Creative Time

Wilbur Paints Christmas

2012-01-18T21:03:00.006-05:00

The experience of painting with Wilbur the Sea Lion was entirely amazing. (see previous blog post) Inevitably, an illustration began to churn. And, out came Wilbur painting a Christmas tree.

Wilbur even had a few things to say about it:

Wilbur Talks About His Art from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

To see more about Wilbur, a sea lion who creates abstract paintings at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, Florida, check out my previous blog post: Wilbur, Sea Lion Artist Extraordinare.

And, one last peek at Wil before you go:

If you enjoyed this post, please check out:
* Painted Violins for the Harrisburg Symphony
* Sebastian and Sylvester: Two Cats Play Amid Cardinals and Roses
* Illustrating a Dog-Gone Cute Christmas Card

Thanks for stopping~

Cheryl

Wilbur: Sea Lion Artist Extraordinaire

2012-01-05T20:25:00.010-05:00

Some folks swim with the dolphins. I opted to paint with a sea lion - a most amazing artist experience. Yes, a sea lion named Wilbur actually paints. On a canvas. For fish.

Where? Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, Florida.

On a recent vacation, I couldn't resist the opportunity. Come and take a look at Wilbur's creative process...

THE POSE:
Wilbur poses with his masterpiece. A little abstract, I might say:

VIDEO:
A short video of the experience:
(Note: my first attempt at using Google's video editor. Timing seemed accurate in the editor, but timeframes shortened in conversion - sorry!)

Wilbur: Sea Lion Artist Extraordinaire from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

THE PROCESS:

So, here's Wilbur.

First step. Picking paints:
As the participant, you select 4 colors.

A close-up of Wilbur's brushes and paints:

Wil's first strokes:

Adding color:

Pink makes it POP:

The final painting:
Love Wilbur's whisker marks in the paint! So endearing.

And, with Wilbur's masterpiece:

(On a side note: lovin' the butterfly bench inside the aquamarine park. Would look great in the garden at home. Anyone know where to find one?!)

COME TO FIND OUT that artist/animal enrichment programs are available at zoos across the country. Check out a book called "Fur in My Paint" by Tifane Grace for more information. Paint with dolphins, snakes, orangutans, elephants, SEA LIONS, and more.

Truly an experience I will never, ever forget!

If you enjoyed this post, please check out:
* Pastured, Beyond Organic at Polyface Farm
* Rejuvenating the Artist's Soul at N. Myrtle Beach

Thanks for stopping by~

Creative Cake Plates!

2011-08-11T21:07:00.002-04:00

An artsy friend visited us last weekend and surprised us with this crafty cake plate.

The cake was scrumptious, but her clever design is well, truly, clever.

She put together an antique plate of our state, and attached it to a glass candlestick. A cake plate on a pedestal. How cool is that?!

So then my niece and I, inspired by my artsy friend, found a state plate and candlestick at the local Sunday flea market...

and, voila, created a gift for a family friend.

Takes the cake, eh?

If you enjoyed this post, you may want to check out:
* Meet the Duck Junky, a talented duck carver!
* Home on the Range, Where the Deer and the Buffalo Play
* Illustrating a Dog-gone Cute Christmas Card
* Pasteured, Beyond Organic at Polyface Farm

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Pastured, Beyond Organic at Polyface Farms

2011-05-21T05:44:00.013-04:00

After just finishing reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals", my hubby and I happened to be enjoying a long weekend in the Charlottesville, Va area touring the homes of our founding fathers/presidents. Charlottesville is an hour away from Polyface Farms. The farm is discussed in depth in the book as a source of beyond organic, clean meat, pastured animals.

For $15, why not stop by and take the Lunatic Tour? (yes, that's what it's called) And, so we did.

Arriving:

The Egg-mobile:

Hubby and Michael, the angelic guard dog:

The happiness of "Pig-ness":

The porch swing at the sales building:

Joel Salatin talking about his beeves:

The amazing story of sunlight to grass:

The Splendor of Grass at Polyface Farms from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

And big ole' scale in the sales building:

Lunatic? Not so much!, But, definitely thought-provoking. The day was rainy, making the fields soggy and muddy - which translated to walking the route versus the planned tractor-pulled wagon ride. Note to self - bring rubber boots next time!

Joel touts that his farm is transparent and it is indeed.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy:
* Serene Tans and Blues at Rehoboth Beach
* Kitties in the Garden - EVERYWHERE!
* Chair Sculpture for 3-D Design Class

Thanks for stopping by~

Chair Sculpture for 3D Design Class

2011-05-18T21:33:00.002-04:00

I decided to take a 3-D design class this past semester, and just finished it this week! We worked in wood, clay, plaster, and metal.

One of the more challenging projects was to find an old wooden chair, tear it apart and make a sculpture from the pieces. The final design was not to resemble a sitting chair, be composed from all angles, create "triangulation", define space beneath the sculpture, and have a sense of force.

And, here is my finished project, titled "Sitting Around":

The local art critic stopped by to give her two cents...

The sculpture made it into the student honors art show and took first place for 3-D design.

On a side note, the chair is actually made from two tavern table chairs. I found them along side a curb, out for trash pick-up on my way home from work. Do you think I should return the chair as sculpture to the place that I found the chairs? ;)

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy:

* Painted Violins for the Harrisburg Symphony
* Black and White: Remember Film?"
* Thunderstorms Illustration for Sparkle Magazine
* Sebastian and Sylvester: Two Cats Play Amid Cardinals and Roses"

Thanks for stopping by!

Thunderstorms Illustration for Sparkle Magazine

2011-05-18T21:05:00.002-04:00

Summer is well on it's way (er, well, that is if it will ever stop raining here in Pennsylvania this Spring!). But, the continual rain does give a perfect segway to introduce the most recent illustration that I completed for Sparkle magazine, a young girls club magazine.

The illustration:
Two sisters huddle in dad's ole' pick-up truck after they get caught in a thunderstorm in their backyard.

The activity:
Find the two matching thunder/lightning clouds.

What fun! I can remember loving these kind of magazine activities when I was little.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy:
* Painted Violins for the Harrisburg Symphony

Thanks for stopping by!

"Painted Violins" for the Harrisburg Symphony

2011-03-06T19:58:00.009-05:00

The "Painted Violins" is a fundraising project for the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Twelve violins painted by Central Pennsylvania artists will be auctioned off on April 3 to benefit the organization.

As a selected artist, I chose to represent the composition "Carnival of the Animals" by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.

The Challenge:
To fit 14 movements on the small violin:
*March of the Lion
*Hens and Roosters
*Wild Asses
*Tortoises
*The Elephant
*Kangaroos
*Aquarium
*Characters with Long Ears
*The Cuckoo
*Aviary
*Pianists
*Fossils
*The Swan
*Finale

The Sketch:

Painting In Progress:

Finished!

A local news clip about the project:

If you enjoyed this posts, you may like:
*The Great CHAIRity Event: Painting a chair of Boiling Springs
* Sebastian and Sylvester: Two Cats Play Amid Cardinals and Roses
* Home on the Range: Where the Deer and Buffalo Play
* Hiking in the Dark: Sparkle Magazine Illustration

Thanks for stopping by!

~Cheryl

Icy Icicle Gardens

2011-02-19T12:18:00.014-05:00

Eye candy. Clear, sparkling ice encasing everything in our gardens. Gorgeous! Hard to believe that was just a few weeks ago. And then yesterday, temperatures soared to 70 F - something us Pennsylvanians usually don't see until May.

The icy beauty:

The mail person is probably going to be late:

Magnolia buds patiently awaiting the thaw:

So delicate...

Loving the hint of green...

Anyone for a hike?

If you enjoyed this post, you may want to view:
--Serene Blues and Tans at Rehoboth Beach
--Sebastian and Sylvester: Two Cats Play Amid Roses and Cardinals

Thanks for stopping by!

CSI of the Cookie Jar!/Sparkle Magazine Illo

2011-02-06T19:55:00.007-05:00

Somebody stole the cookies from the cookie jar! A crime scene investigation is underway. That's the latest illustration I just completed for Sparkle Magazine/GEMS Girls Clubs.

