Rss

PROJECT: Noah’s Ark Mural, Day 3

Posted by :bcjen On : November 21, 2011
0

Category: Murals

Tags:, , , , ,

Ok so I’m still working on the Noah’s Ark mural.  It’s huge.  But still fun.  So fun, that I took a random picture while sitting in a chair giving my legs a break.

So I sent it to G via text message.  Here’s the picture, followed by the text conversation:

G:  “Did you fall and that is the photo from the floor?”

Me:  “ROFL!! No, I was sitting in a chair!”

See why I married this guy?  He KNOWS me.  He knows it’s entirely possible- and more than likely PROBABLE- that I’d fall AND take a pic from the floor.  Man I love him.

He has every reason to ask about the falling.  4 months prior to our wedding he came home from church to a hysterical message on his answering machine:

Me:  (crying)  “Ok, so I was getting ready for church and I took a bath and when I got out of the tub I fell and I broke my wrist AND my elbow.  How am I going to have a wedding with my wrist and elbow in this horrible cast?  It’s huge!  Did you hear me?  I BROKE MY WRIST AND ELBOW!  I FELL OUT OF THE BATHTUB!”

Yep…never living that one down.  Ever.

Two months after we got married we were doing yard work or something in the back yard and I jumped across the stepping stones and managed to break the bones in the top of my foot.

And I’ve fallen down stairs.  But not in front of G.  In front of my family.  And yes, I swore like Eddie Murphy’s Aunt in his “Delirious” video.  Aunt Bunny.  Allllll the way down.

And…my family was laughing so hard at it, that no one cared that I had just fallen down the stairs.

I’m famous for falling.

Boy did they all feel guilty when they found out I had TWO rare diseases that causes this to happen?  Well, no, not really.  They still laugh about the stairs.  Secretly…so do I.

Here’s some more random shots from today.  I only have to re-outline a few animals, outline the bottom of the ark and then paint the roof and part of the wood behind the animals.  Then I have to put clouds on top of each doorway where the rainbow comes out of  and goes into.  Oh and I have to get Pastor Mike to have time to paint the rainbow stripes.  Poor guy, his life is crazy busy and Smurfette the painter can’t reach the rainbow.

(this was from Sunday, the rest are from today)

   

So yeah…click on that last one.  Check out out Noah’s face.  Specifically his nose to mouth ratio.  Um….yeah…so tomorrow I’ll be going in and fixing Noah’s nose to mouth distance.  Dude has the longest upper lip known to mankind.  At least his wife no longer looks like Shaggy in drag.  Now you can also see why I said I needed to outline the ark.  It looks like a big ol’ mess with out the wood being outlined.  Like a big brown bathtub.  Never fear!  Me and my handy dandy black Sharpie pen will be outlining that bad boy tomorrow!

Also, I get to do the Christmas bulletin board while I’m in the crafty mood.  Here’s my idea:

Translating that into the real deal will be something to behold.  Because the intent is  to make Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus out of poster board, BUT, using felt or material, clothe them.  Make it texturally interesting.  THEN, the wreath is made out of layered, painted cardboard with real bow/ribbon hanging down.  The black backings are black posterboard.  And the presents will be pieces of cardboard with real Christmas (foil hopefully) wrapping paper and ribbon.

All with a budget of $0.00.  And since this house does not have any sort of Christmas wrapping paper, ribbon, etc…this should be interesting…

Oh, and have I mentioned that I just discovered we have a guest speaker coming on Sunday?  So…yeah.  I also have these wood scroll looking signs that others are making and I have to letter, “art up” as well.  I don’t mind doing ANY of this.  I LOVE this stuff…I’m just wondering about time.  The Noah’s ark mural should be done tomorrow (except for the rainbow).  I won’t start anything new this week, mural-wise because I have Thanksgiving commitments end of week.  So I want to finish the Ark then do the bulletin board then get going on the scrolls next week and then re-visit the idea of getting Daniel and the Lion’s Den up and going pre-Christmas.

The ATC addiction grows

Posted by :bcjen On : November 7, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, , ,

Now y’all knew that I couldn’t stop at just a few ATCs.  If you’ve read through any part of this blog, you realize that I have a problem with addiction.  Addiction to art.  Once I find something I like, I HAVE to keep doing it.

