1/2 with Aya in Mike's

But we ran anyway

"But we ran anyway," page two of an imaginary kids' story. Watercolor. I did the snowflakes and flying snow with both masking fluid and gouache.

Click image to view larger. (The scan isn't great either.)

I am still sick. :-(

Why I should never paint or do art when I am sick (or without sleep, as sickness tends to leave me):

• I made a lot of stupid mistakes. :-(
• I kept leaving the water color palette open when I wasn't using it and then setting my hand or arm or the Mole in it. :-(
• I worked really hard on a sketch for the next piece and then proceeded to totally ruin it beyond redemption so I have to start all over again.

Luckily, this is my own Mole (round 3), hope things improve before the next one.

Pocket Goodie for Ellen

Don't drop dead, folks, but I've finally finished (& photographed) Ellen's book. My slump's over, yay! I'm away from home right now & forgot the download cable for my camera, so I took one pic on my cell to share now. It's an ornament I made for Ellen's pocket. I'll post more when I get home this week... but Aya, I'll be mailing out a book on Tuesday (can't send tomorrow since it's MLK Day, government holiday).

I promise to catch up on my commenting as well. Good luck to the new Round 3 artists. Can't wait to see your work :-)

One Hundred Thousand and Growing: Dead Drum Fish

Hey! Whats Going on?

It was not a good day to run away

First round 3 painting, in my A4 landscape watercolor mole. Watercolor and gouache (snowflakes). Being up with insomnia (and being sick) is probably not the best time to paint--tired! Woozy! Didn't sketch first or look at any references, just painted. Prolly should have not painted the kids dead center. Oh well. Click image to view larger.

Biffybeans: New to The Exchange.

Hi everyone - I'm a new kid on the block.

I write, (blogs & books) make art, (mixed media) teach workshops, (mandalas for personal growth) and play music. (Hand percussion & shekere)

I've made quite a few pieces of mandala art over the last 4 years.1500ish? (Yes... Obsessive, yeah...I know.) Have used many different kinds of media & have been known to mix a few together. Maybe I will put a few mandalas in your books...  We'll see. ;o)

Many of you know me from my blog, Spiritual Evolution of the Bean where I share my art, do lots of product reviews, (writing & art supplies) and talk about life, the universe & everything.

I also write the Rhodia Drive blog for Exaclair,
have a new Etsy Shop(original art)
have a channel on YouYube,
a fan page on Facebook,
loads of pictures on Flickr,
send out the occasional Tweet,
and sell my art prints on Imagekind.

Happy to be a part of this project! 

Round 3 is SET TO GO!

Our last member to join round 3 is Roma Arellano from NM, suggested by Mike.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ybonesy/sets/72157600914933581/
http://romaarellano.etsy.com/


We have 12 members, all in the U.S. this time. Maybe we will have less postal delays?!?

Please check in here when you have your book. Whatever size you want up to A4.

How many pages do you think we should do? 5 seem good? 4 full sheets and then a half page collab on each end for the person you are shipping to and recieving from? That sounds doable to me.

Could everyone ship by Feb 15? That would give us a month.

Thoughts? Comments? Gripes?

Proposed Shipping Order below:

Mike (NM)
Roma (NM)
Gretchsn (CO)
Mary (MI)
Ammon (PA)
Stephanie (PA)
Ellen (DE)
Aya (NY)
Molly (NY)
Claudia (NY)
Ballookey (CA)
Andrea (NV)

Peace & Chaos

A Little Shameless Self Promotion

Some of you are already aware, but I wanted to let those who didn't know, I have a new Moleskine doodle a day project going on over here:
http://art-is-why.blogspot.com/

Would be curious to know what y'all think as the year progresses.

Thanks!

2 more members for round 3, 1 spot left to fill.

Please welcome Biffybeans ...
http://www.biffybeans.com/

You may also know her from ...
http://rhodiadrive.com/

Exciting!

Also, Ellen is still in for round three. Nice!

This is going to be a great group!

Keith Arches Aquarelle

Or should I spell it Aqvarelle?

I painted this on the paper that covers a new pad of Arches watercolor paper. I am going to put it in the pocket of the next full-size mole that comes my way in round 2 or 3 (whichever comes first.) at is 7 x 10 and painted in gouache. There are real (unused) stamps on it. Some are to help mend the tears I made when removing the black cover sheet and others are to balance out those doing a mending job. I was going to use stickers, but couldn't find them. I will come back here later and announce whose mole got this painting. (Click image to view larger).

In Mike's.

794

In Mike's.

New and Returning Members!!

Please welcome new member Molly Peck suggested by Aya.
http://www.mollypeck.com/mollypeck/home.html

Also welcome Claudia Cinquegrana!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/claudiacinque/

Please welcome back Ammon Perry, our ole pal from round one! I could not be more pleased about this.
http://www.doodletillomega.blogspot.com/

That makes 9.
We're cookin' with grease here people!

Three more spots left.

I am in talks with Tommy Kane. I'll admit it, my hopes are up ... but I don't know if he's in.
Oh, I hope. I hope.

Round 3 Roll Call

Hi all. New Year brings a new exchange. Is anyone willing to partake in this insanity again? I know I am, I love it!

Here is what (I think) I know ...

Ash? What say you?

Heidi? What do you think? I know you are behind right now but I have really loved having you in this exchange, so think it over and let us know.

Aya is a go. Yay!

Anders? Whaddya think?

Ellen? I feel like you said yes last time I asked, but confirm or deny please.

Steve has said no. I would love to ask him to change his mind, but if I learned one thing from round two it is if someone is hesitant there is probably a reason and I need to respect that no matter how much I love their art and/or their presence.

Mary is in, yes!

Mike is in, hooray!

Ballookey is in and has recommended a new member!!

Michelle? Where are you girlfriend? I miss you.

Willie? What say ye?

So, that makes 5 in for sure. I'd like to have at least 10, maximum of 12.
Who else loves us enough to go round again?

In addition to that Ballookey has recommended Gretchen!
Go check out her work here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gluoma/
Welcome Gretchen!

More news soon. I need to check my email archives to see who else emailed me about joining and follow up with them.

To the 6 who are a yes ... I want to try and stay more on schedule this year. Can you all commit to giving that the old college try? Motto for the 2011 exchange - SHIP ON TIME!

Has anyone from round 2 gotten their own book back?

2 New Safety Features Against Driver Distraction!

Another drawing from my A3

Just finished it tonight, after not touching this book for almost 3 month.
I started this in a strange day, when Ned and I decided to adopt a dog, visited the shelter and picked one, then had to wait till we are approved for adoption. It was a strange feeling of waiting for my whole life to change and not knowing how.

One of the main way it changed is that I barely had time for myself in those months and most of my attention went to Ginger and to rest from Ginger...

My new year resolution is to go back to at least 2 hours of painting everyday.

Totally Distracted and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have been Driving?

Smoking, Cell Phone, (texting?), Listening to music, and drinking hot coffee?

Moleskine III - started yesterday (cover only) - got bored!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving?

Intexticated and Driving - R.I.P.

Happy New Year! Be Safe... Don't Drink & Drive.

Hey Everybody! Have a wonderful and Happy New Year... Be Safe.