AtelierBrigitte

IF: Prepare

2012-01-16T21:33:00.000+01:00

Zoë has booked a trip, and now she has to prepare for her vacation. But what to take with her...? She can't make a decision. The most important item is already in her suitcase.

Click to enlarge

Challenge #2

2012-01-15T15:07:00.000+01:00

So close before the deadline of Rookiepainter's Challenge, I managed to finish this drawing. Just a part of the reference photo, done in pastel (10 x 15 cm).

Click to enlarge

AW: Donder&Bliksem

2012-01-11T15:24:00.000+01:00

Finished today: the portrait of the two brothers 'Donder & Bliksem' (free translation of their names: 'Thunder & Lightning'). When I heard their names, I can imagine they are a handfull for their owner.

Pasteldrawing, format A3

Click to enlarge

Happy Animal Wednesday!

AW: Seagull

2012-01-04T15:09:00.002+01:00

At class, before the holidays, I made this quick drawing of a seagull. It was an exercise with tinted charcoal: I had read that is was possible to play with a waterbrush after drawing with tinted charcoal. The effects didn't work out as I had hoped, but I had fun with it.

Seagull, 15 x 10 cm, 200 gr/m2 paper

Click to enlarge

Blog award

2012-01-01T19:55:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year!

Thanks for visiting my blog in 2011 - and I wish you all the best for 2012!

***********************

Renske has honored me with an award! Thank you Renske!

To accept this award I should pass this to 15 other blogs that I admire - and I cannot make a choice because there are so many lovely ones out there. And because of this post by John, I decided not to pass this award but I will give 7 facts about myself:

when I was a kid, I wanted to become a busdriver;
I can sleep a lot, sometimes up to 12 hours a night;
I loved visiting Iceland and I would like to have the opportunity to go again;
I have been following a gluten free diet for 5 years now (and no more tummy aches);
I am allergic to cats, therefore we don't have any - but I would really love to because I like their attitude;
I have a thing for bags and little boxes (I've got 100s of them...);
bright pink is my favorite color and a sunflower is my favorite flower.

Give away

2011-12-30T11:23:00.000+01:00

I have been a follower of Leen Christens' blog for a while now, and she is having a 'Give Away'! Go over to her blog and take a look at all her wonderful illustrations - they are just so adorable.

Picture ©LeenChristens

IF: Messenger

2011-12-27T23:05:00.000+01:00

Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog are late - there are still so many Christmas cards that need to be delivered. Bringing those cards to their friends give them a wonderful feeling, wonderful they can be a messenger.

Click to enlarge

Santa has been generous

2011-12-25T11:14:00.001+01:00

Santa has been very generous, I found a wonderful present under the christmas tree: a startersset for painting with oil colour (water mixable). I've never worked with this before and I hope that in class I can practise.
Merry X-mas to you all!

Winter white

2011-12-24T00:09:00.000+01:00

It has been some time that I've posted anything on my blog. I couldn't get myself to drawing/painting, but now I hope (and feel) soon I'll be drawing again! In the mean time, one of my hamsters died. Very suddenly, she wasn't ill.

And one of my other hamsters is turning white - she is getting a winter-white-fur. Although she loves to sleep during these dark days, she is always prepared to wake up for a little snack.

Click to enlarge

Challenge

2011-12-11T20:34:00.001+01:00

I was alerted to the site of Rookiepainter by Judy, she is a master in watercolor. On Rookiepainter's site, there is a challenge every three weeks. Because I want to try new and other things, besides my animal portraits (which I still LOVE to do), and I need a subject for my classes, I decided to give it a try.
So here it is, Challenge #31 of Rookiepainter.

watercolor, 20 x 30 cm

Working hard for Chirstmas

2011-12-10T20:25:00.001+01:00

I've been painting small greeting cards to go with presents I want to give for Christmas. This is the first batch, I've cut the cards myself. Done in watercolor, format: 6 x 4,5 cm.

Click to enlarge

Quick sketch (class)

2011-12-05T21:51:00.001+01:00

Last week, at class, we got a new exercise: paint a white house in watercolor, without painting the house.

