Fred And Ginger-Beijing Ballroom Dancers

Close up

Acrylic on Canson coldpress watercolor pad. Approx. 10x12 in

Here's Astaire and Rogers doing their thing in Beijing.

The acrylic is applied thinly in layers, like watercolor.

This is going to Vern Schwarz, a very accomplished artist with whom I have had many email conversations. He is an all around great fellow and I'm proud to call him a friend.
Yes, sadly, this is the last one and finishes TFM project. All in all it has been a wonderful experience conspiring and transpiring with a great bunch of fellow artists! I love ya all!

Get ready, Vern...This is heading home to you!

Dean-Guitar Reverie for Edward

Close ups

Acrylic, Pitt Pen, and a skosh of colored pencil. Approx. 8 1/2 x 6 3/4 on paper.

This is my entry in Edward Burton's sketch book.

Edward's theme was "Music". I used to play guitar in country rock bands many beers...err..years ago.
My favorite guitar was a Fender Stratocaster...which I still own. This painting is an attempt to show the musician playing in a reverie. Practically seeing the notes drift through the air...Very much like you artists when you get caught up in the flow, and magical things happen from out of nowhere upon your canvas.

I don't know how successful my attempt was, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Hope ya like it Edward!

A NEW DAY ! - Dominique Eichi

                                                    8  x  10  Acrylic

This is for Camille' moleskin- her theme is Peace or anything we wanted.
So I wanted something that brings me the "hope of peace" and a sunrise is what did it for me.
For with each new day is a fresh start.
I worked on those clouds a while, you would think they're easy but I had a dickens of a time with them.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear. Hosea 6:3

Outside My Window--From Dean For Irit

Close up

This is acrylic in Irit's moleskin. I also tossed in a little line work in ink.

Irit chose local places as her theme. I must confess my favorite local places are my back yard and my house. There I feel most comfortable and connected to art work.
This spring I bought a camera with a great zoom capability. Birds , unsuspecting people and their pets are all fair game to the lens. This fella was walking his mini pinscher across the street outside my kitchen window.

I hope you like it, Irit!

Get ready for some moleskins, Vern, my friend.

Van Gogh's "Starry Night"--Dean H.

Close ups

This is acrylic on gessoed paper in moleskin book...5 1/2 x 16 in. Also used a bit of ink work plus color pencil...Mixed media.

This is my contribution to Dana's book. She selected a dream theme. For a long while, I had no idea what to paint...until I slept on it, that is...Lol.

I don't know exactly what led me to think of "Starry Night" but as I read up on it, and Van Gogh, I knew this was a great solution to the dream theme.
The following is some interesting information and quotes that tie it all together...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van Gogh painted Starry Night while in an Asylum at Saint-Remy in 1889.

During Van Gogh's younger years (1876-1880) he wanted to dedicate his life to evangelization of those in poverty. Many believe that this religious endeavor may be reflected in the eleven stars of the painting. In Genesis 37:9 the following statement is made:

"And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me."
from Van Gogh Library
~~~~~~~~~~~
"I dream of painting and then I paint my dream."
Vincent Van Gogh
~~~~~~~~~~~
"When I have a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion. Then I go out and paint the stars."
Vincent Van Gogh
~~~~~~~~~~~
I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the paintings appear as in a dream.
Vincent Van Gogh
~~~~~~~~~~~
Within a cropped version of "Starry Night" I superimposed a Van Gogh self portrait. The original portrait had anguished eyes and a down turned mouth. I modified it by closing his eyes and giving him a little smile...as in peaceful sleep...the land of a genius' dreams...

I hope you like it Dana!

Santa Barbara Mission-Dean H.

This is acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper approx 9.75 x 6.5 in.

Here is my entry for Dominique's moleskin. Her theme is gates...pathways...passages.
I thought this fit her theme perfectly...with the mission and illuminated cross symbolizing the most wonderful journey of all.

Hope you like this one, Dominique, and thank you for inviting me into this wonderful group of the Flying Moleskins.

Adebanji sent both Michelle's and Dominique's books to me in one package. So that is how both of these will be sent to you, Vern. They will be on their way today.

The image for this painting comes from the A Day Not Wasted painting challenge for July.
It's hosted by a great photographer and artist, Lee Brown...check it out.

Abstract Dreams for Dana

May You Soar

acrylic 

My dreams have been elusive lately, like shifting sand. A promise glimpsed of some distant, better future that dissolves when I try to understand its shape and content.  Fragments float, illuminated, forming landscapes both strange and somehow familiar. Echoes of joys remembered and not yet known.

Dove Love

Acrylic on 8x10 moleskin paper.
By Dean H.

James Parker did a fine white dove as part of his beautiful entry. I have to second the motion (emotion). So I painted my version.The mourning dove...The very epitome and symbol of peace.

Words that, to me, describe one of my favorite birds, the dove....muted colors...soft cooing call...vulnerable and non-threatening.

This is my entry into Camille LaRue Olsen's moleskin. Her theme is Peace. Hope you like it, Camille!

This will soon be coming to you, Vern.

Genesis 8:11 When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.

"Fab Four" Dean

Close up

This is mixed media. Acrylic washes used as watercolor...Tombow and Pitt Pens...graphite and colored pencil.. On watercolor paper.

I did this a few days ago for Liz Holm's collection. It was a joy to see her artwork on the decorated box containing the watercolor sheets. It was also a treat to see Adebanji's superb drawing! Liz's theme is portraits of any kind.

I decided to attempt an illustration of the Beatles..the Fab Four. I like doing star portraits because they are so recognizable. I enjoyed drawing stars from the movie mags as a youngster.

I tried to take the attitude of an illustrator for this one because I am fascinated by their work. I wanted to keep the colors more inventive as opposed to realism.

Get ready for it, Vern. It started on it's way to you on Thursday. Canada, here it comes!

Edward Burton

Lisbon, Portugal

Acrylic 7.5"x10"

This is my contribution to Vern Schwarz's book. When I first came across Vern's blog and became aware of his wonderful work, he was in the process of painting a large scene of Lisbon - actually just the other side of the large archway looking out through it, and since we love Lisbon, I thought I'd do a painting of it as well.

Edward Burton

Acrylic
For my theme I chose music, I have it playing all the time in my studio and since jazz is my favorite form of music I did this piece... though I have to admit I'm not terribly adept with acrylic.

LIZ HOLM

The first one to fly off in the wide blue wonder

Where so proud of you Liz

"THE FLYING MOLESKINS"

front acrylic

                                   back, collage                                              

 My theme is portraits (any sort). 
I've only decorated the pack so far - will do my interior page to add when it's returned.  

I made the pack out of BFK Rives - just folded a large sheet together and glued the sides.  I punched holes in the side panels and braided string to tie it together. It's hand-painted with acrylics. The vintage stamps I printed off on the ink jet printer, and glued them on.  It was fun! :-)

I wrapped the pack in bubble wrap, and mailed it in a USPS Express box to Adebanji today. It should be ok in a small one rate box in the U.S. or a padded envelope.
Thanks.

                                                             xoLiz