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Ready or NOT, here I go...*GULP*

I'm not a brave soul by any means, I'm hesitant and insecure when it comes to sticking my neck out (a fact that generally annoys me about myself) especially when it comes to my art. It took me months of nail biting indecision to actually post prints and cards (made with my sketches) for sale in my Etsy shop.

This lens serves as step toward a specific goal: working up the nerve to take my artwork to a local gallery. Now maybe you think this is the silliest thing you've ever heard - and you could be right - but I'm doing it anyway, and quick before I change my mind (so there :o)

The only thing I wanted to do when I grew up was work for Disney Studios as an animator.
(Your basic pipe dream...)

All good things must come to an end

My that sounds dramatic, doesn't it?

All the way through elementary and middle school I studied art, taking extra art classes on the weekends. I even majored in it in high school. When the time came to choose a major for college, however, art was taken off the table. Why? Because it was not a "real" job or a responsible choice (starving artists and all that). It's a nice little hobby, but it would never, ever amount to anything.

My arguments fell on deaf ears, and the reluctant decision to take some practical business classes was made. Resigned, I put my sketchpad and pencils away with the rest of my "childhood things" and focused on the more important issues. This was shortly after graduating high school; I didn't pull them out again until just a couple of years ago.

This pencil sketch was the last thing I drew after high school; it was done for my grandmother who loved owls.

Bet you're waiting to hear what changed...

In a nutshell? Everything.

A diagnosis of breast cancer during a routine mammogram (my very first one at age 40, to be exact) turned my life upside down and had me reevaluating the things that were truly important to me.

Somewhere in there it occurred to me that I had been terribly foolish in locking away something that had been so very dear to me, so I went to the store and bought myself a brand new sketchpad. That brand new sketchpad sat untouched on a table for weeks while I wrestled with a sudden sense of paranoid insecurity. What if I couldn't do it anymore? It had been nearly 20 years since I'd attempted to actually sketch anything; what if it was gone? If God gave you a gift and you didn't use it, wouldn't He consider that to be a waste? What if He took it away because I didn't make use of it?

On and on it went, circling around in my head until I was ready to scream. Unable to bear what had rapidly become a giant albatross around my neck (no offense there, Albert :o) I finally gritted my teeth, picked up that new sketchpad and unearthed a pencil to find out...

Want your own sketchpad?

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PLEASE NOTE

This is very much a "naked in public" experience for me; I'm not even sure I'll have the nerve to publish this lens when I'm finished with the darn thing...

P.S.

My favorite medium has always been a plain old #2 pencil (don't ask me why). I hope you like pencil sketches.

P.P.S.

Animals are my favorite subject, but I'm working on expanding that. I've been experimenting with flowers, watercolors and some other things lately.

P.P.P.S.

If you have something else you'd rather be doing, now would be a good time.

Okay, I know I'm stalling. Does it show???

I'll stop now (sorry).

Pencil Sketches

[My first love]

"Zed the Tree Frog"

Pencil Sketch

We have lots of frogs in our garden. I entertained myself by naming them; Ced, Ed, Fred, Jed, etc. all the way to an itty bitty green Zed (who I named this sketch after).

Prickly Pete

"Camel Aught"

Pencil Sketch

Naming my sketches often provides me with some free entertainment (I am an acronym junkie and lover of terrible puns :o) Webster's definition of aught, means "of a sort" - which makes this sketch sort of a camel. That coupled with the reference to the whole King Arthur deal made it the perfect choice for his name. This was done for a friend who needed a pick me up; she loves both camels AND my bad puns. What more could you possibly ask for in a pal? :o)

"Albert the Albatross"

Infinitely more adorable than the one that hangs around my neck...

"PicaPica"

"Sydney K. Walla"

Pencil Sketch

"Dillmont P. Dawg"

"Mama N Me"

Pencil Sketch

This is one of my favorite sketches. I did have to employ a bit of artistic license: Mama's tongue was wrapped underneath baby's chin and the tip of it stuck up baby's nose in the actual photograph (BLECH! :o) Would you believe I actually had a customer get this tattooed on her arm? I guess she really liked it.

Don't forget your pencils!

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Pen and Ink

[expanding the envelope]

"The Waters Edge"

Pen and Ink

This was done for another friend whose spirits needed a bit of a lift. She's a wonderful amateur photographer and had given me this photo to use in my shop if I wanted to.

"Eat Your Veggies"

Pen and Ink

Definitely a face only a mother could love...which is why I just HAD to draw him. The green leafy stuff he was chowing down on inspired the title :o)

"Wee Wanda Warbler"

Pen and Ink

These have to be the smallest birds I've ever seen (business card size, isn't that amazing?) Since she is listed in my Etsy shop on the World Wide Web, it seemed only fair to use those initials when giving her a name...

For Pen & Ink Drawings

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Charcoal

[Feeling adventurous]

"OOPS: Ophelia O. Possum Slipped"

Charcoal

"On the Line"

Charcoal

For the Charcoal Artist

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Mixed Media

[I'm getting braver]

"Sara N. Getti"

Pen and Ink

I'm working my way towards horses here (I've got to practice more though :o)

Watercolor

[Whoa - I got really brave]

"Breast Cancer Survivor Guide"

Watercolor

This one should be pretty much self explanatory (I was a two year BC survivor at the time of this writing).

"Considering the Cosmos"

"Shades of Autumn"

Watercolor

Wonderful Watercolors

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Pyrography

[Okay, now I'm out of control]

"Native Dancer"

Prints and notecards are in my Etsy Shop

(although I ate all my fingernails before I finally did it ;o)

Wysiwigs
is an acronym for "What you see is what I've got :o) <-- smile My shop is a hodgepodge collection of my creative benders (which happen sometimes in many directions at once - oy!).

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Epic Farms is a small family run non-profit striving to share the big picture with horses. We have kid-friendly programs geared toward area service organizations and small groups; our goal is to share the wonderful world of horses with everyone!

 

Holey Moley I published it! Please take a moment to say Hi :o)

[If I don't answer, it's because I passed out from the trauma...]

  • Morgannafay Oct 11, 2011 @ 4:44 pm | delete
    I'm so glad you decided to publish! Dilmont P. Dawg FTW! *claps* I love him so. Your sketches are heart warming.
  • HorseAndPony Jul 4, 2011 @ 8:31 pm | delete
    These are amazing. I love Mama N Me. I am so glad you published them. Thanks for sharing.
  • Wednesday_Elf Jun 29, 2011 @ 11:14 am | delete
    My daughter is an artist/illustrator, married to an artist/illustrator. DD works a regular job for the benefits and regular paycheck, and does her art work 'on the side'. SIL works at his art full-time at home. They are probably in the 'starving artists' category, but the 'need to draw' is so compelling for both of them they have no other choice. :-) So pleased you decided to 'come back' to your art!
  • GetSillyProductions Apr 11, 2011 @ 7:14 pm | delete
    Excellent drawings, 2 thumbs up!
  • d-artist Mar 17, 2011 @ 5:24 pm | delete
    Lovely creations!
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by

Wysiwigs

(a.k.a. Jen) I'm a daughter, wife, mother, artist, horse crazy grownup, scary christian chick, paper folding fiend, acronym junkie, breast cancer survivor,... more »

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