Brookside's Nature Exploration Area--Work in Progress

I think I mentioned this in a previous post, but one of my primary responsibilities at the nature center is working on the new children's playground made of natural materials, dubbed (rather unimaginatively) the "Nature Exploration Area." The NEA features tables and chairs made of tree stumps, a giant bird's nest constructed of twigs, a snake-shaped path fashioned out of stones, and lots of other good stuff.

Details of the above sign:





"Tree cookies" advertising the various features of the NEA:

Happy birthday, mum!

My mom turned 57 this May! Good lord. :P In honor of her birthday, my boyfriend (Frans), my sister (Simone), and I each drew her a picture of a bird, which we then matted and framed and presented to her (along with crepes and creampuffs.)

Here's the triptych:


Mine was a barn owl, Frans' some unknown bird, and Simone's, a budgerigar.

Close-up of my bird (gouache on BFK Rives paper):

You Don't Gnome Me

An old sign I created for a display at Pearl Art and Craft. This was intended to supplement a display of Strathmore Artist Trading Cards (ACEO-style). Crayola crayon and pen on printer paper.

A Failure and A Success

So...there's this neat art website called FecalFace.com, based in San Franscisco, that Frans frequents (and has gotten me into as well.) In addition to featuring various artist interviews and galleries, they run a weekly (well, allegedly weekly) competition called "Free Fridayz", in which they post a topic and request submissions of artwork based around that theme. Pretty much the only rule is that you have to stick the words "fecal face" somewhere in the drawing to verify its authenticity. Sometimes the prizes are great, sometimes they're mediocre, but it's always fun to see peoples' different takes on the same subject.

A few weeks ago the topic was "That Guy", so I whipped up this drawing:


I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and my inking is coming along (though still miserable in comparison to anyone who is serious about inks.) Of course, I got a grand total of TWO votes (one of which was from Frans), and then this gem: "I have to say #6 [my entry]" and then, in the next post, "oops, I meant #7 not #6". Oh, well. :P

I Saw the Sign

As mentioned in a previous post, I've been doing some artwork for Brookside Nature Center. The latest is a series of small signs to be posted on the way up to the volunteer office to direct potential volunteers where to go (sometimes they overlook the office and end up wandering in the woods :P ) These are painted in acrylic on little wood plaques and are now mounted on the fence-posts leading up to Jenny's office.

Sunflower

Eastern chipmunk

Swallowtail butterfly

Eastern bluebird