How? It was an exercise to show how you should leave white things untouched when you work with watercolor. It was a fun exercise, we only had 20 minutes for it (to sketch and paint). This is my result.

(watercolor, 15 x 20 cm)

Click to enlarge

Great tits and tomtit

2011-12-04T15:12:00.001+01:00

Finished today! Two great tits and one tomtit, looking for a treat. Done in watercolor.

Click to enlarge

Thanks for allowing me to use your reference photos, Daisyree!
Click here to view her album.

Logo design

2011-11-30T13:24:00.001+01:00

Some time ago, I got an e-mail from a hamster-breeding stable, Sine Cera. They focus on quality rather than quantity - their offspring is healthy and when youngsters are born, they get a lot of attention, which make them great pets. And they wanted me to design a new logo!

This is the result:

Of course there had to be a hamster in the logo. The colour was chosen because of the line of breeds they have ('gold'colored hamsters).

This logo will be used on T-shirts, all their print work and, of course, their site: I've also designed the new banner for the site - go and take a look at their site!

IF: Round

2011-11-28T21:43:00.001+01:00

Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog love to be in the mary-go-round! Mr. Hedgehog in the bright red car and Zoë always picks the horse - and there they go again - round and round and round ....

Click to enlarge

Interview

2011-11-24T20:23:00.001+01:00

Hurray - my first interview - ever!!

A few weeks ago I got an email from Deborah. She introduced herself as a Jazz singer and writer and extreme lover of art. She doesn't create, but enjoys it. She has an Art Column weekly and wanted to interview me.

I was honored and I loved answering her questions. So click here to read the interview and also visit Deborah's (aka Lady D) other sites like '5 Hugs a day' or listen to some of her wonderful music on this site.

Thank you Deborah for the interview!

AW: Catty

2011-11-23T20:19:00.001+01:00

I finished this drawing of Catty, I was commissioned to do.
Happy Animal Wednesday!

Catty, Pastel, 20x30 cm

Click to enlarge

AW: Dance of the jellyfish

2011-11-16T14:20:00.001+01:00

Like I wrote in my last post, I visited a zoo last weekend. At the aquarium there was a tank with jellyfish, because of the current in the tank, they were floating around - like a dance!

Sketching in the Zoo

2011-11-14T21:24:00.001+01:00

Last Saturday I went to the Zoo (again) with some fellow artists to practice our sketching - and what is more fun than animals in the zoo?

Here two sketches and one photo I made, if you want to see more, just follow the links below!

Click to enlarge

For more sketches: click here and press the button to the right to see the next one.

For more photos: click here and press the button to the right to see the next one.

Enjoy!

Class and Autumn

2011-11-05T11:10:00.000+01:00

Last week there was class again and after our 10 minute sketch I decided to paint an autumn leaf - the colors around here are so beautiful!
While I was painting, my leaf was curling up more and more...

Click to enlarge

Autumn leaf (watercolor, 15 x 20 cm)

Crazy Garfield

2011-11-03T20:23:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I finished this drawing of Garfield. According to his owner, Garfield like to lie down in the most crazy ways. Garfield's owner asked me to portrait Garfield like this - we decided to pick a 'decent' picture of Garfield

Crazy Garfield (pastel, A3 format)

Click to enlarge

IF: Scary

2011-11-01T21:41:00.000+01:00

Click to enlarge

Strange outfits for Halloween, looks like Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog tried to switch identity - such a huge hedgehog: that must have been scary.
(Wanted to post it on Halloween Night, but I was ill and couldn't make it... hope you all have had a great and scary Halloween with lots of 'tricks and treats').

IF: Fuel

2011-10-26T21:31:00.000+02:00

'Next time we really need to check the fuel before we leave...' says Mr. Hedgehog to Zoë.

Fresh fairies

2011-10-24T21:54:00.001+02:00

Last weekend it was a little girl's birthday and I wanted to add something special to her present. I asked Virginia from VCrea to provide something great: so Virginia got up very early in the morning to capture these little fairies and wrapped them in a beautiful gift-wrap. I've added a 20 cent (euro) so you can see how small these creatures are.

