Wrapping up May and a Plug for ICAD

As the title says - here are some projects I worked on this month and haven't shared yet and a plug for ICAD.

 

This quote came up on my screen saver at work and I just had to try illustrating it in my sketchbook.

A friend of ours asked HWNSNBP and I to help her with a project for her son-in-law.  See that poster below, well, she asked us to make that character out of wood and about 4' tall.  I drew a one-inch grid on the poster and then, on the 4' piece of wood (see this post) I added a grid to that in a larger scale so I could draw the character.  HWNSNBP then cut it out with one of his numerous saws.  (It's a running joke in our house that I might die with the most toys, but he has the most expensive ones!) Then we sent the cut piece back to our friend who had someone lined up to paint it.  

Unfortunately, that fell through so it came back to me and I spent a few days painting.  

You can get an idea of the size of it next to my 6'1" husband who now has to add something to this to make it stand alone.  

A birthday card for a May birthday.  I had the image already colored and found it in my stash and thought it was perfect for a May birthday.  I added the embossed panel and the sentiment.

This iris surprised us by blooming this year.  It hasn't bloomed for many years now, but it sure does look pretty.  I think we'll have to move it where it can get more sun and maybe we won't have to wait so long for it to bloom again.

This is a testament to the rainy/damp weather we've had during May.  At first I thought this was a tennis ball on the lawn because that's about the size of the top.  Then upon looking closer discovered it was some kind of mushroom/toadstool.   I can't remember ever seeing any of this color before.

And I just wanted to add a picture, or pictures of the view from the back bedroom in the condo.  On a clear day it could be mistaken for a triptych of paintings.  

Even with clouds it's pretty.  And believe me when I say that there are many birds out there.  Swans, gulls, egrets, ducks, cormorants and more.  Since Sandy came through there are more "green" things growing in the marsh grass and I'm afraid in a few years, those pines will be obscuring most or some of this view.  

 

And to finish off these random things for the month of May with the announcement that ICAD starts tomorrow.  Index Card A Day for the next 61 days sponsored by Daisy Yellow. 

 

 

I would encourage anyone to jump in and give it a try.  You don't have to be an artist but you might find the artist in you.  You don't have to paint or color, you can write prose or poetry, catalog favorite quotations, make lists, share dreams or anecdotes.  The point is to put something on an index card every day for 61 days.  That's right.  Be creative in some way for several minutes every day.  You'd be surprised at the satisfaction that you get for being productive in that way.  At a loss for ideas? There are prompts, but you don't have to use them.  You can find your inspiration anywhere.  Trust me, I've done this for the last three years and found it very rewarding (search ICAD to see previous posts).  No "art" supplies?  Everyone has a pencil and a pen.  I've used highlighters in a pinch, and even stamped a design with cherries.  Go ahead and give it a try - put your creative juices to work.