Photo Friday: In the Forest of Lage Vuursche

.
Gorgeous late September weather (Indian summer) means,  finally, a chance to go for a long walk. We decided to walk in the forest (boswandeling), in nearby Lage Vuursche, which is located in the province of Utrecht. I didn't sketch, but as you can see, I did take the froggy companions. :o)

Here's a  photo mosaic I made of our day out ...

all photos copyright ©2011 Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

In the Forest of Lage Vuursche ~ Sept. 2011

Lage Vuursche, The Netherlands

A lovely, lovely day! And tomorrow, if the weather remains lovely, we're planting our tulip bulbs. :o)

tot ziens,

Judy

and Sacha the cat (garden helper)

....................................................................................

"Wound Up" with distractions ...

.
It's Fall and, as usual, this season distracts me ... in a good way!

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong

all rights reserved.

Wound Up ~ September, 2011

approx. 7"h x 5"w

Regular colored pencils on Dahler-Rowney paper

When the nights begin to get a little chilly at this time of year, I always drag out my storage boxes of unfinished crochet and needlework projects. They're 'unfinished' projects because I keep unraveling the crochet - I'm never quite happy with some of the color combinations *sigh*. 

As if there isn't enough stuff on my studio desk, I had to draw one of the little balls of yarn - it was so cute sitting there on my desk. This is how my desk looks when I 'multi-task' ...

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

Distractions ~ September, 2011

Between finishing old and new drawings/paintings, I've been very busy with a few other "crafty" projects (i.e., new winter scraves, autumal centerpieces, decorations for Halloween). Yes, I work on these things simultaneously , all in my little attic studio here in Holland. I'm not sure why I work this way, but I always have. Am I crazy? - maybe ...

I blame it on Fall. :o)

tot ziens

Judy

....................................................................................

A Golden Rose

.

Drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. All rights reserved.

Golden Rose - September, 2011

colored pencil on stonehenge paper ~7.5"h x 5.5"w

Finished another flower! Yay me. :o) Truth be told, yellow/golden roses are not my favorite color of roses, but I'd never turn down a bouquet filled with them. :o)

Lately, I've been busy, busy, busy with a lot of flower drawings and paintings. Mainly it's because I like growing flowers, I like getting & giving flowers (happy that I moved to Holland!) and I like drawing & painting flowers. Flowers are pleasent models. ;o)

For this drawing I used:

Sanford Prismacolors reg. colored pencils

Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils

Caran d'Ache Pablos reg. colored pencils

Sanford Prismacolors Colorless Blender pencil

Stonehenge paper - white

Edit to add: It appears I'm posting flowers on Tuedays in this month... how odd! Wonder what next Tuesday will bring...

tot ziens,

Judy

......................................................................

End of Summer Dahlia in colored pencil

.

Drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. All rights reserved.

End of Summer Dahlia - September, 2011

colored pencils on black stonehenge paper

6.75" h  x  6.5" w

Spending some of my studio time going through my flat files and finishing up pieces that I, apparently, was bored with at one time or another. 

To me, this "boredom" syndrome (and you know, we all get it) is not actually a bad thing, as you can always put something away and see it again, later, with fresh eyes. Often, I find 'returning' to an unfinished piece can be a very good thing.

For this piece I used all regular colored pencils- no watercolors and no solvents:

Faber-Castell Polychromos

Caran d'Ache Luminance

Sanford Prismacolors - only the white pencil

Talens' Van Gogh regular colored pencils

On black Stonehenge paper

tot ziens,
:o) Judy

.........................................................................

Continuing my "Small Things" moleskine ~ colored pencil & ink drawings

.
It just keeps on raining & raining in Holland - *sigh*, not many sunny days these past few months.

So I've been staying indoors, drawing (I do draw everyday, regardless of the weather), painting, finishing things (so many 'unfinished' projects), cleaning things (the studio). And most importantly, I'm continuing things - such as one of my folded moleskines that I titled "Small Things". It's filling up with drawings of 'small things' on my desk.

Candy seems to be one of my favorite models to draw or paint ...uh-oh! lol

drawings copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved

Small Things - Candy ~ Sept. 2011

pen & ink with reg. colored pencils in Japanese folded moleskine

Snail shells and sea shells are another favorite subject of mine. I've collected  a lot of snail shells recently, given all the rain we've had.

drawings copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

Small Things - Shells ~ Sept. 2011

pen & ink with reg. colored pencils in Japanese folded moleskine

I have yet to figure out  a good way to take a pic of the whole book when it's opened (I need some ideas) ... difficult! Here it is closed...

photo copyright J. Nijholt-Strong

Japanese Folded Moleskine

"Small Things # 1"

moleskine size: 5.5"h x 3.5"w

I started this particular folded molekine back in 2010; here are links to the other drawings in this little book :

"Small Things #1" : Golden Delicious on My Desk

"Small Things #1" : Set Those Klompen Out!

"Small Things #1" : What to do with all those stubbies?!

"Small Things #1" : Getting My Vitamin-C

"Small Things #1" : Chinese New Year 2010 - five chopsticks

"Small Things #1" : Perhaps a Rose for Your Valentine?

 

Tot ziens.

or 'tot' a sunny day!!

Judy

................................................................................

Rode Ui (Red Onion) in Gouache

.
Did a little gouache, for a change ...

painting copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

Rode Ui #1 (Red Onion #1)

Winsor & Newton gouache on paper - approx. 5.5"h x 5.5"w

Eventually, most, but not all (rocks would not be tasty), still life subjects in an artist's studio become part of a salad, dinner, or even dessert.

This red onion became part of a salad. :o)

Eet smakelijk! Bon appétit! Enjoy your meal!

Judy

........................................................................