NEW SKETCHES

The newest assignment in my drawing class it to make small, everyday objects very large. We have been doing thumbnails (small sketches) of two things that can fit in the palm of your hand and are not related in any way so that they create a fun juxtaposition. We will complete the final drawings in chalk pastel and charcoal. I am excited to use color!

I am working on a corn holder with a pretzel.

And this one with the lighter and the bread bag tie.

CAMPING CAKE

We had a cub scout blue and gold banquet last night. The boys were supposed to bring a birthday cake to celebrate scouts being 100 years old.

Little C wanted to do a camping cake, so here it is. I modified a cake I found in Family Fun magazine (click for link) and it turned out fun. C got the "Best Outdoors Cake" award. He was proud.

DAUGHTERS

My girls have hit some milestones this week and I just had to share.

Here's my oldest turning 18. She's very unhappy about it, can you tell?

This is my youngest. She lost her first tooth and had a visit from the tooth fairy. So very exciting!!

ART SHOW OPENING

Our department art show opening went well. We had more people at this opening that we ever have. It was great to feel all the support from our community.

This is me with my mixed media drawing of a spark plug. Probably won't hang in my living room. I told my husband he could hang it in the garage after the show.

This is me with my artist's book entitled "River Journal."

This is the full and part-time faculty at Snow College. What a great group to work with! I am so lucky to be where I am.

**Thanks to Katie for the photos! I forgot my camera!**

ART SHOW

I've been trying to get ready for this show. I have decided that matting, framing, etc... takes as long as doing the work of art! By far my least favorite part. If you want to come the opening is Monday from 6-8 pm in the Snow College gallery in the Humanities building. Hope my stuff is done.... I am trying to get a drawing framed and an artist's book done.

WHERE DID ALL THE TIME GO?

I am absolutely in awe of the fact that my daughter is turning 18 tomorrow! It seems like just a year ago she was a beautiful baby girl with lots of dark hair. Now she is a beautiful young woman with lots of dark hair. What happened?

I know this is so cliche, but I just can't not comment on this milestone in my life as a mother. I do have to say that I couldn't be more proud of her. She is an amazing girl who is definitely on the path to achieving her potential. What more can a parent ask for?

Here are some fun facts about her:

1. Her favorite food is pizza and she works at a pizza place.

2. She has rowed the Westwater section of the Colorado multiple times and is game for more.

3. She loves to snowboard, rock climb, listen to music (too loud), and read.

4. She is the Sterling Scholar in Art for her high school (I am so proud).

5. She has a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love her more than she will ever know!!

WE LOVE THE OLYMPICS

We have such a fun time at our house watching the Olympics. We don't normally watch sports on TV. We aren't team sport fans and we'd rather be out there doing it than sitting on the couch. But the Olympics are our exception to the rule and last night was such a great Olympic night for the US. 3 gold medals and in two of my favorite sports. So much screaming and cheering at our house my younger ones (that I forced to bed) couldn't sleep. (Yes, I'm such a great mom...)

My Favorite Winter Olympic Sports: (in order)

1. Halfpipe Snowboarding

By far my favorite! I am a big Shaun White fan (as are my children). He is so amazing!

2. Freestyle Moguls

This is my favorite trick they do (iron cross). SO fun to watch!

3. Downhill (esp. women's)

I am so fascinated that women will ski this fast! They are my idols, because I would never do this.

USA-- USA--USA!!

A SNOWY PRESIDENT'S DAY

A day off from school and work = a go-play-in- the- snow day. It snowed the whole time we were there, but not bad, and I would rather have it snow on us than have it be freezing, which is what happened. We all skied and snowboarded with lots of friends. It was a great way to spend our holiday.

Here is D catching some air and doing a Method.

C and P having lunch.

Me with P, almost ready to head home.

MAKE BELIEVE

These are the drawings I did from the sketches I posted previously. As I mentioned before, we had to have color isolation (one color= acrylic paint) in the drawing with the rest black and white= charcoal.

I call this one 'Jake' because it reminds me of my nephew. This one is smaller (about 15").

Yes, this is Barbie. Isn't her eyeshadow fab? This is smaller too (about 18")

This is the final- the LARGE one (about 26"). I will probably fill in the background black like the other two smaller ones. Again, I'm not sure if I'm done (I know, I say that a lot, but it is seriously hard to know sometimes).

LOVE LETTERS

Okay! I'm done!

This one is mine and I think it is very me. Clean and simple: L= sketchbook & brushes, O= my favorite flower, V= book, E= ear bud for my iPod.

This is my husband's and it is very him too. Outdoorsy and gear-oriented: L= bike crank, O= ozone logo on his snow kite, V= kayak, E= climbing rope.

I am going to print them and frame them. I am excited! What a fun project this was. If I get some time I think I will do one for each of my children too.

P.S. All the photos are mine except for the daisy. I knew there was no way to find a daisy in the winter, so I cheated.

"LOVE"

I have been trying to think of something to do for my lover for Love's Day and I think this is it...

...photos of objects that represent letters in the alphabet. I'll either do our names or just the word "LOVE." I am excited! And I hope it works because I have wanted one of these and they are really expensive to buy.

SKETCHBOOK THUMBNAILS

For my drawing class last week we had to bring toys or things that children like to pretend are alive, then we had to do at least 10 thumbnail sketches (small drawings within a format).

We drew in black ball-point pen and added color with marker. We were supposed to limit ourselves to one color, but I got a little carried away on my first couple.

My 6 year old helped me choose some of the toys. I think my favorites are the 'Woody', the 'little people' boy and the giraffe. Why, yes,we do have LOTS of Beany Babies at our house...

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

I am always on the lookout for cute homemade valentine ideas and then I usually end up giving in to my kids and buying them. Well this year will be different! I am going to make some and they will be way better than the GI Joe or Tinkerbell ones at Wal-Mart! So there! Here are some of my ideas..

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These iLove ones are my favorites, and if I can find the candy I need I am going to make them. Very hip and fun!

These butterflies are second in line. I am just not sure how the teachers will feel about me giving out gum...

This is a cute teacher idea as well. So many fun things, so little time...

All of these cards are on Family Fun's website. Click for link

SICK OF BEING SICK

Yes, I am going to whine. I am going on my 4th day without a voice and it is really getting old. I have a bad head cold and for some reason it has wiped out my ability to speak. It usually happens once a year, but this has just gone on too long. Hope I get it back in time for class tomorrow, otherwise my students are going to just have to suck it up. I'm not canceling again!