Saturday, February 1, 2020

oh, groan, it's me again (the bad penny keeps turning up!)

 Some of my coloring pages were published in this magazine.
I can't believe it was in 2016.
 Above, I drew the birds, and artist Colette Copeland wrote the article to use the birds in a fun way.
 Above and below, two of my pen and ink drawings in the magazine.
I was reading the latest Artists Magazine and there's a nice article by Debby Cotter Kaspari about pen and ink plein air work. Of course, my drawings are not done in that way, but her article reminded me of my love for pen work. So I dug out my copy of  The Coloring Studio, and some of my pen drawings for coloring pages that didn't get published.

A long time ago I did pen and ink drawings for a small local newspaper. It was fun.
I like doing coloring pages, and I just wanted to share mine with you-some of them I have already shown in my previous blog: Monnie bean Folk art.

A few months ago I stopped blogging altogether. Life seemed suddenly too much-things were catching up with me and I needed a break.
After a while, I wanted to paint.
I couldn't.
Out here in the country on this dead end dirt road, there is no community of artists. I found my only link to other artists was online, and since I wasn't painting or drawing-I felt lost.
If an important way I communicate is with my art, but I have no place to show it, no one to talk 'shop' with-my voice was going off into empty space.

So, I started blogging again.
It is a big deal for me.
Showing my art, even though it's not the best stuff you've ever seen in your whole life, is important to me-and I wouldn't have discovered that if I hadn't stopped blogging.

God gave me this desire to create.
I must.
So-here are some of my old coloring pages, just for the fun of it.
Thanks for visiting me-it truly means a lot.







Some of these are all at least 4 years old-I'd like to try it now, and see if I've improved.

11 comments:

juliefordoliver.blogspot.com said...

WOW...you show great ability with your imagination and line work. I am genuinely impressed. Congratulations
When I first started blogging I used to spell out a lot of lessons because a few artists were like you with no community. Anymore there are so many online classes and visual delights it lets me off the hook. I really enjoy the personal connections to other artists thru blogging.

Barbara said...

No “bad penny” around here! First, a big congratulations for having had your work published! There is a lot of competition for that, yours was obviously the most special. I’m amazed at the amount of imagination and attention to detail that went into your pieces! About blogging, I can relate to your emotions. I don’t live in a remote location, but my age and continually decreasing energy have taken a toll on my ability to create the same things I did in the past. God was good to me also in the desire to create department though. That has not waned, and I continue to paint something, anything!, every day. When I feel my blogging buddies will appreciate, giggle, or just enjoy it, I post it. There is nothing like the feeling it gives me, and to share by blogging means a great deal to me too. I just don’t do it as often anymore, but that’s OK! My regular blogging friends are my very own art community!. :) onward with what fulfills us and gives thanks for what we must do.

Debra said...

I'm thankful for my blog buddies!

kathyinozarks said...

You are Not a bad penny-hugs I love your art and congrats on getting into the magazine back then. I live very rural too-we retired in 2003 from northern Illinois to the middle of the woods in sw Missouri-I loved it there-we are both pioneers at heart and did it all-heated only with wood, etc etc. but living rural no friends and we always worked before retirement so we only had a handful of friends and then we moved away-I discovered blogging back in probably '05 or so with yahoo 360 then multiply and then when they both closed down on to blogger-all my online friends no longer blog but only do facebook-sigh
I was invited by two friends to join T Stands for Tuesday hosted by Bleubeard (her cat) and Elizabeth-the group is all artists-painters and mixed media, I was always mostly a fiber artist but they welcomed me with open arms-and now I can share my art -I am learning the mixed media-and have new blog friends-many of them are in Europe-so I am inviting you to join us on Tuesdays-only requirement is to show a photo of whatever you are drinking-cola, tea, coffee, water-whatever. many share food when they go out to eat. this group was a blog life saver for me-interaction with caring people and artists and feedback on my art. sometimes there are as many as 19 people that post to visit but I enjoy it-and since they are in Europe I post the day before and start visiting those in Europe on Monday so not so bad sorry for the long post-hugs

Debbie Nolan said...

Dear Debra I cannot tell you how glad I am that you returned to blogging. Your art is so whimsical and I think your colouring pages are wonderful. You are never a bad penny. Hugs!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

I really missed you when you took a break. I am no artist. Even if I doodle which is NOT VERY OFTEN I only draw daisies. I have often wondered why I have no artist or music ability. After taking a few tole painting classes it was very apparent that I would be an art appreciator. But people find their own "art" in other places than paint, ink, or cloth. I am happy to have learned that, though late in life. I'm glad you share your pieces that I most always love and admire even though I don't understand the theory behind them.
xx, Carol

Debra said...

Thank you! I will join...

Debra said...

Hugs back. And I just can't believe how beautiful and HUGE your dogs are now!
I missed my pals. I'm glad to be back blogging...

Debra said...

Yup art is in so many different forms-so don't worry about not drawing. You are most certainly an artist with cloth...

kathyinozarks said...

thank you for info on the talc-I had that in mind that they took it out do to that cancer trial-I am still wondering if the cornstarch will still work for that recipe or not. Elizabeth told me she has made the modeling paste with baking soda-I will wear a mask when measuring the powders-thanks

jenclair said...

These are fun! And yes, it is wonderful to have a community--even when physically isolated.