The Final Illustration:

The Sketch:

A thumbprint from the illustration below will be added beside each family member's photo at the bottom of the illustration. The Sparkle graphic designer will then add thumbprints throughout the illustration, and the young reader will have to figure out 'who did it'!

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy:
--Sebastian and Sylvester/Two Cats Amid Roses
--Lost Gifts/Sparkle Magazine Illustration

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheryl

Sebastian & Sylvester/Two Cats Play Amid Roses and Cardinals

2011-01-13T21:16:00.007-05:00

A pure-hearted cat lover's two feline companions playfully interact with a crimson red cardinal in a summer garden of soft-hued roses, while Mrs. Cardinal watches from the bush.

The Final Illustration:

The Stars:

....introducing Sylvester!

....introducing Sebastian (aka Junior)!

A few thumbnails...trying to figure out the composition:

The Sketch:

The Challenge:

I must say, I was a bit intimidated with figuring out how to build depth in the fur of a black cat. Some lavendars and blues did the trick!

Believe it or not, I started this illustration about a year ago. Amid painting, drawing, and photography classes, painting a chair for CHAIRity, a violin for a symphony's Painted Violin project (post to come!), and wonderfully fun children's magazine illustrations....this cat illustration has taken a back seat. It feels great to have it on paper smiling back at me! ;)

If you enjoyed this post, please check out:
* Illustrating a Dog-Gone Cute Christmas Card
* Sparkle Magazine/Hiking in the Dark
* Black and White - You Remember Film?

Thanks for stopping by!

Black and White - You Remember Film?!?

2010-12-07T20:15:00.005-05:00

Remember film? You know, the roll of film that you put in a camera? Before digital?

This past semester I decided to take a black and white photography class where we:
* took photos with a completely manual, 35mm, SLR camera using black and white FILM
* developed the film and enlarged the negative
* used various filters, a timer, tools, and developing chemicals to expose, dodge and burn the print into an artful completion.

Assignment 1: Photograms
Process: layout items on the top of photo paper and expose the paper resulting in a negative output of the items.

Assignment 2: Just shoot film and get used to your camera!
Title: Dad

Assigment 3: Take photos from various points of view.
Title: Fluffy Birdhouse

Assignment 4: Up Close and Personal
Title: The Axe Man

Assignment 5: Secret/Special Place
Title: Turning 14

Assignment 6: Portrait
Title: Jonny's On His Rocker!

Assignment 7: Self-Portrait
Title: ??? (Title suggestions welcome!)

The one that made it into the Student Honors Show....

Assignment 8: Your Choice
Title: Instinctive Shooting

An Extra Shot.
Title: My Nieces

If you enjoyed this post, please check out my previous art class posts:
- Influenced by Berthe Morisot: A Series of 4 Oil Stick Paintings
- Gardening Paintings Influenced by Ben Snijders
- Teapots in Subtractive Chalk
- Painting Class/"Prom Dress Awaits"

Thanks for stopping in~

Photo Class Honors Show/ Instinctive Shooting

2010-12-06T20:00:00.003-05:00

Participating in a black and white photography class this semester has kept me plenty busy. The class is winding down and I'm happy to report that this photo I took has made it into the Student Honors Show!

Title: Instinctive Shooting

It will be on display at the Rose Lehrman Art Gallery until this Friday along with about 100 other student photos.

"Lost Gifts!"/Sparkle Magazine Illustration

2010-11-30T21:54:00.005-05:00

"Lost Gifts"....a super fun illustration that I recently completed for Sparkle Magazine. This is the first opportunity I've had to create an illustration with hidden items. Can you find the 10 lost birthday gifts?

If you enjoyed this post, please check out my last illustration for Sparkle:
--Trapped

Thanks for visiting~

Cheryl

Spiders Web Illo/Sparkle Magazine Story - "Trapped"

2010-11-10T19:41:00.004-05:00

I recently finished a new illustration for "Sparkle" magazine for GEMS Girl's Clubs for a story called "Trapped".

Biggest challenge:
Creating a birds-eye view to give the spider's web primary importance

The Final Illustration:

The Sketch:

Previous "Sparkle" magazine illo:
* Hiking in the Dark

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheryl

Kitty in the Window

2010-10-12T21:43:00.002-04:00

How much is that kitty in the window?!

This little kitty never ceases to delight us. >^..^<

Like this post? Visit all of the kitties in my gardens: Kitties in the Garden Everywhere!

Thanks for stopping by~

Serene: Blues and Tans at Rehoboth Beach

2010-09-15T18:41:00.008-04:00

A serene weekend at Rehoboth Beach soaking in the blues and tans at summers end.

Enjoy a few snapshots of the neutral and blue palette~

A soft and inviting beach practically to ourselves:

These busy little sandpipers were quite entertaining:

Vibrant blue of a roof line:

And one that needs a little TLC:

No singing the blues here. Dinner was delicious:

Hubby with a creamy beach gal, Chelsea:

These chairs are waiting for you....

If you liked this post, here are some more fun ones!
* Hot Diggetty Dogs and More at Rehoboth Beach
* Rejuvenating the Artist's Soul at Myrtle Beach

* Home on the Range...Where the Deer and the Buffalo Play

Thanks for stopping by~

Cheryl

"Hiking in the Dark"/Sparkle Magazine Illustration

2010-08-28T17:49:00.008-04:00

A new illustration for Sparkle magazine - now completed!

The challenges:

* Nighttime
* Depth of field

The Final Illustration:

The Thumbnail:

The Sketch:

If you enjoyed this post, please check out previous posts of Sparkle Magazine illustration:
* A Change of Heart
* Watercolor Walls

Thanks for stopping by!

"Watercolor Walls"/Sparkle Magazine Illustration

2010-08-13T18:15:00.005-04:00

Yeah! I was given the wonderful opportunity to illustrate for Sparkle Magazine again in July.

The challenge for me in illustrating this story, titled "Watercolor Walls", was to depicted a Mom who is ill in the hospital; and to paint several watercolor paintings as if created by a child.

The Final Illustrations:

If you enjoyed this post, please check out my previous Sparkle Magazine illustration post:
* "A Change of Heart"

On another note, my website has recently been updated. Please stop in and give it a view! www.cherylkugler.com

Thanks for stopping~

Cheryl

Jamaica! The Paintings from "Creativity Unbound"

2010-07-16T21:49:00.009-04:00

This past March, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in Creativity Unbound! A fabulous week of painting and bookbinding at the Calabash House in Treasure Beach, Jamaica...and a great time of the year to get away from the wintery March weather.

The week-long workshop was conducted by my friend since childhood Bridget, and her talented painter partner Paul.

Here's to reminiscing...a week of paintings:

Yet to come...a peek at the books we created, and snapshots from the Calabash House!

Creativity Unbound is scheduled for March 2011. Check out their website at http://www.creativity-unbound.com/ for more info about this amazing week.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy seeing:
* "Gardening Paintings - Influenced by Ben Snijders Work"

Hope you are having a wonderfully, creative summer!

Kitties in the Garden - EVERYWHERE!

2010-06-03T23:09:00.005-04:00

I admit it. I'm crazy about cats. Around my gardens you'll find tall ones, fat ones, quirky ones, and real ones....meandering amid the spring and summer blooms. Come meet my feline friends! >^..^<

Two meowy friendly "sentries" welcome visitors, one of them an eye-fluttering girlie-girl...

Nestled in the rocks...

Peonies galore, kitty is taking a bath in the background...

The real cats meows...

A few too many cat treats, perhaps?...

A gift from my bro-in-law, this fella's one cool dude...

The newest addition to a recently expanded garden, my tall gal is awaiting the growing cosmos, zinnias, and sunflowers to envelope around her by mid summer...

And, Cosmo Kitty - A dear friend gave me Cosmo Kitty and said the gorgeous orange/salmon roses from her garden are called Tequilla Sunrise. Cheers to colorful, beautiful blooms in the garden this year!

Come back again soon. We'll take another walk amid the blooms.