You should really check out VCrea's site for all the things she has to offer: cute earrings, matching bracelets - all handmade! And all special designs - designs you almost want to eat ;)

Click to enlarge

First portrait in watercolor

2011-10-22T18:57:00.000+02:00

One of the things I wanted to try some time, was painting a portrait of an animal in watercolor. Usually I work with pastel, but watercolor seemed like a good challenge.

I was allowed to use a beautiful reference photo of King.

To make things a bit easier, I decided to paint in only sepia - so I didn't have to worry about mixing the right colors. Last week I finished the painting (format: A4).

Click to enlarge

Thanks Annette, for letting me use the photo of your horse!

Animal Wednesday and GiveAway

2011-10-19T14:45:00.000+02:00

Last weekend the weather was so wonderful, that we went out for a walk to a nearby petting zoo. Made some pictures:

(click to enlarge)

And I want to tell you about a wonderful give away, by the great illustrator Shirley Ng Benitez. She really has a soft style and her characters are always so adorable. Go over to her blog and check out her give away!

IF: Scattered

2011-10-17T21:20:00.000+02:00

When Zoë is painting, all of her materials are scattered around the place.

I like her interpretation of a portrait of Mr. Hedgehog ☺

Click to enlarge

More 10 minute sketches

2011-10-13T22:08:00.000+02:00

As I told two weeks ago, classes have started again, with a new teacher. Check out his site and be amazed about what he's painting (and I know that I have still much to learn ☺): click here.

Last week our 10 minute assignment was practicing with perspective (New Orleans), this week's assignment was a 10 minute sketch of a plant or piece of fruit and color it. But we were only allowed to use the primairy colors: yellow, red and blue (mini apples).

New Orleans - click to enlarge

mini apples - click to enlarge

AW: Hummingbirds and Kitten

2011-10-05T14:40:00.000+02:00

My SIL made this lovely movie in her backyard: I love these hummingbirds, just buzzing like bumblebees.

And yesterday, on World Animal Day, the auction started for raising money for a cat shelter. You can find my donated drawing HERE (number 250, 'Playing with Blue'), or take a closer look at the drawing here.

HAW!

Classes have started!

2011-10-03T21:39:00.000+02:00

After a long (and cold) summer, we started again with our weekly drawing/painting classes. This year we have a new teacher - he is a professional artist and I think he'll make classes interesting.

The first small task was to sketch a bowl of apples, in 10 minutes - no more! This way he wanted to see what level we all are and we could discuss what we want to learn this year. After that, we were allowed to work on a project of your own. I decided to (finally) finish my cherries in graphite.

10 minute-sketch (ink and watercolor)

Finished drawing in graphite

(both pictures: click to enlarge)

Workshop pastel on velours

2011-10-02T22:00:00.000+02:00

Two weeks ago I participated in a workshop 'pastel on velours'.

I have been drawing (animal)portraits on regular paper, but I heard so many things about pastel on velours that I wanted to try it. And a one-day workshop was perfect to become acquainted with this material.

We were asked to start a sketch at home, so during the workshop no time was lost with sketching.

I loved working with it, it was a complete new experience to me. See the result (so far, it is not finished yet, but I wanted to share it).

(click to enlarge)

reference photo by Daisyree Bakker

IF: Ferocious

2011-09-29T21:32:00.000+02:00

It took me some time to come up with an idea... so I'm late this week.

Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog are afraid of the pumpkin... it does look a bit ferocious.

Click to enlarge

IF: Mesmerizing

2011-09-20T22:52:00.000+02:00

A rainbow in the sky was always mesmerizing for Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog.

Click to enlarge

Welcome!

2011-09-19T21:15:00.000+02:00

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Since last week Arya and Sansa are living with us. They are sisters and are about 10 weeks old. Arya only has 3 legs. Probably something went wrong during birth and was the mother forced to pull her out, that is when her leg was cut of. But there are no signs that Arya is bothered with that: she runs (well... it's more wobble) around and loves good snacks.

