Christmas Wishes

 The boys are ready for Santa!

Last week I missed the next installment of Dog Diaries. I had too much wrapping and Christmas prep to get done. I try to get everything done early so I can relax and enjoy the next few days leading to Christmas.

I have one more present to wrap and a trip to the grocery store to get apples for the pies my daughter and I make as well as a bag of potatoes. After that, I'm free and clear for the week. We did our annual Christmas visit to my brother's on the weekend. We usually stop by on Christmas Eve, but someone has to stay home with Rambler (I'll talk all about his separation anxiety in a January post). My husband stayed home with the boys, while my daughter and I (and her boyfriend) got to visit with my brother, sister in law, and my eldest nice. My youngest niece wasn't feeling well, but we dropped off her presents at her house and saw her for a few minutes. My family is small, but we're a crazy bunch. Lots of hugs and laughter. When we arrived back home, my husband's eldest brother was visiting, so we got to see him for a bit too.

After I hit 'publish' on this post, I will be done with computer work until after the holidays. I have lots of reading to catch up on, and I need to get myself out of the design slump I'm in. My artistic creativity has taken a backseat to dog exhaustion and holiday prep, so I'd like to get back into my art.

As for the new year, I don't make resolutions. I just want 2024 to be better health-wise than 2023. This past year hasn't been great for my health. Migraines, dizziness, hearing issues, and lots of pain in my neck, back, and arm have been worrisome. But as we enter January and I turn another year older, I'm hoping 2024 is much better physically and mentally. 

I've retired from writing novels. They take too much time to write and publish and I'm not a marketing specialist, which you need to be these days to get your book in front of readers. I'm pondering another writing avenue, but it's just a thought at this point. I'll keep blogging in the new year. As well as my own posts, which will include the continued journey of dog life and my art work, I have a few guests lined up to fill in the days I'm too exhausted. I'm hoping to have posts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so watch for those.

In closing my last post for 2023, I want to thank everyone who follows my blog and to the ones who occasionally stop by. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Season Greetings, and a Happy New Year. May your holidays be filled with much happiness and love. Chat with you in 2024!

My favourite Christmas card I designed this year.

Sitting Pretty #CA0037

With the colder weather upon us, I thought I'd share one of the cards I designed last week.

I titled the card 'Sitting Pretty' because this beautiful bird is taking a moment out of its day of collecting berries to sit on a branch dusted with snow.

Sitting Pretty (#CA0037) is part of my greeting card collection. And visitors to my blog are getting the first look at it because it hasn't even been uploaded to my 'Darlene Fredette Designs' website yet!

Remember to take a moment out of your busy day to enjoy the world around you.

Happy Little Mushroom

My daughter saw a similar drawing and asked me to design one for her. 

I started from scratch and grabbed my sketch book and a pencil. I drew the mushroom and then uploaded my sketch into my digital app where I made the little guy shine in colour.

Sunset Sail

I wanted to try a digital drawing with multi layers of different shades and found a photo in Pixabay. Of course - as I always do - I changed a few things to give the piece my own unique spin. This definitely helped me learn more about layering and masking.

Wall Art

Last weekend, I watched a digital art tutorial for this Wall Art. I always put my own spin on drawings and changed the clouds and used different colours for the sun and plant.

Thank you to Art With Flo for the tutorial. I learned a lot with layers as well as the tools that allow you to move a drawing to duplicate it (the stairs), as well as creating depth for the door and windows.

Looking forward to watching and leaning more from Flo.

Female 1

I wanted to try a more detailed digital art drawing, and this piece hit the mark. It has several layers of outlines and shading. It was fun to learn how to add lines and shadows for shading and depth.

I changed a lot from the original photo (by MadzArt) to give it my own drawing style. The hair in the original photo was short on the side (with no earring), and I didn't understand where the hair on the other side joined. It just looked off, so I continued the hair down her neck and toward the back. The eyebrows in the original were thick and resembled hockey sticks, so I made those thinner. And I completely changed the round pearl-like earring to stars.

It took several touch-ups to get the look I wanted, but I am really happy with the final piece. I've never been good at drawing faces and hands, so this digital art definitely put my drawing skills to the test.

Night Scene Landscape

My very first digital art drawing with the iPad my husband and daughter gave me for my birthday last weekend. 

This Night Scene Landscape was inspired by Art With Flo. Her tutorials are great for a newbie like me.

I'm very happy with the way it turned our, especially the reflection!