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Creative Journal Prompt: 4th of July Collection
For many Americans, the 4th of July holiday usually entails some type of gathering with family and friends, some type of food and of course, fireworks. I am definitely no different than most Americans! For decades, I have enjoyed the fourth up in my favorite spot, Lake Tahoe, with my whole family. We always spend the day out in the sun, swimming in the lake (and much warmer pool,) and playing games in and out of the water. As the sun begins to set, the BBQ is lit and our long, loud family dinner (always with corn on the cob) begins. We get so engrossed in conversation, that many times…
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At Home Creative Adventures: Shoe Stories
If only our shoes could talk, what would they say? They’ve been places with you and have stories to tell. This fun creative prompts looks at your life adventures through your shoes! Inspired by Andy Warhol’s shoe illustration series, head to your closet and pull out those random pair of shoes and tell their story! Here’s a process video of drawing my shoes. I used a fine point Micron pen (.005) for very light, loose lines. Definitely Google Andy Warhol’s shoe illustration series. They are very inspiring to say the least. Below is a screen shot from Google of just a few of his illustrations. Be sure to read the…
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At Home Creative Adventures: Floral Bouquet
To brighten up your environment, create a floral bouquet just for you! This creative prompt will get you outside looking for blooms, and inside creating a masterpiece. An impressionistic style is the best approach to making a colorful bouquet worthy to prop by your desk! Here are the blooms I found in my yard, inspiration for my bouquet. If you don’t have flowers in your yard, feel free to use mine as inspiration or head to the internet for more! Below is the time-lapse of me creating my bouquet. Notice the looseness of the lines, and watercolor. Also, the varied size interpretation of each bloom. The pansy bloom is actually…
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Art School: How to Draw a Taco
Who doesn’t love a good taco? I make them every week on Tuesday (yes, my weekly meal plan is pretty repetitive) and still never tire of them! There are just so many taco options- beef, chicken, pork, fish, vegetarian– they are all so good. In celebration of this tasty food, I’ve created a simple taco tutorial! Enjoy.
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Art School: How to Draw a Mask
Masks are a part of many celebrations around the world, namely Carnevale in Venice, Italy; Carnaval do Brazil; and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Some believe masks were a pagan practice to ward off evil spirits, but now they are more worn for anonymity and decoration. Enjoy this tutorial and have fun designing your own decorative mask for any occasion.
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Art School: How to Draw a Historic Home – Betsy Ross’s House, Philadelphia
If you are ever in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a visit to the House of Betsy Ross, famed seamstress of the first American flag is a must see. Located on Arch Street in Old Town Philadelphia just a few blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, the house is a classic Pennsylvania colonial style. Historians still debate is this is the actual home where she resided, but even if it is not, it is still a gorgeously maintained example of a home from early American history, 1740. Vary the details of the house slightly and draw several in a row to create your own colonial street scene.
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Art School: How to Draw a Box of Chocolates
When did a box of chocolates become synonymous with Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day has a long history, yet it wasn’t until the mid-1800’s when British chocolatier Richard Cadbury was trying to perfect his drinking chocolate when he inadvertently created what he called “eating chocolate.” He cleverly put his new found confection in a decorated box that he himself designed, and seized the holiday with his treats! Enjoy this “how to draw a box of chocolates” tutorial and Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Art School: How to Draw a Prickly Pear Cactus
I have been fortunate to be able to travel to Arizona often as I my in-laws live in Tucson. Every time we visit, I am just in awe of the landscape. It feels so drastically different from California. Although Northern California where I live is a dry climate, it can’t hold a candle to how dry the Sonoran Desert which surrounds the Tucson area is. The landscape is sandy soil terrain filled with cactus for miles backed up against rugged mountains in the distance. Quite stunning! To celebrate the southwest desert look I’ve created a series of cactus tutorials – first up, the prickly pear cactus. Enjoy and be sure…
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Art School: How to Draw – Out the Airplane Window
No matter how many times I get on an airplane, I will never tire of staring out the airplane window! Even at my age, I vie for that window seat so I can watch the show. I have snapped endless pictures out the window, but must admit, it’s much more fun to draw and paint the scene. Here is a simple how to draw the out the airplane window. Get Creative The possibilities are endless of how creative you can be on what to draw out the window. Perhaps you see a galaxy or a constellation, or maybe an alien ship. Don’t limit your imagination!
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Art on the Go: Quick Landscape Doodle for Fun Travel Memories
Everyone likes to doodle, right? Here’s a fun art exercise for those “down times” during your trip– create a doodle sketch of your surrounding landscape. You can do it while waiting for the plane, on a train, sitting at the beach or resting on a park bench. No fancy art supplies are needed, just a pen and paper… so let’s get doodling! Here’s a quick “how to” for creating your own landscape doodle – just 2 simple steps. First, take a pencil and create a very light (and quick) outline of the major portions of your landscape. Second, start doodling! Begin doodling the main portions of your landscape, then continue…
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