Back to blogging - first some pictures

2011-09-18T14:17:00.000+02:00

I haven't posted much lately, because of our holidays. We've been to Peru and the other free time we spent with friends, family and doing all kind of choress in and around the house we usually do not have (or make) time for. Mostly it was cleaning up the house and throwing away old and unused stuff.

Now life will return to normal and I'll have more time to blog again and to visit all your blogs. But first: the promised selection of pictures of Peru.

(if the slide show doesn't work, you can also directly go to my album)

Portrait of Balou

2011-09-12T12:12:00.000+02:00

Last week I finished this portrait of Balou, enjoying the sun. It is done in pastel, format: A3.

Click to enlarge

Back from Peru

2011-09-08T23:50:00.000+02:00

Yesterday we've arrived back from a wonderful trip to Peru.

We've seen the most amazing things: Machu Picchu of course, some other (pre)Inka sites, Titicaca Lake and its floating islands of Uros... and so much more.

Here just a preview of the pictures... we've made more than 1.500 so it'll take a while to sort them out and put them in an online album.

(click to enlarge)

Machu Picchu

Cute little Alpaca

Maya has drawn the winner!

2011-08-25T20:23:00.000+02:00

Thank you all for joining my blog give-away to celebrate the 5th anniversary of my blog! As promised, Maya has drawn two names who will get an ATC. To show you how unprejudiced she has been, we filmed the drawing!

I tried to add nice music, but that doesn't work (yet).

Inge and Teri C are the winners!

Of course Maya deserved a treat afterwards:

And to show that everybody had a chance to win: here are all the names.

AW: Sketching in the Zoo

2011-08-17T13:13:00.000+02:00

Last Saturday I went to the zoo with some fellow artists, to practice our sketching. Luckily the weather was OK, not too hot and almost no rain. It was much fun to do and we all agreed to do this more often.

Below just a selection of my sketches (all done with permanent ink and watercolor), if you want to take a look at all of them, just visit my sketch-album.

(Click to enlarge)

Next week it is my blog anniversary. For those who have missed that post about how I want to celebrate this, click here for the give-away

IF: Swell

2011-08-15T21:29:00.002+02:00

I've got no idea if I have interpreted the word swell in the right way... Zoë loves to surf on a big swell wave.

Oh, by the way... it is almost my blog anniversary and I am celebrating it with a give-away. So come, take a look and enter! Click here for the give-away.

Click to enlarge

Anniversary blog: Give-away!

2011-08-14T20:09:00.002+02:00

In 2006 Istarted with this blog, but had no idea what to expect. At first I only postedin Dutch but after a while I switched to English to reach more readers.When Istarted participating Illustration Friday, my blog grew faster and I met somany wonderful blog-friends from all over the world! You have inspired me withyour comments and nice words.

On 23rdAugust it is my 5th anniversary of my blog and I want to celebrate it with aGive-Away to say 'thank you' to all of you! I've selected two of my ATC's (shown below) and you can have them!But there are 'rules' ;)

In order toparticipate in my give-away I want you to do the following things (not allsteps are necessary, but the more youdo, the more chance you have to win!)

leave a comment and tell me whichone of the two ATC's you prefer;
become a follower of my blog (if youalready are a follower, let me know in your comment);
put an announcement on your own blogto tell people about this give-away (and let me know in your comment).

If you doone of these things, your name will be put in the bowl once. If you do two ofthem: your name will be put in the bowl twice and if you do all of them: yourname will be put in the bowl three times!

You canenter untill Tuesday 23rd August 16:00h GMT/UCT time (18:00h Amsterdam time).After that I have got a very independent judge to pick two names out of thebowl: my hamster Maya will do the honors.

Enjoy!!

AW: Kitten

2011-08-03T13:09:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

I made this drawing to be given away for an auction. The revenues will completely be donated to a cat-shelter (the objects on that site are from last years auction). The auction will start on October 4th (World Animal Day). I've already seen pieces from other artists and there is amazing artwork to be sold - I hope a lot of money will be raised.

IF: Obsession

2011-08-01T21:31:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog got a new video-game. That's all they are doing these days - playing it has become an obsession.