If you enjoyed this post, please check out:
* Kitties Favorite Bath! Lap, Lap, Lap
* Mid May in a PA Garden
* Color of Spring Everywhere!
*Blooms Basking in the Summer Sun

"A gardener is an artist who paints the world with flowers." - Marjolein Bastin

Gardening Paintings - Influenced by Ben Snijder's Work

2010-05-11T20:24:00.014-04:00

This week, I'm finishing up my semester-long college painting class. It's kept me up to my elbows in oil paints since January.

Final Project: select a master artist, create a series of four paintings (minimum size: 18" x 24") that are influenced by studying the master artist. Influenced by, not copy. And, complete in 6 weeks.

My Artist: Dutch-born artist, Ben Snijders http://www.bensnijders.nl/

I like the use of palette knife and broad brush strokes of Snijder's work.

Painting 1:
Influenced by Snijder's painting "Still life with red accents and enamel"
Photo of my still life set-up:

For this painting, I opted to use complementary colors of orange and blue, versus the monotone approach shown in Snijder's influence painting.

Painting 2:
Influenced by Snijder's painting "Two Bottles of Red"
Photo of my still life set-up:

Although I did add yellow flowers to the final painting. I must admit, this is my LEAST favorite of the 4 in the series.

Painting 3:
Influenced by Snijder's painting "With Barbara"
Photo of my still life set-up:

I used denim as the theme here, taken from Snijder's composition. I simply threw a pair of my jeans up on the stand to serve as my background.

In progress photo of the painting:

Painting 4:
Influenced by Snijder's painting "Blue Pots"

Snijder's painting is monotone in blues, and for mine I opted to use purples. For the background, I tossed in several purple shirts, and a purple towel!

And, the final painting of peat pots and crocus.

Whew!! What put this project in perspective is learning that Snijder's has taken up to a year to complete ONE painting!

Twitter Friends to the Rescue!
Part of our class presentation had to include a bit about our chosen artist's background and process. In researching Snijder's, I came across an 8 minute YouTube interview of him that was completely in Dutch.

I could tell that between minutes 2:30-4:00 that Snijder's is describing how he goes about setting up his still life.

What to do? I reached out to my Twitter artist pal Debbie Lamey MacDonald (@lameymacdonald) of Nova Scotia to see if she knew Dutch or knew anyone who spoke Dutch and could provide a translation.

Being the wonderful Twitter pal that she is, she reached out to her followers.

Within a day, Evelyn McCorristin Peters (@EvelynMcCPeters), another Twitter artist friend from Florida, responded. Her hubby is native to the Netherlands and could provide the translation! Many, many thanks to Debbie, Evelyn and her husband. Being able to include the 1.5 minute piece of the video clip as part of my presentation was the perfect addition! The prof and classmates got a chuckle.

The Translation:
If you wish to view the video and wonder what is said between minutes 2:30-4:00, here's a quick overview:
Snijder's prefers to focus on models and still life over landscapes. He prefers them because you can make the composition exactly how you want it to look. He built the studio himself so he would have the correct light. He says the winter light is the best and most beautiful.

The still life they discuss is the first still life for that year. The interviewer asks where does the still life begin and end in the set up? Snijder's says he constructs the still life display bigger than he is going to paint, so he can chose the best composition. In this one he liked the blues and the piece of red cloth so he placed the red in the middle. For balance he put a leaf on the left and other objects on right. He has worked on this painting for a year, it is complete. Some go very quickly and some take a long time.

He is very careful about what he shows to the world. He will refuse to sell a painting if he does not think it is good enough.

Related posts:
If you liked this post, please visit my other "final project" posts for drawing class over the past year:

* Drawing II: Influenced by Berthe Morisot: A Series of 4 Oil Stick Paintings
* Drawing I: Teapots in Subtractive Chalk

I'm thinking about taking Black and White Photography for Fall semester. I hope to post photos of in-class paintings soon. Thanks for stopping by!

The Great CHAIRity - Painting a Chair of Boiling Springs

2010-04-17T23:46:00.005-04:00

The Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle, PA is holding "The Great CHAIRity Event" as a fundraiser for the organization. Over the past several months, about 30 artists have donated their time to paint plank bottom chairs.

The chair I submitted represents Boiling Springs, PA and 3 events that happened there in the mid-1980's and mid 1990's.

The CHAIR:

In 1992, a local resident released a pair of black swans from Australia as a gift to his wife. Text reads "Black swans on lake token of love from husband to wife. - 1992"

In 1996, my father, a local builder, donated his time to build a new gazebo at the lake. The previous gazebo had been in existence in the late 1880's and had been gone for years. Text reads "Local builder masterfully crafts new gazebo by lake. - 1996"

In 1987, a local doctor gave a large donation to the local civic association enabling them to purchase and preserve the lake for the public. Text reads "Gift preserves Children's Lake for all to enjoy. - 1987"

Underside of the chair:

The chairs will be auctioned off in May 2010. The chair I painted is currently on display at the Village Artisan's Gallery in Boiling Springs. Please stop and visit this wonderful gallery and gift shop.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy:
* Glamour Puss/Sign Artwork for Tea Room Boutique

Glamour Puss/Sign Artwork for Tea Room Boutique

2010-04-13T20:28:00.005-04:00

Meow! Finally, the artwork on the Glamour Puss Boutique sign is complete. I started painting the sign in January. And, the final touch - steam rising from the teacup - was added this week.

Glamour Puss in all of her beauty:

The Beginning Phase: 3 layers = 3 weeks of waiting between drying time = learning patience with oil paints!

Phase 2: Kitty begins to take shape.

Phase 3: Getting all dressed up. Almost there...

My personal glamour puss and big helper girl:

The sign now goes to the letter painter. And, in a few weeks will go on the front of Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor and Glamour Puss Boutique in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Say, you want a tour of this fabulous tea room? Here ya' go:

* Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor

Thanks for taking the time to view my artwork this week! Come back again soon~

>^..^<

Painting Class/"Prom Dress Awaits"

2010-04-08T09:54:00.003-04:00

The only artwork I've been getting done lately are the paintings for my Painting 1 class at the local community college. It's keeping me v-e-r-y busy!

My blog is getting behind, so thought it best to post a current painting. Here's the painting I created in last night's class:

Five more weeks of class to go! ;)

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy seeing this class painting from January:
* Painting Class/Apples and Hat Box

Sparkle Magazine Illo - "A Change of Heart"

2010-02-21T21:32:00.004-05:00

Creating illustrations for Sparkle magazine are always enjoyable. This one called "A Change of Heart" depicts a sister who is feeling as though everything is unfair. The story starts with her brother getting to open a box holding a butterfly chrysalis that they found a few weeks earlier.

The final illustration:

The rough sketch:

Base colors added in:

And, a few extra little illustrations to go with the story:

If you enjoyed this post that shows the creative process, you may also enjoy:

* Illustrating a Dog-Gone Cute Christmas Card
* Bumble Bees for Sparkle Magazine

Thanks for stopping and come visit again!

Painting Class/Apples and Hat Box

2010-01-30T19:07:00.005-05:00

Oil painting is taking over my life right now! The new semester has begun and will keep me PLENTY busy. I haven't painted with oil paints in over 25 years, and at that time I had only taken an 8 week lesson. So this newest attempt is liking starting from scratch.

In our Wednesday night class, we painted a still life with apples and other objects from the presentation table. After three hours mixing and applying colors, here's what I came up with:

We will spend half of our next class working on the painting again. I would truly appreciate your candid critique and feedback that will help me take this to the next level. Please, please, please post your artist critique in the comments!

And, on a fun little note, here is hubby hanging out with our one kitty last weekend. She's so comfy on Dad's shoulder!

Charlotte's Web - Illustrations for a Local Theater Production

2010-01-23T10:58:00.011-05:00

How lucky can I be to have the opportunity to draw the infamous Wilbur from Charlotte's Web?! The theater program at the local community college needed promotional material illustrations for their April performance.

I have to admit, I had to google Charlotte's Web to recall the full story - it's been quite awhile since 3rd grade. ;) Web photo searches of pigs, rats, and spiders provided for an array of drawing references.

