Best Sketch Masked J Pocket Watch

This is the best sketch I have done.  It's a pocket watch with a bit of floral background.  I followed Maskd J's Pocket Watch Drawing Tutorial.

I really like her style and find her very easy to watch.  Again I just used some regular pencils and it turned out really great; though, the pencils don't blend as well as I would like.

I did have to change the floral design because I started my watch too close to the end of the page in my journal. 

Learning to Draw - Mermaid Tails

I cannot draw well, but I want to get better so I am using my art journal as a bit of a sketch book.  I found this great video tutorial for drawing mermaids that helped me draw some nice tails -well not as good as the original artist - my tails did turn out fairly well. 

The tutorial uses Prismacolor artist pencils, but I made due with cheap store bought pencil crayons.  Maybe when I get a little better I will invest in a set of these pencils.  They would probably make the shading easier.

Back to the Art Journal

Finally, I created a background for my journal that I liked.  After a few icky experiments I found a technique that I liked it.  It was actually a lot of fun.  I just dumped some paint on a page and used an old gift cart to move the paint up and down in all directions.  It worked great.

Not so sure my handwritten lettering works.  What do you think?  Maybe next time I'll get out the stamps and ink pads.

Art Journal Cover Page

I've been working on my art journal (a gift from my niece) lately.  I thought I would share the front cover I did.  It did not come out exactly the way I planned but what ever does.  

I got a little crazy with smearing paint at the bottom cover and covered up the ripped purple paper.  I liked it a little better cleaner but I think it still works.

Since I'm not that good of drawer I used some images I found online.  One of Michelangelo's outstretched hand from the ceiling in the Vatican and another of the girl (not sure who to credit here).  I colored in the drawing of the girl and added some different paper for the hair which turned out fairly neat.

The quote itself comes from T.S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.  I first read the poem in high school and it has stuck with me ever since.   Has any words or quotes just followed you around?