Paris Pastry Shop

 I loved drawing this shop while watching Karen Campbell's You Tube tutorial. I made my own little changes and details as I watched.

I drew the building in my Ohuhu Pad with a Graphgrear 1000 Pentel Pencil and colored it with Ohuhu Markers. The black line details were done with Molotow Blackliners and the highlights were done using a Uni-Signo Pen.

I'm looking forward to more of these to come on Karen's You Tube channel!

Challenges: 

https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/crafty-catz-706-anything-goes.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge-842.html 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-202602-february-anything-goes.html 

https://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/week-823-add-some-red.html

 

Song of the Bumble Bee

 

This tutorial by Jenny Manno was inspired by the Spanish folk tale "The Queen of the Flowers." I found Jenny's tutorial in the Taster Sessions for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales." I'm so glad I went back to those and looked around.

I followed Jenny's step-by-step instructions using the line drawing offered and her drawing lesson to draw my queen using a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. I drew it in my 9x12" Strathmore Toned Tan sketch book.

I finally got to use my Prismacolor Pencils and I'm so happy with the results. For some details I used a Micron Pen and the highlights I used a white Uni-ball pen.

I'll have to go back to the Tasters and see what else I have missed. I'm looking forward to whatever Jenny Manno has planned for her regular tutorial during the year. I know it will be fun. 

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/01/january-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge202601-january-anything-goes.html

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge-96.html 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/01/january-2026-challenge-83-anything-goes.html 

 

Will Cook for Smiles

 

I recently discovered that my very talented daughter-in-law Lyuba Brooke has some fabulous cooking videos on You Tube. Lyuba is the cook behind the website "Will Cook for Smiles."

Check her out at:

https://www.youtube.com/@WillCookForSmilesTV

Don't forget the thumbs up!

 

Here are some of her links:

willcookforsmiles.com

Pinterestpinterest.com/willcook4smiles

Facebookfacebook.com/willcookforsmiles

Instagraminstagram.com/willcookforsmiles

Book Store Drawing and Watercolor

 

I drew this "Book Store" by watching Karen Campbell's You Tube tutorial.

I drew this building on Fabriano 140 lb. hot press paper with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. Shading was added with a Blackwing Pencil and a paper stump. I used Jane Davenport watercolors for this hand drawn  building.

I loved drawing and painting this piece and adding a new building to my collection. 

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/01/january-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge202601-january-anything-goes.html

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge-96.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/classic-design-challenge-01-2026-janfeb.html 

 

Fairy Godmother Mixed Media

 

This "Fairy Godmother" is from a tutorial by Tamara Laporte for the "A Year of Magic and Fairy tales," course she is hosting.

I wanted to work on this Fairy Godmother and couldn't wait to begin. There was a problem, I don't generally work in acrylic paint, which is an important layer when painting this face. Ah but I solved the problem. Years ago I bought Jane Davenport's Making Faces Mixed Media Matchmaker set. It has three bottles of acrylic paint in which you mix the shade you need. After putting down a layer of Jane Davenport watercolors, I followed Tam's directions using the shade I mixed and let it dry. I painted another layer of Jane Davenport colors over the face. I let that dry and then used Prismacolor pencils and more watercolors to improve the image's skin tone and I'm happy to report it worked!

I traced some of this image onto Canson 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. I used assorted acrylic inks, colored pencils and watercolors for the clothing, headdress and background on this piece.  I made changes in colors and media to use what I have. 

I'm really happy with the finished piece!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/01/january-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge202601-january-anything-goes.html

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge-96.html 

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2026/01/morgans-artworld-challenge-96.html 

 

 

Hair More Hair!

 Boy would I love to have some those curls and waves on my head!

I learned how to draw this lovely girl by watching Karen Campbell draw hair in pencil step by step in a great tutorial on You Tube.

This girl is drawn in my Strathmore Drawing pad with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. Shading was added with a Blackwing Pencil and paper stump. I used a Tombow Mono Zero eraser and a Vanish eraser for highlights and to correct so many smears!

I'm really happy how this girl came out and glad I took the time to try doing it!

Challenges:  

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/01/january-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge202601-january-anything-goes.html

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge-96.html 

https://alessandrasangels.blogspot.com/2026/01/allys-angels-102-anything-goes-theme.html 

Wish Upon a Star

 I recently joined "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales," a new magical, creative adventure. This mixed media journey is hosted by Tamara Laporte. There are over 30 guest artists offering a variety of tutorials. I couldn't stop myself, so now I belong to this year long program as well as Awesome Art School with Karen Campbell. I'm going to be so busy! I'm lovin it!

Here's  my first piece "Wish Upon a Star," done with a tutorial by Tamara Laporte. I traced the star and the small figure onto Canson 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper and sketched the trees freehand. I used a Pebeo Masking Fluid Marker over the star to save the white of the paper, while I painted in watercolor. I used the masking fluid for the larger dots and used Holbein Artists' gouache and a Uni-ball Signo Pen for the smaller dots. I painted using three sets of watercolors: Winsor Newton, Jane Davenport and Prima. I tried to use my Liquitex acrylic ink, but I don't have the right colors (I used a couple). I had to substitute my Winsor Newton indigo watercolor for that color in ink. The two local art stores didn't have that color. 

I'm really happy that this piece came out as well as it did.

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/01/january-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge202601-january-anything-goes.html

https://cinspirations.blogspot.com/2026/01/january-challenge-anything-goes.html 

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2026/01/morgans-artworld-challenge-96.html