In this instance it’s drawing Artist Trading Cards (ATC).  I may not be able to part with any of these.  lol

My legs have been increasingly feeling like jelly so we all know that means that the ability to walk is taking a, erm…um…a walk. (we can now all take a moment while I slap myself for that bad pun).

Ok,

here’s what I’ve been doing:

Why yes I DO look for new things to obsess over

Posted by :bcjen On : November 2, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, ,

And here’s the latest.  Drawing “stained glass” looking things.  They may not look like stained glass to you, but don’t tell me.  Don’t ruin the moment for me.  Let me live in my own little delusional world.  The one where I actually get a monthly shoe budget, all the Prismacolor pens the company can send me and free sketch pads.  Oh and where Splenda is actually good for you.

I’ve drawn these 4 in the past few days.  I’m running out of dark green pen, sadly.  Well I still have dark green in Bic Mark It and in Sharpie, but not in Prismacolor.  I think I’ll write them and see how they feel about that.

What’s really funny is that I’m now drawing so much “stuff” that I’m naming the pictures.  And it’s me, so you know the names are weird.

Here are the above four in single shots with their pretentious names:

POPTOP PARADISE

PSYCHEDELIC FEATHER

TRIPLE CROSS PINK (the actual winner of “Lamest Name” award)

and the original work, “AZTEC OWL MASK”

I need a label on me that says, “Needs Serious Psychological Help”.

A Christmas Wreath drawing

Posted by :bcjen On : November 1, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, ,

I’ve been asked if I would provide one of my drawings for a “door prize” at a local mom’s night out coming up this month.  After I got done asking the person in charge if she had actually seen this site and/or any of my drawings (she said yes and then said nice things), I kind of went into shock mode.

Seriously, someone asking me for something to give as a prize?  Hello?  BADLYCRAFTED is not just a clever website name.  I guess my drawings are ok, but as a prize?  Um…HELLO?  I just don’t think of my stuff being of that particular quality and of me being artistic enough.

Ok, maybe it’s one of those “white elephant” give aways.  You know the kind where everyone gets a gag prize and they wheel and deal during the party and you end up having your pig-face hot pan holders traded for a broken toilet seat lid and you get stuck with it because you’re the last to trade.

My friend assures me that my work will cut the mustard.  Well she didn’t say that, but she alluded to the fact that someone out there might actually like my drawings.  She said she does, so that was nice.

So I waffle between laughing hysterically and laughing hysterically but in a complete panic thinking, “OH NO, I have to draw something that someone might like!”  Our kids are in a class together and we met up today at the class and I showed her a couple of drawings and said, “Ok YOU pick one.”  She said, “No, YOU have to pick one that represents you and your work.”

CRAP.

One of the drawings was that stained glass looking thing below and the other was a Christmas wreath that had far too many red circles (berries) on it.  It looked like the wreath had measles.  I told her I’d draw another one and have less berries on it, if that one was chosen.  But then I had to choose.  Oy.  So since Christmas was coming up and it wasn’t too weird I went with the  Christmas wreath.

But then I kept second guessing myself.  So Than had a scout meeting tonight and my friend Chris was there.  I told G that I needed to go ask Chris a question and I’d be right back.  Than was up in front with the other scouts.  I went over to Chris, explained my dilemma and asked her opinion.  She went with the Christmas wreath, too as the holiday season was coming up.

Chris is awesome.

So I came home and did THIS:

Of course it won’t have the imitation watermark on it and it looks better in person because face it, I’m a crap photographer.  (Memo to self:  learn how to use the scanner on the fax/copier/scanner thing on my desk).

I have to give this to the event coordinator on Thursday.  I’m sure I’ll draw 15434293479 other things before then and end up going with this because I’ll have stressed myself out and because I trust my friend Chris’ judgement.

Basket case, thy name is Jen.

My version of a mask….

Posted by :bcjen On : October 31, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:,

After standing in front of my craft supplies for 15 minutes, mouth hanging open, eyes vacant and some sort of “duhhhhhh” sound coming out of my mouth, I decided I, in fact, DID feel like drawing today. One can only stare at a depleted craft supply area for so long before the reality of the situation (lack of supplies) gets through even the thickest of skulls.

