Whimsy and Mermaids

I've been doing a lot of sketching and doodling to try to improve my drawing skills. I think I've improved quite a bit at drawing figures from different angles. It's been a lot of fun! I can see improvement! I guess practice makes better (maybe not perfect)! The two classes I take with Art Trader are super fun and relaxing!

Mermaid Practice sketch page #3

#2 - these might have turned out a little better than the #3 page!

this is a whimsical sketch of an angry cook! Maybe someone left a mess in the kitchen!

The top row have roughly the correct propotions a face should have (draw a circle-ish shape put the eyes half way btween top and bottom, ears a little lower, then nose and mouth). The bottom row has really wonky placement of features- eyes too close together/too far apart, eyes too far up on the head. Haha - a good exercise in whimsy! I'm still looking for my distinct style! Tell me when I find it :)

Ruby Wedge Maneuver!

As finals rapidly approach, Ruby has developed a new attention strategy. She runs around the house and then jumps bewteen me and the couch...and then just stays there. It's super cute!

This is Gary trying to identify a bird call Chase played on the computer. Could it be this knitted thing?

Whimsical and color scheme practice.

Whimsical practice! Exercise: stylization. :)



Finals started today! So far so good :) I'm hoping the rest of my finals will go just as well. I'm confident I'm going to pass with flying colors in the rest of my classes. I've got nice cushions in almost all of them. ;)

Good luck everyone!

Smile!

No nudity in this post! Promise!



Doesn't this guy just make you smile? He kept sticking his head through the fence for pets. I bought some suri wool from an alpaca with a similar coat color that I can't wait to knit with! I've got a pattern that I want to try as soon as I figure out the stitches...it's been awhile since I tried knitting! Did you know that camelids (such as an alpaca) have oval red blood cells. Most other mammals have the biconcave, disc shaped cells. ;)


We had bible study again today. I still feel a bit shy, but it's getting better as I get to know the girls better. Today's chapters were on worship and the mind. Worship shouldn't be just a Sunday morning thing but an every moment thing. How enriching would it be to have a constant attitude of worship! ...instead of my whiny/busy/distracted state of mind. I've had a lot of negativity in my life lately, and I really want to end that. After all there is always, always something to be grateful for - I just have to get out of my narrow-minded view of things. So maybe this week will be the fresh start I need! I think I might start taking part of lunch to take some quiet time to get focused. I hope my friends will understand. Another thing I can do to worship God is plan ahead - that is make lunches and set up the coffee machine the night before. Then I can get up and read some psalms while drinking my coffee and enjoying the birds on my snow-laden porch. That sounds like a good way to start the day. As for the mind part...the author states that the Christian should constantly be reading the bible and good, wholesome books - in any subject you like... For example, on her suggested reading she listed the James Herriot books as well as Jane Austen and an assortment of other classics. She also talked about reading gardening books ^_^ It's important for you to actually challenge your mind by learning new things and reading good literature! This chapter also talks about focusing on the positive things in life. Paul says "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Philippians 4:8.

Disciplining my mind to be renewed and worshipful are lofty goals so pray for me this week.

Finals begin next week so it's important for me utilize time management, focus while studying, and maintain a godly attitude.

Peace out!



Ps... whimsy mermaid class starts tomorrow!! Maybe they'll show me some ways to clothe my mermaids :)

Whimsy

I'm taking a Whimsical Art Class at Art Trader. This is the first exercise - color schemes. It's also sort of the last exercise too (creat a body and then trace it and reclothe it a couple of times).


This is Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

On this little fairy, I decided to use compementary colors for her wings and the background. I through some yellow in to make sure it didn't look too Christmas-y. I also used my circle template for the circles in the background. That little thing just makes patterns so much easier ^_^



*Nude mermaids follow...so don't look if they offend you*

Chase let me sign up for a whimsical mermaid class for valentine's day. I can't wait for it to begin...so I did some mermaids for my whimsy class!

Disciplines of a Godly Woman

But first some art...

We covered snakes in Lab Animal Medicine and it was on my mind.... This is for a "What Was I Thinking?" themed swap ^_^

This one was for a purple and red themed swap. I think we could all use a nice cup of tea!




Today I joined a lovely group of young women for a bible study covering the book Disciplines of a Godly Woman. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) it is exactly what I need to be studying at this point in my life. My life is so unbalanced right now it probably looks like the last couple of rounds of Jenga - about to fall apart unless I do some serious work on the foundation. I've sorely neglected the foundation and my constantly frazzled state of mind is Exhibit A. This bible study just sort of popped up...I wasn't sure if I was going to go (most likely leaning toward not going since I'm tragically awkward around new people). But before I had made up my mind, I had a copy of the first chapter of the book in my hand and directions. Today's discussion centered around what discipline is and why we need as well as helped identifying the things that prevent me from being disciplined. So for this week I'm going to get up early and start my day off with a little God time. The ATCs have to slow as well...they are becoming somewhat of an idol. Vet school....God help me!

Vet school is frustrating the living daylights out of me. It's one of those semesters that I'm going to work really, really hard and keep up with my classes and still struggle. I aim to do my best, but I need to learn to be satisfied within my own capabilities (ie grades). Also I need some God-given patience and self-control to deal with constantly being around my buddies. I love them all, but as an introvert it takes a lot of energy for me to be around people constantly - especially when there's almost constant bickering among them. I need time alone to recharge and re-center on God. So pray for me as I try to make a fresh beginning and add a healthy dose of Godly discipline to my life!