The Final Illustration: The "terrific" pig gazes at his favorite spider, Charlotte, while Templeton slumps on the barn post. Plenty of "white space" reserved for promotional text.

The Sketch: "Some Pig" came out of my pencil after quite a few rounds of 'sketch and erase'.

Revisions: After consulting with the publications director, we downsized Wilbur a wee-bit, and moved up the pig-sty dirt to allow for logos, disclosures and text at the bottom.

To Print: the final flyer produced by the college's public relations department.

Close-Ups:

If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy:

* Illustrating A Dog-Gone Cute Christmas Card - the process of drawing Shelby and Santa

* Bzzzzzz.....Bumble Bees for Sparkle Magazine

Thanks for visiting!

Influenced By Berthe Morisot - A Series of 4 Oil Stick Paintings

2010-01-17T21:40:00.007-05:00

Learning to use oil sticks in last semester's drawing class was so fun!

For our final project, we were challenged to select and learn about a master artist, study their work to learn how they created their compositions, then develop a series of four of our own still life's that were influenced by what we learned.

My Artist: Impressionist painter, Berthe Morisot
I was drawn to Morisot's paintings because of the fancy hats and loose brush stokes of her work.

My series of four oil stick paintings depict a bust of a lady wearing colorful hats:

And, here's the process of creating the fourth and final in the series:

A Bit About Morisot:
Morisot was a woman ahead of her time. Born into an upper-middle class family, she pursued a successful profession as an artist at a time when society frowned upon a woman of class having a career. She was the only female in the elite circle of French Impressionist painters. Because of her social class, her painting subjects were limited to domestic scenes, women and children. Outside landscapes were painted at her family's summer property. Many of her paintings portray her daughter, Julie.

If you enjoyed this post, take a peek at my final project from last Spring's semester:

Teapots - created in subtractive chalk

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my "Creative Time" blog. In a few weeks, I'll be posting an update to my neighbor's duck carving of a Hen Mallard that's she creating for the WARDs world duck competition in Ocean City, Maryland. So, please stop in again. soon!

Meet the Duck Junky - a talented duck carver!

2010-01-04T21:45:00.012-05:00

Meet my neighbor, Deb. Otherwise known as "The Duck Junky". She started carving ducks in 1993 and has been swimming in blue ribbons ever since.

We'll take a peek at her awards and studio, then follow her progress over the next few months as she carves her next duck, a Hen Mallard, that she'll be entering in this year's WARD World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition at Ocean City, Maryland in April.

Deb and her ducks in the local newspaper:

Where it all happens. Notice the name above the door.

Ahhhhh, and all of those incredibly gorgeous colors of silky ribbons. Well-deserved after hours upon hours of time spent carving and painting to perfection....

Deb's accolades include:
Best of Show for her East Caroline (2 years!)
First Place for her Hooded Merganser in 2008
First Place for her Harlequin drake sea duck in 2009
...and several other blue ribbons at WARDS World Competition, she relays so humbly.

You'd expect nothing less than lots of duck heads gracing the shelves of her studio.

Which one of these is the real one?

The toolbox.

Grinding and sanding.

Carving the details.

The new project - a Hen Mallard.

Next Steps....The Duck Junky will be laying out the pattern and begin rough cutting the wood block. Stop back and share in her progress. It will be fun to cheer her on as she prepares for April's competition.

Please post any duck carving questions you have for Deb so I can be sure to post Deb's answers to them in future posts.

Thanks for visiting!

Illustrating A Dog-Gone Cute Christmas Card!

2009-12-18T22:18:00.009-05:00

Ta-dah!...presenting "Shelby and Santa"! A dear friend asked me to create an illustration of her dog to include in her Christmas card design this year. I couldn't resist the opportunity.

It may seem an easy task to just put the pencil to paper and out comes the drawing. But, it takes some time to mull over the illustration, jumbling it around in your head for weeks, penciling rough sketches, contemplating it some more, re-sketching....until you finally feel like the illustration is working.

With that said, I thought it would be of interest to post a blog about how this fun illustration came to be.

First, about 20 photos of the adorable canine subject, Shelby, were sent to me as reference material. Here's a peek at two:

After looking at the photos and getting a feel for Shelby's gestures, colors, facial expressions and more, my next step was a bit of mulling over how to approach the illustration.

What should the dog be doing? Is Santa in the sketch? Is she under a Christmas tree? Is she unwrapping a present? sledding? hanging out with snowmen? under the mistletoe?

Then, rough sketches over a few weeks helped me work out a composition that flowed:

Santa holding Shelby in his lap didn't seem to work, but I wanted to portray a warm, friendly interaction between the two of them:

This one seemed too flat and stagnant, but I'm liking the paw/hand idea:

Shelby's face seemed too rigid and the position too stiff:

Hmmmm...now I'm sorta liking this approach. Shelby giving a sweet, backwards glance:

Ahhhh, and now it's got a good flow going. A doggie-pat on the head, and a pet down the back. Who knew that Santa was a dog lover?!

If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy another one of my creative process posts:

* Mulling over Madison

Merry Christmas to all!
And, as my dear friend noted, be sure to leave a little doggie treat along with the milk and cookies on Christmas Eve....just in case Santa brings Shelby along for the sleigh ride! *woof*

Stuff Your Stockings - Note Tablets Make Great Gifts!

2009-11-30T18:55:00.006-05:00

Super cute note tablets are a great idea for those last minute stocking stuffers. Four Kugler illustrations are available.

Sip some tea with Strawberry bunnies...

Your petter sitter will smile...

A warm-hearted friend will appreciate...

And, of course, for the cat lover...

My online shop is not quite set-up yet, so good ole' fashioned email and snail mail will have to do for this year! If you are interested, just send me a message.... cherylkuglerart@gmail.com

A Toad!...Should I Kiss Him?

2009-11-21T11:11:00.003-05:00

When raking leaves, you can uncover some funny surprises. This cute fellow was under a pile of leaves that I was gathering out of our basement window well.

So, ummm, should I kiss him?

Your thoughts are appreciated! ;)

Imagine...Saturday in the Park

2009-11-17T18:37:00.005-05:00

Saturday in NYC's Central Park was a tad rainy, but still full of color and artsy fun.

Strawberry Fields forever in memory of John Lennon.

Romantically arching, Bow Bridge.

The mandatory dog blog meeting. The story told was that Emma the Basset so very much wanted a granola bar stashed in the glove compartment of her owner's car that she caused $3,000 worth of damage trying to get to it. Sounds like a basset to me!

Her sidekick, Olive.

Sounds of a soothing sax.

NYC Central Park Sax from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

Belvedere Castle.

Rich, green hedge apples on a sill.

The Dairy.

Anyone for a game of checkers at The Checker House?

One of many reliefs in the park.

Colorful words at the Alice In Wonderland statue.

My brother and Mom strolling out of the park.

If you enjoyed this post, stop and visit the post to my last road trip:

Home on the Range, Where the Deer and the Buffalo Play

Sketches/Sand Hills Buffalo and Dad

2009-11-03T21:18:00.005-05:00

My sketch book traveled along with me on my recent trip out west to see buffalo. I figured that if the opportunity presented itself, and I didn't have my paper and pencil with me, I'd be kicking myself. Lucky me, I did get two sketches in along the way!

Buffalo in the Nebraska sand hills.

Two days of driving with Dad.

Much of the travel time was spent talking with my Dad. A great memory!

Be sure to check out the "artsy" photos and story about the buffalos on my previous blog post:

Home on the Range, Where the Deer and the Buffalo Play

If you liked this sketch, check out my previous sketch post:

Ted E. Graham, The Seagull

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by.

Vampire Soup!? - Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T09:01:00.003-04:00

Happy Halloween! Found this devilish little soup can in an adorable country store called "In Grandma's Attic" in Kinzers, Pennsylvania. Having just finished reading the "Twilight" series of books, it was too tempting to pass up.

I haven't heated up any of the soup yet to see what vampires could possible find appealing!...although the tag indicates is good ole' Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup inside.

