Laura Rumble - Crafter

So, I was a bit grumpy about this!  I had a double page spread in my dictionary free.  On one side was Jack Snipe and the other Kingfisher.  There were two suitable words that fitted with my self imposed nature theme - Jay and Jonquil.  BUT the Craft Barn requested that the J page include a dragonfly... well, that didn't fit at all.  I wrestled for a while and came up with a dragonfly on a jonquil leaf even though this would never happen as they are not around at the same time... And it turned out OK, I think.  I used my Inktense and Coloursoft from Derwent. I was happy with this chap.  I was reminded by research just how awesome the colours in dragonflies and damselflies are. And then the jonquil.  I'm less happy with this part, but after about 14 layers I realised it was the best it was going to be.  I've always struggled with daffs - I need to work in another sketching session! Thanks for stopping by!

The Craft Barn alpha challenge continues... we must be nearly a quarter of the way through?  This fortnight the challenge was set as S with a shell. I had wanted to do a skylark for S - one of my favourite birds, but one I've not drawn before.  Well, that wasn't going to match with a shell!  I settled on Shrimp. I may be pushing the 'shell' part for some people.  But it does have a shell - a carapace, in fact - meaning a shell that covers the head and thorax which are fused as one.  Not your traditional shell, I agree, so understand if you feel the need to disqualify me! I found it so difficult to find photos of these creatures *ahem* not on a plate! But I did find a few and managed this little chap... Quite cute little things really! Thanks for stopping by!

Here I am, sneaking in, under the deadline by a whisker! For the Craft Barn's A-Z this fortnight the letter was G , and I picked a gull...   I also found a couple of new-to-me words... gutta-percha and inspissated.  I love this old dictionary! I am really pleased with this drawing.  Last fortnight was raspberry and I didn't get my pages finished due to illness.  Well, I think it is done but I'm not in love.  I may well come back to it with fresh eyes and work on it some more! Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments and messages!

Well, it is Sunday which means it is new letter day for the Craft Barn's A-Z challenge. I have not been well and have been unable to finish my last letter. I got as far as a first layer, but then this blooming cough kicked in! Here is the first layer and I endeavour to finish it for my next A-Z post... Also, I'm pretty sure all my pre planned and scheduled posts have come to an end so if it is quiet on here it means it is still noisy in real life! Glad you can't catch my germs via my blog - stay healthy lovely visitors!

L is for lark.  This one is a shorelark.  He was painted with spectrum aqua pens, Derwent art bars and coloursoft pencils. Not completely sold on his beak, but the more I worked the worse it looked to me so I called it a day... it may look better tomorrow! I'm hoping to have a hop around and look at everyone else's entries soon! Linking up at The Craft Barn

This fortnights letter is F - not a problem, plenty of nature themed F words BUT the page must include a heart... that'll take more thought.  I don't want to do a page about a fox and pop a heart on it - that won't work for me.  So this is what I came up with... Foliose means leaf like and some leaves are heart shaped, especially the Indian Bean tree leaves! Also I used a pencil called Beech Green to colour the beech leaf - I can't tell you the amount of satisfaction that gave me!! What do you think?  Was I too fast and loose with the theme?! Linking up at The Craft Barn A-Z . p.s.  Thanks for the tips on brown pens last week, much appreciated!  Trying a few suggestions - I'll have my results ready for the next A-Z post...

I was over the moon to see the Craft Barn running their A-Z challenge again this year.  I enjoyed the project in 2013 perhaps the most I have ever enjoyed a crafty project.  I thought long and hard about how to work this year and in the end I decided to continue in the 2013 dictionary, in the same style and nature theme.  I did think try something different but as I said I enjoyed it so much last time - why not do the same again, for me, and enjoy it again? First up is B... for Bunting, Cirl Bunting in this case. It was good to get back to drawing... but I was scared of the eye.  I am out of practice!  It's not the best I've ever done and I'm looking forward to seeing if I improve throughout the year again. Thanks for stopping by! Linking at The Craft Barn .

Remember last year I was joining in with the A-Z challenge?  I really enjoyed altering the dictionary and loved the nature theme.  Well, I suddenly felt the urge to carry on the project, so I looked around and decided on owl and raven.  Owl is still a thought, but Raven is illustrated and ready to share... I've used: gesso, palette knife, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B pencils, magenta and steel grey coloured pencils, black fineliner, white posca paint pen and a fine paint brush (to smudge) I'd like to link this up with Quoth The Raven

My ME is not being kind to me or my memory at the moment.  I have no idea if I have a few days left or a week and a few days left but here is my entry for the Alpha Challenge . Q is for quail... No photo of the double page spread as it was blurry :/ Now TBBT and then bed, hopefully visiting some fellow Alpha Challengers in the morning :)

I'm back with my second page for The Craft Barns Aplha Challenge.  So chuffed that I've got two done.  My intention is to carry on after the challenge has finished and fill up my dictionary with animal and bird illustrations.  I don't expect for a single moment I will get every page done but it'll be good to try. Anyway, N is also for One of these... A Chambered Nautilus.  Quite a cool creature really... Thanks for stopping by :)

The Craft Barn have picked the letter N for this fortnights Alpha Challenge.  My first page (yep, I've done two and both before the deadline!!) is N for Nuthatch... I'll be back in a tick with page number two...

A very tired entry for The Craft Barns Alpha Challenge ... I smudged gesso over the definition... doh! Fascinated by bioluminescence. We had to include a window, so I painted a scene looking out of the window in to the woods Thems fireflies dontcha know! :)

I'm a bit late linking up at the Craft Barn's Alpha Challenge .  I finished my page last week but have only just got round to loading the photos... Just me and my 2B :) Thanks for stopping by

Hello Friends, I'm keeping up over at the Craft Barn .  The letter for this fortnight is G... I chose a gorgeous bird from the finch family and he turned out like this I've also finished an extra O page.  I intended to get two entered during that fortnight... yeah, it didn't happen but he is finished now, have a peek... I'm off to look at the other G pages now :) Take care :)