I don't need an umbrella...I love the rain

This is my contribution to Vern's sketchbook. He said we could paint anything and around the time I was thinking of what to paint- It happened to be a time I was getting mesmerized by rain reflections on London streets.

So I decided to do this piece of an old man I saw around Holborn in London enjoying the rain without an umbrella. Hope you like it Vern-It got me back to using watercolour and gouache.

Are these the last books coming to me or do I still have more to do?

My Life is messed up!

This is my contribution to Dean's Sketchbook, he said we could paint anything and the only thing that came to my mind was homeless people. I see so many in London everyday. This particular guy is always situated around Barclay's Bank on King's Road in Chelsea.
I saw him take this pose and I couldn't resist a quick snap with the handy I-phone.

I have heard so many stories about homeless people and I know the agony and pain of their downward spiral. I tried to really get into this piece by writing some words this man would say. It's an intense piece and means a lot too me, I hope it means a lot to you-Dean!

Sorry for the lateness. I have been so busy but I just didn't want to rush up the piece and send it off.

The Duet

This is my contribution to Edward Burton's Sketchbook. His theme is music.
I decided to use these two players who I had been longing to paint for a quite a while.




I can't remember the origin of the music but I remember sketching a man on the tube and then I got talking to him and he invited me to an art exhibition where music was played alongside. This is quite a while back but I still remember the happy, colourful feeling and the buzzing sounds, I have tried to capture this in "Duet" which is a mixed media piece on Gessoed Museum mount-board with oil, coloured pencil, Liquin and oil pastel,. It was more of an experiment as I haven't tried this mix before. I was happy with the result. Hope you like it Edward.

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.

"Blue" by Michelle Burnett

Blue 

colored pencil on paper

10.5"x8.5"

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This is my contribution to Adebanji Alade's sketchbook. Since Adebanji chose such an important theme: "Homelessness", I wanted to convey the somber mood and sense of despair of the subject by using the color blue. For this sketch, I used Faber Castell Polychromos in Indianthrene blue and Dark indigo.

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I greatly admire Adebanji's drawing skill so I was inspired to draw this time. All too often, I have (mistakenly) seen drawing as a chore that is necessary to get past so I can get to the fun of painting. I had forgotten the pleasure of drawing itself and really enjoyed this using this medium again.

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Thank you, Adebanji for this thoughtful theme.

DAY DREAMING II

Dana had as her theme "dreams" and I could only think of my boy Josh when he was younger. He would get into and box and just get lost, looking into the sunshine outside. He did a lot of day dreaming as can be seen in the first one I did HERE.





I have done this piece in gouache on mount-board.

What if Christ came into my Clutter?

Irit has her theme local places. But I couldn't get any inspiration from where I had been locally recently, but I love my cluttered room. I could spend all day there and I wondered, what if, my best friend, Christ, came into my Clutter? What would He do? I then used my Italian friend as a model to set up the possiblity of this happening? What do you think would happen? I think He'd look up and pray I.............



I have done this piece in gouache on mount-board.

AFRO XXXI for Dominique

This is Tiffany for AFRO XXXI. Dominique had trees, pathways etc as her theme but I couldn't resist giving her an AFRO SERIES because when she came to London she told me that Tiffany's hair also qualifies a an Afro, I did my research and she was spot on!

This is not the usual smiling "TF" but a serious one posed by me because I always mess up teeth. So I got her to profile a serious look, so I could capture her hair and natural beauty.


This was done with Oil base pencil, graphite and Charcoal dust.

Once more, apologies for the lateness.

AFRO XXXII for Michelle

This is my daughter Kezia- Michelle had postcards as her theme and nothing stuck to my mind than giving you my dear little precious princess!

This piece was done with oil base pencil, graphite and charcoal dust.

My apologies for another round of sickening lateness.

"Cry for the Children" for Adebanji's book

10x8 oil on gessoed paper

by Sheila Tajima

I appreciate Banji chosing to have his Book dedicated to bring more awareness to the "invisible" homeless.

Did you know that children under 18 make up for roughly 27% of the homeless population in America? Or that 50% of the women and children who are homeless are running away from domestic abuse?

Fortunately, there are resources for all children in the the United States and limited shelters for women but in many countries, children have to fend for themselves. Often siblings just few years older than their younger brother or sister end up trying to care for them the best the can. They are truly the most vulnerable of our homeless.

The Unseen - Edward Burton

For Adebanji Alade whose moleskin is about the homeless and poverty. I thought the juxtaposition of the two different existences made a compelling contrast.

Next voyage - April 9

Everyones work is so varied and beautiful it's exciting to be able to see each person's  artwork before you.
Thank you all for making this project so special.

BTW -  Liz you win the most creative dare devil post this time.