Run

Walter had mixed feelings about being in the lane next to Chester. On the upside, he would run his fastest race ever. On the downside, he could be lunch.

Match

Joey had expected "Krazy Beast" Hopkins to be a bit...taller.

Play

The critics found Raymond's portrayal of Chancellor Claws quite mousy.

Opposites

SF: Studio Sidekicks

Well, my cat's shown up in my other Studio Friday postings already, as she likes to "help out" a lot when I'm working. So, here is my other sidekick, my 75 lb shadow, Lloyd. He's never far from where I am and makes a great model (on the other hand, trying to sketch a young cat is like...trying to pin a wave upon the sand, very tough).

Sacrifice

"And while the Boy was asleep, dreaming of the seaside, the little Rabbit lay among the old picture-books in the corner behind the fowl-house, and he felt very lonely." Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

This week's Illustration Friday topic brought to mind the story of a toy rabbit's quest to be Real...there's a happy ending, but only after a sacrifice. Below is another verrsion, but the rabbit may look a little too bitter.

SF: View from above

For this week's Studio Friday topic, here are the views from above my workspaces, onscreen and off.

Skyline

SF: "7 layer salad"

How great is it that the Studio Friday challenge includes the word 'playtime'? Especially as I was playing around yesterday with layering negative space in watercolors as background. There are seven layers of blues and purples (including the foundation wet in wet abstract). I'm still working out how to paint this way, but it's fun in the meantime.

Stickier

Sweet dreams are made of these...

Sticky

Edmundo had been in some tight jams before, but this was certainly a sticky situation.

Rain

So, I'm a big fan of rain during the long Texas summer, but for some reason these came out a little blue. I suppose into every life a little rain must fall.

Dance

"And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once." Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Jungle

a barrel o' trouble (click image for big trouble)

SF: Favorite Art Supplies

Thanks for the welcome last week! I really don't know how to pick favorites among art supplies (it's cyclical), though finetip black waterproof pens and watercolor paints and brushes are what I use right now. But they are all eyecandy. Note what happens to supplies when they come out of the bucket (bottom left).

Portrait

This is a combination of a watercolor I did several months back while trying to study faces and an ink drawing from today. I suppose the job of a portraitist is to be true to the subject while capturing the best angle/features/etc.

SF: Studio Space

I've never participated in Studio Friday before, but I love the idea of creative individuals sharing a glimpse of the area in which their art begins.

The main infringement (pictured here preparing to attack some paintbrushes) on my workspace is due to the lack of door. My studio (aka the former dining area) has a decent amount of physical space and lots of good northern light, but kitten-proofing all projects and tools takes away some momentum.

IMT: Word Art

The tree roots in the Hoh rain forest (Olympic National Forest) remind me of the structure of the heart.
Is it wrong to paint a tree on paper, made from trees, then photoshop it back into its natural setting?

Cake

a different sort of cupcake topper

IMT: Abstract

"Fish Dreams of Flying"

This is the first time I've submitted for Inspire Me Thursday, but I couldn't pass up the topic. Turns out that it's tough to go from figurative to abstract. I think this is in the middle ground, but here it is.