ART by Tess Calhoun

Page by Page Journal pages

2011-12-04T23:48:00.001-08:00

Winter ART 2 ATC's and a 5"x6" all in Watercolors

2011-12-04T23:43:00.000-08:00

Doddle Animals.

2011-12-04T23:31:00.000-08:00

Zoo doodles swap, draw a meandering line find an animal then finish the drawing. This was fun and very silly. I drew random looping lines in ink, then turned the ATC card until something came to mind. I colored the animal with Copic brand markers. The background is done in a wash of Daniel Smith Watercolor.

Dancing Miss Bunny Pig?

What if turtles had no shell?

Journal Art

2011-10-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

Art from my watercolor sketch journal and Journal by the page projects. Watercolor, Acrylic and mixed media art.

Acrylic 4 inch by 6 inch painting tittled 'Gate". Created for a "Zen Art " swap.

Kohl as a puppy with a ball in his mouth. 4x4 inch mixed media

4x4 inch mixed media

4x6 inch "Wise Words" swap.

Watercolor Sketch journal page, 6x6 inch page

Watercolor Sketch journal Page,6x6

New Zentangle Art

2011-10-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

Lots of Art

2011-10-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

I really should update this blog more often. I make or work on art of some kind every day. I don't scan it all, I should as I own very little of it. I try can the best before i mail it out but sometimes I get in a hurry and forget. Here is a selection of ATC's All are done with Daniel Smith watercolors on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

Zentangle Tea Cup ornament

2011-07-01T00:17:00.000-07:00

Zentangled Tea cup ornament pattern

finished Zentangled Tea cup Ornament

Tea cup ornament is 2 sided with a pocket to hold a small gift. I included a wrapped bag of tea in this one. The tea cup is shown against a cutting mat with a 1x1 inch grid. It is made of card stock and approximately 3 by 3 inches . It is folded on the bottom, glued on the side leaving the top open.

Multimedia ART

2011-06-08T00:27:00.000-07:00

Zentangle hand Ornament

"Phoenix Eggs" Mixed media Acrylic paint and collage. 8"x10"

"Queen of Lace" mixed media collage ATC

"Red Tea Pot 1" Watercolor ATC

"Red Tea Pot #2 Watercolor ATC

More New ATC ART

2011-06-08T00:15:00.000-07:00

Decorated Eggs

2011-06-08T00:04:00.000-07:00

Tatting

2011-06-07T23:56:00.000-07:00

I learned to Needle Tat lace years ago but haven't in a long time. My major New Years Resolution is to use up as much of my stored Arts and Craft supplies as I can. Way to much of my stuff still remains in boxes from moving 6 years ago. I recently unpacked my tatting thread and needles. Here are a few of my most recent pieces. Bookmarks are small medallion motifs with a tail or ribbon attached. I like to give them away as gifts.

Bookmark

Scrunchie in progress

Hair Scrunchies are a favorite of mine. I still often wear my hair pulled up into a pony tail. These are easy to make.

Yellow Scrunchie 1

Yellow Scrunchie #2 just like #1

Recent ATC

2011-06-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

Plums

Cracked egg with Bandages. Silly ATC for Easter

Barn Owl Chicks

More Barn Owls

Another Pear.

Black Fancy Goldfish.

Blue Fairy Penguin in a sweater after being rescued from oil spill.

Bowl of grapes

Bull Frog

Cherries with Plums

March ATC's

2011-03-11T01:19:00.000-08:00

Journal pages and other art

2011-03-11T01:15:00.000-08:00

Inside Passage Cruise to Alaska July 2010

2011-01-13T18:59:00.000-08:00

In mid July we took a cruise up the coast from Seattle, Washington to Alaska trough the "Inside Passage." To see The Coastal Glaciers and Glacier fileds.

I carry a messenger style shoulder bag with my field art kit in it. It always has a 6 inch by 9 inch Watercolor sketch book in it. Anytime I have 20 minutes or more to wait for something I get it out and sketch. These sketches I did aboard ship. I took hundreds of pictures as well, to many to post. We also had several port excursions where I only used the camera.

