Longing For Spring

As I sit in my studio looking out at the gray landscape I can't help longing for Spring.  Spring with her bright new cheerful colors and fresh promises of sunny days is all I can envision as I continue to work on my Garden Girl journal.

Here is my offering from the journal for this weeks post...

Not sure sure why my camera doesn't pick up the true colors in this spread.  The background should be a beautiful soft aqua and the faces not so gray.  Might be the fact that Spring is not really here yet and there is no sun or warmer light when I take these photos.

I did the faces first in colored pencil and watercolor pencil.  Then I collaged the dresses and flowers on, worked over them in colored pencil and then gessoed the background and used a bit of acrylic layering over that.  The spread is 12 x 18 inches.

Hope you enjoy my touch of an early Spring!

Forever in art,

Jessi





Garden Girls

Hello Blogland!  It's been so long since I've posted it's embarrassing.  I just got so discouraged with Blogger freezing and deleting my followers.   If I am able to get back into the groove I will be starting a new blog site so that I can have followers again and know my blog friends are out there!

So here goes...  I've been arting like crazy all this time I have been away from blogworld.  Most recently I started an art journal called "My Garden Girlies" and here is a photo of one of them.

Garden Girlie from 1st Spread

She's done in a mixed media 9x12 art journal and rendered in prismacolor pencils.  The background was done with watercolor crayon and gesso over stamping and her dress is mixed media collage with colored pencil.  The paper buckled so I'm not too happy with the journal.  I should return to my hot press Fabriano watercolor paper I love so well but alas, I have started this one and will try to see it through.

Just to catch you up on the last 6 months or so, Mom's doing very well and so am I.  I spent a good part of my Summer and Fall organizing my house and garage and I'm still not finished - no big surprise there!  

The studio got re-organized too but is currently in a state of messiness.  That's because there is so much arting going on!  Ha!  Part of my issue is a rather large acrylic painting I started in the Fall that I haven't quite finished and seem to be a little disinterested in at the moment.  Of course it's another fairy.  I will be sharing her when she is finished - and that will be soon I hope!

My art is continuing to be a huge part of my life and realize it's growing larger and larger in importance to me.  I have started branching out into different mediums and subject matters although  fairies and mermaids are always making their enchanted presence known in my journals and canvases.  They seem to come to me most when I'm arting in my magic chair or prowling about in the forest and braving the cold windy Oregon coast.

They never cease to ease life's stresses for me and I will continue to share them here on my blog.  I hope they will ease your path too!

My song pick for the studio this week was:

Rascal Flatts - Life is a Highway

Album - Me and my Gang

Forever in art,
Jessi

Finale - Summer of Enchantment

Hellooooo!  It's our finale week of Summer of Color 2. For this last week Kristin has chosen the ice cream colors from BR's watermelon sorbet with chocolate chip seeds. 

To round out my theme "Summer of Enchantment", I've decided to share Little Red Riding Hood in my altered book journal.

I will be adding writing to the spread but of course I haven't been able to get to it yet,lol.

I must say I had a lot of fun with this years' challenge and I thank the lovely Kristen at Twinkle Twinkle for her hosting and organization of this very popular challenge.  Will she continue with it next year?

To you my readers, I have loved and appreciated your comments and hope you have enjoyed my content.  I must admit I was extremely busy during this time and was not able to visit all of you and thank you personally yet.  But never fear, I will get to you all!  I have to see everyone's entries and I need to pop by your blogs even if you didn't participate.  I miss you all so much!

I will be continuing to post along this Enchanted Summer theme and will be sharing painting in the future as well.

I am having to re-organize the studio once again.  Whew!  What a mess, lol!  At least it shows that I've been doing something in there.

I've got some exciting ideas to work on rest of the Summer. Hope to share more later.

Music in the studio this week was Pink!, Funhouse.  I really love "Glitter in the Air" - I never tire of it.  I also "spun" the Dixie Chicks, Fly.

Keep your personal fan pointed AWAY from your mica pigments and keep those pencils and brushes moving!

Forever in art,

Jessi

In Search of Mermaids

Good morning my artsy friends!  I was inspired to take a trip to the ocean this last week to go in search of mermaids.  I know there are mermaids by the Oregon coast and I just needed a little sign to spur on my creativity for this week's SOC journal page.

As I began my journey in Bandon, I was lucky enough to meet a talking Raven.  She pointed me in the direction of a mermaid beach after sharing her enchanted adventures with me.

