Quiet Space

The week after Christmas has always been a favorite of mine.  It is the quiet space between saying good bye to the old and hello to the new.

The hurry and flurry hopefully has passed. There is time to reflect on what has been and what will be.      

Time to make plans.

Time to dream of places to visit and artistic endeavors to pursue.

Time to explore a new book.

Time to make a list or two.

All of these I did.

What about you?  What does the week after Christmas look like in your world?

Hope it allowed for a bit of quiet space. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year.

Next week - will share my perfect word for 2022.

Maybe you will share yours too.

Hugs

Debbie

..."In quietness and trust is your strength..."  Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

Artful moments

Each day can hold artful moments.
As we all know life happens and time has a way of passing all too quickly.
Sometimes responsibilities and other duties can call us away from finding the hours to create.
It is then that that one may turn to those 15 minute intervals.







 Often quarter of an hour segments can be carved out before going to work or retiring for the evening.   No they may not lead to a finished project in one day but over the course of several days you find yourself making progress.

The old saying "slow and steady wins the race" may not be far wrong.
In fact there may be an advantage to this limitation.   It gives one a chance to come back after a break and have a fresh perspective.

Also when you do have those extra hours to spend painting or pursuing an artistic endeavor - there is a deeper appreciation for that gift of time.


Hope each of you can at least find 15 minutes today for some artful moments.

"for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."   Apostle Paul 's words from Phil. 4:11 (NIV)

Hugs Debbie

A Favorite Winter Spot

Samson

 This has become Samson's favorite winter spot.   The extreme cold has kept him indoors.     He sits here and watches the birds through the glass panes.  It is the perfect place for dozing too.

I haven't caught him reading.  Maybe he does when no one is around.

Pen & Ink Sketch with Watercolor Wash

Did a quick sunflower sketch today.   These cheery flowers always make me think of sunshine and bees buzzing about.  

Well it looks like you know who is getting ready for an afternoon nap.

 So glad you took a moment to visit with us.  Hope all of you are enjoying a favorite winter spot.

Happenings

 Winter may be giving us it's final dance but Mom gave me some spring today.          

                                 

These lovely pink hydrangeas were a "just because I love you" gift.  Something to chase away the last of winter's chill.  May have to get my brushes out and paint a few of the blossoms.


Shelby our new baby is doing well.  Growing like a bad weed.

We are working every day with the lead.

 

Hubby took some quick shots of us stepping out.

 Not a lot of time in the studio but did manage this quick sketch .

 

Used a bit of pen an ink, watercolor and watercolor pencil on stonehenge.   I like this paper.  It takes watercolor washes...has a nice texture for colored pencil, graphite and pen and ink.

 

Well that's all my happenings.    Hope yours are good.   Stop back soon.

God Bless!   

What a wonderful Surprise!

I received a wonderful surprise.   

Laura Moore awarded my blog with the Liebster Award. It was so sweet of her to think of me.

Laura is one of those blogging friends that I hope to meet someday.  She is a very talented watercolor artist residing in the U.K.   

She paints the things I love and does it so well...flowers, landscapes, birds and pieces of nature.   If you haven't stopped to visit Laura's blog - please do.   Thank you dear Laura for awarding me this honor.

With winter on its way out and spring just around the corner I am longing for flowers.  Digging out a photo of bleeding hearts that was shot last May inspired me to do the above mixed media piece.   Raw Sienna ink, watercolors and watercolor pencil were used on hot press paper.   

Bleeding hearts are such a favorite plant.   Their little pink heart shaped blossoms grow tall above their foliage.   They withstand frosty mornings if they are grown in a protected location.   Our woods seems to be a welcome place for them and they thrive here very well.

It will be May before we know it and the cold winds of March will soon be forgotten.    Winter is bidding us farewell.  Soon spring will say hello!  In the meantime let us all find some cheer in knowing the flowers are beginning to awaken from their long nap.  Once again blossoms will dance in the delightful breeze providing nectar to the birds and the bees.

             
                        May all your dreams be sweet!  Have a good night.

A Little Bit of This - a Little of That...

Hi - come on in and visit a bit.   We have been rather bored.  Delighted you stopped by.

Oh Hello - Glad you Stopped For A Visit!

It has been a rainy dismal day and we need some sunshine!  I think our mistress has put the coffee on - smells like a Yuky Hazelnut Brew - {the Master is definitely not fond of it} and neither are we.  For some silly reason she likes a cup every now and again.  There is just no accounting for taste these days.

Ramps

Speaking of taste - she (the mistress) cooked up something new - ramps - now who ever heard of such a thing. The Mr. and Mrs. both thought they were excellent fare.  They chose not to share with us which was quite fine.  The smell left much to be desired.  I believe she cooked them with a few potatoes and served them with Sausage - {we would have liked the sausage}.

A work in Progress

Studies from nature

Early this morning we visited Madam in her studio - she was busy sketching and painting and paid no attention to us.   When she gets in her "zone" we must be still or she will shoo us away.  So silly this painting and drawing she does.  Seems to make her happy.  She turns on a bit of music and starts to sing and in a certain way she leaves us.   We are not quite sure where she goes.   "The lights are on - but no one is home."
She eventually will return and we will get something to eat.  Until she arrives though we have to be good!

Hurry Back!

Very Happy you stopped by - thank you for bringing us a bit of Sunshine!

Welcome to Harmony Hills. This is my first post. I hope to share my art, daily life and make friends along the way.  I hope you will check in regulary and give me feedback.  I love taking photos and hiking outdoors in all kinds of weather so you will find country scenes posted often.


 I am an artist who works mostly with watercolors although I still love doing pen and ink work.   I discovered about ten years ago the love of drawing.  It was as I say " a gift from God".  I had never drawn anything in my life except stick figures and for some reason I started playing around with pen and ink one morning.  It was during my morning quiet time with the Lord ( I have kept a prayer journal for years) that I found myself doodling in my journal .  I had a Thomas Kincaid devotional filled with his lovely paintings and for some reason I started copying one that had a Gazebo.  In looking back now at my doodle I realize it was not all that good but the fact was I'd discovered if I looked, really looked I could make my hand draw what I was seeing.


For a while I was just happy to draw and copy pen and ink  drawings of other artists. I've read since that all of us can draw; it just takes practice and I believe that to be so.   The more I practiced the better I was able to render what was before me.


One day I showed my art to my mom who works with oils and she said that I might enjoy learning to paint.   Due to my day job I knew I didn't want to work with oils because of the mess and clean-up.   Besides I really didn't have a real place to paint and leave my stuff out.  During this period of time I met a lovely lady. She was a client of mine where I worked.   In a casual conversation she mentioned that she was a watercolor artist.   When she showed me her lovely work I was in awe and practically begged her to give me lessons.  She was so gracious and patient with me and really gave of herself during a hard time in her own life.   Her husband had just passed away and she was learning how to live without him.

Later we both said that it was certainly God's hand that lead us together.  A decade later we laugh over all the failed paintings and smile at my early enthusiasm.  What a great friend she has become to me.  I wish all of you out there can be blessed with such a wonderful friend in this life.


Hope you have a lovely day and come back to visit soon.