6 keys cover WIP

6 keys cover WIP, originally uploaded by jen_fripperee.

So after a few days down the beach here is the progress on the cover for 6 keys. I didn’t get as much done as I had expected but we had a lovely weekend with fiends and have certainly made a start.

I think maybe the values need to be pushed a bit more but I’ll finished the top and re-visit it in it’s entirety.

November is also Art Every Day Month I know I won’t have a problem with the first part of the month since I’ll need a few more days to finish this up.

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

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Artists journal or sketchbook

keys swatches

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keys swatches, originally uploaded by jen_fripperee.

Is it really nearly the end of October already?
This year has flown, moving in with R, the new house and garden, upheavals at work, everything has just contibuted me to doing a lot of reacting instead of acting.

I signed up for the Creative every day challenge to create every day this year. Have i succeeded so far? well in terms of art i’d probably have to say no. I’ve done a fair amount of graphite work, lots of observation of detail and technique. And of course read lots of art books! but finished pieces? not so much.

The one area I can say i have been creative is in our home & garden. We harvested our first cauliflower last week, we’ve had peas, broccoli, herbs and flowers galore. I’ve grown lots of things from seed and I’ve generally been having great success. I would say the majority of my time has been spent gardening.

We painted the new studio and it is all set up – it’s kinda been too cold to spend time down there though!

I have however done some bookbinding and I just need to put the finishing touches on some books then i will have an etsy store!

Perhaps i should go finish those books now?

Oh wait. I forgot to say what the photo was! These are some colour studies for the 6 Keys cover. I need to have this completed just after cup day weekend so it’s another thing I need to get a wriggle on!

6keys_thumbs

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6keys_thumbs, originally uploaded by jen_fripperee.

Book design for a book about the Cloncurry Bank robberies. The Client likes the upper right, which is good because I do too!
I hope to illustrate this in coloured pencil, I want to try out some keys this weekend.

pear in coloured pencil

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pear in coloured pencil, originally uploaded by jen_fripperee.

I’ve been playing around with coloured pencils (of course that meant a supplies binge!) I think coloured pencil is really pushing me to understand the colour wheel more, layering compliments to acheive depth etc.

Bookbinding is going well if albeit slowly. I expect he first books will be in my etsy store this weekend.

Stay tuned and my apologies in advance for the marketing blitz to come!

What grows around comes around.

Our herb and lettuce garden – after, originally uploaded by jen_fripperee.

Here’s a list of what’s in our garden.

Edible
Sugarloaf cabbage
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Broccolini
Leeks
Carrots
Beetroot
Lettuce
Greek Oregano
Oregano
Mint
Continental Parsley
Peas
Thyme
Rhubarb
Red Gauntlet Strawberries
Lowanna Strawberries
Bluberry bush
Kaffir lime

Decorative
400 assorted bulbs
Snap dragons – dwarf & tall
Poppies – dwarf & tall
Nasturtiums
African Daisies
Canna Lillies – dwarf
Marigolds
Cottage garden mixed seed
Gladioli – unknown mixed bulbs
Single fuschias
Lily of the valley
Tulips
Lisianthus (texas rose)
Sweet Peas

Existing

Lemon tree
10 camelias
Monsterio
Banksia tree
Golden diosmas
Large staghorn
Clivias
Agapanthas
Little gem magnolia
Azaleas
Ornamental cherry tree
Pelargoniums
melaluca
Bottle brush
Birch tree

It’s an established yet overgrown garden, I’ve cleared out room for the vegie patch and indeed that was the first thing that went in – our only harvest so far has been herbs and lettuces but I can see it won’t be long before we have beetroot.

The bulbs have come up and are beginning to flower, two daffodils in the front and two jonquils in pots on the back deck.

The front garden is flowering with the dwarf snapdragons and one of the camelias and the banksia all putting on a display. It’s nice to have flowers when the weather is so dreary!

My New studio – the working corner

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My New studio – the working corner, originally uploaded by jen_fripperee.