So off I went...

Right away I spotted the place where a mermaid would come ashore to visit her lover that waited in the moonlight...

    
Enchanted, I walked on...

As I searched along the tide line for mermaid baubles I heard a musical tinkling laugh coming from behind.  As I whirled around I heard a splash and there amongst the pebbles and shell bits was a giant heart inscribed in the sand.  Oh, Raven was so right about a mermaid being here!  I think that she must have flown down  and whispered in her ear that I was coming!

One last gaze out to sea as the pelicans flew by and it was time to go.

I can't wait to return again for more clues and inspiration for my mermaid paintings and journal spreads!

So keep those eyes wide open while you pick the paint off your nail polish, you just might see evidence of an enchanted creature too!

Forever in art,

Jessi  

Week Four at Summer Of Color

Hellooooo!  It's week four at the Summer of Color 2!  This week's challenge was a delicious Strawberry Lemonade.  I whipped up a quickie Fairy last night for you all.

She's not that great but it was a time crunch, o.k.? Lol!  I did her on the first serviette background I did in this journal and it was extremely bumpy.  Virtually impossible to do such a small face on but I persevered.  I used gesso and a little acrylic for the base and then did did her in my usual prismacolor pencils.  I added an irredescent coat to her wings but of course it didn't photograph.

Next week is some wild and crazy sherbet combo and I'm really looking forward to this one.  I hope I have the time to do it!

Got to run, I'm off to the Oregon coast in search of mermaid evidence!  Stay tuned...

Forever in art,

Jessi

Week Three Summer of Color

Hi all you peeps out in artland! I am running soooo late on my Summer of Color entry this week and I apologize.  I still have not been around to everybody yet from last week. 

Things have been a little critical in taking care of Mom lately.  So many etras, the Dr. and tests at the hospital... She is doing pretty well through it all.

So on to my entry.  My interpretation of this weeks ice cream flavor of Baseball nut is very loose.  Vanilla ice cream with blackberry swirl and cashews.  I was at a loss and not feeling very creative so my entry is a mermaid girlie face with piercing eyes.  She just came out of my pencil one night very late...

Next weeks color is Strawberry Lemonade and I hope I can be a little more creative with that one!

Keep up the good work everyone!!!  Thank you for all your comments and staying loyal even though I've not made it around to everyone yet.

Forever in art,

Jessi

Summer of Enchantment continues at SOC2

It is week two of the Summer of Color 2 challenge!  I had some difficulty finishing everything I wanted to share.  So, to start off here is a mermaid journal spread.  Our prompt is Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and I know it doesn't match as good as it could.  The fairy I am working on is a better prompt match but she isn't finished yet.

Mermie isn't as green as I would like her to be for this challenge. The camera didn't pick up the green tones as well for some reason but I was pleased with her Summer vibe.

      

Out of focus but just showing her irridesence... She is so sparkly in person.

So she's more mint than chocolate chip that's for sure, lol.  My fairy is taking a lot more time than I thought she would so I will have to share her later on.

I hope you are all enjoying the outstanding creativity that is being shared through this blog hop.  I know I am!

It might take me a while to visit you all as I am taking care of my Mother right now.  She is feeling better so I 'm hoping to have more time to spend with Summer of Color 2 in the future.

Keep your art journal or papers and supplies close at hand to catch all the enchanted creativity coming your way.  I'm afraid I have collected stuff all around my magic chair again to have it all close at hand, lol.  There are so many wonderful vibes out there just waiting to inspire us!

Thank you all for coming by and leaving your sweet comments.  It means more to me than you know!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Fairy Frolic!

Hello my fairy loving friends - Ha!  Fairy Frolic has started here in my tiny studio. The weather has warmed up and the fairies have come out to play in my blooming garden.  Here is Summer's "Sunday Girl" done up in an altered book journal. 

Sunday Girl

And here is another one I did on Strathmore's mixed Media Paper...

 In Flight

This was not my favorite paper to work on with Prismas and markers, I prefer smooth bristol, but it wasn't bad.  The camera really washed her out!

I will be posting more fairies  that is if I can tear myself away from puttering about my garden and yard, lol!  One thing you all know about me. It's all about Faeries, Mermaids, Angels and Goddesses!

On another note, I took my Mom out for a belated Mother's Day trip.  We went to Bandon By the Sea and had a fab time of it.  Of course we stopped by my favorite, Winter River Books, and enjoyed lunch looking out over the sea. Mom does have a certain weakness for clam chowder. Not me! I had blackened chicken with salad. We went sightseeing and then stopped at the bakery to get Mom some cookies and bread.  The drive to and from Bandon was spectacular as well - and fun was had by all!

