The Chinese New Year begins January 31, 2014, it is the year of the horse. Throwback to 2010, a pastel collage I created from a collection of newspapers from Philadelphia Chinatown.
Fortune, luck and good things to the New Year!
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But its cold outside….
Happy 2014! Be bold, dare to dream and focus within.
Starting the year off with a return to Creative Everyday Challenge for the month of January. This month’s theme is:
A frigid snow day brought forth a creative fun day. I dusted off my watercolor box, sifted through piles- dug out some paper (ok organization should be my resolution) and created this months challenge.
To learn more about the monthly challenge visit Leah at Creative Everyday
Playground whimsy in the abstract
My creation for Lilla Rogers 2013 Global Talent Search. Theme:The Playground. Idea to create a journal cover design making use of classic play equipment.
Stage 1
pen and color pencil
Wandering inspiration
A weekend spent wandering around Lancaster, Pennsylvania. My husband and I spent time driving around Pennsylvania Dutch Country with a map in hand and no particular place to go. I was inspired by the historic towns, unique shops and sprawling farm land. Along the way I captured some images that caught my eye.
Hope you enjoy the ride….
Lancaster has many covered bridges, 25 to be exact unfortunately we only found one.
Driving through Terre Hill, the delicate iron work at this cemetery caught my eye, had to stop and take a picture – the clouds rolled in, in time for a dramatic shot.
A stop in Litiz. Chocolate! Enough said…….
Fancy teapot display at Wilbur Chocolate Factory. 
Couldn’t pass this up, had to check out the store. 
More information on Lancaster PA:
Creating Simplicity
As November is winding down I am trying to keep up with Art Every Day Month, I haven’t sketched for a few days (ok its been a week) so I am posting some previous sketches.
During a brisk walk in the neighborhood a little leaf less tree caught my eye, it was bare except for a handful of seed pods hanging neatly in a row.
This drawing idea came from a very small doodle I made while writing my morning pages.
#aedm2012
Sketches day 3 and 4
Art Every Day Month (AEDM)
Day 3
I was flipping through a sketch book, and came across a drawing my daughter did, which appealed to me. So I decided to interpret what she sketched into a new drawing, I used color pencils and marker on paper.
This is my daughter’s drawing that I based my sketch. In her words, its “just a scribble”
Day 4
A chilly, grey day. Quick marker sketch in pastel & pencil on paper.
#aedm2012
Take a hike, really!
For my birthday I wanted to spend the day out enjoying the fall weather with my family. Lucky for me there were no complaints when I mentioned a scenic hike at Valley Forge National Historical Park, a great place to explore and a short drive from where we live. So we took a hike – this was our day:
After looking around the visitor center, I managed to convince these two to get off the wall and start walking!
Some of the things we saw on our walk….
Replicated Huts
National Memorial Arch, 1917
Commemorates the “patience and fidelity” of the soldiers who wintered at Valley Forge in 1777-78
Taking in the view near the monument.
A quick snapshot of an old barn/farm house we passed which looks haunted.. Its probably the sun glare.
My daughter had to stop and greet the fuzzy caterpillar, this was the second time she spotted one.
Made our way to Washington’s Headquarters, which was our last stop before heading home. I think she is learning a little something about George Washington.
Old things.
All good things must come to an end and it was a very good day.
Scattered creativity
Trying to accomplish my work, I was eager to complete sketches for a project. As my day progressed my focus seemed a little scattered I felt a jolt of inspiration and this is what happened:
I decided to finally paint over a new shirt that had dirt I couldn’t wash out. I came up with a simple design and using gold fabric craft paint, I painted over the trouble spots.
After a trip to the supermarket to buy only one item, I came across a bottle of vitamin E & coconut oil for $1. Bought it with the bright idea to make my own body lotion. So of course I mixed some up when I got home. Utilizing an empty lotion container, I mixed together, in equal parts, the oils, vaseline and left over sample of vanilla scented lotion. The result.
Needless to say I am still working on my sketches!
Summer sunrise
Beautiful view from the beach in Ocean City, MD. Eager to wake every morning to witness the beauty. Peace, happiness and inspiration, in the quiet of the morning. Now if only I can wake up early everyday with the same joy and eagerness to start the day. 
jennifer barrile 