My suitcase, All ready to go.

Waiting for the safety drill to start on deck the the first day.

Food is a big deal on a cruise. Meals are lavish and formal.

A pencil and sketch book in hand is a great diet aid on a cruise. A Pencil in hand keeps the food on the plate.

View of an Island at Breakfast on 7/17/2010

A Fishing Troller on the horizon the same day.

Runoff from the Glacier Icefield 7/19/2010

Sunset at 10:30pm

Coastal WC sketch 7/20'2010

Dandy the Wonderdog at my feet in one of the Ships lounges.

Images of the Variety show Stage and ceiling lights 7/22/2010

Our ship with the Olympic Peninsula Mountain

range above the fog in the background.

My Dogs

2011-01-13T17:12:00.000-08:00

My Dogs Kohl and Dandy. Kohl is the larger one. He is half Australian Shepherd and half Golden Retriever . Dandy is half Miniature Pincher and half Chihuahua. Both are trained Mobility Assistant Service dogs. They both do specific tasks for me. As service dogs I can take them every where with me. I generally take one or the other depending on what I mostly likely need assistance with. Dandy picks small items up and is great for retrieving art supplies that I may drop. Kohl is best for assisting me in getting around he can carry small parcels and pulls me up out of chairs. They both have gone to Art and Science Fiction Conventions, Museums, Restaurants and many other places I go. Dandy doesn't get to go as often as Kohl does now that he is getting older and his back knees are showing signs of wear. He did get to go on our Alaska Inside Passage Cruise to see the Glaciers last July. I will post scans of my Watercolor Sketch Book of the trip in another post. On a cruise ship small is best so Dandy got to go instead of Kohl. He was the only dog on the ship and everyones darling. He spent a lot of time being therapy dog for all those missing their pets at home.

Dandy and Kohl, Mid Summer 2010

Dany wearing an anti- bark collar

Kohl

Winter...

2010-12-14T12:50:00.000-08:00

We had snow mid November a few days before Thanksgiving. It was pretty for a few days and left. Its been mostly just wet since. A very wet winter has been predicted and so far thats all it is. We have had a few really cold nights but mostly a typical Whidbey Island winter consisting of wind rain and overcast with moderate temperatures. This time of year still requires a few "Snowy" themed ATCs.

From my Watercolor Sketchbook Journal

2010-12-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

Examples of watercolor sketch journal pages.
I start with a sketch then add water color, usually a wash on dry paper. I am often doing this outside of the house and the only water is what I am able to carry with me. Usually only a few ounces. This is where wc pencils and a water brush is handy. I often draw while out and when I am back home I use my regular set of watercolors and brushes.
Food and whatever I have to look at in front of me on the ferry to and from the mainland are frequent subjects.

snowflakes for Swap-bot New Fangled Zentangles and More group

2010-11-27T04:40:00.000-08:00

This file is to big to properly show up on the swap page so here it is. Hopefully those thinking about joining the swap will have a better understanding of the instructions with this scan. The snowflakes are not complete yet. I intend to add sparkles, mount on decorative paper with a scalloped edge and finish with a ribbon hanger.

Halloween ART

2010-10-16T02:10:00.000-07:00

Collage

Fantastic Spider in a web, Watercolor and ink

Collage

jCollage

These ghost ATC's are collage. They are layers of paper and plastic with jell pens. The scans cant show how dimensional the cards are. The forward ghost seems to float in front of the back ground ghost. They are available for trade.

