Christmas Puppy watercolor illustration

Years ago I would take oil paints, a field easel, and set up in a field or beside a river and paint away.  I still have one of those New Hampshire paintings hanging on my wall today and it reminds me of all the walks I took with our dogs when we lived there.  It's sort of like a photograph, but it took a lot longer.

Yesterday I sat outside with watercolors and created a little illustration to celebrate the holiday season, and my aging dog.  She can't quite hike as far as she used to, but she still loves to go for a walk and would still chase a bunny if I let her.  

©SandraJessop, Christmas Puppy. Watercolor, 4x4

Summer Rain children's illustration

©Sandra Jessop, Summer Rain. Watercolor, 9x12

I took a Character Design workshop with the Illustration Dept.  and this is the final watercolor illustration and pencil sketch.

Reversing the boy on the left helped the balance of the whole piece.  The frogs were in one of the original drawings, and I brought them back for the final.  I think they make it a little more fun.

Coyote in a funk original watercolor, Sandra Jessop

By Saturday, Charlie didn't even feel like chasing rabbits.  He was in a funk.  

Shooting star children's illustration

 For Illustration Friday's topic Outer Space 

Playing around with Tayasui Sketches digital watercolor.  

Sheep - children's illustration

Two small sheep illustration straight from the sketchbook.

Dog Trainer illustration

The little girl who wants a real dog.

There are only so many tricks you can teach a stuffed dog.

Monkey Island Illustration

"Monkey Island" 

Mouse on a mushroom

"Mouse on a mushroom" 

©SandraJessop, Watercolor, 9x12"

The final piece and the initial drawing from my sketchbook.

I love this little guy!  I kinda wonder if he was the one who ate the tops off my sunflower seedlings this week.  I have never tried to grow sunflowers intentionally.  Usually I just leave what sprouts up from what the birds drop, and am rewarded with sunflowers.  

This year I thought I'd try planting some on my own, in different parts of the garden to see where they do best.  So far the seedlings have sprouted up everywhere, but the last two nights, in one of those spots, someone has been eating the tops of the baby sunflowers!  At first I thought it was a bunny, sneaking in through the front gate, so I put a slightly raised screen over the dirt.  But the next morning more were gone.  Someone got underneath!  I've lost 10 so far, but there are still more growing.  

Last year I had the best crop of tomatoes I've ever grown in Arizona, but the birds ate AT LEAST half before I could pick them.  I guess they do get up earlier than I do.  Here's a link to the illustration of one of those thieves.

https://azureviewart.blogspot.com/2017/04/

Olympics children's illustration

©SandraJessop "Olympic Dreams" watercolor 9x12

New artwork available, watercolor tote bags

Big news!  I opened a shop at Society6.  There are only a few things available at the moment, but I'll be working to add more this month.

AzureViewArt Society6 shop

Rise Up digital art

©Sandra Jessop, "Rise Up" Digital watercolor.

We sang this song on Sunday and it kept running through my head while I worked.

You can listen to an acapella version here.  There's a Stirring

There's a stirring deep within me
Could it be my time has come?
When I'll see my gracious savior
Face to face when all is done

Is that His voice I am hearing?
Come away my precious one
Is he calling me?
Is he calling me?

I will rise up, rise up
And bow down
And lay my crown
At his wounded feet

Blue Stellar's Jay watercolor

©SandraJessop, Blue, Watercolor, 6x8

Five Little Chickadees, small watercolor

©Sandra Jessop, "Five Little Chickadees", watercolor & ink, 5x7

The Chickadee

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Piped a tiny voice hard by,

Gay and polite, a cheerful cry,

" Chic-chicadee-dee! " Saucy note

Out of a sound heart and a merry throat,

As if it said, " Good day, good sir.

Fine afternoon, old passenger!

Happy to meet you in these places

When January brings new faces! "

Guitar Walking watercolor illustration

©SandraJessop, Guitar Walking, watercolor, 5x7

Old Man Jasper remembered the days of his youth.  Each year he walked into town with his guitar, hoping to play at Music Days.  The first year they smiled and told him he was too young.  "Come back when you're older," they said.  The second year they chuckled at him, "You need to keep practicing."  So he played day and night for the next year.  The next year they told him he needed more experience.  So he took his guitar with him everywhere in the village and played lovely music.  He strummed in the corn fields, he picked in the barn, and he played at his grandma's funeral.

This year he was older.  And practiced.  And experienced.  This was going to be his year.

The Letter 'A' illustration

©SandraJessop, colored pencil, 8x8

A is for Angels

A is for Apples

A is for Acorns

Map of Davenfield

Map of "Davenfield" 

@Sandra Jessop, watercolor, 8x10

~Elise had a wonderful time visiting her cousins for Christmas, but she couldn't wait to get home and see her animals.  First, she would scoop up the kitty and give her a great big hug!  Next, she'd run to the barn with a carrot for her horse.  

The train ride felt extra long today but soon it was whistling into Chesterport.  Almost home!~