House in ink

2011-07-20T20:12:00.001+02:00

Maybe you've seen it for quite some time in 'On my Desk' on the right side of my blog, this drawing of a house in ink. Finally it is finished! It was the first time I did such a drawing in commission. It took me some time to draw it, but I liked doing it.

Click to enlarge

AW: little swallow

2011-07-20T19:47:00.000+02:00

Last weekend, when we were baby-sitting my parents-in-law's dog, I went into the barn to see if the chicken had laid some fresh eggs. In a flash I saw something sitting on a shelf, next to me. I turned and it was a tiny, young swallow. He didn't go away, just sat there, watching me. I could come up very close with my camera while it's parents where flying and squeaking around my head. HAW!!

Click to enlarge

IF: Gesture

2011-07-18T21:33:00.000+02:00

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Zoë wants Mr. Hedgehog to know how much of a friend he is to her. He is not suspecting anything, but I think he'll like the gesture.

Drops

2011-07-13T21:51:00.003+02:00

Just wanted to share this photo of a spiderweb, filled with waterdrops (when does summer start??)

Click to enlarge

AW: Spoonbill (part II)

2011-07-13T12:02:00.000+02:00

I'm working on some larger projects (take a look on the right side of my blog, under 'On my desk') and I just wanted to create something small. So I did an ATC of the spoonbill I told about two weeks ago. Was fun to do, a small piece. It is done with sepia acryllic ink and sepia watercolor wash.

Click to enlarge

AW: Zoo

2011-07-06T20:31:00.000+02:00

Last weekend me and some friends went to the zoo. I took a lot of pictures, but I don't want to bore you with that ;) But I do want to share a video I made of a small bear, playing with a stick and his foot - he was adorable!

Enjoy and Happy Animal Wednesday!

IF: Midsummer Night

2011-06-29T22:26:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog love to lay down in a poppy field and to look at the (falling) stars during a Midsummer Night.

AW: Spoonbill

2011-06-29T15:38:00.002+02:00

Finally some time to post something for AW!!

Last weekend we went out for a walk. Near our home, there are waters and a swamp-like piece of nature. We saw a big bird in the water... it turned out to be a spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)! I've never seen one in 'the wild' here in the Netherlands, only in zoo's.

Click to enlarge

Lovely Dayna

2011-06-25T11:38:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

Today I finished this commissioned portrait of Dayna - an adorable dog. It was a challenge to draw the many colorthemes in what looks like a white fur.

IF: Swept (#100!!!)

2011-06-14T22:11:00.013+02:00

Zoë was swept away when she saw an episode of Shaun the Sheep. Mr. Hedgehog doesn't understand her 'puppy love' (or is it 'sheepy love'...).

And: yeeeah!! This is my 100th entry for IF!

Click to enlarge

What's wrong with this picture?

2011-06-05T20:55:00.000+02:00

... nothing, you'd say. Perhaps "Some of the cupcakes are already missing - who ate them?"

I'll tell you what's wrong... last week my hubby came home and brought a newspaper (he gets it for free in the train). There was a special (click) in this newspaper about celiac's disease and that people should know more about it (a lot of people have it, without knowing). And there was a nice recipe for cupcakes - for cheap cupcakes - made with rice flour (glutenfree mix for cake of cupcakes is usally very expensive). So I thought: 'let me try that!'

Followed the instructions, added some lemon flavoring and put them in the oven. When time was up, I cut one open to see the structure of the cake and I was very pleased! But then I tasted one... strange taste... I had totally forgotten to add the sugar....

AW: Zoë in 3D

2011-06-01T20:00:00.000+02:00

My mother-in-law is very creative: she made a Zoë in 3D. The fur is made from real wool, that was shaven just two weeks ago from their sheep. Don't you just love this Zoë??

Click to enlarge

IF: Asleep

2011-05-30T21:29:00.000+02:00

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Sometimes Zoë has trouble falling asleep, usually counting hedgehogs helps.

AW: Peacock

2011-05-18T13:52:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

A few weeks ago we were at a petting zoo nearby and there was this peacock - such beautiful strong colors! I took a picture and decided to draw him in colour pencil. I'm not used to work with this type of material, but I enjoyed it.

