celine Dion concert was amazing as was the Helicopter down the Grand Canyon.   with Champagne breakfast and a delicious food hamper. Only 2 days in Vegas.   Photos tomorrow when we have resized. 
I caught a cold in Vegas which went to my chest.  Grrrrrr  I barked worse than a dog.  LOL  ended up at the Dr's in Jackson.  What with the altitude in Yellowstone and Teton being as high as 9,000 feet above sea level.   I gasped for breath and coughed .... On anti- Biotics and cough bottle and recovering well.  
The we flew onto Denver got into our rental car and headed up to South Dakota.   where we met my long time friend Maria.  (photos to follow).   Fabulous time in Spearfish, Rapid City. Mt Rushmore.
We will post photos as time permits.
We left South Dakota and arrived in Yellowtone National Park and onto Jackson Hole.  Staying at Jackson in a Condo.... very comfy.   We are here until Saturday when we leave for Dubois to meet up with Gary and his wife Vicki. can't wait to see them.
Then to Rawlins for a night and then to Denvor for our flight to Charlotte.  I will leave it there until we have sorted out some pics....we have thousands already. 
We love the USA.  
Lots more to post.....  soooooon.   Love to all and hope you are having fun painting.  I can see I will have lots to catch up on.  But for now we are having so much fun. 
Hugs...Dors.

Koalas

Koala drawings in Graphite.  Arches 300 gsm smooth paper.

Just a couple of Koala and that's it until we return from our trip.  

Watch out for the photos though.

We will post photos on here , FB and Flickr. 

Happy drawing and painting. xx 

Hugs to all We leave Tues and will have the night in Sydney so we are close to the airport for our early flight on Wednesday.    

Kagaroo with Joey

Kangaroo with Joey
Arches 300gsm smooth paper. 20 x 31cm

Still drawing Kangaroos here. I just could not resist drawing this Mom with here sweet little Joey. 

WIP Kangaroo Finished.

Kangaroo on Arches smooth 300gsm  paper 30 x 20cm.

I really enjoy drawing these Kangaroos as they feel part of  the family.  They visit so often now.
Only 10 more sleeps before we are up up and away on our US/Uk/China trip.
I may be able to get one more drawing in before we leave.  I don't think I will have much drawing time while away so I will post photos and keep you updated as to where we are.  We will have the net book with us so I will try and keep up with reading and commenting on blogs as much as I can .

New arrival. Awwwwwwwwww

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lCKc8tURtc      This is an amazing video showing the birth of a Joey.

We had an idea this was happening and tonight there she was with baby Joey in the pouch.  Couldn't you just cry with joy.    Just beautiful and in our garden.   This is truly heaven in the back yard.

 They are tiny when they are born about 1" long, they find their own way after birth into Mum's pouch where they keep growing.  I think Mum kicks them out when they are big enough and strong enough to walk.

WIP Kangaroo

Kangaroo   30 x 20cm on Arches 300 gsm smooth paper.

Another Kangaroo. Nev took some great shot and now I am hooked on drawing them all.  LOL.

I am getting in as much drawing as possible as while I am away I expect we will be too busy with all the sightseeing and taking photos. It will be a while before I put pencil to paper. Maybe I will get a little time in the evenings to do some quick sketches, especially when I have had my Dick Blick fix.   I can't wait to get  into that store.  I will have to watch I don't spend to much of the holiday dollars.  hehehe.  

Cutie Bub (Kangaroo)

Baby Kangaroo. 8 x 12"  on Arches 300 gsm paper

Graphite Drawing.

Ooops no WIP's.  I had better get back into them.   I have just been playing around  having fun with the photos that Nev took last week of the Kangaroos in our garden.

Today this gorgeous little one was right our side my window....almost like he was saying, Hey is that me you are drawing.  LOL  and yes it was.  

Maycie Finished.

Maycie.  English Bull Terrier.  graphite on Arches smooth 400gsm paper.

Well Maycie is finished.  What's next.  I think maybe one of the Kangaroos  that visit us regular.
Nev took some great photos this week of them.  

Maycie

Maycie on  Arches 300gsm  smooth watercolor paper.   28 x 20cm

This is a gift for a friend in the USA where I will be delivering it by hand.   I still have some tweaking to do on it. and to finish work on  the front legs.  

I have not had a lot of time to blog the last couple of weeks with finishing drawings and getting things sorted for our big trip.  We are all sorted now, everything booked . I have done a little yummy clothes shopping but all is casual as I am not to much  of a  dressy up person.  The good old faithfuls like jeans and Tees.  LOL.  I feel so at home in. A lot of our time will be sightseeing and cameras in hand which will be so exciting and to be able to meet up with a few blogger friends is a huge plus. There will be a bunch  of photos .   

