"28 Years" - Year #26

For general information about this 22"x30" colored pencil drawing, see this blog post.
For more information about the flower symbolism I used (Years 15-28) and life events that led me to select those particular flowers, see this blog post.

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My 26th year is depicted with symbols of lettuce and lavender.

• Lettuce: symbol of never giving up
• Lavender: symbol of purity, silence, caution, serenity, calmness, devotion, virtue, wishes coming true, grown-up femininity, refinement, grace, elegance, delicateness, and preciousness

First, I drew outlines of the plants on black paper:

These are the two botanical illustrations I looked at for reference while I drew (I do not own these images; I found them on Google):

Once I had the outlines in place, I started lightly sketching in the plants, beginning with the sprigs of lavender.

I added more color and detail to the lettuce in the background first, since I knew it would take more time. It was hard to add too much detail to the curling leaves, since the lavender was in front of it compositionally.

Then I colored in the lavender. I ended up making it a little lighter in color than I'd initially planned, so that it would be differentiable enough from the background lettuce. When it was just purple/blue without the white highlights, it blended in too much with the red shades of the red leaf lettuce.

Here is the whole drawing so far. Just two more sections to go - my 27th and 28th years!

"28 Years" - Year #25

For general information about this 22"x30" colored pencil drawing, see this blog post.
For more information about the flower symbolism I used (Years 15-28) and life events that led me to select those particular flowers, see this blog post.

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I chose purple carnations and four o'clock flowers to symbolize my 25th year.

• Purple Carnation: symbol of capriciousness, whimsy, changeable natures, and unreliability
• Four o'clock Flower (Marvel of Peru): symbol of timidity, afternoon, and nighttime beauty

First, I drew outlines of the plants on black paper:

I used these two botanical illustrations as reference while I worked (I do not own these images; I found them on Google):

I lightly shaded in the colors I would use for this drawing, and then erased my graphite outline.

Then I started using more depth of color, varying the pressure I used with the colored pencils to get more saturated colors. I finished the carnation first.

Then I focused on the stems and leaves of the four o'clock flowers.

I finished up with the different colored petals of the four o'clock flowers.

Here is the entire drawing so far. Just three more sections to go, and all twenty eight years will be complete!

Ginny Update - 2 Years Old

Our puppy Ginny is not so much a puppy anymore - today marks her second birthday already!

If you want to see pictures of Ginny as an actual puppy, check out these previous blog posts:

• Puppy Genetic Testing (Pictures of Ginny from 3-6 months old)
• 6-8 months old
• 6-12 months old
• 1 year - 1.5 years old

Otherwise, keep scrolling down for pictures of Ginny as a "technically not a puppy anymore." All of the photos below were taken in the last six months, from September 25, 2016 to now.

Halloween night, waiting for trick-or-treaters

Destroying an inflatable penguin

Yes, this bone was bigger than her. And yes, she did eventually finish all of it, except for the stubby knot at the end, which she's still working on.

Happy second birthday, Ginny!

"28 Years" - Year #24

For general information about this 22"x30" colored pencil drawing, see this blog post.
For more information about the flower symbolism I used (Years 15-28) and life events that led me to select those particular flowers, see this blog post.

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I chose pansy and daffodil flowers to symbolize my 24th year.

• Pansy: symbol of thoughts (especially lover's thoughts), remembrance, and consideration
• Daffodil (Jonquil): symbol of rebirth, new beginnings, uncertainty, returned affection, springtime, creativity, inspiration, renewal, vitality, awareness, inner reflection, memory, and forgiveness

First, I drew outlines of the plants on black paper:

These are the two botanical illustrations I used as reference while I worked (I do not own these images; I found them on Google):

Once I had the outlines drawn, I started lightly coloring the flowers in.

Then I erased the graphite lines and used more colored pencils to add detail and brighter, more saturated colors. I started with the pansy flowers, then did the pansy stems and leaves.

Then I finished up with the daffodil petals, and its stems and leaves.

Here is the finished "mini drawing" for Year #24.

And here is the whole drawing so far. Only four more to go until the entire thing is complete!