Might I suggest that you keep your eyes open in the wilder and less traveled green area's for our magical flower fairies.  They seem to be coming out more this year than ever before!

Well it's that time when I always say, keep your paint trays and brushes close at hand and your colored pencils sharpened and I will see you soon!

Forever in art,

Jessi

My Art Filled World

Hello beautiful artists! I know it's been a while and all I can say is, "Whew, I've been crazy busy!" So, three online classes and a trip to Los Angeles and I'm finally here. I've been keeping myself very busy with art plans and renderings etc. Working at beefing up my studio supplies of course (always) and neglecting to clean and organize the studio space. I must clean up in there today 'cuz I'm reduced to about the table space of 18" x 18"- yikes!

Here are a couple of things I've been working on...

She is one I worked on back in February using only Caran D'ache neocolor II's. Then this week I played with it a little more adding prisma colors to it. This photo really doesn't show the detail in the background or shading. Don't know why.

Then I made a journal out of two really thrashed antique book covers and filled it with fabrianao 140lb. hot press watercolor paper - my favorite! I decorated the inside covers with tape and decorative papers.

Well, that's all I'm going to tease you with for now, ha! I will be sharing some fantasy art over the next few weeks as I work in my journals. I have one larger piece I'm about halfway finished with so it will be up in the next post.

Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle will be hosting her Colors of Summer play dates again this Summer and I am going to try and participate. Woo Hoo!

Please forgive me for not stopping by your blogs lately - bad girl I know. I am trying to get organized so I can manage all this stuff I've got going on, lol.

So until next time, keep scrubing that gesso off your fingers and I'll see you soon!

Forever in art,

Jessica

In like a Lion, Out like a Lion

Helloooo...from the studioooo! Wow, March was a windy, wet, frozen weather catastrophe here. Spring seems to be getting wilder here every year.  It's o.k. though, more time to spend indoors in the studio painting and sketching to my little heart's content.  Actually, I do my sketching in my magic chair. (As most of you know already, hee, hee).

I'm finishing up my class with Jane D. and then promptly starting a new one with her as well.  She's an awesome teacher and talent.  What I love about her is her ability to identify with every level of artist from the very beginner to the more experienced. Her teaching works for everyone.

My most recent homework was inspired by my desire to connect with fairy tales and the vast amounts of wooded area here. Also, Jane did a video where she was sketching out in the woods...

"The Harbinger"

Beware little girl...Something wicked this way comes...

Just to let you all know, I've been experiencing Internet connection problems for a couple of weeks.  I apologize if I haven't responded to your comments or stopped by your blogs lately.  The cable company thinks they've got it fixed - we'll see.  It certainly has opened my eyes to how important the Internet and all my blog buddies are to me.  Know that you are very much appreciated and loved!

Keep those paint brushes flippin' baby!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Spring Flurries

Hi there!  Spring is really here now and it came in with a bang. Snow, wind, hail, rain -  you name it, it came down on us. Still flooding today and just not sure how long all of this is going to last.  I hope you are all having a nicer blooming Spring so far. 

So to chase this weather away it's time to visit my Spring fantasy land of faeries and mermaid faces straight from my studio. I have a couple of faces to share from my class with Jane Davenport...

Wistful Mermaid Journal Spread - Craft Acrylics

Colored Pencil Girlie

 

1940"s Starlet - Soft Pastels

We've been doing faces, journal spreads and figures using different supplies in order to get a feel for them and to determine which ones are our faves.

That's it for now.  More are coming next week.  I think I'm going to be taking Jane's class, "I Heart Drawing" next week so I will learn to be more comfortable drawing the figure.

Have a wonderful week and try to keep that copic marker off the tops of your fingernails (I was not successful)!

Forever in art,
Jessi

Some Faeries for Spring

Hellooo!  I've been in the studio experimenting with all my lovely art supplies and playing along with Jane Davenport in her class "Supplies Me".  I figured since I had spent all my money on these supplies I'd better try to learn how to use them, lol!

I'm really enjoying her class and stretching my abilities.  Not all has gone smoothly though - there's a bit of a learning curve, which is good.

Here are some photos of a couple of things I worked on in my art journal...

Welcome To My World

Tiny Dancer

Too tiny! I will not work this small again! The journal was too small really.