The unique label is created by Justina's Sweets 'n Treats.

Home on the Range, Where the Deer and the Buffalo Play...

2009-10-26T21:36:00.018-04:00

...where seldom is heard, a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day!

In mid-October, we ventured to Cherry County, Nebraska. The amazing herds of buffalo and colors of the American West offer a mixture of warm, earthy browns against cool snowy grounds....just before winter really sets in. Lots and lots of buffalo and deer to see. Come along and see for yourself...

Notice the tails up in the air? - a "be alert" warning sign.

Why did the buffalo cross the road? I'm not sure either, but I'm not getting out of the car to find out. This amateur video clip was shot with a little snapshot camera, but still gives you a sense of the mammoth size of these beautiful beasts.

Why did the buffalo cross the road? from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

Heading back the ranch road in the Nebraska sand hills.

What's a "Creative Time" blog post without visiting a canine friend. Meet Puddles, the friendliest dog North of Mullen, NE.

An amateur video clip again, but it's fun to see the movement among the herd. You can even see a few momma's and calves running along the back sand hill.

Buffalo Roaming the Sand Hills of Nebraska from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

The resident ranch cat....we nicknamed him "Cat-tanka".

Even fields of hay bales offer a beautiful scene among the miles and miles of prairies.

A red clay sculpture adorned the facade of the bank building in downtown Valentine, NE.

A little side trip to the Badlands National Park south of Wall, South Dakota.

Hubby and me.

Gorgeous mustard yellows, sage greens, and clay reds in this colorful section of the Bad Lands.

Can you spot the TWO deer bedding down in the grass?

A unique carving in the bar at Wall Drug. Seeing the buffalo herds in person gives one a renewed sense of appreciation for hunting buffalo with a bow and arrow.

Eating breakfast with Dad, hubby and my nephew in Valentine, NE:

We never did get back to The Bunk House restaurant in Valentine, NE to partake of these scrumptious looking pies. Maybe next time!

Bzzzz...Bumble Bees for Sparkle Magazine

2009-10-18T10:35:00.005-04:00

A rainy Saturday afternoon provided for the perfect day to set up at my art desk and knock out an illustration for Sparkle magazine.

Although the magazine is geared towards girls under the age of 10, I must admit I learned a few things about bumble bees.....like the fact that they do a dance when they find nectar, and (sorry guys), the girls are the worker bees who do all of the work!

The final art (uncropped):

The artist assistant:

The sketch:

The close-ups:

It was a bright, cheerful project for a gloomy, rainy day. Hope this brightens your day a bit too! Enjoy~

A few links to other Sparkle illustrations:

* Cupcakes! and annual Sparkle Mission illustration

* Too Much!

Bumble Bees - Sketch and Beginning Color

2009-10-17T21:08:00.006-04:00

Bumble bees have been buzzing through my head this past week for an illustration assignment for a children's magazine. Thought I'd post a few "in progress" pics.

The sketch:

Starting color:

I'll post the final in a future blog post! Bzzzzzzzz........zzzz......zzzz.

My Art Table at Carlisle's Shop The Block

2009-10-04T21:20:00.005-04:00

On Saturday, I participated as an "artist in residence" at Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor & Gift Shop, during a "Art, Music and Wine" event. It was held at the gift shops along Pomfret Street in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

It was a beautiful day, so I got to set up in front of the tea parlor.

My dear friend Jacqui stopped by to see me. I love her new shawl that she bought at the gift shop! It matches perfectly.

Jacqui and her Mom enjoyed tea.

The afternoon gave me the opportunity to work on a Christmas card illustration project that I'm in the midst of creating.

And, it was fun to talk with folks as they stopped to look at my work.

What a great day! A special thanks to Jacqui for sending me her photos! ;)

Ted E. Graham...The Seagull

2009-09-29T20:40:00.006-04:00

We named this seagull Ted E. Graham. A few weekends ago, hubby and I enjoyed several days at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and this funny seagull camped out at our beach spot with us.

Although we didn't have any food in our hands, he must have know that we had a bag of Teddy Grahams, sealed closed and tucked away in our beach bag. He paraded in front of us, then stood and stared. We thought for sure that he would fly away any minute. But, nope, he inched closer to our chairs then stood and stared at us again.

Well, what's an artist to do, but get out the sketch pad and pencils and start doodling away. He stayed in one location, but gradually made a 360 degree turn in the sand so that I could see every possible angle.

Eventually, he became bored, and acted like he was going to leave. But, I wasn't done with the drawing. So, I had to lull him back with a few of the Teddy Grahams that he was so patiently waiting for.

Hmmmmm....so I guess that WAS his strategy after all. I'm such a sucker!

This link will take you to the full blog post about Rehoboth Beach.

And, if you enjoyed this beach post, please check out my blog post from Myrtle Beach in June.

Thanks for visiting!

Carlisle's "Art, Music & Wine" Event - October 3

2009-09-22T18:33:00.010-04:00

Mark your calendars! It's a day of art, music and wine at the gift shops on West Pomfret Street in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on Saturday, October 3.

Stroll along the shops, taste some wine, and visit the on-site artists. 'Yours Truly' will be a working artist at Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor and Gift Shop, so please stop by and say "hello".

Should make for a fun day. Hope to see you there! Note: you can click on the flyer graphic to see an enlarged version.

Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor has been so kind to offer my greeting cards for sale in the shop. See my previous blog about the tea parlor here, the blog is filled with pictures of the delicious tea and the dear Victorian tea items for sale.

Hot Diggity Dogs and More...at Rehoboth Beach, DE

2009-09-15T21:53:00.022-04:00

Hubby and I savored a few last dog days of summer at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware....thanks to the generosity of friends.

Hot diggity dog, this beautiful girl, Daisy, (below!) was more than happy to pose for her portrait.

A jellyfish glistens.

An endless game of fetch. The owner told me I'd have at least 258 opportunities just that day to take a picture!

The Endless Dog Game at Rehoboth Beach, DE from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

Peacefulness amid the warm, soft sand dunes.

Some fun with shells and surf-smoothed stones. Meow!

A sweetie-pie named Sadie trolling along the beach just lookin' to give someone a great big smooch.

We found ourselves strolling through this flower shop during a rainy afternoon.

Delightful, bright red cardinals were on sale there, and benefitted wildbird sanctuaries along the shore. A perfect addition to our flower gardens.

And, Jasper, the resident flower shop dog, soaked in all of the attention, then wasted no time showing us where his treats were located!

I bumped into this honey of a hot dog along the boardwalk! That's my hubby for those who don't know ;)

Out to sea.

Feather Here....Then Out To Sea... from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

And, last but not least, this fella, who we called Ted, just wouldn't leave us alone. We'll save that story for my next blog post!

If you liked this beach post, be sure to check out my July posts:

And, Four Ripe Tomatoes!

2009-09-08T22:14:00.008-04:00

In my last blog post, I answered the question "What To Do With All Of Those Tomatoes?!" by offering a delicious and EASY recipe for Margherita Pizza!

Well, all of this tomato talk got me thinking about one of the illustrations I did for the children's book "Teddy, The Hungry Little Bear". It's a fruity counting book that I illustrated for the American Literacy Corporation. Quite the fun project!

Here, Teddy is ready to eat "Four Ripe Tomatoes."

The colorful illustration even depicts a tomato hornworm happily making its' way among the branches.

If you find a tomato hornworm in your garden that has bunches of white egg pouches on it's back, it's actually a good thing. Although the tomato hornworm devours many garden plants, the parasitic wasps lays eggs on the tomato hornworm caterpillar. When the wasp eggs hatch, the young feed on the caterpillar...whallah...natural pest control!

If you are interested in the book, it can be purchased from the catalog page of the American Literacy Corporation website (www.superreader.org) It makes a great gift for a child's birthday, and a super stocking stuffer for the upcoming holidays!

What To Do With All Those Tomatoes...Margherita Pizza, of Course!!

2009-08-30T18:28:00.011-04:00

Ahhh, the deep, rich red of a juicy, ripe tomato. There's nothing like fresh garden tomatoes in salad, BLT's and tacos.

