Miss Sarah's Peculiar Drawing

Today I bought the book Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, and I adore it! It's a New York Times Best Seller, ands full of clever writing.

I'm enjoying it so much, that I decided to draw the character on the book cover.

And, yes, she is floating.

How peculiar..

Stay Artys & DFTBA

Sarah Bosserman



Parisian Painting

Today I spent a few precious hours in my local Starbucks painting and reading.
With every page I read of A Movable Feast by Hemingway, the desire to pick up my brush and paint became harder and harder to deny. I love how his writing is a continues stream of thoughts, honest, somewhat blunt, partially funny, but always true. You know how he feels without himself telling you in a cliche way. What a gift! I want my paintings to have that truth.
Right now I'm working on a concept (not yet put on paper) that will involve fabric studies and reference photographs. Maybe I'll let you in on it this week.. hmm.

While I mulled these thoughts over I put in so time on my sisters' gift.
Now an elaborate chandelier and a bitter sweet girl hold center stage

Stay Artsy,
~Sarah Bosserman

My Urban Folk Guy is coming along fairly well.
I lowered his eyes and I'll add the pupils tonight. I add some highlights on the wallpaper background, and thinned his beard a bit. I don't want to add to much detail to this painting. Solid colors, firm patterns and bold contrast are what I'm after. A bit modern, with a American Folk Art feel.

It's just another style to try to learn and grow from.. hopefully another layer to add to that Holy Grail every artist delves deep to attain.

..Personal Style..

It's a long road yet though.

Stay Artsy,

~Sarah Bosserman

Frills and Googly Eyes

My Lizard painting is done!!

I adore his googly eyes, large frills and awkwardness.

So ugly that he's cute!

I've achieved all I wanted of him and I'm satisfied with my work.

Today is a good day to be an artist.

I'm naming it Frills and Googly Eyes, unless a better one comes along.

Stay Artsy,

~Sarah Bosserman

Mini Kitty Portrait

Another instalment in the Little Critter portriats(More of them Here and Here), this time of a cat.

A while ago I received two lovely 3x3 inch frames from an aunt of mine (thank you!) and ever since I've enjoyed whipping 0ut quick animal portraits. Some are realistic, while others border on realm of cartoon. All of them act as tiny samplers/exercises in style, technique and color theory. This time I played with an almost Mod approach with the jaw line, ears and eyes. Sort of a 1960's styled kitty. She (or he, I haven't decided yet..) has more work to be done, but only a bit of background and eye work keep it from being hung up.

A penny demonstrates just how small the critter is.

More to come on the Imaginary Portrait and this new piece.

Stay Artsy,

~Sarah Bosserman

Nearly Finished!

Tah-Dah!!!
It's finally all coming together, and with one day before it hangs in the gallery!!
This morning I blasted my Mumford and Sons Pandora radio and painted while poorly singing and dancing along to that crazy banjo music! Haha, I'm keeping it eclectic at the Bosserman household, and hey, whatever helps the job go faster. Whistle while you work!

(Please excuse the creepy Mel Gibson looking on..)

More work needs to be done, but now I believe it will be finished on time!
If you'd like to be at the Art Walk Gallery show, here's the address,

3rd Annual Art-a-Day Show!

Thursday, March 3rd,5 – 9pm

First Thursday Art Walk in Historic Downtown Kennewick

at

Chell Design,11 S Benton St, Suite A,Kennewick, WA 99336

I hope to see you,

Stay Artsy,

~Sarah Bosserman

A New Project!

I'm diving into a whole new art project. It's called Art Journaling, and because I'm feeling to lazy to copy and paste my whole story onto Art-A-Day, you can read about it Here.

haha, next time I'll write more! I promise!

Stay Artsy,

~Sarah Bosserman

Perspective With Floss

Yes, I'm tweaking the Green House painting again.
I wanted to do correct perspective, so, naturally I used floss to map out the lines. Floss. Yes, I used floss. I couldn't find my chalk sticks and it was the closest thing at hand.
I don't know how my dentist would feel about this, but hey, it worked!

Stay Artsy,

~Sarah Bosserman

Wild Thing, Finished

The Wild Thing is finished! ..my cold, not so much.
This was so much fun to make! Color, pattern and pure uninhibited imagination!
Is it part cow? dog? goat? Lion? duck..?
I'll let you decide what exactly he is.. but his name is Arty, or Arthur.