Collage

Watercolor

Jell pen

Collage

More new art

2010-10-16T02:01:00.000-07:00

Bartlett Pear ATC, watercolor

Gourds and pumpkin ATC, watercolor and ink

Green Squash, 4x4 inch watercolor and Inktense pencils

Field of Pumpkins 4x4 watercolor

New art, lots of it

2010-10-16T01:48:00.000-07:00

Wow I haven't updated this blog since May. Lots has happened. I spent most of my time training my puppy, drawing, painting and managing my Swap-bot groups. Vacation was a 10 day cruise to Alaska to see the glaciers before they all disappear. I have lots of pages of watercolor sketches of food. I will scan them soon and upload them here. Food is a major activity on a ship. Seeing the glaciers was incredible. We took Dandy my 10 pound wonder dog. Few believe he is a service dog until they see him work. He got lots of chances to chase after my pens aboard the ship. He was also the ships unofficial therapy dog for both passengers and crew. Everyone who had left a cherished pet at home wanted to pet Dandy and get their "dog fix." He heard "he is so cute" so many times he would go into his "pet me" position without being told by the 3rd day.
I finally wore out a Mac. I knew the Mini Mac was getting tired, It was over 5 years old. I had upgraded its OS last year and recently transferred most of my files to an external hard drive. It just kept getting slower and slower. One day it was having trouble and I gave it a restart command and well it couldn't do it. All its magic smoke had evaporated and it died. I had it checked out at the Mac store and they confirmed it was dead. I came home with a new Mini Mac. I did loose a lot of scans I had just prepared to transfer when It died. Oh well It was only a months worth of work, about 40 pieces. Here is what I have done most recently.
This group was for a fall theme swap.

3 Gourds, 4x4inches, watercolor

Pumpkin and a Gourd ATC

Pumpkins at the Fence, 4x4 inches, watercolor

Apple Tree ATC

Bartlett Pears 4x4 inches, watercolor

Bin of Pumpkins ATC

Fall Blackberries ATC, Inktense pencils, watercolor

Fall leaves, watercolor and Inktense pencils

Fall Field, watercolor and ink

Fall Fence, ATC

4 Pumpkins ATC

Bartlett Pear ATC

2010-06-02T03:23:00.000-07:00

Zentangle collage; cut up zentangles that didn't work, or had mistakes, chewed on by puppies etc. Assemble and glue on a new page. Embellish and zentangle a bit more, new art.

2010-06-02T03:12:00.000-07:00

White on black Zentangle

2010-06-02T03:10:00.000-07:00

Art Journal pages

2010-06-02T03:07:00.000-07:00

Flower ATC's

2010-06-02T03:06:00.000-07:00

Art journal page for a friend.

2010-06-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

3 crystal balls for a themed ATC swap "Magic"

ATCs

2010-05-02T01:27:00.000-07:00

More New Art

2010-05-02T01:13:00.000-07:00

4x6 watercolor Mandala

Cascade Mts and Spring Meadow 4x4 inches, watercolor

Watercolor ATC.

New Art

2010-05-02T01:09:00.000-07:00

Now for New Art :This one is a greeting card I made for a friend. We have Bald Eagles nesting near where I live. The image is as if your standing in the forest and look up through the trees and see a pair of Eagles silhouetted in the shy above you.

Lots of News

2010-05-02T00:41:00.000-07:00

My Achilles Tendons are finally starting to heal after along battle with severe txendentis. I haven't been able to walk without pain for nearly a year. Walking is my preferred form of exercise. I live in a very beautiful and rural part of Washington State. Its a shame not to be able to explore its natural beauty. I'm still in backless shoes but able to walk about 2 miles of flat road way with the dog. No hills yet.

I have a new dog, a Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd mix. He is now 4 months old and on his way to becoming my mobility assistance service dog. He is very smart and eager to learn and has a need to please. He looks like a black Golden Retriever with a tiny bunny tail. He will learn to fetch items and carry things for me in a doggy pack saddle. He will also be able to help me up out of a chair when needed and steady me when walking. So far he knows his name, my whistle, sit, and lay. We are still working on fetch he will go after what I send him for and bring it back to me some times. Sometimes he wants to play with the item first. So far he think "stay" is not so fun to do. By next spring we will be going to the city park and drawing the sail boats mored in the harbor.

2010-03-09T23:35:00.000-08:00

This is My February Art quilt journal block. It is another Crazy Quilt block. It will become a page in a book of quilts at the end of the year. March will be green.

2010-03-09T23:34:00.001-08:00

Another Ornament swap.

2010-03-09T23:27:00.000-08:00

New Art doll swap. It will be Goddess Paper Dolls. Use a shape the coordinator chooses each month. This is the one I made for March.

