EDM 18 - View from My Window

The View from My Window
Mixed Media

When I sit in my corner of the sofa, I am close to the patio-doors in our living room. We don't have windows in our apartment, but rather two patio doors, one in the bedroom, and one in the living room. We are on the 10th floor of our apartment building and face the street.

What you see here is my view from my sofa corner. I pulled the curtain back a bit so I could look outside. That is my brown curtain on the right. At the top you see the roof our our balcony (or the bottom of the upstairs balcony). Then you see cloudy sky. The two black areas is my veranda (railing). You can see the tops of buildings between the top and bottom sections of the veranda (railing). At the bottom you see a bit of street and some tree tops between the bottom of the veranda and the floor of my balcony.

I used ink, watercolour, and Derwent Inktense pencils, both wet and dry.

Side-View Mirror

View from the side-view mirror
Watercolour, Ink, and Inktense pencils

This view is from the passenger-side side-view mirror. I was on an errand with Alexander (he was driving) and I looked in the mirror and loved the way the clouds were being reflected on the windows and side of the vehicle.

I took half a dozen photos with my iPhone to remember the moment. None were perfect so I used several different ones, plus my memory, to come up with this image.

Perhaps some day I will recreate this in a large painting.

Every Day in June #12 (EDM #146) - Draw a favorite food

Every Day in June #12 (EDM #146) - Draw a favorite food

Pen and Ink with Watercolour

Truth be known, I actually have many favourite foods, including bananas. I chose a banana because I could draw it without having to get up and getting a real one as a reference.

I like bananas dipped in chocolate (frozen or not) but don't do that very often.  When I was little, my mother would give me banana dipped in white sugar. My friend, Murilo, was telling me he enjoyed a banana microwaved and mashed with cinnamon. I tried it recently and it is good.  My favourite is frozen bananas that I enjoy during the summer during the summer. Sometimes I will blend a frozen banana in a blender until it is the consistency of ice cream. Yum!

Warning: Be careful biting into a frozen banana. It can break your teeth.

Every Day in June #11 (EDM #136) - Draw Something that’s Alive

Every Day in June #11 (EDM #136) - Draw Something that’s Alive

Pen and Ink with Watercolour

Dexter is a conure/parakeet. He loves to steal food and drink from Anthony. Here I have him enjoying Anthony's orange juice.

Dexter tries to sneak some of Anthony's pineapple.

Dexter has some "pasta dinner" in a plate of his own

Dexter is a funny bird and we really enjoy having him living with us. He loves to spend time with Anthony. He also "helps" Anthony read books, sometimes he is a little too helpful.

Here Dexter is helping Anthony read on my HP Touchpad. 

Draw your favourite Tool

Every Day in June Challenge # 2
(and EDM # 16) 

Draw your favourite tool
Pen and Ink and Watercolour

My iPhone. This was a gift from my son. I love it because it was a gift from him and because I used it all the time.

I rarely use it as a phone, but I do text with it. I keep track of my schedule, my contacts and my to-do lists. I also use it as a camera, to look up information, to check online accounts, and to catch up on my reading.

Then there are the APPs! Oh.So.Many.APPs!

I have all kinds of productivity apps, along with other apps.  I even have games, but I rarely use those.

I do

• catch up on my reading with Instapaper and eBook apps. 
• use the Weight Watcher's app to track my points and weight
• use Daily Routines app to keep track of my daily routines
• use Cozi Calendar to keep track of my and my family's schedule
• use Grocery Shopping app to make my grocery list. It also keeps track of prices so I have an idea of how much I'll need to put aside for each shopping trip
• use social network apps (Twitter, Facebook, Google+) when I am bored
• check my email when I am out
• send and receive text messages
• use Ache Break app to remind me to stretch at regular intervals
• use it as a camera to snap quick photos, some for reference for drawings, some family events, and some "just because" I can.

I use the iPhone for more than this, but these are used nearly daily, and some, several times a day.

This is the handiest gadget, ever!

Screen Shots of Some of My Apps on My iPhone:

MAIN SCREEN

The first three apps in the top row are used daily.

These apps are not used very often.

I tend to use the YouTube, Netflix, Shazam, and IMDb more often from this list, than the others, but they are not used daily.

I use these as needed to check my accounts.

These ones are rarely used, except as needed.

I don't often open this group. I get to the camera through a different method.

These ones only get used occasionally  and the top row more than the others.

Always good to know what is happening in the world.

When I am not reading saved articles in InstaPaper, I will come on here and read a book if I find myself in a situation with time on my hands.

I check my mail through the Gmail app. Otherwise, I only use the other apps as needed.

Every Day in May Challenge # 28

Draw a mailbox and write about the most important piece of real world mail you’ve ever received

Ink, Derwent InkTense, and Watercolour

I chose to draw the mailbox I would have if I lived on a farm.

All the outgoing mailboxes are too far from my home for me to casually wander out and draw them. Here is what outgoing mailboxes look like in our city.

Canada Post Mailbox

The incoming mailboxes in our building are functional but boring.

Our Building's Mail Room

At this time, I cannot think of any important real world mail I have received, but I am sure I have received important real world mail at some time in my life.

(Oh, in case you can't guess ... I really like roosters)

Every Day in May Challenge # 26

Draw the ingredients and/or process of a favourite recipe

Ink, Derwent InkTense, and Watercolour

Here is one of my favourite recipes. My family really likes this too. It is delicious and very easy to make.

Every Day in May Challenge # 25

Draw Some Flowers

Ink, Derwent InkTense, Coloured Pencil

I wanted to do some colourful flowers but the ones outside our building were not colourful enough for me. This was from a photograph I took of the flowers at my dad's funeral (July 2010). I really like the colours in this. They are so bright and happy (just like my dad was).

Every Day in May Challenge # 24

Draw something cold or cool.

Ink, Inktense, Watercolour, Graphite

This is supposed to be an ice cube. It is cold. The room is warm. It is melting.

I once heard that ice cubes are difficult to photograph. I just discovered they are also difficult to draw. This was my third attempt at drawing the ice cube. This challenge was challenging.

Every Day in May Challenge # 23

Draw a souvenir of a place you've been.
Write a bit about your memories of the place.

Ink and Watercolour

This is Mr. YaYaYa Bear. He is a karate champion and he loves to sneak into luggage and travel with us. 25 years ago went with us to Quebec City, Quebec for our honeymoon. He is wearing his Quebec pin in this drawing (and photo below). 

Quebec city is very exotic and beautiful. Old Quebec has an old European feel to it. It was a wonderful honeymoon vacation.

Mr. YaYaYa Bear

Quebec City
(click on image)

Every Day in May # 18

Draw a nearby body of water - ocean, lake, pond, river

Ink with watercolour

This is the Thames River that runs through London, Ontario Canada. Yes, we have a "Thames River" too.

This small portion, in my sketch, is near my home.

Another view of the Thames. Click on Image.

Every Day in May Challenge # 15

Draw a traffic sign

Pen & ink, Derwent Inktense, Watercolours

I was not up to going outside today so I drew a parking sign from memory.