So I started doodling.  And by doodling I mean drawing in a non-planned manner, as opposed to anything to do with the bathroom (I had to explain that to Than, so in case there are other 8 year old boys out there I thought I’d explain it here as well).

My mom looks at my pictures that I draw and shares them with one of my brothers.  He always asks her if I actually draw these things freehand.  Sometimes I tell her to tell him yes, and some times I tell her tell him no, I actually put up my paper onto my computer screen and trace.  I’m a smart ass like that.  Of course I freehand…you’ve seen my drawings, right Marc? LOL ;)   My mom is always trying to get that particular brother to take a stained glass making class with her.  She says she’d like to turn one of my drawings into stained glass.

What does this have to do with my drawing today?  Well I thought I’d make it easy on my mom and draw a stained glass picture.  Of course this sucker is so busy she’s probably going to cut me out of the will once she sees it.

I call this Stained Glass Owl Mask.  I call it that only because G came home from work and I showed him and he actually really likes it.  He said it looked “sort of like an aztec mask”.  I’m like, “Ok, I’ll go with that!”

Enough of my blathering….

Come on cold weather! With a bonus special STORY TIME!

Posted by :bcjen On : October 23, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, , ,

It’s nearing the end of October, but apparently someone hasn’t told Phoenix that.  It’s been up near 100 degrees a bunch lately.  Even in the 90′s is ridiculous.  Come on Phoenix, get with the program!  Other places have already seen snow. SNOW I TELL YOU!

(sigh)  Why can’t it just cool down so I can break out jackets, long sleeves and pants.  PANTS DANG IT!  (trousers for you European types).

Oooh…quick “Story Time”  Stop me if I’ve told this one before….

So I was in my early 20′s and I was working for a flight simulation company in Texas.  They were the American Office for a (then) British-owned company.  One of my bosses (who in later years would track me down and hire me back in a higher position) was freshly over here in the US.  Great guy. Best. Boss.EVER.   Anyway, he was getting used to me and I was getting used to him.  I talked alot.  Imagine that.  He was patient and funny.  His wife was awesome (still is) and he had great kids.

The kind of guy who laughed (and remembered years later) when I had a typo in a memo I typed for him.  I typed the word “print”  but I think I typed it “prgint”  and he was being kind and trying not to embarrass me when he pointed out the typo.  Quickly I countered with this, “Oh, in the US, the “g” is silent in that word.”  He never forgot that.  I knew we hit it off perfectly when he laughed and laughed.

What does this story have to do with pants you ask?

Well one day my boss came into work looking rather dapper and I walked into his office and said, “Well don’t you look nice today!  Those are really nice pants.”

He went beet red.  Then he kind of laughed and said, “Thank you!”

I said, “Alright, what did I say wrong?”  He went beet red again and said, “Well in England, you would say, ‘nice trousers’.”  I said, “That’s what I said.”  He said, “No you said pants.  Pants are what you wear UNDERNEATH the trousers.”

My turn to turn beet red.

One of my favorite work memories ever.  I loved working for him.  Best boss ever…or did I say that?

Ok I got that story out, and the reason for all this cold weather, pants, trousers, Christmas-y talk is last night when I got home from a Fall Festival I was in the mood to draw (ok, I’m always in the mood to draw) and I drew this:

  Why oh why can’t it be Christmas?  Or just cold?  I love Fall and Winter…I am so not a summer person.  Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it before…”Boy do you live in the wrong place!”  Tell me about it….

I think I will thumb my nose at this late summery weather (watch…I’m thumbing my nose, do you see me?  THERE! I did it again!) I will start drawing cold weather stuff.  And then I’ll start on the Thanksgiving/Christmas crafts.  And maybe I’ll finish one and put it up here.

You wait…I’ll do it.

Drawing Gerbera (or Gerber) Daisies

Posted by :bcjen On : October 21, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:,

Here’s how I spent the majority of my evening…

  And a close up so you can see some detail 

It would be super awesome if I could learn to cut the paper the same size.  Each flower picture will eventually have a name underneath it.

I am drawing these for my friends daughters.  That way they can put them in a little frame and hang them up in their rooms.

Someone mentioned me selling these on Etsy.  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA  That cracks me up….  It’s ok for you to laugh, too.

