A guardian Angel always near...

There are so many beautiful angel quotes to be found, but I guess we shouldn't be surprised for are they not creatures that radiate love and inspire great things?

This angel wasn't keen on being sketched - I think she had more important caring business to attend to and couldn't stop long enough for me to really capture her compassion and serenity. In fact, after I'd attempted to draw her features for about the 10th time I wouldn't have been surprised to see the rare sight of angel foot-tapping impatience!

Still, she did her job, which was to allow soothing sketching and brush strokes to caress away the strains of the day and freshen a tired mind. She doesn't care that her face and neck are a bit long, that her eye is wonky and her hair a wild, untamed beast! And, she assures me that although her one visible wing is a bit wispy, it serves its purpose well.
She is art journal homework for my art course and my entry to the Three Muses' Quotation challenge.

Angel

How strange that this morning I am at a loss for words. I guess every so often we all need to just find some quiet time. Perhaps it was sketching this angel that soothed the chatter from me and encouraged a little peace.

She is another of my Christmas ornaments. This is the not-quite-finished version, for the glimmering shimmering holy shine that finishes her off may well take a few hours to dry. Will you come back later and see her sparkle?

In the meantime, pop along to Blue Chair Diary and see what the other Sunday Sketchers are up to...

I now present the finished version. The scan made my sparkles a bit pink - they are more muted in real life. Added a Kim Klassen texture for the final touch (appropriately, Silent Night).

Head in the clouds

Yes, it has been said, but then again the view's great from up here!

Inspired in the Avenue this week by the theme of clouds and one of my favourite songs. See if you can guess what it might be... take a look behind the rows and flows of my angel's hair and see if you can spot the ice cream castles.

This is the second piece I've done on this theme, the first was a good few months ago when I didn't feel confident enough to paint faces. She's not quite finished yet. Some purple eye lashes needed perhaps? I'm not quite sure.

It's interesting how these art prompts hone your observation skills. A couple of weeks ago I was finding paisley in the most unlikely of places and this week we've been blessed (if that's the right word!) with some serious storm clouds rolling over the hills and such variations in texture and colour. So many times when you wish you had a camera.

So much magic wrapped up in the down of a cloud too - the way the light filters through in holy streaks, the shifting colours as they obscure the sun. Personally I love when black thunder clouds are illuminated underneath by the sun's desperate attempts to keep them at bay and the whole world takes on a yellow glow. And, who can resist clouds from the top - fluffy cotton wool observed from a flying tin can!

Mixed media journal piece - coloured pencils, acrylics, water soluble crayons, angel hair and ice cream.