February Hearts, Part 3

3" x 3", Prismacolor colored pencil

The third little heart in the series.

I even remembered to take a work-in-progress scan, probably because 

I needed a break from the repetition of drawing holly berries:

I'm hoping to eventually have nine of these "Nature Hearts",

so that they can be used individually or arranged all together in a square format, 

but here are the three I have so far:

And here's today's vintage Valentine postcard:
(scroll down for previous posts of hearts and vintage Valentines)

This one, from 1912, is to my husband's grandfather's future wife.
The message reads:

Dear Friend, How are you getting along. I am well.
When are you coming down? I hope you will get many Valentines.
True love from Cora B. ____.

February Hearts, Part 2

3" x 3", Prismacolor colored pencil

Here's the second in my new series of little drawings.

(Scroll down for the first.)

And here's another of my vintage Valentine postcards
sent to my husband's grandfather in 1910.

 (I've included this one more for the charming message than for the front image.)

It reads (uncorrected):

Mr. Adams,

Dear friend, rec your card and was very much surprise too hear from you and
 I appreicate being remember very much. Yes; Henry doesn't like me any more. 

Sincerly, Ida

Illustration Friday: Forward

3" x 3", Prismacolor colored pencil

I've been looking forward to February for a while now. (Okay, I know that's a stretch for the topic of "forward", but I hated to miss another week of Illustration Friday!)

. 

Why? Because February is the perfect month to post this first piece in a series of little drawings that I've started. I'll be posting more this week. Hopefully, you'll start to get the theme as you see more of them.

Also, I have a treasure trove of vintage postcards that belonged to my husband's grandfather, and since many of them are Valentines, I thought it'd be fun to share some of them with you throughout the month. Here's the first one, from 1911:

Can you read the message? It's written on the back of the heart embossing and says

"Can you guess. SWAK" (sealed with a kiss)

Happy February!

Illustration Friday: Prepare

 Pencil (HB) on Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper

For this week's topic of prepare, here's a little sketch of a bird's nest that we found in our yard a while back. Nests are fascinating to examine—this one was completely lined with mud, in preparation for its important occupants. 

I'm hoping that the nesting box on my front porch that I showed you here last spring will have a new resident soon. When I wrote about that one, my son was staying with us briefly before heading out to study spotted owls in the Sierra. He's now part of the California condor study program at Pinnacles National Monument. But  our daughter that graduated from college last June will soon be ending her dietetic internship in Houston, and preparations are underway to welcome her back home for a while. You just never know how long an empty nest will stay empty! 

Illustration Friday: Grounded

Prismacolor colored pencils on Strathmore Bristol, vellum finish

When I saw the Illustration Friday topic "grounded", I started thinking about botanical things underground. It's interesting to me that, while many roots and bulbs that grow underground are white or brown or something in-between, a few—like carrots, radishes, and red onions—are richly colored. 

It seems that most still-life artists, or botanical artists, have a number of onion pieces in their portfolios. It's easy to see why: they're great fun to draw—with their papery, translucent skins, and layers of color.

I just bought a new scanner (my techie husband is going to be setting up a different computer system and it's not compatible with my old scanner), so I will be curious to see how it does with colored pencil and pencil drawings. I'll keep you posted!