My First Prismacolor Drawing

Posted by :bcjen On : October 19, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:,

The orange Gerbera Daisy….

As usual, my crafting is bad.  Notice how the lower left side of the flower is…wonky?  Yeah.  I’m trying to tell myself it makes it more realistic.  Sometimes I really lie to myself.  This is one of those times.

Oh yeah, using Prismacolor pens?  sighhhhhhhh  amazing….. My love was not in vain.  Everything I thought they would be…..  I need to write more Prismacolor haiku.

Drawing with a purpose

Posted by :bcjen On : October 15, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:

I draw constantly.  Even when I’m supposed to be doing something else.  I can’t help but draw, even if it’s just doodling.  But I LOVE to have a project (this is me pretending like the 30 Day Challenge doesn’t exist)…a purpose…to my drawing sometimes.

I was at our homeschool co-op’s “PE” (physical education) class this past Thursday, just hanging out watching Than sweat like crazy (it was 100 degrees) and chatting with my friends.  My one friend, Barb, cracks me up.  She’s got this delightfully dry sense of humor.  We were chatting about anything and everything and she mentioned that one of her daughters likes monkeys.  Well, little known fact to anybody but me, but I’m working on a monkey “brand” right now.  So I thought I’d draw something with the monkey on it for her daughter to see if she’d like it.  Her daughter is a fan of Bobby Jack, my monkey looks nothing like him though.

Her other daughter likes horses.  I suck at drawing horses.   I asked if she liked flowers and I found out that yes she does.  Especially Gerbera daisies.  My personal favorite.  So I’ve been spending this weekend drawing things trying to come up with something for her girls with their names on them.  I do this for friends kids so they can hang stuff in their room.  Like for Wendi’s boy, Matthew, I drew a Spiderman.  The catch was, I drew him small like he was a child in the costume.  I told Matthew it was HIM inside of the costume.  Wendi said she was going to have it framed and hang it on his bedroom wall.  I like that idea (personalized things for kids bedroom walls), so I draw things with their names on them in hopes that they can do just that.

Yes this long, drawn out story has a purpose.  The purpose is that for Barb’s oldest daughter, I drew one of the best pictures I’ve ever drawn.  And we all know that’s not really surprised considering that some of my drawings are stick figures. lol

Here’s the picture:

I LOVE this picture!  I’m not trying to brag or pat myself on the back, but I really love how it turned out.  I finally figured out how to draw a Gerbera daisy!  I foresee me drawing tons of these.

The other picture needs work.  I’ll show you that.  It’s not done.  I’m ok with the monkey but I don’t like how I did the name.  I have other ideas for the name so I’ll be working on that tonight.  Here’s what I have done, but won’t be keeping:

Anyway, I was going to attempt to be funny in this post, but I’m stuffed from eating at Smash Burger and that leaves little room for “the funny” when all I can think of is how much I love Smash Burger.  If someone tells you that In N Out is the best burger out there…don’t believe them.  Go try Smash Burger.  You won’t regret it.

…later that night….

Ok, here’s the completed “Emily”

Days 15 & 16 Challenge! I’m finally caught up!

Posted by :bcjen On : October 11, 2011
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:

I’m using !!!! <— those because it makes it seem like I’m so enthusiastic about this challenge!  It started out with me so excited that Than and I would do this together.  Then I crashed and burned myself right into the hospital and all this recovery crap…blah.

But I like to draw and I obsessively draw all the time.  Although, from the pictures I’ve been drawing for this challenge it looks like I’ve never picked up a pencil in my life.

So having said that, here’s the next 2 challenges, which catches me up.

Day 15 – FAMILY PICTURE

We’re so cute. I had to do the stick figures because I think that’s fun.  Or maybe I’m just lazy. What’s funny is I gave myself brown hair and brown eyes.  I have red hair (reddish/brown) and very, very green eyes.  LOL  Oh and G is black and Than is biracial (though he’s very light skinned) and I didn’t even bother to give any of us skin colors.  Doesn’t matter with stick people, I say!

Day 16 – Inspiration

I don’t get preachy in this blog, but I hope people who read this realize that I’m TOTALLY God’s girl.  I am all about Jesus and hope that, on a daily basis, I do my best to follow His example.  I fail miserably, but I know He still loves me.