I start my plants from heirloom seeds every Spring. My mom's father was in the Navy and brought them back to the USA in the 1940's. A few generations later a sampling of the seeds ended up in my hands, and I've been keeping them going for over 10 years.

But, what's a person to do when the tomatoes ripen ALL AT THE SAME TIME? One of my newest recipe finds is for Margherita Pizza. And, boy is it ever delicious.

My parents joined us this afternoon for a fresh pizza right out of the oven. Believe me when I say that "I am no cook. And, this recipe is really, really, really easy!" I've included it for you at the end of this blog post.

The bubbly, warm pizza...ready for us to dig in. G-o-i-n-g....

Going.....

Gone!

Margherita Pizza
Adapted from recipe found in the magazine "CuisineAtHome".
*Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
*Take one Boboli - already made, thin pizza crust and place it on a stone baking dish.
*Dice your garden tomatoes. Add enough over the crust to cover the Boboli, leaving about 1/2" edge around the pizza.
*Thinly slice 3-4 ounces of mozarella cheese, and cover the tomatoes.
*Drizzle olive oil over the assembled pizza.
*Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes
*Chop fresh basil leaves and sprinkle over the pizza when it comes out of the oven.
Eat and enjoy!

The magazine also stated that "The story of Margherita pizza is a colorful one. In 1889, Queen Margherita visited Naples. In her honor, a bread maker dressed up his flatbread to reveal the Italian colors - red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil. Suffice to say, it was a big hit and the rest is history." (NOTE: I cannot tell you what month or year of the magazine the article or recipe was in. I tore the article out of the magazine years ago, and the pages do not have a reference of date. Sorry!)

Do you have a great, EASY recipe for using up all of those garden tomatoes? Please share by adding it in your comment below.

Finished - Sparkle Magazine Illustrations "Too Much"!

2009-08-25T21:22:00.005-04:00

Colors are added and illustrations for the "Too Much" story are off to Sparkle magazine. I'm liking the color combination and think that the dark hair and red shirt really make the main character pop! Even kitty can tell that she is a little overwhelmed! Enjoy~

The rough artwork can be seen in the previous blog posting of sketches.
The last illustration I created for Sparkle Magazine was all about cupcakes! You can see it here: Cupcakes

SKETCHES for Sparkle Magazine - "Too Much!"

2009-08-22T08:54:00.005-04:00

Here are sketches for my next assignment for Sparkle Magazine about a little girl who gets overwhelmed (ie., "Too Much!"). They are rough enough to help me figure out how the characters will flow in the composition space, and some details to help me see expressions and emotions I want to convey.

The story GEMS Girl's Club gave me was packed with activity and scenes, so it was difficult to narrow down the focus to three scenarios that would be enough to complement the story.

I actually had hubby lean over and pretend he was hugging someone so that I could get the angle correct for the Dad's back in this last sketch! He was a perfect model. ;) A few dabs of color at the bottom as I consider pallette choices.

Next phase will be adding color. Stop back to see the final version!

The last illustration I created for Sparkle Magazine was all about cupcakes! You can see it here: Cupcakes

Little Dahlia - Smiles for My Windowsill

2009-08-18T20:43:00.007-04:00

Dahlia's made it into my garden this Spring. This is a plant that I have to dig up every year if I want it's colors to grace my garden, so I don't plant them often! Regardless, when I take the time they are well worth the show.

I snipped these two beauties and put them in little jelly jars on my kitchen windowsill. As the evenings are getting shorter, they add an extra breath of pretty pink colors to my day. I couldn't decide between the two photos, so you get to enjoy both of them!

Kitty's Favorite Bath! Lap, Lap, Lap.

2009-08-07T22:22:00.007-04:00

Ahhhh....a refreshing drink for kitty. My handsome guy knows just the perfect place to lap up cool water amid the blooming summer garden. A rainy summer has kept the baths filled to the brim.

Can't help but chuckle at this first photo...tongue caught in lapping action! >^..^<

If you enjoyed this post, check out these other kitties and gardens posts:

Sketch - Creek at Stewart-Laughman Sawmill in Spring Grove, PA

2009-08-03T21:41:00.004-04:00

My hubby is a fishing fanatic. I like to fish too, although, I have to admit, not quite as much as he does. So, over the weekend, he loaded up his fishing gear, and I decided to grab my sketch pad and pencils and head out with him.

We went to a creek in Spring Grove, PA. I plopped down on a wooden bench beside the creek and Black-eyed Susan's caught my eye.

Needless to say, we only had about an hour to enjoy the quiet time beside the creek before we packed up and enjoyed dinner with friends.

Cupcakes! - New Sparkle Illustrations

2009-07-28T21:19:00.007-04:00

I'm excited to post a few illustrations I recently completed for Sparkle, a magazine for GEMS Girl's Club.

These two illustrations will appear in the October 2009 issue:

And this illustration will appear along with the Sparkle mission statement on the back cover of the magazine for one year:

I have so much fun creating the illustrations for this magazine. Their stories have really helped me in developing girl characters in my artwork. I've always got to think about how to create the emotion in the character's faces and body language; and make sure that the clothing is fashionable with the young gals.

I'll be posting a few more in upcoming blog posts. Thanks for stopping by!

Blooms Basking in the Summer Sun!

2009-07-16T20:51:00.010-04:00

It's mid-July. Blooms are basking in the summer sunshine. Looks to me like it's time for another garden walk!

Many doves and robins join these love birds daily.

Soft lemon-yellow day lilies called "Pudgy".

A long shot up through the blooms.

Then so fun to find this sweet little girl in the leaves.

Gleeful pink coneflowers stretch their petals flat for the sun. Always a garden favorite.

The beautiful periwinkle, pinks and blues of the delicate hydrangea are hard to resist.

A deep reddish-orange day lily catches the eye. A few months ago this garden was bursting with dogwood and azaleas!

A favorite place to relax, read, listen to music and watch the butterflies float over the garden.

Hens and Chicks grow out over this moss covered workman's boot.

Bear's Breeches have finally bloomed for the first time since being planted a few years ago.

And, there is that pretty, little kitty again. Now, if only she could pull the weeds! >^..^<

Other fun garden posts of my Central Pennsylvania garden from earlier this year:

Sketches From N. Myrtle Beach

2009-07-06T17:18:00.005-04:00

Mid-June, hubby and I spent a week at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was a soul-refreshing, artist-inspiring week. You can scroll down through creative pictures in my previous blog post.

One of the great things about the week is that I got to slouch down in my beach chair and dig in to the book "Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity" by Julia Cameron. I found out about the book a few months ago from one of my followers on Twitter. Needless to say, I read it from cover to cover while warmed by the summer sun, and feet cooled by the washing surf. It's packed with a ton of great information intended to offer perspective to creative people in how to daily fulfill the artistic passion and drive that keeps us content and happy.

The book inspired me to take the time for some morning sketches. And, I'm happy to share them with you. My unknowing subjects were sketched from the balcony of our rented beach condo. Enjoy!

Rejuvenating the Artist's Soul at N. Myrtle Beach

2009-07-02T19:10:00.024-04:00

Nothing is more rejuvenating for the artist's soul than a week of soaking in the sunshine, toes digging into the warm, soft sand, enjoying the sights and sounds of the ebb and flow of the tide crashing in and sliding back out to sea. Absolutely mindless.

Come along with me to see the colors, shapes, and sounds of a soul-refreshing week at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

These navy blue beach chairs are calling your name.

Nature shows us her intricate designs in the dune grasses.

A little one's tools of the trade, ready to dig in and get creative.

Someone else already did.

A Dad next door was having a blast sculpting this enormous sea turtle.

Comedian Steven Wright tells of having a seashell collection. And then delivers in his deadpan voice, "perhaps you've seen it. It's scattered on beaches all over the world".

Tiny shells in sandy colors, stripes, and whites.

Dragons.

And, dragonflies.

So many dog pals to meet of all shapes, sizes and colors:

Arizona and company.

Super-cute puppy, Digit.

Aussie, Buster.