These are in a little art journal I made from Fabriano 90 lb. watercolor paper.  I really don't like the 90 lb. I prefer the 140 lb. but I had this on hand and I wanted to use it up.

I did both fairies in watercolor which I am just now learning to do. For me, acrylics are much more comfortable to use!

I will be sharing more art from the class as I progress.  I have decided to up the ante with my art this year so I will be working furiously - yay!!!  Butterfly girl will be back too. (boy has she had some adventures to share!)

Keep picking away at the paint under your fingernails and I'll see you next time.

Forever in art,

Jessi



As My World Turns...

Hi lovelies!  I hope this blog entry finds you all doing well and being creative!  Thank you all so much for your comments and encouragement.  I must admit that I have been carrying a heavy burden regarding my family and it has put me off of my usual creative journey.  I've experienced one of the roughest weeks so far.  I also have not had the time to visit you all like I want to and that is making me grumpy as well.  I miss the time I usually spend enjoying your creative adventures and hearing what is up in your lives.

I am still working furiously on my studio and 2nd bedroom re-organization and decoration and I'm almost done with the studio!  All the tough heavy work is behind me now so I should be able to finish up in the next few days.  Of course I will be sharing pictures on my next post.  The wall color has not changed 'cuz I love it but almost everything else has.

As far as my arting goes, I worked on a loose-leaf journal page today and last night in my magic chair.  I could not get to some of my supplies so it is pretty simple.  It shows some of my current state of mind... I subscribe to open expression and embrace my motto -  journaling and arting saves!!!

Her Truth

I created the background with craft paint using my fingers and stamped script with charcoal ink. Then I started to do a pen and ink fairy then changed my mind and went for the graphite and watercolor pencils.  I found my Dymo label maker and used it for the first time since I moved here - lol!  It helps to clean, unpack and organize!  When I can get to all my supplies I will probably add a little color to her face and hair... 

Over the Tam's Willowing site, http://willowing.ning.com/, Rhomany is offering a free course on creating and organizing your workspace.  She has posted allot of discussions already even though the course doesn't start until Oct. 1st.  Guess I jumped the gun with my make-over but I will be following along anyway.  She's got some great ideas on how to manage it all - it can be a daunting task for sure! 

Please keep on arting, my friends I think it just might keep us all sane - lol!

Forever in art,

Jessi

The Heavenly Blue Fairy and Blu Garden Faerie

Hello all you colorful artsy types! It's Monday and our first time to submit our project for Summer of Color, the 1st week of Blue! Yay!

Well, as you can see, I did not step too far outside of my comfort zone for this first one! Ummm, a fairy journal spread, of course, done with caran d'ache w/c crayons and acrylic paint.  I did her in my hot press watercolor paper journal using golden gesso, crafter's workshop stencil, colorwash spray, glimmer mist, and clear stamps with distress ink and white paint. 

Underneath it all I journaled both pages with thoughts on blue and garden treasures in blue.  After writing about the garden, my tiffany blue fairy ended up masquerading as the heavenly blue morning glory fairy for this week, ha!

The mantra reads...

Heavenly Blue

Morning Glory Faerie and Vine,

Disease and depression you will bind

With cool, calming peace of mind.

- Jessica Watson -

My second project was another fairy, Blu Garden Faerie, done in my doodle style on painted and stamped background...

Blu Garden Faerie

Although I had fun doing them both, I think this one is my favorite blue fairy.  Viva la Summer of Color!

Stay tuned for next weeks' color and entry!

Music in the studio this week was Zen collections.

Forever in art,  Jessica xox

"Goddess at the Garden Gate" Journal Page

Hellooooooo out there!  Hope you are all doing well!  I am sitting in my magic chair and blogging to the thunder and hail that is pounding down on us.  True to my intention, I started my goddess doodle last night and finished her up this afternoon.  

She is the Goddess at the Garden Gate.  I've been reading about various goddesses and gardening and thought I'd put it together in my girlie doodle.



I started with a watercolor background then I layered some stamping with gesso and random craft paint marks.  Next I collaged different flowers scanned from magazines onto my girlie sketch.  I got up around 2 this morning and went into the studio, found and cut out the book text to paste onto the page.  It says "gardens with mossy shimmering pebbles and tender pink rosebuds." - then I went back to sleep.  I did the pen and colored pencil work on her this afternoon and finished with the writing and scribbles.  She was very fun to do and definitely looks better in person! 

