Marilyn Monroe

 Marilyn Monroe is such a classic icon...  I think that's why I have done so many portraits of her.  With this one I tried to make it look like Andy Warhol's Monroe prints.  I used acrylic paint instead of doing it as a print tho.

Paige's Birthday Party

Sorry that it's been a few days since my last post.  I was trying to write a new post every day but with this new job and Paige's first birthday it's been crazy around here!

This past Sunday we had a big (way too big) birthday party for her at a hall near us and sooo many people came.  It was great!  I didn't expect so many people to show up and when they did, I will admit, I was a bit flustered and felt like the room was spinning. haha!  We had a lot of family and friends and all of their kids.  It was the first time I had ever been in a place with that many kids running around!  Chaos!  Complete chaos! (just kidding!...kind of.)

Paige had such a great time with all of the older kids.  She was chasing them all around.

She even did the smash cake!  I was really surprised! Normally she doesn't like her hands messy.  She was taking HUGE handfuls and shoveling them into her mouth.  It was so funny!  She only got it on her hands, face, and lap too!!  She was pretty easy to to clean up afterwards.

We had an owl themed party for her and I made a sign and balloons for the occasion....

I'm so glad I was able to give my little girl such a great party, and also that she has so many people around her that care so much about her.  I'm still in shock that my little girl is already 1!  I've spent the last few days begging her to stop growing and stay this little forever. <3 

Happy Birthday Monkey!  Momma loves you soooo much!

Captain Jack Sparrow

What girl hasn't been obsessed with Captain Jack Sparrow at one time?! lol.  I actually painted this one about 6 years ago.  I was really obsessed back then.  

I did this one using orange, black, and white acrylic paint.  I got this one framed in a thin orange frame.  I am working on getting a few more pictures so I can put it up for sale in my shop.

Happy Paint Party Friday Everyone!! 

AND

 Hi again everyone from the 29 Faces Challenge!! Can't wait to see what everyone came up with!

Paige is 1 year old today!!!

I can't believe how fast time flies!!!  My little baby is a whole year old!  She's already walking, she says almost a dozen or so words... I told her she can stop growing any time now. haha!  She's not listening tho!

Happy Birthday little monkey!!  Your momma loves you with all of her heart <3

I can't wait for her birthday party on Sunday!!!  I've got lots of craft decorations to get done! 

29 Faces Challenge- #'s 17-19

I have been working like crazy so I haven't had too much time to do sketches so I did a couple to catch up!   These are just really quick pencil sketches.

Ideas for Paige's 1st b-day

My little baby girl is going to be ONE on the 19th!!  I can't believe how fast this year has gone by.  She's growing up way too fast!  I keep begging her to slow down a little but she's not listening! haha!

I have been looking for birthday party ideas and I found a bunch of things on Pinterest.  I'm going to try to make some of them myself.  Here are a few of the ideas I had

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Her birthday party isn't until the 23rd so I have a little bit of time to try to make a few of these.  I'm so excited!!!

What did you do for your little one's 1st birthday?

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!!

I hope you all have some fun plans for the day!  In honor of Valentine's Day I decided to draw a portrait of my husband and I on our wedding day.  We got married on the beach in Ocean City, Maryland.  The whole day was like a whirlwind!  

These are portraits for days #15 and 16 of the 29 Days Challenge.  Can't wait to see what everyone else has for today!

Pulling myself out of the fog

This is about the time of the week that my body starts to get really tired from all of my 3-11 shifts at work.  Soooo sleepy!!  My brain starts to feel like its stuck in a fog or like I'm still in dreamland. lol!  The good news??  That I have Friday off!!  I expected to have to work on Valentine's Day.  It was a pleasant surprise to get the day off... especially since I haven't gotten to see much of my husband for the past week and a half.  He works daylight and I work nights. The bad news?  I work Saturday and Sunday. Booo! 

On the artsy side of things, my friend asked me to paint a portrait of Bono for her as a gift to her sister.  Her sister LOVES him. lol!  I wish I would have taken more progress pictures....and a better finished product picture.

#13 for the 29 Faces Challenge

This one isn't 100% perfect but I tried!  This is actually a girl I went to school with.  She became a model in New York and said I could use her picture for a reference so I could try portraits of people I knew.  I always think it's way harder to draw someone you know then same random person in a magazine.

This charcoal drawing is #13 of the 29 Faces Challenge

Wordless Wednesday- Our Wedding Day

In the spirit of Valentine's Day I thought I would post a couple photos from my hubby and I's wedding for Wordless Wednesday.

I survived my first week!

Hi everyone!!  I successfully survived the first full week at my new job!!  I really like it so far!  I think I'm getting the hang of it too!  BUT  I'm sooo exhausted!  My body isn't used to working fulltime anymore, since I took the year off when I had my daughter.  I will get used to it, I guess.  The hardest part will come when they want me to train on the midnight shift...It will be tough for me because after I am done working that night I will come home and my little one will be awake for the day, so I would get a chance to nap until her dad comes home at 4pm!!  EEEEKK!  We will figure something out....i hope!

Now on to the fun stuff....I decided to pull out the markers and make a couple quick drawings for the 29 Faces Challenge.  I am a little ahead posting these but these are faces #11 and 12

The first one reminds me of a mermaid...