And handsome Ertle.

Ohhh...and here comes another little cutie-pie...

A Happy Daschund at N. Myrtle Beach from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

A irresistable array of colorful soda bottles catch the eye at Barefoot Landing, and quench hubby's thirst.

And, "yes", these sweet bunnies told me that "It's time that I will be meeting new friends."

Bright, vibrant lights at Joe's Crab Shack set a festive mood.

One more day...

Awwwww....a loving, heartful message written in the sand.

Colorful skim boards await a run in the surf.

It would be SO easy to sit here for weeks on end and then another weekend.

Here's an extra treat for you. Take a minute to enjoy the soothing waves before you leave.

Watching the Morning Tide Come In at North Myrtle Beach from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

Kitties and the Rhodies

2009-06-11T14:29:00.006-04:00

Summer is here and there's nothing my kitties like to do more than roam around the flower gardens. This rock is a popular hangout spot for looking out on the pride and scoping out voles. The pink rhodadendron in the background adds a pretty backdrop for my orange boy and multi-mix gal.

In a few months the orange tiger lilies and soft pink coneflowers will splash new color over this part of the garden. Stop back and visit!

If you like gardens, please check out my Spring garden posts:

Patriotic Tea at The Freedom Log House in Spring Grove, PA

2009-06-06T00:40:00.021-04:00

On Friday, my friend and I went to tea again. We enjoyed a delightful afternoon being pampered by our host in an Americana atmosphere at The Freedom Log House in Spring Grove just outside of York, Pennsylvania. Folk music very softly plucking away in the background, tiny twinkling lights illuminating the ceiling, and the patriotic reds, whites and blues dotted the decor.

A navy blue napkin awaits unfolding.

Our pamperer. She was just super!

Peaches and Cream scones "to die for" - so tempting served warm and made with fresh peaches and white chocolate. Ohhhhhh.....SOOOOOO good.

Let me show you those scrumptious things just a little bit closer. Can't you just smell their sweetness?

And, don't forget the clotted cream. I was about ready to lick the dish clean!

Next up, raspberry vinegarette dressing on fresh green salad.

The main spread - homemade chicken noodle soup that was out of this world, served with delicious chicken melts. Topped off with an iced blueberry-lemon cooler.

Let me show you those chicken melts just a wee bit closer. Makes you want to just take a bite, I'm sure.

Ohhhh, and then the strawberry shortcake.

Need I say more?

A walk around the gift shop brings lots of delightful sights. Primitives, antiques, candles, crafts...and many enticing colors all around.

Love those wide, wood plank floors. They add such a warm, cozy ambiance.

A holiday room brings snowmen, pine boughs and holly at the beginning of summer...

A colorful, old-fashioned coffee tin.

Weathered folkart crafts are all around.

If you enjoy tea rooms, please check out my post from last Friday: Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor in Carlisle, PA.

Dew on a Pennsylvania Wheat Field

2009-06-04T22:41:00.010-04:00

I snapped both of these pictures of a Pennsylvania summer wheat field on an early morning walk last week near Carlisle. But, I can't decide which one I like the best. NOTE: You should be able to click on the pictures to see them enlarged.

The first photo highlights details in the wheat. The beads of clear dew sparkle on the fresh, green wheat reaching toward the morning sky. The farm is fuzzy in the background, but that dew is so clear and in focus. Inspiring.

The second photo captures the landscape a bit better. The farm is in clear focus in the background, freshly plowed earth softens the composition, but the details in the field of wheat aren't quite as engaging.

Which picture draws your attention the best?

If you like this post, you may like an earlier blog of mine that shows cows telling secrets titled "Mid-May In A PA Garden"!

My Sister - the Tap Pup!

2009-05-31T20:59:00.011-04:00

My sister decided to revisit a childhood passion this past year - tap dancing! She enrolled at Vicki's Tap Pups, Adult Tap Classes and began the tippy-tap, tap, tap, tap of shuffling the shoes. Sunday afternoon I saw her tap dance for the first time since I was probably 8 and she was 13. And, boy was she every great!

The Tap Pups performed an annual show at The Forum in downtown Harrisburg, PA that benefitted the local women's shelter of the YWCA. The average age of a Tap Pup is 60 years old. The oldest tapper at today's show was 84. Of the 200 tappers on stage, 3 of them were men, and several were husband/wife teams. Many are working business professionals -- accountants, CEOs, registered nurses, teachers, and more--who simply enjoy tapping as a way to de-stress, exercise, stay fit, and keep those knees limber. And what great fun!. In Sunday's show, everyone was having a blast.

I'm so very proud of my sister for lacing up those shoes and coming full circle back to something she truly enjoys doing. She is always such an inspiration to me. In this video, she is front row, center. WOO-HOO look at that Tap-Pup go!

My sister the Tap Pup! from Cheryl Kugler on Vimeo.

Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor in Carlisle, PA

2009-05-29T16:46:00.027-04:00

In Carlisle, Pennsylvania there's a sweet, innocent little tearoom called Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor and Gift Shop. Camellia sinensus is the botanical name for the tea plant; hence, Camellia's "SIN".

My friend Jacqui and I met there this afternoon for a luncheon tea. Relax, sit back with a warm cup of tea and come along to the tea room with us.

Tea was served of course - a delicious house blend, and a snowflake coconut.

Guests may choose to wear a fancy hat.

Delectable and delicate treats were served - from carrot-orange soup, to chicken salad to asparagus fingers. And, sweet little dessert treats for the grand finale.

Jacqui...

...me. And, just look at the tiers of scrumptious treats!

Look around. You're immersed in "everything" tea.

A soft curtain hangs across the doorway between the tearoom and gift shop.

Very girlie-girl gifts can be found in the gift shop.

Upside Down Crazy Kitties

2009-05-26T21:12:00.005-04:00

A chilly, damp afternoon just a hangin' out with my wild, crazy kitties! >^..^<

Petunias Galore at Grunthaner's Greenhouse in St. Marys, PA

2009-05-24T14:52:00.011-04:00

I went with the Mom-In-Law this weekend to Grunthaner's Greenhouse. It's on a back road on the outskirts of St. Marys in Elk County, PA. What I saw was petunias GALORE! And, in all shades of pinks, purples, stripes, and double-blooms. Plus, a few other interesting annuals. What is an artist to do, but to take in all of the eye-catching color, snap a few shots and share it with you!

If you like this post, you may also enjoy strolling around my home gardens in Carlisle, PA in these recent blog posts:

Mulling Over Madison

2009-05-22T08:14:00.012-04:00

It has taken me quite awhile to make this illustration. Not the actual drawing part - that ended up only taking a few days. It has been the "mulling over" part.

You see, this idea has been rolling around in my head since last July when my dear friend's Great Pyrenees, Madison, passed away. I KNEW I wanted to draw a picture of her. I KNEW I wanted the backdrop to be a amid blossoming rhodadendron. Madison's home is wooded acreage filled with masses of hybridized versions of them.

The idea was there....but it was stuck. I couldn't get it to come out. There is nothing more frustrating than staring at a blank sheet of paper. I'd mull over it for awhile. Nothing. So, I'd draw something else...thinking I'd come back to Madison later. Sure, I'd forget about it for awhile, but then, the idea would re-surface and I'd mull over it again. And, of course, the questions rolling around my mind: How do I create a white dog? Fluffy. A Great Pyrenees is F-L-U-F-F Y. How do I create that fluffiness? How can I bring out her loving soul? What should she be doing? How do I deal with her 'biggness'? Should I 'this', should I 'that'...and on....and on.

I'm not sure what the ultimate inspiration kicker has been this week, but it has finally started to come out. Maybe it's that the rhodadendron are in bloom. Or, the bluebirds are nesting in the bluebird house. Or, because it's Spring. Maybe the "mulling" is just done. Maybe it's a combination of all of the above. Who knows. I'm just glad that it has finally come out on paper.

I'm also happy to say that I dug out my pastels that I haven't used in over 20 years. After "mulling over" how to achieve the fluffiness, I decided on pastels. Now, as I step back and look at this first illustration, I'm already thinking of ways to tweak it. Let's hope that I don't mull over it too long!

