Happy Blogiversary! Now Let's Have a Giveaway!

Today marks the one year anniversary of Lost and Found and I'd like to send out a great big thank you to everyone who has ever stopped by to visit, left a comment, linked to my blog, offered support, or become a friend or follower. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

In celebration and appreciation, I think it's time for the first ever Lost and Found giveaway. I know that most bloggers actually SHOW you what they're giving away...but this is going to be a secret...yeah, that's it...a secret. Leave me a comment--it doesn't matter if you're a first time visitor or an old friend--and I'll randomly choose a winner on October 7th. (Which happens to be my 26th wedding anniversary) I'll send you something made by me--most likely something that involves text and watercolor.

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

IF - Pattern

I really like making patterns with circles and squares--especially circles. I find something round, slap on acrylic paint, and stamp away. This is one that I did in an altered book and then tweaked a bit digitally.

Off To Play

I haven't done much in the way of art this week because it seemed like a good time for a major studio cleaning and reorganization. Over the years, the little corner of the basement that I call my studio has just exploded with stuff...so much stuff that there is barely any room to actually make art. The job isn't finished, but it's getting there.

Now it's time to take a break and go off to play for the weekend. A few of us are gathering at the home of a friend to enjoy four fabulous days of friendship and fun. We're having an art retreat--aka a grown up sleepover--just for the purpose of making art. We're going to make our own paper, journals, and beads, play with polymer clay, take a few field trips, and generally hang out and play like kids. I hope you find a little time to play this weekend too!

Keep On Sketching

This past Saturday I attended the September sketch crawl with Cathy and her husband. This month's destination was the Detroit Superior Subway Bridge Tour. The lower level of the bridge is only open about three times a year and is one of the city's most hidden places. We found a small section where we could stand at the edge and sketch the view below. The railing was pretty high and required me to stand on my toes in order to see over it. That was not comfortable! I wish I had attempted a more expansive view, but instead I concentrated on just one building.

I still find this whole sketching business to be quite a challenge--but that's OK. It doesn't matter if the outcome is in perspective (usually not!) or looks anything like what I see in front in me. I'm learning a lot in the process. I'm learning that I like having a regular monthly meet up with area sketch artists. I'm learning that you can live in a city for half a century and still not see everything there is to see. I'm learning that every sketch brings me just a little bit closer to feeling comfortable with the whole process.
I had an empty page in my Moleskine so I made a list of all the 2009 sketch crawl locations to date. It wasn't much more than a year ago that I was unable to make a single mark in a sketchbook because I was self-conscious about my lettering skills. I forced myself to get over that, and I'm happy to say that I am now totally smitten with hand lettering. I plan to keep on sketching until I'm smitten with that too.

IF - Strong

This week the Illustration Friday theme is strong and I decided to go with this classic quote. This was done in my watercolor Moleskine with pigma pens and watercolors.

Another Sketchbook Project

A while back, I participated in a sketchbook project at a local art supply store. It was so much fun that I decided to try another one. Art House Co-op is hosting Sketchbook Project 4 and there's still time to participate. You have until October 1st to sign up to receive a Moleskine sketchbook, fill it up however you please around a randomly assigned theme, then send it back by December 1st. Art House Co-op will be taking the entire collection on a tour around the United States to select galleries and venues. In addition to the touring exhibitions, the ultimate goal of the project is to create a permanent library for which the sketchbook collection can be on display. How cool is that? The anticipated opening of the permanent sketchbook library location in 2010 and the cost to participate is $18.

We decided to turn Sketchbook Project 4 into an Artfits project, and Cathy, Casey, Annette and I all signed up to participate. We each received a completely different theme for our sketchbook and mine is "Over The Top." I decided to fill my sketchbook with examples of things that I find extreme, ridiculous, or slightly unbelievable. Each spread illustrates a different example using markers and a good amount of hand lettering. I have about six spreads finished so far. Here's a peek at one of the spreads.



Art House Co-op has a number of interesting projects in progress. If you like the idea of collaboration and group projects, be sure to check it out. Or just go there and look at some of the artist's profiles and portfolios. Plan to stay for awhile...there's a lot to see!