I want to thank you all for your support of my stenciled journal page on my last post, I Heart Art.  I was so far out of my comfort zone in that I have only sprayed large canvases and done the graffiti thing to them.  To try and hold myself back without ending up with a muddy mess was very challenging for me!  I think now I know what is missing - some sewing!  I might add some later if I remember.

O.K., I started this post last night but wanted to wait and take a better photo of the goddess this morning...

There was no music in the studio this time.  Just my magic chair, the storm and my fur babies for the sound of gentle snoring...

Creatively yours,

Jessica

I Heart Art!

Helloooo my artsy peeps!  This week I tried making some layered backgrounds but was not that successful at it.  I'm still at a loss as to how or what I'm trying to accomplish.  There is one I might be able to use as a doodle girlie background. 

Between this and blogger being down 2 days for me, I've felt very disconnected from myself.  I need my art and I need to see others creating and enjoying art too!  It's how I hold on to my sanity right now.  I just didn't realize how much I depended on the blogging community to lift my spirits and make me feel down right arty.  I so appreciate all of you!!!

As I try to reconnect with myself, I will be doodling tonight!  Here is a boring journal page I did on "I heart art", my mantra this week...

 Glimmer mist, colorwash, stencils, book page text, dip pen and ink...

Here is a pic of a freesia that volunteered from a pot of something else my mom gave me from her garden last summer - Canterbury bells I think...  Such a fragrant surprise.

I will be posting again in the next day or two with a new girlie and maybe some other art too.  Stay creative - I know you are all busy but we need this arty outlet to keep our creative spirits nurtured!

Now I'm going to relax my nerves with a cup of chamomile flower tea - more on that next time...

Forever in art,

Jessica xox
   

Playtime in the Studio

Hellooooo!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I sure enjoyed the time I spent with my Mother.  I got her some roses, baked her favorite banana cake and created a tiny little card for her in watercolor.  Working this tiny is not something I intend to do again.  I just could not control the brush or get the detail I wanted.  But I'll try anything once!

I added a tiny golden crystal to the center of the big flower and a bright pink crystal to her necklace. Even though I struggled with it, Mom adored it and that's what matters most!

Today I played around with journal pages and creating backgrounds.  Here is one of my journal pages for today - "Play".  It was dark when I took the photo and the colors are much more vibrant and prettier in person.  What looks to be coral pink is really a juicy cherry color.  It was all about having playtime and fun.  I made a huge mess and almost wasn't able to get my table clean - I was even scraping paint off the wood flooring...

Too bad the colors are so washed out...

My dark purple lilacs have bloomed and they smell fantastic!

Keep the color flowing through your week - it will put a huge smile on your face.  I know, I'm grinning from ear to ear!

Music in the studio today included:  Enya - Paint the Sky with Stars and Pandora radio...

Yours forever in art,

Jessica

In search of Mystical Mermaids

Good Saturday morning, my artistic beauties!  I've been busy in the studio and in my magic chair again this week.  We had 3 beautiful sunny days and now we are back to gray and rain.  It's o.k. though, I have finally seen the light of Spring and it is beautiful.  Of course now I'm pushing for Summer and warmth!

As some of you may have heard, Kristin over at Twinkle, Twinkle has posted a wonderful blog party for this Summer set to start on June 6th.  It's called "The Summer of Color" and I can't wait!   It's all about color with a new one chosen each week to prompt our artistic creations.  Well, you know I'm all about color so I will be participating enthusiastically!  Check out the blinking blog button at the left of my blog and pop on over there see the whole playful story!

As I began to long for the warmer days of Summer, I doodled up a mermaid girlie face from my imagination to share this week...

 Mystical Mermaid - enhanced

I would like to swim in a warm ocean along with her.  I'm sure she has some mystical secrets she would whisper in the currents...I must get closer and turn my ear her way...

Other artistic bumblings included the beginnings of a journal page...

The background was so heavily painted with acrylics and such that it was very hard to get my letters straight.  This was done on a crinkly brown paper grocery bag - that didn't help the lettering process either!  Not sure what else I will add to this yet.

I hope you all have fun finding your colorful art bliss this week.  I know I will!  Ooh I just peeked outside and I think my dark purple lilacs are starting to bloom.  Pics next week!

Music in the studio this week was the radio - lazy I know!

Forever in art,

Jessica

I'm back and brighter than ever!