Wow! it’s been a crazy 6 months. Since I last posted R and i have moved into our home in Watsonia and begun renovations.
The first of our renovations took place in the studio, We painted and patched and built ikea furniture. Then we moved all of my studio items into the storage.

There is still more to do in the studio, I’m considering wooden blinds, and we still need to find R. a desk. Of course on the house front there is LOTS to do but it’s the middle of winter here in Melbourne so anything that might require exposing the interior to the elements ie; restumping and removing old carpets, are on hold until the weather warms up.

The garden is full of little pockets of joy, our vegie garden grows apace and our 400 bulbs are slowly coming into flower.
The garden is full of established camelias and they are glorious at the moment. I think the garden deserves it’s own very special post so I’ll bore you all with that later.

I’ve been bitten by the toy making bug again and without my old partner in crime to design weird & wonderful creations for me to make I’ve become fascinated by artist teddy bears. I’ve begun by working from kits but i’ve already begun designing my own bears.

Anyway I have a bear to stuff so I’ll talk to you all again soon.
(no really!

A trip to the zoo

So I went to the zoo on monday, what a great adventure. I wanted to go back today but thought I’d leave it for a not so hot day!

I forgot my camera which was annoying but I think I got some good drawings out of the day.

And of course some amusing comments form passers by, I wnet to move so a young Italian guy could take a photo of the Tawny frogmouth and he said “No, no! I take phtot of you, what yo uare doing is more beautiful than the animal!”

My half Italian boyfriend now says I shouldn’t be allowed out of the house alone

pelican

At Melbourne Zoo
Ink and Watercolour.

red tailed black cockatoo

At Melbourne Zoo
Ink and Watercolour.

tawny frog mouth

At Melbourne Zoo
Ink and Watercolour.

shimbu the snow leopard

At Melbourne Zoo
Ink and Watercolour.
As the caption said she is 20 years old, which is a very very old for a snow leopard.

african wild dog

At Melbourne Zoo
Ink and Watercolour.

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Welcome to 2009

Good Morning my friends!

Well the skies may be grey here in Melbourne on the first day of 2009 but new years eve was clear and crisp and cleared our heads for the intentions we have for ourselves for 2009.

I returned from our break down the beach revitalised and inspired and reading the posts of my fellow bloggers about their intentions for 2009 has further inspired me to document and share mine with you.

2009’s Theme Word

Leah posted her word for the year and linked to the idea from Christine Kane. Instead of resolutions choose a word or words that will inspire you for the next 12 months.

My word for 2009 is CREATE here are some of the ways I am hoping to manifest this;

• Create a community and network of  wonderful friends.
• Create a business.
• Create a home with my beloved R.
• Create a healthier me through new life practises.
• Create Every Day!

I could of course drill these down to specific tasks but for today I’m going to keep them in big picture status. Keep an eye out over the next few months as I detail the ways I am manifesting my intentions.

Roz’s Ritual

Now I’m sure you all know that I am a fan of Roz Stendahl, her no nonsense approach to art and journaling is an inspiration and her tips and advice about art supplies are extremely valuable.

Yesterday Roz posted about a ritual that she follows every New years day. Based on a discussion with a friend Roz endeavours to do a little bit of everything she loves on New years day with the hope that she will be able to maintain the presence of those things in her life through out the year.

I’m going to expand on that a little and do not only the things I love but the things I intend for my year as well.

What’s your ritual?

So what’s your ritual for the new year? How does your day unfold? do you journal your resolutions and intentions or do you meditate and set the past year free? I’d love to hear how you bring in the new year so please leave me a comment and let our community know how you are intending to bring in the new year.

Have a great 2009! Talk to you all tomorrow!

Janicemarie

Recent Pottering

Well it has been a year since R. and I started pottery classes and I have been pretty happy with the results thus far. Here are a Few recent pieces and one or two older ones re-photographed by R.

petit-bowls

tiger-bowlgloss

tigerbowls

magnolia

red-white-vases

bluevase

bluebowl

bluebottle

two-tonevase

groovedjug

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