Happy animal Wednesday!

IF: Safari

2011-05-17T22:22:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

Zoë does know how to spoil a good safari...

Practice, practice, practice

2011-05-15T22:06:00.001+02:00

click to enlarge

A friend of mine gave me the link to Posemaniacs to practise sketching models. I tried for the first time - the 90 second drawings - and I like doing it. I know I have to practice more to get better results and hope to get good sketches at 30 second drawings.

Okido - part II

2011-05-14T15:12:00.000+02:00

A few weeks ago I was commissioned to draw horse Okido (link), and they asked me to do another one! I was so happy to do so - it's a beautiful horse. Today I finished this second commissioned drawing of Okido.

(It looks like it is not in line with the frame, but it really does).

Click to enlarge

AW: Hummingbird rescued

2011-05-11T15:03:00.001+02:00

Last week my sister-in-law rescued a little hummingbird - such a cute and little animal. I find it so amazing that in such a little creature everything is there: heart, lungs, stomach... just everything!!

This post is for my sister-in-law (and her husband of course): I just want to tell that she is amazing with animals and that she is always helping them, just like after Katrina, when a lot of animals were abandoned or lost their homes. She gave them shelter or has given them a good new place to stay. Some of them are still in her little 'petting zoo'. And now this little guy...

Click to enlarge

Blog Award

2011-05-08T12:00:00.000+02:00

I got this blog award from Inge - thank you Inge! She has a fantastic blog (click) in which she writes about all the things that happen with her father who has Alzheimer's disease. Some stories are funny, but some are heartbreaking.

I'd like to pass this award on to all of you who visit my blog, but the list would be too long. So therefore no list, but I'd like to dedicate this award to all of you. You've inspired me to try new things, to participate in IF and to improve myself in drawing and painting. So a 'big thank you' to all of you.

AW and IF: Lesson

2011-05-04T11:03:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

A submission for Animal Wednesday and Illustration Friday in one...

Mr. Hedgehog warned Zoë to wear protective clothes when playing around with grafitti for the first time... I guess Zoë learned her lesson and I hope she'll have a white fur again for next week!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

AW: Playfull Piglets

2011-04-27T16:20:00.000+02:00

Finally something for Animal Wednesday! It has been so long since I've participated...

There is a petting zoo in our neighbourhood and they had these cute little piggies, playing outside:

And mother was just laying there, in her pool of mud:

Click to enlarge

IF: Bicycle

2011-04-25T12:08:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

When I received the email with the new topic for this week, I have this song in my head... you know; the one from Queen. But that didn't inspire me for this illo. The weather here has been wonderful for the last few days and everybody is happy and going out. Just like Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog (he is in the small basket in front of the bicycle).

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T15:01:00.000+02:00

Exercise in ink

2011-04-22T23:17:00.002+02:00

Click to enlarge

One of my next commissions is a ink-drawing of a house with a big garden - so a lot of trees, bushes. Because I've never made a drawing like that, I thought I should practice first. Just some bushes.

Delilah

2011-04-17T15:07:00.000+02:00

Click to enlarge

Today I finished this portrait I was commissioned to do. It is Delilah, a beautiful hamster from Hamstery Sine Cera.

Tattoo design

2011-04-16T16:03:00.000+02:00

A friend of mine was so grieved when she lost her hamster (Appie was his name), she wanted something to remember him. So she decided it should be a tattoo. A tattoo of his footprint as the symbol of the 'footprint' he left on her. I designed this tattoo and is done in graphite and colour pencil. Next week the real tattoo will be placed. I can't wait to see it.

Click to enlarge

IF: Bottled

2011-04-11T21:13:00.000+02:00

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There is more than drinking that you can do with bottled water... making music!

ACEO - Amaryllis

2011-04-03T16:47:00.000+02:00

A few weeks ago, I got these wonderful amaryllis' for my birthday from my mother. I totally love these big flowers with their strong colors. I decided to paint one, on ATC/ACEO format.

Click to enlarge

That's why...

