Tiny Owl Creates

I had a lot of fun with this one, adding texture to the feathers and especially the details on the beak. This bird has seen a lot of action! #wildlifeart

Border Collie sketch - graphite pencil ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #dog #petportrait #animalartist #dog #petportrait #animalartist #drawing #graphitedrawing #dogdrawing #catdrawing #animaldrawings #animals #animalovers #doglover #Sketching #Sketchbook #TinyOwlCreates @tinyowlcreates https://www.instagram.com/p/ByVtYJXgO0n/?igshid=5lzl5clsoqdu

The dog days of summer - a fun sketch I made today. 🐶🐕🐩 .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #DogDrawing #petportrait #dog #dog #petportrait #animalartist #drawing #graphitedrawing #dogdrawing #animaldrawings #animals #animalovers #doglover #Sketching #Sketchbook #TinyOwlCreates @tinyowlcreates https://www.instagram.com/p/ByTlgoegxOJ/?igshid=1afjwmc35caeh

Just completed week 2 of #The100DayProject on Instagram. This week is the detailed drawing of the Great Gray Owl in graphite pencil.

Finished! #GreatGrayOwl In Flight, graphite on paper, 2019. Week 2 of the project is complete - only 86 more days to go! This was an unexpected project - I didn't expect to finish a drawing. Next week I'll transfer this onto watercolor paper and paint him! I hope you aren't tired of him - one more week...⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #The100DayProject #TinyOwlCreates100Days #TinyOwlCreates100DayProject #100Owls #100DaysOfOwls #Owls #OwlIllustration #OwlArt #DrawingIdeas #Drawing #Illustration #ArtistOnInstagram #NatureIllustration #Watercolor #WatercolorPainting #BotanicaIllustration #Sketching #Sketchbook #TinyOwlCreates @tinyowlcreates #BlackwingPencil #DanielSmithWatercolor https://www.instagram.com/p/BwPV4xjhPEx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=iegasp1td3nj

I'm so happy that I accomplished week one of the project. Only 94 more days to go! Here are the sketches from this week - you can also find them in my Instagram feed below. If …

I don't know if it's because we're at the tail end of winter or something else, but I have felt myself sliding into a creative slump. So to shake things up I've decided to participate in The 100 Day Project here on Instagram., which kicks off today. My project is to illustrate owls because I love those creatures, and I want to improve my wildlife drawing/painting skills. So here's the plan: Monday thru Thursday, I work in my sketchbook working out ideas and such; Friday thru Sunday I paint. I'll add progress photos here and post the finished piece at the end of the week (Sunday). My supplies for this project are #BlackwingPencils , mechanical pencils and #DanielSmithWatercolors on various paper substrates.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #The100DayProject #TinyOwlCreates100Days #TinyOwlCreates100DayProject #100DaysOfOwls #Owls #OwlIllustration #OwlArt #DrawingIdeas #Drawing #Illustration #ArtistOnInstagram #NatureIllustration #Watercolor #WatercolorPainting #BotanicaIllustration #Sketching #Sketchbook #TinyOwlCreates @tinyowlcreates #BlackwingPencil #DanielSmithWatercolors https://www.instagram.com/p/BvwhIJXh3bR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xthfdrxgqe6q

Thought I’d revisit a past project for Throwback Thursday – the last one in February 2019!⠀ .⠀ I made this sketchbook in 2014 for my then-online-shop The Whimsical Rustic. I saw that fabric of all the paint swatches at a local quilt shop and was inspired.⠀ .⠀ The fabric is backed onto tissue paper using a slightly easier, supply-friendly method than the traditional Japanese paper backing method I was taught during my apprenticeship. (I’m a trained conservation bookbinder.)⠀ .⠀ I used Stonehenge cream drawing paper for the textblock, and the binding stitch is the Celtic Weave from one of my Keith A. Smith books – Non-Adhesive Binding Vol. 3 Exposed Spine Sewing.⠀ .⠀ The sketchbook was purchased by an artist in the Southeastern United States. I imagine it filled with wonderful illustrations – living its best sketchbook life! ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #tbt #throwbackthursday #bookarts #bookbinding #artistbook #book #sketchbook #handmade#drawingideas #drawing #illustration #artistoninstagram #natureillustration #watercolor #watercolorpainting #botanicalillustration #sketching #sketchbook https://www.instagram.com/p/BucVp4RhywG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12vxxjw0nxayz