Male Lion Finished.

Lion.  28 x 42cm  on  Waterford & Bockingford drawing paper 300gsm

I finished it this morning.    After many many hours work I am calling it done.  It's been another project that I have really enjoyed.

Lion WIP #5

Lion.  28 x 42cm  on  Waterford & Bockingford drawing paper 300gsm

The finish is slowing coming.   I get so attached to these beautiful majestic animals that I never want to finish as they then come off the drawing board.  I have been working on the hair and the features a little more. The bottom of the drawing is to be done yet which shouldn't take too long.  

An  Arty weekend to you all. 

Lion WIP #4

Lion.  28 x 42cm  on  Waterford & Bockingford drawing paper 300gsm

I got a little more done yesterday. It's slow work all the hair from now on is in the shadow. I am enjoying this challenging male very much.  

It's been so cold here this week, a good excuse for staying indoors and in the art room.  Our temps have been as low as 4 deg C with daytime high's 14 - 17.  which is cold for us.  It should be a little warmer today as the rain has set in.    tossing up...  housework - v- artwork.   Maybe a little of each.  LOL. 

Lion WIP #3

I managed to get more done the last 2 days on the Lion.   More to do on the mouth and get those whiskers happening and a little more work on the hair especial the dark under hair. The top 2/3rds will then be complete. There is a rock at bottom right corner.  I should have him finished over the weekend.

Hope you all have a great arty weekend.

Lion WIP #2

Lion 

I progressed a little more this week.  I was hoping to be further along but I have had a week of running around.  I still have a lot of work to do on his face and the hair/fur.  He is slowly coming to life. As you will have noticed I dart all over the place.  LOL  I don't seem to be able to just work from a corner and concentrate on a small area at a time.     :)
With so much detail on his face it's going to take a while but I am enjoying the challenge of this majestic lion..

WIP #1 Lion.

Lion.  28 x 42cm  on  Waterford & Bockingford drawing paper 300gsm

I have roughed in the start of this piece.  so much work to do on the long hair and the face. I think the eye is completed.  A lot more challenging..LOL  I love a challenge.  Another quite large work. I am loving these giant lovable wild animals.  This is mainly a head and shoulders and comes courtessy of the WetCanvas reference library.  

Back grounds or not.

Referring to the last project of Mags...the magpie. 

I'm never sure about mixing mediums other than the little touch of color that I usually add. It's always hard to know if we should have a BG or not when we do animals in graphite. Some artists say without a BG the picture is not complete.  I always feel that Pen & Ink can work without a BG . Watercolor and oils need a BG.What do you all think?
The housework done and our trip all finalized. All bookings made...so time to settle down back into my artwork.  We just have to sit back now and wait for the big trip.

My next project is going to be a Male Lion...the mate to the Lioness. I should get started on that today.

Have a great Arty Day.     

Mags Finished.

Mags.   8 x 10" on Arches smooth paper.

I didn't really enjoy this piece.   I did the BG  in both pastel and  prismacolor pencils.   With the pastel dust it is hard to get  the black working with Mags being in graphite.    It has been a goos experiment all the same.  

Mags...update.

Mags.
Still a lot to do yet...  working on tones especially on Mags and more work in the tree branches.

I have been having fun here with Mags.  I subscribe to Ozsale.com.  Where in au we buy thing as much as 70% off the retail price.  You have to be quick to purchase as each sale is only up to 3 - 4 days.  I was so excited when I saw Faber-Castel had a sale on there.  I jumped in quick as these items were half price.  I had to wait about 6 weeks to get them but they arrived on Wednesday.  Here is what I purchased.

Colored Pitt Pens..  Chartcoal Pencil set.  Graphite Pencil set. Pastels. Art sketch Diary.
The lot incl postage was $98. au.


 I have already experimented with the lovely soft pastels on the BG here .  

Mags WIP

Mags on Arches smooth paper.  8 x 10"

Mags is our resident magpie. He comes every day along with his mate Sobersides and little bubs.   LOL they are the names we have given to them.  They have heart for breakfast and what ever they can can get the rest of the day, toast, bread, ham.  They certainly don't go hungry. They have trained us well ;)
Still lots to do on Mags.   Black feathers are difficult but I have more layers to work on yet.  

Possums dinner time.

This is the first time they have allowed me to hand feed them with Banana chips.  They love them.as well as carrot, pumpkin and grapes.  It's taken some time and patience, so worth the wait.
They are gorgeous.