And this one makes me think of a fairy

Zoey the cat

Zoey the Siamese cat is my face #10 for the 29 Faces Challenge.  My friend lost her kitty and I wanted to make something for her to remember her little fur baby with.  I did this one using colored pencil.

quick pencil sketch

This is face #8 for the 29 faces Art Challenge.  There is only about two thirds of the woman's face showing and about one third of the man's face showing, soooo that equals one whole face, right??? lol!!

I did this quick sketch in pencil.

Paint Party Friday AND Face number 7

I decided to sort of combine two of the link parties that I've been attending.  On Friday's I contribute to Paint Party Friday and I've also been trying to do a portrait a day for the 29 Faces challenge.  So to make it a little easier on myself today I decided to combine the two...

I am a big musical theater geek so I have to admit that my favorite movie growing up was Grease! haha!  I decided to try John Travolta...

What do you think???

Disney inspired faces- numbers 4, 5, and 6

I guess I already got a couple days behind in the 29 Faces Challenge.  Oops!!  So, I am playing a little bit of catch-up and posting 3 faces today.  Who loves Disney movies??  I am such a little kid at heart because I still love them!

Jasmine and Aladdin done using pen and ink

Pocahontas done using watercolor paints and pencils.  I'm not used to using watercolor so I thought I would give it a try!

Wordless Wednesday - Lemons

She LOVES them! lol

11 Random Questions

One of the blogs that I follow, Nicole from WRITES LIKE A GIRL, posted these questions on her blog and they seemed like some fun questions for you guys to get to know me a little better. So here goes nothin! :)

1. What is your favorite thing to do when you're feeling stressed?
Paint/draw/doodle....and I have to take a hot shower.  The shower is my happy place. haha!  

2. It's 2014. What invention are you still waiting for them to come out with?
a teleportation device!

3. You're in control of the thermostat-what temperature do you set it?
I usually keep it around 73/74.  I'm always freezing so I have to keep it warm...  Altho both my husband and my daughter are the complete opposite and are walking heaters! lol

4. If you could go back and say something to yourself, what would you say and what age would you say it to? 
I would probably go back to my college days, when I had my first apartment, and I was SUPER broke and tell myself to stop being so stubborn and not be afraid to ask for help sometimes.  I have way too much pride.  

5. What toppings are on your perfect pizza?
I'm super lame and usually get cheese or pepperoni.  Sometimes I crave supreme though!

6. If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?
Oh geez...I actually like my name.  Julie is a common name but not so common anymore so I think it's a nice classic.

7. What actor/actress would play you in the movie of your life?
hmmm...Michelle Rodriguez maybe?  I've been a tomboy for most of my life and it seems like she plays that role in every movie. haha!!  I grew up with an older brother and a ton of boy cousins so I guess it was bound to happen.

8. List three things you want to accomplish in the next five years:
1.Have an up and running art business...whether it be through Etsy, art/craft shows, word of mouth, or all of the above.  2. Having a real vacation with just my husband.  3.  Be the world's best mom ;-)

9.What's the last show you binge-watched?
The Blacklist.  I LOVE this show....I'm seriously addicted

10. What drink or food item is your go-to guilty pleasure?
chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmm....  I used to be addicted to Pepsi but I actually gave it up in August and haven't touched any soda since! woohoo! (except one ginger ale one time when my stomach was upset!)

11. Do you feel that your current age fits you?
Well, I definitely don't feel like I'm about to turn 30!! I remember when I was little I used to think that 30 sounded SO old...aaand now I'm going to be there in October. EEEK!  Everyone says I look young for my age so I guess that is good.  Some days, when Paige is up a bunch of times during the night and she is miserable the next day, I feel 60! haha!

Starting my new job today and Face #3

I am starting my brand new job today and to be honest I am SUPER nervous!  This is the first time I will be back to work since my little one was born almost a year ago.  I'm not sure how I am going to handle being away from her but we will see how it goes.

To help me de-stress I drew this pencil drawing of a woman for a book my husband is working on for the 29 Faces Challenge.  She is the white queen.  I actually got the idea for the face and pose from a Victoria's Secret Model. LOL!  I added the clothes and day bed/couch.

29 Faces Art Challenge

Hello everyone!  I recently came across a fun Art Challenge called: 29 Faces Art Challenge. W are supposed to create a face per day using any size, style, technique, medium, material or surface..  I am going to try to keep up but there is a chance that I may be posting a couple a day if I get a little behind.  I am really excited about this!!  I think it is going to be a great way to meet other artists and also keep myself drawing!

So without further ado....my first face for the challenge.  I did two because I am a day late starting!!

Angelina Jolie.  Realistic on left and slightly distorted with color on the right.  They are both done using charcoal and I added red chalk to the second one just to add a little bit of something!

Can't wait to see what everyone else created!!

Marker drawings

For a while I got hooked on creating marker drawings.  I think I liked them because they were quick.  I drew all of these about 2 years ago.

From top to bottom, left to right. Helena Bonham Carter, Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn again, Cameron Diaz, and Lucille Ball

from top to bottom, left to right: Jack Sparrow/Johnny Depp, Marilyn Monroe, Kate Beckinsale

from top to bottom, left to right: Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy, Keira Knightley, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Downey Jr.