Years ago I hopped on the bullet journal train and it changed the quality of my practice (it changed the quality of a lot of projects). It's a system that is completely flexible and combined with SMART goals, very clear and easy to follow. Despite my love of project management software (looking at you Basecamp, Trello and Asana - *big kiss*), I couldn't get anything done without my Bujo. Click the link in my bio to read about how I organize my bullet journal and create SMART Goals to increase the quality of precious practice time. #artpractice #bujo #art #SMARTgoal #goals #artgoals #drawing #sketching #natureillustration #artistsoninstagram #bulletjournal #creativity #illustration #sketchbook #tips https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPIWfVhg9I/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=507xr8uea4uy

Here's a secret: Most of those in the art historical canon practiced and practiced to become the masters they are regarded as today. On the blog I discuss how you can practice your way to become talented. Check my bio for the link. #talent #creativepractice #makingart #artistoninstagram #natureillustration #illustration #art #drawing #sketching #sketchbook #naturalhistorydrawing #selfcare #wellness https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs9RpDihBES/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ctyekk60oliz

I am cranking out content for the next two months, and this is too good not to tell anyone about now! I just finished writing an email about sketching on the go and I'm giving my email list the pattern to this fantastic field kit that I made eons ago out of canvas and an old sofa cushion. It has been my trusty companion on trips, to my job, in waiting rooms, hiking, etc. Join my email list now so you can get the pattern too! I'm sending it out Feb 7. Link is in my bio. #art #sketching #travelsketching #drawing #illustration #artfieldkit #fieldkit #natureillustration #pleinair https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs6a2CIhu31/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18b20mnv9lq8h

Since childhood, I’ve had a love affair with trees. Maybe it was all those camping trips among the California Redwoods, or perhaps it’s because the oak trees on my street seemed to whisper to each other every time the winds whipped through there leaves. Who knows? 🌳 But I can tell you that if you quiet yourself, really make yourself still, and put your hands on a tree trunk, you can feel it vibrate with life. 🌲 They’re special in the way they can reach for the Earth’s core and at the same time reach for the sun, drawing energy from both. 🌴 2019 is a year to try to be a tree - centered between heaven and earth. #happynewyear #art #nature #tree #drawing #graphitedrawing #sketching #sketchbook #illustration #natureillustration #artistsoninstagram #woods #woodlands https://www.instagram.com/p/BsJYzN-BYCJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1datmvjafity5

My #topnine of 2018 - thank you all for the love! I’m very excited about the new year - lots of art making and something you are going to love is launching!! 👩🏻‍🎨 #9best2018 #topnineof2018 #nature #pets #art #illustration #natureillustration #drawing #sketching #sketchbook #artistsoninstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BsBaddjB9ys/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19zlm7w3flqcu

I’m setting the intent to do much more sketchbook work (#newmoon yeah I know I’m late!) I’m very focused #trees lately - bark, leaves, etc. These are #oak - I have red and white in the surrounding forest but not black oak and I want to see one in person (or rather many...) very much (road trip!!) 👩🏻‍🎨 I get so caught up in the end result, the finished product - and with that can come pressure to “get it right” - when the real work is the process - experimentation, discovery, taking the time to look closely, etc. 👩🏻‍🎨 This is what the sketchbook is for! So here I am with pencil & book paying attention to process and not worrying about the outcome! #art #illustration #natureillustration #natureart #acorn #sketchbook #forest #woodland #drawing #graphitedrawing #artistsoninstagram #thoughtsonlife https://www.instagram.com/p/BrLKR8-HYNy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8xxf2oyu38vc

More tree root sketching. Now that autumn has exhausted itself and a few Nor’easters have denuded the trees and exposed the roots on the forest floor I am LOVING drawing these interesting structures. 🌲 An issue I have - and it’s common to a lot of people - is not going dark enough in the shadows. I do two things - first if I can step away from my drawing to get some perspective, I will. And second, use a combo of graphite and charcoal. Right now I’m loving my Graphgear #mechanicalpencil in combination with a #blackwingpencil which has the nicest matte black of any #graphitepencil I’ve used without the smudgy quality of charcoal. #sketchbook #sketching #drawing #natureillustration #illustration #artistsoninstagram #nature #forest #tree #roots #treeroots https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp4fOR9nbMi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1eq6a51ino714

Off to a good start! Added a few more rows to my second sock while enjoying morning cuppa, then sketched trees while listening to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on @audible 🌲 Autumn is passing and Nor’easters are moving through stripping the trees of the remaining leaves. This is a terrific time to study tree structure and bark. ❤️ 🌲 #sketch #sketchbook #graphite #natureillustration #trees #knitting #sockknitting #sundaymorning #artistsoninstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BpwrJvWHY-X/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1g9whl6lh6cqu