2011-03-31T21:52:00.000+02:00

A few weeks ago I finished the portraits of Kenji (left) and Xiam (right). A few days ago I received this photo of both drawings, nicely in a beautiful frame. The people for whom I made these drawings are very happy with the result... and that's why I love drawing...

Click to enlarge

IF: Toy

2011-03-28T22:05:00.000+02:00

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To keep herself in good shape, Zoë exercised a lot with the hula-hoop. Mr. Hedgehog is counting so Zoë will finish her training. But the hula-hoop will never be her favourite toy.

Springtime is coming!

2011-03-27T20:26:00.002+02:00

Nature is getting ready...

Below two pictures of the same tree. The first one taken last week, the second taken today. Just a few days and this tree will be blooming.

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

AW: Beautiful Okido

2011-03-23T15:05:00.000+01:00

Today I finished this portrait of beautiful horse Okido, I was commissioned to do. I received a magnificent photo of her, it was so much fun to work on this portrait! I hope I get to do one more of Okido...

Click to enlarge

IF: Cultivate

2011-03-22T22:59:00.000+01:00

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Zoë wants to cultivate some new pumpkins. But Mr. Hedgehog is not sure if there is a market for bleu, wooly or square pumpkins..

Auction

2011-03-19T19:56:00.001+01:00

Last week I submitted one of my watercolors (Fleurs de Lis) for an auction for a good cause. The money that is going to be raised, will be donated to 'Kanjer Kinderen' (free translation: 'super kids'). 'Kanjer Kinderen' is an organisation that helps kids by putting up projects so that kids can have a good environment to live and play.

The auction is now online, from 29th May there will be an exposition and the actual auction will be on 4th June. You can find my submission on page 6, last entry (so scroll down).

I am very excited, it is the first time I have donated some of my art for such a project.

AW: goodbye Caprica :(

2011-03-16T15:27:00.000+01:00

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Yesterday evening I found her, lying in her nest... she left me :(

She wasn't sick, gave me no indications it would be over soon.

She came here about half a year ago; she and her sibblings were found on the doorstep of an animalshelterplace. No one knows something about her background. I took her in when she was 8 weeks old. She never grew to be a round and big hamster - she was a tiny, tiny hamster.

Goodbye Caprica :(

IF: Stir

2011-03-15T22:42:00.000+01:00

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No exciting adventures for Zoë and Mr. Hedgehog this week, just some cooking. "Add the basil and stir firmly". I still don't know what recipe they use and it looks like they are going to have a lot of friends over for dinner.

IF: Warning

2011-03-08T21:45:00.000+01:00

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I don't think Zoë saw that warning... good thing is that Mr. Hedgehog cannot see where they are going.

Character studies

2011-03-06T19:56:00.006+01:00

Some time ago I was approached by someone who was looking for an illustrator for her stories. She told me the headlines of some stories and they are amazing! So we both agreed that I would try to develop a character that would play a part in the illustrations.

Click to enlarge

I've made so many sketches, but I think I have found a character (it's going to be the one on the left). These sketches are done with simple ink and colorpencil. I want to 'play' with that some more (proportions).

IF: Swarm

2011-02-28T21:21:00.000+01:00

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Zoë has this weird dream: she was a bee, followed by a swarm of other bees. Mr Hedgehog is a bit confused by this dream.

Animal Wednesday: Siamese cat Xiam

2011-02-23T15:29:00.001+01:00

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Today I finished this portrait of Siamese cat Xiam, I was commissioned to do (perfectly in time for Animal Wednesday!). When Xiam was a kitten, I made a triptych (see the results here).

IF: Layer (Fleur-de-Lis)

2011-02-19T19:43:00.000+01:00

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I needed some spring in my house, so I bought myself a bunch of beautiful Fleur-de-Lis's. And while they were blooming, I wanted to paint these colorful flowers. It is done in watercolor and I used a lot of layers.

Animal Wednesday: Kenji

2011-02-16T14:37:00.000+01:00

Today I finished this portait of Kenji, I was commissioned to do.

Format: A4, materials: pastel

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Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T21:07:00.000+01:00

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Zoë wishes all of you a Happy Valentine's Day!

