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2 - ACEO sized pieces (so, altogether its 2.5 x 7)
Polychromos on bristol board

Bloody ants, I swear. I also knitted an homage to them, and blathered on about my traumatic experience here.

I accidentally used 400 series bristol board instead of 500 series illustration board because when I pulled a new piece to cut, I pulled the wrong thing. But it didn't matter. There aren't too many layers, and the bristol had just enough tooth.

Tomorrow is another day, hopefully ant-free! (and thanks anyway Wendy Edelson for the tip about using cinnamon or cayenne, which worked for a while, but when they're set on an invasion, nothing will stop them...)

To see all the Yarn pieces in this series side-by-side, please go here. Or visit my ebay store to see which are available for sale.
All images and content herein are © Paula Pertile and may not be used or reproduced without permission.

Derwent COLOURSOFT colored pencils on board
ebay

You know how you get into a rut and never try anything new? Like, you always order the same thing at your favorite restaurant. Or the same coffee drink. Or buy the same brand of (fill in the blank).
And use the same colored pencils.

Yesterday I tried the Inktense and hated them (but to be fair, I didn't use them the way they're really intended to be used, otherwise I'm sure they'd be fine.)

Today I looked at my tin of Coloursofts and thought "Why don't I use these?" What am I afraid of?" So I did, and I loved them! I loved them as much as I hated the Inktense.

They're soft and go on fast.
I'm not saying they're going to replace my beloved Polychromos, but they will definitely find a space alongside them on the shelf, rather than tucked underneath other things I don't use much.

The sun was out this morning and the birdies were singing. Now its all grey and cold again. But I felt like doing a bit more color on this one.

I also put it up for auction instead of in my store, just to be different.

Polychromo colored pencils on illustration board.

An oldie but goodie. All Stockinette Stitch.
I'm trying to get myself participating in Illustration Friday, 'cause all the cool kids are. But I can't seem to find the time to do anything new. At least not yet. So this is my offering, and forgive me if you've seen it before.

I think its interesting to see how colorful this is compared to some of the yarn pieces I've been doing lately. I'm using the muted Graphtitints more, and I'm also not burnishing so much so my technique has changed too. Have I evolved? Hmmm. Jury's out on that one I think.

Graphitints and a little Polychromo on board
on ebay

I decided I'm going to do a month of these, then stop. Its been a good exercise to do a little piece every day, no matter what. I'm still enjoying them, but can foresee a day when I resent having to do "my little yarn piece".
I think I'll still try to do a little piece of art every day, it just might not be yarn.

Polychromo colored pencil on board
on ebay

This is what's on my mind today for a number of reasons.
And there's another storm coming through. And I have a deadline. Same old, same old.

Polychromos on illustration board
2.5 x 3.5
on ebay

I left the board white on this one, rather than doing grey. I also did some warmer colors, willing the temperature to go up a bit.
I fought with this one, not sure why.

Where did these colors come from? Did I paint this? Am I like Sybil, with a different personality who "likes pastels"?



If you turn it sideways it brings to mind the Creation by Michelangelo. You know, the one with the hand of god and Adam.



No? You don't see it?

Well, OK. Its all Polychromos and its up on ebay.
~~~~~~~
Other stuff:
We're all thinking about the new year, what we want to get accomplished and all that, right? Well Katherine Tyrrell, the supberb colored pencil artist, has a lot to say about this on her blog. She has her list together. (And I was proud of myself having something hatched out on the back of an envelope.)

Yesterday was a good day. I sold some art, I sold some knitting (thanks to both of you!), I heard from an old friend (Linda Medley ~ check out her Castle Waiting, its AWESOME) and I made a great cacciatore for dinner. It was a nice way to start the new year.

Here is today's yarn piece.


Its all Polychromos.

Colleen asked about the last one : "How do you design your pictures? Do you make them up or do you get out some yarn and play around with it until you get a pleasing composition?"
So I thought I'd do a little demo.

I don't get yarn out and play with it. I just make up a design out of my head.
I start like this: (click the picture and it should come up bigger in a new window.)


1. I drew out a design, lightly.
2. I did a layer of ultramarine and moss green to establish color and some shadows.
3. I did a layer of cobalt turquoise over both yarns.
4. I added the "plys" to the yarn.
5. This layer is so subtle. I added a layer of ivory over the entire thing, background too. It kind of ties everything together, and makes the surface of the whole piece the same.
6. I bumped up the color and added the fuzz and made it 'yarn'.
7. I added a layer of chrome green because it felt too light. This gave it a little more oomph. And there you have it.

SOLD



Happy New Year everyone!

This one is all Polychromos. I purposely put away the Graphitints, just to get away from so much 'dark', as much as I love it. I thought I'd do a little more color, and was thinking about attracting health, prosperity, all those good things for the new year.

I was conflicted though, and kept wanting to mute it all back down, then bump the color back up, then go back down again. It started in black, then a I added the colors, then some grey to tone it down, then more color, etc. back and forth.

I shouldn't think so much.
There is a pale grey background to reflect winter and cold, but the color is the promise of new growth (in many areas).

Its on ebay.

I hope this will be a really good year for all of us!!!

Back to some art. Boy it feels good to just sit and fiddle with my colored pencils.

This was done with Derwent Graphitints, NOT Polychromos (GASP!).
I was trying to capture the mood of the day, mostly the weather. It was just grey grey grey, drizzly and cold, with muted plant colors and lawn and trees. It also reflects how I feel, kind of.
The holiday is over, its time to do year-end reflecting, all that stuff. I was also sad today because I learned my 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Talbot, who I ADORED, passed away a few days ago.

I did this on illustration board like I usually do. But instead of leaving the background the 'board white' I did a very fine layer of grey.

I love these Graphitints (the image in my logo was done with these as well). They're really just tinted graphite, and the colors are so muted. I used Cloud Gray, Steel Blue, Shadow and Juniper.

I want to start framing some of these little pieces, and am using this cool place online to test framing ideas. I kinda like this:



It would cost $25 to do. Not sure if that's good or not. I guess so, considering its custom. Now if I can figure out how to add it to my ebay listing... (oh, did I mention, I put this in my ebay shop which I emptied out after Christmas and am now starting to restock).

I would love to do one of these a day, or every few days or something, like a journal. I know I won't be able to, but wouldn't that be cool? If they only took 20 minutes, sure, but they take a couple of hours. Well, maybe I'll try to at least do one a week. We'll see.

I'm babbling... Read the rest of this post

Just a little something I felt like drawing.
Polychromos on board, of course.

I'm happy to say I've accepted a new little kids' book project that has a knitting theme, so I'm looking forward to being busy drawing more knitting in the coming weeks!

And on another note: Remember the Parmesan cheese thing from a couple of posts back?
Well, I had a peek at Mom's cupboard yesterday, and yes, the CAN IS STILL THERE. It has to be 30 years old. Ewww.

Plus there were all sorts of other really really old boxes of seasonings and spices. All very neatly and quietly sitting on their little spice rack hanging on the inside of the cupboard door. All dusted and 'ready to go', even though she hasn't used them in 25 years at least. Disturbing and amusing at the same time.

Don't get me started on what's out in the garage... Read the rest of this post