She is wrapped in a beaded ribbon representing rivers, She is dressed in gilded flowers of the field on hand made paper.

2010-02-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

This one is called Fruitbowl. Its 4 inches by 4 inches. I painted it for the Watercolor Swappers Group Swap. It's a swap we do once a month or so. This time of year I crave fresh fruit. Probably because its out of season. Mid winter I always long for the warm long days of summer.

New ATC watercolors

2010-02-21T01:10:00.001-08:00

I painted this group of ATC's with my new Daniel Smith watercolors. I bought the transparent set for christmas. They work much different than my old watercolor set which is a semi permanent /transparent set of Winsor & Newton in a field kit.

Nothing like learning to paint all over again. I can't say ones better than the other as both are considered professional quality. I lke using them both, they are just different. On the plus side for the Daniel Smith is that they have many more colors and types and levels of saturation for their water colors and have them grouped in sets as well as available individually. They are on line and local to Seattle, WA

New journal pages

2010-02-21T00:55:00.000-08:00

I'm contributing to 3 art journals. They are basically sketch books with graphics and text. Two of the journal art journals are themed , I have a month to contribute 4 pages of art and text. The third I have several weeks to fill with as much art as I can at least 30 entries. I will then send it off and I will receive one in return. The idea is to share a bit of your life, inspire your swap partner and make a friend. I don't know if I will do this again but I am enjoying so much I have started an art filled journal for myself. Its more than just a sketch book its daily pictorial observations of bits of my universe and more. Here is one of my pages so far.

2010-01-24T01:02:00.000-08:00

New year long project.

Art quilt journal pages. Once a month I will be making a quilt, notebook page sized. The theme is "The Controlled Chaos That Is My Life" My life is often like a snowball taking a spiral path through the forest. As it travels down the hill to the beach, collecting and loosing things that it picks up as it travels.

Each of the monthly quilts will be a crazy quilt made with fabric I have collected through out my life. It will have things sewn on it I have made. Things I have collected over time to make projects I've never gotten around to making. The back of each will have a pocket. When the year is done I will put grommets on one edge of the quilt pages so they will go into a suitably decorated binder. I will then use the pockets in the quilted pages for keeping next years projects sorted and the small pieces together.

Here is January

Winter Wonderland

2010-01-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

The FineARTsATC group I belong to just had a 4"x4" swap. Mine are all watercolors.

Something New in Zentangles

2009-12-27T14:29:00.000-08:00

Zentangle 3.5" square college using recycled wrapping paper background and bits and pieces of zentangles.

another Winter Wonderland Watercolor

2009-12-26T23:03:00.000-08:00

I like snowmen with attitude that makes me smile.

More Practice painting snow

2009-12-17T22:34:00.000-08:00

I found a great photo of tree trunks and the shadows they cast on snow. It made for great inspiration for another try at representing snow in watercolor ATC's.

New Watercolor Technique

2009-12-04T02:46:00.000-08:00

Im trying to learn how to use masking techniques for painting snow or as it were not painting snow. In watercolor painting white is normally the absence of paint. Frisket or masking fluid can be a wonderful tool in achieving striking contrasts and in the use of light or white in a painting. Its far from easy especially when your teaching yourself how to use it from trial and error and instructions from books. I've taken 4 or 5 semesters of watercolor at a JC years ago which is like nothing in vast capacity of what what watercolor paint will do.

I belong to an ATC swap group for trading in "Fine Art" styles. Pretty much anything hand drawn, hand painted is swapped mostly one to one in the ATC format of 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. However quarterly as a group we do 4 inch by 4 inch pieces. The current group swap is "Winter Wonderland." I want to do flowers in the snow. Pansies peaking out of new snow, snow ladden rose hips etc... I decided it was time to finally learn how to use liquid mask. I had a bottle left over from College well yeah it was very old. It tore the paper and smelled bad. I tossed the torn painting and tossed the bottle. I bought 2 new bottles of good brand name bottles. Each has a slightly different consistency. The first one was hard to put on the paper just where I wanted it and it tore my paper when removed. The second I think I can learn to use. All of these are over worked and clumsy but each is better than the last.