IF: Sweater

2011-02-13T21:17:00.001+01:00

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Mr Hedgehog wants a new sweater and he loves knitting it himself. But it looks like Zoë isn't happy about it...

IF: Reverse

2011-02-08T22:40:00.000+01:00

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When the herd is going back to the stable, Zoë went into a reverse direction. She didn't want to go back yet and go to sleep! She still wanted to play with her friend Mr. Hedgehog.

Animal Wednesday: Welcome Leela

2011-02-02T14:18:00.000+01:00

Since last Monday, Leela is living here. She's only about 8 weeks old and I think she is adorable. She already is OK with me picking her up. I hope she'll be with us for a long time!

IF: Surrender

2011-01-30T21:23:00.000+01:00

"Sir Knight Hedgehog, you will surrender to me; Princess Warrior Zoë"

(click to enlarge)

Animal Wednesday: Zoo

2011-01-26T14:53:00.001+01:00

Last Sunday, I've been to a zoo with some fellow-artists. We've been sketching in the zoo [click] and of course, I made some pictures. Maybe you'll recognize one of them in my sketches.

Enjoy and Happy Animal Wednesday!!

http://gallery.atelierbrigitte.nl/#7

Sketching in the Zoo

2011-01-24T21:40:00.002+01:00

Yesterday, I went with some fellow-artists to a zoo. First some catching up, drinking hot tea/coffee and then into the cold with our sketchbooks.

It was the first time I sketched in ink and I enjoyed it - I made so many sketches! Here just a selection.

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Exercise - Garlic

2011-01-22T16:44:00.003+01:00

This week, during drawing class, I started with some studies of garlic. I hope one day to create a Botanic Illustration from it.

The first drawings were done with graphite and watercolorpencil (and water on too thin paper :(

The second drawing is done in watercolorpencil - I don't think I can work detailled enough with that material. So next time I'll use my regular brushes and watercolorpaint.

click to enlarge

IF: Chicken

2011-01-18T21:28:00.000+01:00

When I got the email with this week's topic, the first thought was to repost this drawing. But then I decided it would be more fun to give Zoë another adventure.

As much as she likes to rush down hills in soap-boxes or in a sleigh, she is a chicken when it comes to jumping down a board into the pool...

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My biggest fan

2011-01-15T16:38:00.000+01:00

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Today, I finished this portrait of Max, my parents-in-law's dog. He is awesome and somehow he always wants to be with me. Maybe it is because I was the one that comforted him when he was taken from his nest. He was so small then (see first picture below) and now he is a big boy (second picture below), but still acts like he is a puppy.

My parents-in-law were happy with the portrait and it was given a beautiful spot on their wall.

Little Max

Big Max

Walnut

2011-01-12T21:40:00.002+01:00

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Finally, I found some time to finish these graphite drawings of a walnut. I planned to make a threesome and draw a whole walnut as third, maybe I'll add it in the (near) future.

Animal Wednesday: Athena

2011-01-12T14:51:00.000+01:00

Not much 'animal news' here. Just started with a new dog portrait. You can follow the progress on the left, at 'on my desk'. And the other things are just going as they go, and I crave for some spring and sun!

But my hamsters don't mind the season. I photographed Athena, she has a kind of winter fur (more white than usual) and she still enjoys her mealworms. As you can see she'll come out of her safe coconut house to get some.

Click to enlarge

Renewed website launched!

2011-01-08T23:15:00.000+01:00

I just launched my renewed website!
With more subjects and a new lay out - come, take a look and let me know what you think.
My site is in Dutch, but click here for the translated site (English by Google Translate).

IF: Resolutions

2011-01-06T21:43:00.001+01:00

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One of this year's resolutions for me was to participate in IF as much as possible, but Zoë and me couldn't think of anything for this week. Even Zoë's friends Mr. Hedgehog and Mr. Owl where nowhere to find to come up with something...

Animal Wednesday: Spooky

2011-01-05T11:49:00.000+01:00

My sister-in-law and her husband have regular visits from coyotes. In this video you'll see the moon and and hear the spooky howling of these coyotes. So turn up the sound!

Happy Animal Wednesday!