I used sharpie, and water color pencils

Stay Artsy,
~Sarah Bosserman

The Wild Thing

Oh, dear
I'm sick again. Theraflu, cough-drops and humidifiers surround me as I write.
All I get motivate myself to do was grab a handful of sharpies and sketch pad.
Here's what came out.. my own version of a "Wild Thing".

More to come on the Green House painting when I get better, but while I'm taking it
easy this little monster will occupy my art time.
Stay Artsy,
~Sarah Bosserman

Green House Progress and a Bit of Alice

I got so much work done on my Green House painting today.
With my music blasting and pallet in hand I hashed out the beginning layers of the sky. Later I'll add more blue low lights and orange-ish highlights to give the rolling space clouds more definition. After I finish the sky I can move on to the metal casing of the green houses and the tree silhouettes.

After working on my painting and with my students, I came home to a surprise Valentines Day package from my sweet Aunt Kristina. Inside I found Dove Chocolates (Does she know me or what?) and an Alice in Wonderland Liv Doll! I was so happy to get a doll, I haven't received one since age 8, and after all.. are you truly ever to old to have one? I plan to keep it on my shelf next to my copies of Alice in Wonderland. For years I have loved the classic story. So full of rich description and imagination, I collect old editions and modern ones for the beautiful illustrations. Lewis Carroll's tale has been a huge source of inspiration for my art. You can see some of my "Alice" inspired art here and here.

She's beautiful!!
Thanks Aunt Kristina!!
Stay Artsy,
~Sarah Bosserman

Happy Valentines Day!

Image created by me, quote, Charles Shultz

I hope you all had a lovely Valentines Day.

I spent mine stewing over the Green House painting, and how I've got to finish it within two weeks because there is a slight possibility of it hanging in a gallery for First Thursday. I'm crossing my fingers and using every iota of spare time to get it finished! One of the things I deal with a lot as a painter is trying to long and hard to make the painting be just like the one in my head. It's not like I'll think poorly of myself if it doesn't come out perfect, but I will go on for months until it does come out right. I have trouble letting good enough be good enough!

Anyways, here's a little peek at the work I put into the "beast" today.

Unfortunately, much of my work is lost in the pixelation of photography.

Yikes, this has been a bit of a downer post.. I think that box of truffles, and chocolate chia
that came in the mail via Grandma (how I love you so) is calling me... Lucy knew what she was talking about.
Ah, the ups-and-downs of a painter!

Stay Artsy, and Happy Valentines Day,
~Sarah Bosserman

Ivy and Cat Naps

Today was so lovely out! A warm 60 degrees and clear skies!
The whole of my town was out enjoying the break from winter weather.
In fact my family was so thrilled, we grabbed a tiny TV and spent the day watching European soccer matches and sunbathing on our back deck. At one point I actually fell asleep in the warm sunshine. hmmm.. it was a break we all needed.
Taken with the taste of coming spring I began to work on this sharpie drawing of Ivy.
I so enjoyed feeling out the organic leaflets, curves and sprouts!

Tonight as I watch the Grammys I plan to fill up the whole page. I'm starting to think small objects caught up in the web of vines would be interesting. Tea cups, keys, feathers, small bugs.. etc. It feels so good to just jump right in with little forethought on the whole picture. This Monday I plan to re-focus on my attention on the Green House Painting. That blasted huge monster! As with every big piece I create it's a joy and a pain to paint. Hopefully the end result will pay off. until then,
Stay Artsy,
~Sarah Bosserman

Crazy Cactus

In the art classes I co-teach, the project for our kindergartners is "Crazy Cactuses".
We're teaching the kids about line, pattern and color. To make it fun my boss decided to have them apply these elements to cactuses. Of course the students are having a marvelous time exaggerating this botanical specimen to the limits. Some of them are hardly recognizable, but all the better for the bursts of color and random pattern!
I was so inspired by my students that I couldn't help but try my hand at the project!
Here is my "Crazy Cactus"!

My cactus before the water is added

The first step is to draw the body and branches outline with black sharpie. Then, add loads of pattern with colored sharpies. Next, color over the patterns with watercolor pencils. Later, add water with a paintbrush and presto! A Crazy Cactus to grace your fridge or mantel!