2009-11-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

I belong to a Dotee doll swap group. I made this one for a "Christmas Dotee" swap. Her name is Eve and is for LauraAnn

There are always new Zentangles Zentangle based Art

2009-11-23T04:08:00.001-08:00

Zentangle ATC's

A book mark made from a fragment of a larger Zentangle called Puget Sound sea life.

2009-11-23T04:04:00.000-08:00

Teabags on a plate.

Tattered spider web outside my bedroom window.

2009-11-23T04:03:00.001-08:00

Stilton blue cheese wedge

New ATCs

2009-11-23T03:57:00.000-08:00

I call the first one Snow Peeps the secondone Noseysmile

Watercolor on 140 lb, all cotton WC paper

Art Journal Round Robin Page, Angels

2009-11-23T03:55:00.000-08:00

Fun Art

2009-10-31T23:32:00.000-07:00

Zentangles. assorted sizes. I have decided that the suggested size of a 3.5 inch square is best. Larger and they take to long and if a true zentangle I fall asleep.

More Art...

2009-10-31T23:24:00.000-07:00

4"x4" water colors

2009-10-31T22:42:00.000-07:00

More Round Robin Art Journal Art

Angel on wing and Earth Goddess.

Art Journal Round Robins

2009-09-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

Art Journal Round Robins are new to me. How it works is a circle of people work in each others sketch books and then pass on to the next person. In the swap RRs that I am in I have a month with a journal then I send it to the next person. Some are themed some are not. I'm currently in 2 RR's. The first is you take the last page done and take an element from it and include it in the first page you do. Then you do 3 or 4 more pages in your own style. The second one Is themed. Mine is change; use the word in any way shape or form you want. here are my pages so far.
The button fairie is removable and is an art doll Amulet. Behind her is a sketch of her so she remains even if she fly's away.

2009-09-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

I have been busy with swap bot. I now co-own a water color swap group and own a Zentangle group. This one is for a Zen Pumpkin swap. The Fish is a one for one 4"x4" swap in the Water color swappers group.

2009-09-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

Front and back of a "Quiltie" I recently made. Quilties combine traditional quilting with embellishment styles borrowed from ATC collage.

2009-09-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

This Zentangle is 5"x 7" and when cut into quarters it becomes 4 ATCs.

2009-09-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

This fish is going to be the example pic for a swap I am hosting in Swap-bot. Its a 4"x4" painting on a 5"x4" inch piece of water color paper. The one inch margine is for notes and binding in a "Fat Book."

2009-09-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

One of my Dotee dolls I recently did. They are fun and easy to make. They are 4-6 inches in length and have a loop at the top and a tail. the tail is usually a string of beads. Though simple the "Dotee" doll is very versatile in creative expression. This one is "Pansy."

2009-08-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

This is the cover to the meditation Journal circle Im in. Its a circle of 5 artist we each pick a subject related to creativity, our art for the theme of our journal then we each do a page for each other guided by the subject chosen for each journal. Mine is "Seeking the Muse," If you know what inspires your creativity you will never have a creative block. The image has a mirror imbedded in its center. Yes it commands "look inside" We start the circle Sept. 1.

I haven't made up my mind as to what my page for my journal will like. Its only a 4x4 inch format to work in. Primal imagery, nature always inspires me. Its how to illustrate this now. I will of course post it here when Its done.

2009-08-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

This is a doodle on yellow card stock. I used Sharpies brand fine point markers. it was fun, I may do more maybe a pear, banana a bowl of fruit would be great in this style.

2009-08-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

During our recent heat wave my brain fried. My fractured sense of humor oozed silly stuff like this plate of Muscles topped with Ice cream like a Sundae.

2009-07-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

2009-07-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a couple of new Zentangles. They were done in a 5x7 format then cut. Water color with high lights and permanent ink.

2009-07-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

I have lots of new art to show off. Unfortunately its all been traded. Its all eye candy all the same.

