Author Archives: Mellanie C

Something To Be Thankful For

I’ve been gone for a while, but I’ve had a wonderful week! Birthday celebrations (mine), guests from out of town and a general sense of well-being that comes from looking in the mirror and realizing that even though I’ve grown a year old, I still don’t have any crow’s feet. YES!!! Life is good. NowContinue reading “Something To Be Thankful For”

Colored Pencil Portrait: Daniel Craig

Well, I did it.  Geez, it felt like forever. The scan of the pencil portrait worked great as a sort of grisaille which saved me a lot of time.  I didn’t have to build layer after layer of shadow.  I really admire people who work in colored pencil. There is so much discipline involved. YouContinue reading “Colored Pencil Portrait: Daniel Craig”

Pencil Portrait: Daniel Craig

After all of the drawing from life I’ve been doing, I thought it would be interesting to draw a portrait from a photo. I had been reading a post on Ujwala’s blog Draw the Line and she asked folks to comment on whether they preferred to draw portraits from photos or from life. There areContinue reading “Pencil Portrait: Daniel Craig”

Playing with Colored Pencils: Woodgrain

I got busy and didn’t manage much drawing. I did this exercise from Beverley Johnston’s book The Complete Guide to Colored Pencil Techniques. It looks like it’s not in print anymore. That’s too bad, because it has great demonstrations in it, like how to draw and color satiny fabrics and animal fur. I’ll have toContinue reading “Playing with Colored Pencils: Woodgrain”

More Drawing in Public

I tried drawing while I was in line getting my driver’s license renewed. This guy was really fidgety so he grabbed my attention. He looks a lot more patient in the drawing. The whole time I was drawing these guys in the back were laughing and talking. I got so paranoid. I knew they couldn’tContinue reading “More Drawing in Public”

My Favorite Tool

This is my entry for Everyday Matters challenge 16. It’s my Leatherman tool and it’s got needlenose pliers, a straight knife, scissors, three screwdrivers, a phillips screwdriver, a bottle opener and a corkscrew. When it’s folded up it’s around 3 inches (8cm) but it weighs a ton. I think my husband and I got thisContinue reading “My Favorite Tool”

Drawing in Public

These little sketches may not seem like much, but to me they represent a personal victory. I finally got up the nerve to draw in public again. When I was a teenager I drew all the time. I drew during class, during lunch, on the bus. I can’t remember when I actually stopped. Probably whenContinue reading “Drawing in Public”

Back to the Everyday Matters Challenges

Major accomplishment here. I actually completed an Everyday Matters challenge the same week that it was announced. WOO-HOO! When it comes to personal successes I prefer to keep the bar fairly low. That way I can constantly be pleased with myself. I really don’t have a favorite cooking tool because I don’t get thrilled byContinue reading “Back to the Everyday Matters Challenges”