Chickadee by Dean

Close up

Acrylic and colored pencil on cardboard...approx. 6x7.
This is for Sheila's moleskin. Her theme was "Paint something you love". Well, that was wide open. I thought and fought to come up with my answer. I kept coming back to God as my main love in this world. But I didn't know what to paint to represent that subject. Then, out of the blue, it came to me. God's creatures!

I took this entertaining acrobatic chickadee's picture as he hang nonchalantly upside down on a seed bell made of sunflower seeds. So beautiful...so well designed to survive through the challenges he will face...and so well provided for by it's Creator.
Examples such as this abound all around us. His existence is confirmed everywhere I look.

Hope you like it, Sheila. :)

Genesis 1:20: And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”

Portrait of Sheila Tajima

6 x 6 oil on canvas

I saw Sheila Tajima's black and white baby photo with her tiny kimono and her luminous expression and thought it surely should be a painting. I almost added color but opted to paint it as I saw it. So this is my offering to Sheila for The Flying Moleskins project. I hope she enjoys it. I have changed it slightly since last night and I accidentally deleted my blog post with five wonderful comments (which were greatly appreciated). I will figure it out again eventually. Sheila was a gorgeous baby and I have only vaguely nodded to her beauty here. Angela, I will do your book next and then it will be off to you!

"The Artist" By Irit Bourla

In the last year, 13 artists have participated in The Flying Moleskin project. In Dominque Eichi's book Dana Cooper was painting each of the artists that participated in this fun project.
Here is the artist working on her last assignment.
Dana you wrote this:"To my fellow moleskinners, I realize that you are all younger, thinner, and much better looking than I characterized each of you...I know I am! :)"

And I want to tell you that: Yes I know that you are: younger,young in heart for sure, thinner, and much better looking than I characterize you...

I am going to miss you all!

I FOUND YOU ! Dominique Eichi

           This is for James' moleskin.
I know he likes animals so I decided to give him the care of a Shepherd for his sheep. For the good shepherd leaves his flock to go find the one that strays. Thus being prevented from being eaten by wolves.
" I myself will search for my sheep and look after them " Eze 34:11

A DOG NAMED EAST

This has been an exciting journey and of all the books, Adebanji's theme of homelessness scared me the most. I knew I wanted to paint someone with a pet (what else could I possibly paint).

I, like some of you already explained, had to get out of my comfort zone and look at our homeless population with different eyes. It was not until 3 days after Christmas, driving back home, did I find what I wanted for my contribution to Adebanji's book. In Longview, TX, we discovered this young couple on the side of a gas station on a horribly wet, cold, gray day. She had beautiful bright pink hair and the most wonderful patchwork long skirt. He stayed busy lettering his sign and for awhile their dog stood stoic and tall, a watchdog on duty. On cue, he jumped in her lap and demanded kisses, which of course she supplied over and over. After awhile they took off on foot, walking North, not East, by this time they had put a large oversized coat on the dog so that he would stay somewhat dry and warm. Despite their circumstances, it was obvious they love their dog!

KEZIA-the spark & wonder!

This is my late, late entry into Sheila's Book, she has asked us to put anything we love besides art? My answer to this is children!

When in Church, I teach children Sunday School and I always love the look on their faces when they enjoy the lesson....


So I decided to give her one of the gifts God gave me, Kezia is my little baby daughter and she is a spark and wonder!


This was done with charcoal dust, water and graphite on a museum mount board.

Peace & Happiness - Michelle Burnett

Peace & Happiness

oil on gessoed paper

by Michelle Burnett

"Peace" is the theme of Camille Olsen's sketchbook so I went with more of the retro idea of peace because I think she's a pretty hip chick! :) This was also my favorite childhood mug that has always offered a little bit of comfort: chicken soup when I was sick or for milk with cookies after school. This Flying Moleskin is now on its return trip home back to Camille!

Yearbook by Dana Cooper

Each image is 2-1/4" X 1-3/4"

In the last year, 13 artists have participated in The Flying Moleskin project by painting and drawing in each others moleskin books. I was the lucky one to get to paint the last painting in Dominque Eichi's book. Dominque was the organizer and cheerleader for the group. I wanted to do a little caricature painting of each of the artists that participated in this fun event for my final submission. So with a little sleuthing through Facebook and blogs, I was able to find reference photos for each of these artists.

To my fellow moleskinners, I realize that you are all younger, thinner, and much better looking than I characterized each of you...I know I am! :)