2009-06-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite pets I liked to draw and paint was an Albino Garter Snake. I had her in a tank for several years. she was out growing her tank and I was planning on replacing it with a larger one. This was 2 weeks ago, before I could replace her tank she tried for an escape. She was pinched on the neck by the lid to her tank. She had not been pinched in the lid long before I found her and she seemed to be o k . She had no outward signs of injury. A week ago she unexpectedly died. I cleaned her tank and tunnel tubes and packed them away. Yesterday Mother nature presented me with another baby Garter snake while I was gardening. It was under a rock between the rock and a hard place. This one is a regular garden variety Garter Snake with common coloring and marks. They look like a shred from a blown automobile tire. The members of the household have named it Streaker. It now lives in the tank I had the other one in. It's so tiny, about 9 inches long and about the diameter of a pencil it will be happy in it for many years. Once it is used to its surroundings I will be drawing it.

hugs,
Tess

recent art traded

2009-05-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

I recenty did these for a trade themed Abstract. sthey are my usual Inkbrush and water colors

2009-05-25T13:48:00.003-07:00

This is a triptych I did for the FineArtATCsOnetoOne Yahhoo Group. Its the Olympic Peninsula in early spring as seen from my living room window.

2009-05-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

May WTA I made for Cindy.

Rainier Cherry on a Lemon custard tart.

Its India Ink and Ink Brush Pens on paper.

2009-05-22T22:46:00.000-07:00

This is a scan of a "Jam," a collaborative piece of art. It's a 3 way Jam. First person does the background on 3 ATC's then sends them on to the second person who adds to the art on each one then sends to person number three, who then finishes them. Then we each get one. Some Jams are done so each ATC is identical other jams are a theme. I do everything by hand. I cant do exactly a like. I do try my best though. I am number 2 on this jam. I can't wait to see how number 3 finishes these.

2009-05-22T22:43:00.001-07:00

Ive been having software problems. I upgraded the OS on my desk top computer. This should have been a good thing. Well only sorta now some of my older software wont run. I can't easily scan my art to up load until I get a new copy of PhotoShop Elements 6. I was running version 2 so yeah its time to upgrade it too.

2009-05-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

Lots going on I finally found a couple of hand drawn, hand painted only ATC groups. I wont be leaving any of the traditional ATC groups I belong to but I now have more options. Also a couple of them are getting a clue and even the traditional collage style ATC groups are dropping the number of ATCs in group trades. I am now seeing more 3/3 and 3/4 trades instead of the 6/7 or higher ones. I am enjoying having Mortain live with us more and more as time goes on. She does a lot of the house work that used to take up my creative time and also make my chronic pain so I couldn't be creative even if I had the time. Here are my latest water color ATCs they will also be posted to FineArtATCsOnetoOne

2009-05-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

Gosh lots going on , I joined a bunch new ATC groups in an attempt to find one that is more into hand drawn and hand painted . I wish group owners would be more informative on their front page. I also dropped a few right after joining. After the dust has settled I still haven't found a group that is mostly for hand drawn and or hand painted. I do know a lot of ATC artist do this. Its not hard to find examples of it on line. Maybe in a couple of months I will start hosting hand drawn , hand painted swaps in my favorite group which does have a lot of diversity in its artist styles. Here are a couple of my latest in the not for everyone categories.

2009-04-25T02:35:00.000-07:00

I recently started doing Swap-bot trades. Its fun its direct swapping for the most part. One on one swaps. Lots of variety in swapping. I've done ATCs of course, theme Inchies, fabric squares and bags of tea. Lots of international trading. Here are a couple of the ATCs I have traded with Swap-bot.

Art Doll

2009-04-15T00:19:00.000-07:00

I tried my hand at an art doll today. For those that don't know what one is, it's a jointed paper doll. A paper doll for a woman not a girl. They take a while and cutting small pieces of card stock is painful for me. Also making 5 of something is beyond my attention span. 3 and I get board. I managed to do it and I like them. This ones theme was hero or heroine, a super hero type. Mine is Heloise the heroine of house wives . She wears chocolate brown leather and is armed with a feather duster and dark chocolate to save the day.

