New World Series III

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I did this one specially for my friend Katie birthday. She also got snow for her birthday which is a lot this winter!!

Third of the of the New World Series. Black finemarkers and color pencils in white smooth A3 illustration paper.

New World Series II

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In between other work projects, family, my dogs (the new puppy) and everything else, I have now little time to draw for pleasure. I have time, but one moment there, then another moment there, an hour the day after. So this one took me a bit to finish, many interruptions, but as well the amount of detail, it was delicate and slow to do. But I take pleasure doing these intricate drawings, because they take so many different turns until they are finished.

Also this time since the beginning I had clear in my mind that there would be colorful animals somewhere. It is something new, but I like mixing these two worlds. I think I will keep exploring this way for a bit. 

Second of the New World Series. Black finemarkers and color pencils in white smooth A3 illustration paper.

New World

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Mixing two worlds. For this one I wanted since the beginning to color the animals and leave the rest black and white. Then I colored them and I thought I had made I mistake: the black and white version was better and I needed to keep coloring to solve the problem. Then I left the drawing sit for few hours, went for a swim, and now, looking back at it, I feel I am happy with it as it is :)

Two lessons re-learnt:

- In drawing, as in life, it is good not to take decisions in the heat of the moment

- In drawing, as in life, your first idea is usually the good one

Into a New World. Finemarkers and color pencils on smooth A4 illustration paper.

Animal Party

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This one started as a couch scribble on a rainy afternoon... But one crazy eye led to a crazy animal who led to another crazy animal and I was having so much fun drawing it that later I had to color it to keep the fun going. Like if I was invited!

Have fun!

Playing Games

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This one is a game. Just for the fun. A game that I used to play with my students the first day of class. Rules are simple: you pick a set of words from a jar, I have five types: nouns (objects, animals, people), adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and nouns designing places. We decide beforehand if we pick one of each, or which word combination we pick (can be two nouns, one verb, one adjective, or two verbs, one noun, one place, etc), and then, just imagine and draw!

For the students it was meant to help them let it go, to lose fear and just draw. For myself it is fun, and sometimes it can be a good way to keep drawing in between projects when I need some mental rest.

So I played. Word combination: two nouns, one verb, one adjective and one adverb. Words coming out were: camel, frog, cleaning, happily, fun. 

And now, after this fun... back to more serious projects!

Next Year

I hope this year you get lots of time to do what you love to do!:) 
Me, when I am not drawing, I like to go out with my dog. 
I wish for myself lots of drawing and lots of runs. 
What do you wish for yourself and yours? 

Running pal

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I think it was in my latest "little girl" post that I said that my dog had brought me closer to nature. This has happened in many ways but the most evident one is the passion we have developed, together, to run and climb mountains. 

More than a year ago, I started doing this just to give us a different walk. Because, really, every day, three times per day, doing the same three walks, for I don't know how many years... Oh, boy, I understand why people stops getting their dogs regular walks! We are lucky to live in the mountains, close to fields, forests and places full with trails with no cars around. So the option was obvious. We started with "special" walks, that then became more regular and longer, that with time became faster, with us running part of the time and which later became a real sport that we practise together. I even ended up having all the special gear, a GPS watch and one of these applications where you can compete with other people who passed by the same trail. 

Now, several days a week, we run and climb together the mountains and forests close by. And how much fun this is. I like the effort up, the speed running down, and the sound of my dog's sleigh bell around. These days, my dog is happy because cooler days are here, I am happy because he cares to wait for me (in Summer he's behind all times), and we both enjoy the mud when it rains :)

Los colores de Jujuy
Jujuy's colours

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This week that I've been back to work and the children to school I've found some calm to draw for my pleasure again. I didn't have a clear idea of what to do, just let the pencil move in the paper. And then this came out. The beautiful and impossible colors of Jujuy. 
I hope I will be back again, to run in those mountains some more, and to draw them some more. Because one cannot ever get enough of them.

Our wild chicken coop

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Last Saturday it was 21 days since one of our hens has been incubating... so you can well imagine that these days there's a bit of excitement going around our chicken coop. We expect, if we are lucky, some little chicks to come out soon! I must say I don't take care of the chickens unless my husband is not around, but these last weeks I've been going over twice a day at least to check on the hen, and now, to see if there's some activity around. So far we haven't been lucky, as we only found an egg with a dead little chick... but there are still 4 to be born, and we keep our fingers crossed!

Today, as I went to check, I stayed a bit longer to draw again the chicken coop... which is, yes, in a quite wild state... 

La médiathèque

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The first time I went to the Esplanade du Lac, this afternoon, I was lucky the médiathèque was open. Such a relaxing experience drawing in this quiet place full of books. Now I am going back to the Esplanade in like 20 minutes, not sure I will be able to draw... but I'll bring my stuff just in case!

Happy Easter !

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Welcome back, Spring!

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After a long winter break, she's back together with the Spring. I didn't do it on purpose, I guess I just had a great and busy winter :) And I guess that I am also happy to welcome back Spring!

A very quick one from yesterday

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Yesterday evening, again back in Gex, as always following my daughter around. But at least now days get longer and, when work allows it (because yes, I also take work with me...) I get to scratch some extra time for sketching! 
This one was made very quickly, because I had 30 minutes, and then the shortcut to the road I wanted to reach was closed, so I had to take the longer way. I had to put the alarm in my cell phone because time was really short. And I wait for my daughter, but I don't like to make her wait for me!
The public library in Gex. Old buildings in Gex are special, aren't they?

After the hailstorm... at home

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Wind, rain, thunderstorms... my dog does not care about anything, he will always want to go out for a walk. And I will take him willingly, because really, everything has its own charm. But I think he liked as much as I did being caught in the hailstorm today. And after that, while some of the children were playing board games, the small one was having his nap, the only thing that felt good for him was to nap too, and for me, to draw again from the sofa, again my living room but probably from a slightly different angle, and probably with more stuff added to the general chaos since the last time I drew it a couple of months ago. 

Click on the image to view it larger

Hotel Bellevue

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This afternoon, while my daughter was in her theatre class, I didn't have to go to the groceries, nor I had anything urgent from work to do, nor I had any important obligation... so I just went and had an infusion in the Hotel Bellevue, in Gex, and sketched until I had to pick her up. Yes, you can say it, what a life! :)

Rainy Sunday

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While my children go on Halloween fever decoration, I get to do some drawing. Inside, at home, because outside it's raining. 

And the day ends...

...as it had started. 
My daughter watching a film in the computer. Me sketching her. The same sofa spot.

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A good start of the day 

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Finally a moment very much needed by everyone of us at home: first morning of school autumn holidays!! This year, the rentrée has been quite charged, we were all tired, and we have all taken this moment very easy. Also myself :)

So while my daughter was building something, and my sons were watching TV, I did this sketch of my son while he was mesmerised by Tom And Jerry. So good to start the day sketching with a hot coffee in my hands. 

A typical Sunday afternoon

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Yesterday I had a lot of fun drawing my husband so today I came back to it. I feel like I found a jackpot for this coming winter!! :D

This is how a typical Sunday afternoon at home looks like: little one takes a nap, the other two play or watch a film, my husband corrects exams or prepares his classes. Myself, sometimes I am working, others doing housework, others sketching! 

Saturday night good deal

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Don't you agree this is a good deal I got myself today: my husband does the dishes, and I draw him :) Today, using something different: a colored paper, and color pencils.