Hello my creative peeps!  I am finally back from my trip to California and am recovering from it nicely.  It did take some time to get my hands working again, of course my left one will never be fully recovered.  I am now able to continue with my art journal project and I have the pictures to prove it.

As I had mentioned, I flipped the journal cover inside out and did some really bright art on it.  I'm so craving these bright summery colors!

I used craft paint to paint and stencil the journal covers then added my girlie art to the front with gel medium and colorful paper tapes and masking tape.  This was so fun to do!  I enhanced some areas with bright prisma colored pencils using a very heavy hand.  I will add some writing and details in black.  My next post will show more detailed pictures of the finished cover.

Also I did yet another doodle girlie to put in this summery up-cycled journal...

"Summer of Love"

She was done my usual way with a black liner pen and prisma colored pencils enhanced with some neon and white gelly roll gel pens.  The colors on the original art are actually brighter than the photo here.

Yesterday I bought bright neon cerise and metallic sparkle chartreuse nail polishes.  I did my toes in the cerise and my fingers in the bright neon limey chartreuse.  I cannot wait for Summer!  We have had a cold, wet, gray spring so far and I am sick of it!!!  All of my art has been very bright to combat this depressing weather.

Art bombing update:  Due to the very short nature of my trip and the presence of too many curious eyes, the graffiti art bombing has been postponed!  I did try but conditions were not ideal.  I will look for another opportunity in the future.  I have put my graffiti tote in my truck so it will be handy for a quick hit.  I have also decided to do stickers as they are more environmentally friendly and not permanently damaging.  More to come in the future on this idea of street art.

It's only 11:00 and we are losing the tiny bit of sun we had to a new storm that's rolling in.  I must go out and fire up my John Deere lawn tractor and mow the south 40 before the rain hits!

Think "Bright" and color up some cheerful art or Easter eggs to share this week!  Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

Forever in art,  Jessica

A Springtime Doodle and Collage

Halloooou out there! Hope this post finds everyone getting a little bit of springtime sun.  This is our 2nd day of sun and it's been wonderful!  No flowers to show you yet and tomorrow it's back to cold rain again.  I learned my lesson the hard way not to plant flowers until April.  Living in So. California most of my life, I always planted anytime I wanted to.  Not so now!  Just last week it was still freezing in the early mornings.  I won't be putting anything new into the garden this year but I can pot up some nice blooms to enjoy.

The balmy day inspired another doodle girlie, Goddess Tara.  I did her on plain white paper with my usual prisma colored pencils.  The black liner is a copic multiliner .05.  You know I always have fun doing these quickies and she helps satisfy my need for blooming flowers...

I've been in the studio working a little bit on my art journal cover.  I found a piece of cardboard that already folded over like a binder and decided to use that instead of cheerio boxes.  So far I have...

 Gessoed.  Cheerios and strawberries anyone?

 Added decorative tape - $1 from Michael's - and craft paint.

 Glued on pieces of old painted papers and copies of art...

Gessoed a bit around the edges of the 1st layer before adding more papers...

I will just keep building from here and then do some doodling on top of it all.  Not crazy about it so far but I should wait to see how it progresses before getting discouraged I suppose.  So far I couldn't sew on this cover, the cardboard is too thick.  I'll save that technique for the next one or the pages inside maybe?

I've been very busy with my physical therapy and not doing too much afterwards for fear of a flare up.  I did manage to take a drive up an old wagon road after my P.T. yesterday.  Here are a few shots...

 End of the trail.

 Looking down on Lookingglass and Melrose areas.  The Cascade mountain range is in the distance.

 Check out that blue sky!

This one hurts my soul - clearcut logging practices.

Some of the logged areas are so bad it makes me physically sick.  There is a law in place requiring them to replant but it seems like they take forever to do it and the sides of the mountains are so steep that sometimes it just doesn't get done.  When they do replant, the seedlings are just a tiny 12" to 18" tall.  Don't even get me started...!  I need to have a serious talk with the forest fairies on this one!

I'm still working on my gorilla art plan and went to Eugene this last weekend for Montana spray paint and huge paint markers.  They were all on sale at the University of Oregon art dept. store!  More on that project later...  

Thank all you lovely creatures for stopping by for a peek and leaving your encouraging and fun comments. I appreciate them sooooo much!!!  It's taking me a tiny bit longer these days to check out all your new blog posts but I will get there eventually.

If you can't get out into the garden or do a little potting yet, maybe you too can create a little bit of Spring blossoming in your art.

Keep the pen and colors flowing 'til next time!

Forever in art, Jessica