2009-04-13T23:01:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with swaps from the various ATC groups I belong to. I haven't had time to just make any spontaneous ones. I have a long list of subjects I want to do. The fruit trees are blooming and they look like they are covered in popcorn. I want to draw and paint them but not until I get the group trades done. I have started drying flowers for use on ATC's. I received one recently in a trade that had pressed flowers on it. It inspired me to try my hand at it. I have one left of the first 4 I made. I will be doing more.

More New Art...

2009-04-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Its been raining a lot. Puget Sound , Western Washington State is wet most of the time. The winds been making our "liquid sunshine" less appealing than usual. This was created in response to it.

2009-04-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

Fire flies in a Jar. I did this for a swap titled "A bugs life." Fire Flys are an incredibly ugly bug. What makes them interesting is that they glow. Its a chemical reaction in their bodies. I painted Illustration board with paynes grey acrylic paint for the "at night" back ground. I did the rest in metalic and India Ink. I made this extra one for a one on one trade. its still available.

new ATCs

2009-03-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

"Whipped Cream" ink on paper for trade. A bowl of whipped cream in a Zentangle style. No calories just relaxed fun.

2009-03-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

"How My Dog Eats" ink on paper, for trade. While surfing through images on line. I found a pic of a dog bowl that had just half of the bottom covered with kibble. It was as if measured. It gave me the the ida to end the phrase with "is like reading tea leaves. It is as he always leaves just a few kibble in interesting patterns on the bottom of his dish.

2009-03-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

"Blue Berries" Inks on paper, for trade. It started out as an idea for a Zentangle. It took all day and was not at all zen. This has now been traded.

New ATCs

2009-03-23T11:52:00.001-07:00

"Sparkle Kitty" is for trade. She is lightly stuffed print fabric mounted on a fabric covered card.

icelandic Poppy

2009-03-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

One should never leave a National Geographic laying around me. Especially when I've got pens and or pencils on me. While sitting in the Dentists office waiting for Fleetwolf to get his tooth pulled I drew and inked this ATC. I finished it while fixing dinner. Its water color and ink. Traded

Doggy Biscotti

2009-03-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made Doggy Biscotti, home made dog cookies. I had left over chicken soup and I didnt want to throw it out and it was very good tasting and I figured it would make a very good base for "Doggy Biscotti." I whizzed the very meaty soup in the food processor added carrots, flax meal, peanut butter, potato starch and whole wheat flour. I rolled it out in finger sized logs and cut it in to small bites for the little dog and 2 inch thick logs for the bigger dogs. I cut the large logs into 1/2 slices then baked on a cookie sheet for 30 min at 375 degrees. I then dried them in the oven at 300 degrees for 2 hours. The dogs love them. I think they taste pretty good as well.

Introduction: Tess Calhoun

2009-03-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

I'm an artist and shareing my art with others is the reason for this Blog. I have a long history with visual art. The first time I went to college for a degree in Fine Art was 1973. I've gone back to school several times since but have not achieved that piece of paper that means little on its own. My artistic interests have been in Hand Spinning, weaving, figure drawing, ceramic sculpture, fiber art, soft sculpture, Watercolors, knitting, crochet and what ever looks shiny this week in the arts and craft stores. Early this year I re discovered Artist Trading Cards, ATCs for short. I love the small format, its great for quick studies of everything. I draw, or paint what ever strikes my fancy in a 2 1/2 in by 3 1/2 inch format. I mostly use water colors and ink. I occasionally will do a collage / assemblage style ATC. You will get to see what I have created here and why. I paint a lot of Fancy Goldfish and Koi. I draw and paint what ever strikes my interest. Give me an idea and I will usually run with it. I draw a lot of Zentangle doodles. I do them to center and ground before doing other drawings and paintings. Some come out well enough to post as ATC's for trade. I belong to several on line ATC trading groups and regularly trade my ATCs. I will be posting pics. of my art soon. To contact me about trading ATC's : Theredpony2001@yahoo.com. or if you want to talk to me : YIM Theredpony2001