After the watercolor pencils have been activated

Next week the students (and I) will add the stickers/pokers with cutout colored construction paper. Like a few of my students, I added wolfish grin. After all, cactuses aren't exactly cuddly are they?

Stay Artsy,
~Sarah Bosserman

My Valentines, Art Space and Goodies

Hello everyone! Isn't it beautiful outside? Unless you're on the east coast, in which case I hope you'll de-frost soon, and have a cup of cocoa. Right, So remember how yesterday I made Valentines but my silly computer didn't want to upload them? Well, today the sun is shining and my computer is feeling generous!

Here it is! I drew, painted and glittered to the point that it might have been unhealthy. Blast the consequences though, what other holiday lets you O.D. on pink??

I picked out little "gifts" for the recipient.
A cookie ( I nibbled on) a cup cake and a Trader Joe's sticker

For this project I dug deep and found my art desk! Although rummaging through papers, boxes and bags of craft supplies took awhile, I'm glad to have my art space and inspiration wall back.

I hope you all will have a happy Valentines Day, whether it's hanging out with friends, family, that special someone or even your cats!
Stay Artsy,
~Sarah Bosserman

Valentines & More to Come

Today I sat down and worked on a heart-shaped valentine, and I put a lot of work into it which is why I'm so sad. I can't share it with all of you right away, because my computer has decide to go on strike and won't upload photos! Oh, how cruel technology can be. Since I cant put mine up, I'll show you some of the pictures I used as inspiration.

I didn't make these, but aren't they brilliant?

I love living in a world full of creative people.

Tomorrow I'll post a picture of my Valentine,

Stay Artsy

~Sarah Bosserman

Happy Birthday Jules!

Today is Jule Verne's 183rd birthday, so in honour of the Ten Thousand Leagues Under the Sea author I water colored my submarine drawing from yesterday. You can see it without color here.

To get create the illusion of the the submarine coming forward I used one point perspective, also known as linear perspective.

In my version of Ten Thousand Leagues, the Kraken is friendly.

Happy birthday Jules!

Stay Artsy,

~Sarah Bosserman

Quote Monday, Octopuse and Warhol

Ah, Andy, what a character.

As brilliantly insane as he was (and I love him for it) this quote sums up exactly what an artist is to me. People are always asking "where do you get your ideas, how did you come up with that?" and as cliche as it is, I reply time and time again that inspiration is everywhere. Walking down the street, pouring a bowl of cereal, fog on a mirror, the world is full of clues that artists use to piece together paintings and sculpture. You just have to "see it".

Tonight in my art class we reviewed one point perspective. After going over the lesson and figuring the technique out (it had been awhile) I was excited to apply it to more interesting things than boxes. Once I got home I whipped out my sketch book, trusty black sharpie and got to work on this marine scene.

Later I'll add some watercolor paints to really bring it to life, but until then,

Stay Artsy,

~Sarah Bosserman

A Bit of Nerd..

I was always one of those "overly creative" kids who went all out when it came to dioramas for Literature classes. Using reflective surfaces, Christmas lights, mini trees, and hours of careful painting I once made a three foot by two foot flat diorama of the book White Fang by Jack London. I created an ice river with under lighting from Christmas lights and an entire light up village. I love the challenge of re-creating something with nothing but cardboard, paint, a bit of light and your imagination.

With these memories tumbling through my mind I had the overwhelming urge to try and re-create something again. I already had a light source available for use an 11" can-foorlamp I bought at a yard sale for 25 cents was begging for an interesting outer shell. So I thought about what I could build around it to make a neat pop-artish Andy Warhol sort of statement. A soup can? A box of cereal? A cartoon character?..

Then it hit me!

My family and I are hooked on a BBC television show called Dr. Who. It's been around since 1963, and it's about a 900 year old alien who owns a space and time machine. Don't you just love the British and their crazy imaginations??

What better to re-create than the time machine, also known as the TARDIS.

The TARDIS is in the shape of a 1950's public call police box from London.

Here's what it looks like..

..and here is how far I 've gone.

It's not going to be easy, but that's part of the fun of it!
I'll keep you all posted about the sporadic progress, and till then,
Stay Artsy
~Sarah Bosserman