Sprig of Berries - colored pencils & watercolor pencils drawing

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong

"Sprig of Berries - 2010"

5"h x 5"w, approx.

Colored pencils & watercolor pencils on paper

This morning, we were out in our garden clearing up the last of the dead or dying plants and bushes. We had to bring in the rest of the ceramic pottery too, before the snow comes tomorrow. We're heading for some really cold weather (below freezing for at least 10 days) with, it appears, loads of snow. :o)

I brought the little snippet with the berries inside to draw. I have no idea what the bush/shrub is that this was cut from, as the bush was a "volunteer" in our garden many years ago. The birds love these berries, but I'm pretty certain these berries are not fit for human consumption. I wish someone could tell me what it is; I've seen the shrubs used as hedges all over Europe.

Fortunately, we did manage to get our tulip and daffodil bulbs planted last weekend, because it's insanely cold outside now; can't stay out there for too long and I don't like wearing garden gloves! Holland is in for another real hard winter, which means a lot of ice skating for those who do (not me!). Now if we can only find a snow shovel, we'll be happy. ;o)

tot ziens,

Judy
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Thanksgiving Greetings - 2010

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Cover of Harper's Bazar, Thanksgiving 1894

Artist: Louis J. Rhead (1857-1926) - Created/Published: [New York], 1894

Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Public Domain.

Source: US Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Online Catalog 



Wishing all my American friends & family, a very

 Happy Thanksgiving!

No matter where you are in the world . :o)

Judy

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Link to Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online :

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/

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Golden Delicious on My Desk - colored pencil drawing

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong

"Little Golden Delicious"

5.5"h x 3.5"wide  (one side of  page spread)

colored pencils with pen & ink

Japanese Folded Moleskine sketchbook

I've decided to do some more baking this weekend - apple pies, apples bars, maybe even apple muffins ... who knows!

But before I start baking, I wanted to draw this lovely Golden Delicious apple as it sat on my desk. So I got out my folded Moleskine, the sketchbook I've titled "Small Things on My Desk", and I drew the apple. Of course, after I was done, I ate the apple (ahh, the perks of having apple models)! Yes, it was "delicious". :o)

For this drawing I used:

Faber-Castell Polychromos & Lyra Rembrandt Polycolour colored pencils

Sakura Pigma Micron pen (black ink)

Moleskine Japanese Folded sketchbook

tot ziens,

Judy

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Set Those Klompen Out! - Sinterklaas Has Arrived!

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong

Little Delft Klompen - 2010

5.5"h x 7.25"w (page spread)

Pen & Ink with Colored Pencils in Japanese Folded Moleskine

Today, November 13th, Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) arrived in the Netherlands on his steamboat from Spain! His boat arrived, at 12:30 pm, in the haven (harbor) of the town Harderwijk in the province of Gelderland. 

From Harderwijk, Sinterklaas will travel, on his white horse Amerigo with his helpers the Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters) by his side, throughout the entire Netherlands visiting every city & village. He has a lot of places to visit and children to see - I don't know how he does it. *wink*

Children (of all ages ... lol) will try to see the Sint (saint) to make sure that their names are in the Sint's big red book and let him know that they've been good all year so that when Pakjesavond (gift night) rolls around on December 5th, there will be gifts for them. It's very important to be good all year or else an X would go by your name in the Sint's book and that means, no gifts for you! Oh no!!!

You can also now set your klompen (clogs or wooden shoes) by the door * , or at the foot of your bed, so that during the weeks when Sinterklaas and his helper Zwarte Piet are in the Netherlands, they might leave tiny presents, cookies, money or chocolate in your shoes. You just never know what you might get - so set those shoes out!
* You can also set out just regular shoes (schoenen) - doesn't have to be klompen. lol

It would also be very nice if you set out carrots, hay and a bucket of water for the Sint's horse, Amerigo. The poor horse does have a lot of walking to do, not to mention that he also has to get up on the roof tops with Sinterklaas on his back!

I found this YouTube video of some blooper (flater) moments of poor Sinterklaas, his Zwarte Piet and the horse ...

I don't think Sinterklaas should try riding a motorcycle.

Geen goed idee! Not a good idea!
omg... lol

:o)

Judy

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It's Raining Rose Hips ...

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong

Raining Rose Hips, 2010

approx. size: 7.5"h x 4.5"w

Pen & Ink, Colored Pencils on paper.

No, it's not really "raining rose hips" here, but it is raining, a lot, and I'm getting sort of tired of it. I actually like rainy days, for the most part, but lately it's been endless ... rain or rainy mist all day long, for weeks on end.

All  the rose hips have pretty much fallen on the ground from my rose bushes, along with the leaves, so  I picked some up and brought them inside to draw. It is way too wet and cold outside to draw. And the result? Very "stylized" rose hips! :o)

For this piece I used:

• Sakura Pigma Micron Pens (black ink)
• Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils
•  Lyra Rembrandt colored pencils
• Strathmore Bristol paper

tot ziens,

Judy

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Little Lantern Plant (Lampionplantje) - colored pencil drawing.

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drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong

Lampionplantje (little lantern plant)

6"h x 5"w

Faber-Castell  Polychromos colored pencils

Winsor-Newton gray tinted pastel paper

Just something to start off the month of November...and it happens to be colored orange! I seem to be obsessed, lately, with drawing/painting things in this color. Chinese Lantern Plants (Chinese Lampionplant)  are one of my favorite bright orange things this time of year.

I was never aware that I was so attracted to the color orange. I don't really wear orange colored clothing (though a bit does look good with black, which I wear a lot of! lol) and I would never paint a room orange, or have orange colored furnishings. But, I do like orange colored flowers, pumpkins, carrots, tangerines, orange lollipops, orange gumdrops and orange cake/cupcakes ... hmmm. I wonder if living in Holland has anything to do with this attraction to orange? (orange is the Dutch national color and the Dutch Royal Family color).

"Orange" you glad I posted this? heh heh

:o)

Judy

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