30 Day Drawing Challenge, Day 3!

Today, I'm blogging before I've even made coffee! That doesn't bode well.
I finally got around to my drawing for the 30 Day Drawing Challenge last night around 9 pm or so. The challenge was "Favorite Food", and the worst part was how hard it was to decide what my favorite food was! I even posted a poll on Facebook where people could tell me what their favorite food was, but I got exactly ONE response (Thank you, Baxter!). You would think that a Facebook post about something fun and light and non-political would get everybody jumping all over it. I probably should have named each food after Republican presidential candidates.
So after some more thought and deep introspection, I decided that really, no food in the world brings me as much happiness in as many different forms than... CHERRIES!
6" x 8", Sharpie markers on Bristol Board

Today's challenge is "Favorite Place", which is a pretty tough one as well. I've been a lot of places in my life that were pretty great, so it'll be hard to pick a favorite.

On a related note, my Facebook friend Judith Haynes Levin, an artist from rural Virginia, got inspired to participate in the challenge after I did, so she's on the same day. Check out her favorite food!

Look at that luscious berry cheesecake! She's pretty gifted with those markers, I tell you. She also creates some pretty beautiful clay work, which she sells, along with her 2D artwork in her Etsy Shop.

New Year, Resolutions, and a New Project!

In honor of the New Year, I decided to create a new project for myself to keep me productive throughout the year. I had considered joining one of the groups on Flickr or Facebook along the lines of "52 Weeks of ..." but I couldn't find a project that I really wanted to do. So I started my own group! I sent out invitations to all of the artist friends I have, and now there's a group of about 45 of us. The idea is that each of us commits to ourselves to start and finish one piece along our chosen theme each week. The theme and medium is up to each participant, as we have photographers, painters, jewelers, a bit of everything, and we all seem to be inspired by different ideas. I couldn't decide, so I chose two, 52 Weeks of Creatures and 52 Weeks of Vocabulary Words. We also have 52 Weeks of: Squares, insects, monsters, journaling, spirituality and "undeclared" (I think there's a bunch of those--don't judge! It's enough for most artists just to commit to this kind of schedule in the first place!).

You can find the group here: 52 Weeks of Creations!

Here are my entries for this week. The first one is for 52 Weeks of Vocabulary Words, and this week's word is "Miasmata":

miasmata. n. plural of miasma.

1. noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere.

2. a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.

While the singular, "miasma", is pretty cool, I thought the plural of this word was even better. In the olden days (before the germ theory of disease transmission) it was thought that illness and disease were emitted from dead and decaying materials and that they carried through the air like a spirit.

Entry #1 for the 52 Weeks of Creatures is my "Devil Child Waiting for the Bus":

She requires far less explanation. She is simply a little girl waiting for her bus. She just happens to have horns and a tail, for which her Mommy has lovingly crafted her a matching set of hat and, umm, tail-mitten?

She reminds me of the two adorable girls (twins) who lived behind us. They were the cutest little blue-eyed blonde girls, who would spend their spare time verbally torturing our dogs over the wall and trying to knock birds' nests out of trees with sticks. I used to call them the Evil Twins.

Just because something's cute doesn't mean it won't try to eat your face off.

Neither piece is listed for sale in my shop just yet, still trying to decide if I should do so. Stay tuned.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Grown-up Girls

Seems awfully early to be talking about stocking stuffers, but since the ByHand.me folks have posited the challenge on Facebook, I thought I'd take a stab. Since my kids are mostly grown, I thought I would feature some of my favorites for adults--everyone needs something special!

Item #1:  The Artful Agenda

I had considered getting this for my teenage daughter, and I still might, but it is just too adorable to not mention. This 2010 daily planner features a plethora of talented artists--something different on every page.  There are month-at-a-glance views, pages for each week, and ample room for notes, doodles, or (oh yeah) appointments, with different themes for the artwork on each page. This is no ordinary stocking stuffer!

Item #2: Butterfly Tattoo Stockings

I have had these stockings in my favorites (and had to replace them a dozen times because they got sold!) for quite a long time, and one day, I may just have to have a pair for myself. In the meanwhile, let me suggest these classy, stylish and unique patterned stockings for the gal whose stockings you stuff. She could be Goth, glam, schoolgirl or not-really-a-waitress in these. They're gorgeous!

Item #3: BeautifulBridget's Hot Cocoa Scarf

While you might have trouble fitting this thick and luxurious scarf into the stocking, the title of this one says it all, doesn't it?  Made from super-soft acrylic, which is my personal preference, since it holds its shape, doesn't shrink, and doesn't make me itch like wool (I know not everyone is allergic to wool, but it is certainly nice to have the option if you are!).

So there's my three for the day! It has been a pleasure participating in this challenge! Please stop by and visit my totally-not-for-stocking-stuffing shop full of my Fine Art at Easily Distracted by Julie D'Arcy!