NOTE: If you are a creative person, or every wondered about the creative process and you haven't seen Elizabeth Gilbert's video clip on nuturing creativity, be sure to take the time to view it. It may help you understand the creative craziness.

Mid-May in the PA Garden

2009-05-15T14:26:00.008-04:00

A mid-May stroll reveals bursts of color and a few purrfectly happy faces. Fulfill your artist's senses as you mix your palette with mid-May hues.

Robin's egg blue no longer, the little peeps are shades of siennas and umbers. Happy Birthday, peeps!

Vibrant orange poppies burst from a grassy embankment.

Just back from the local nursery, a box of perennials awaits their new garden home. There are so many colors to hope for here from rich red geum to sunny yellow gazania.

Cheery pink thrift amidst plum pansies border kissing doves.

Royal red azaleas provide an impressive backdrop for glorious pink dogwood blooms.

You never know who you're going to bump into down the street. These black and white holsteins are telling secrets.

My handsome guy peruses the harvest of cherry red radishes...

...and is a big helper amid the sturdy green cauliflower plants.

A soft, apple scents wafts from these burgundy all-spice buds. Wish you could partake.

The garden is sure to change over the next few weeks. Stop back and visit again soon to get your fill of color. For earlier blooms see my blog from a few weeks ago "Color of Spring Everywhere!".

Teapots

2009-05-13T20:51:00.026-04:00

This week, I'm finishing up a 15-week college drawing class focused entirely on black and white medium. I'm a returning student. And, even though I went to college years ago and graduated with the more practical marketing/business degree, this past year my creative side got the best of me and I decided to return to the college classroom to work on my drawing skills.

Even though I am always creating and drawing and have taken workshops here and there, I've often felt that I've never "officially learned to draw from the experts". I guess the fact that I work on a college campus gave me the added 'oomph' to step back into the classroom.

Interestingly, just last week, I read another artist's blog and could really appreciate her discussion about it never being too late or you being too old to pursue your artistic talents.

Throughout the course, we worked with pencil, conte crayon, charcoal, ink wash, bamboo sticks dipped in ink, charcoal dust, and oil sticks. For the final project, students were to choose a theme and create four drawings using the same application. I chose subtractive chalk and my theme was teapots.

To create a subtractive chalk drawing, the artist covers the entire page with charcoal - making sure it is mushed and smudged into the page so that the white paper no longer exists. Then, from observation (and with really messy charcoal-blackened hands), you begin to erase out the picture - adding and erasing charcoal - until you have pushed and worked the drawing to your satisfaction.

Although the class has been lots of fun and I've learned plenty, I cannot tell you how starved I am to work with color again!

Appeal To The Imagination!

2009-05-08T21:55:00.006-04:00

There couldn't be a more fitting post for an anniversary weekend~

“The woman who appeals to a man's vanity may stimulate him, the woman who appeals to his heart may attract him, but it is the woman who appeals to his imagination who gets him.”

– Helen Rowland

Color of Spring Everywhere!

2009-05-03T10:12:00.025-04:00

The yard is celebrating a bursting feast of Spring color - EVERYWHERE! It's an artist's delight. Come for a walk with me to check out the palette of glorious hues.

Robin's egg blue holds a promise.

A BIG jasmine yellow bumble bee buzzes inside a magenta pink olga rhodadendron.

A broader angle of the magenta pink olga rhodadendron blossoming around a birdhouse.

Cascading soft lavender wisteria graces the fence.

Rosey pink bleeding hearts envelope the petite flowers of a periwinkle blue forget-me-not.

A crimson red azalea sparkles in the dappling sun under an off-white birch and an arching, blush pink crabapple.

My marmalade kitty swaggers past hot pink tulips.

A brilliantly colorful bluebird keeps a watchful eye from a perch above her house. That's an Eastern Bluebird.

A soft pink dogwood surrounded by the variety of greens of solomon's seal, ferns, and fresh cut grass.

Ahhh....and if only you could smell the heady aroma of these lilac purple lilacs!

Lots of perennials are beginning to peak through the warming earth. Stop back again and we'll go for another walk around the gardens to see the next colorful show.

www.cherylkugler.com

Tip-Toe Through The Tulips

2009-05-01T19:04:00.007-04:00

What could be more precious

than my pretty kitty, Rosie, tip-toeing through the tulips?

(Ummm....she's actually sitting under the birdfeeder) - Yikes!

The Olde Pink House - it's for the birds!

2009-04-25T11:27:00.013-04:00

A few weeks ago my husband announced that he was re-building a dilapidated, three story birdhouse that was falling apart in our shed garden. The existing birdhouse had seen it's day and needed to come down. He decided that he was going to build the new one all out of scrap wood. 'Works for me', I thought. And then later he mentioned that he was going to use up some pink paint we had in the basement. 'Sounds good', I responded.

Now, even though hubby says he's not an artist, and does a reasonable attempt at drawing stick figures, I think he is quite the creative guy. And, this birdhouse project is a perfect example.

You see, the The Olde Pink House restaurant in Savannah, Georgia is one of my hubby's and my favorite restaurants. The exterior is a pink stucco facade. On the first floor is fine dining, but we enjoy the tavern dining on the ground floor - it's so very charming, the menu is divine, and it's where the locals go. We cannot wait to go back and spend date night there.

So, when he brought the finished birdhouse up from his wood shop, it was painted a beautiful coral pink. Sweetly written in the top peak - "The Olde Pink House". Then above each of the three birdhouse holes:

Ground floor hole: "Locals"

Center floor hole: "Jacket and Tie Required"

Loft floor hole: "Private Residence"

Pretty creative, eh?!

It will be interesting to see what birds decide to rent out the house over the summer. One thing is for sure, we can enjoy our own 'pink house' until we can get back to Savannah again.

Not Your Typical Daffodil

2009-04-22T20:37:00.003-04:00

Isn't this a unique daffodil bloom? I remember I ordered the bulbs out of a gardening catalog several years ago. Can't remember which one, and cannot even recall the exact name of the flower, but I DO remember that it was called a double-bloom. Now that these bulbs have been in the ground a few years, they are starting to multiply.

I couldn't help but share a pic on my blog of them, because, at least for me, I think they are a very unusual daffodil bulb. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I do!

88 Year Old Woman Mayor is Inspiring!

2009-04-20T09:00:00.002-04:00

Geez, this 88 year old woman mayor is spunky. Quite inspiring for a Monday morning~

Alexandria's Spring Blooms a Few Weeks Before Central PA

2009-04-19T12:16:00.013-04:00

Yesterday was the Alexandria Home & Garden Tour and the blossoming trees were in full bloom. Alexandria is about 2 hours south of home, so I feel like I was treated to a sneak peak of Spring a few weeks ahead of Central PA's schedule. I learned a few more plants myself...have now fallen in love with Camellia's and Quince. Here are a few pics for those in Zone 5 that will hopefully tide you over until the end of April. Although we were not permitted to take photos of the private homes and gardens, we did stop at Green Spring Garden in Fairfax, VA enroute. See my previous post of the Nature Lady made of tree bark, magnolia leaves, pinecones and Spanish moss from the same garden. Enjoy!

A gorgeous, 7 ft Camellia - a Zone 6 plant that I sure wish grew in PA

Quince - first time I have ever seen this beautiful shrub and am already in love with it. What an incredibly beautiful salmon color

Interesting texture in the rock garden

the bees were a buzzin' in the Flowering Pear

Sunshine filters through a Flowering Cherry

Nature Lady in the Garden

2009-04-18T23:16:00.004-04:00

I was tickled to come across this Nature Lady at Green Spring Garden in Fairfax, Virginia. Composed of tree bark, browned magnolia leaves, pine cones and Spanish Moss, she stands about 4 feet tall. A gardner there must have had a lot of fun figuring out how she should look. What a great example of a creative gardner.

Dad's Easter Eggs

2009-04-05T20:43:00.008-04:00

Ahhh, a little Easter fun. I just had to dig out some old photos of my Dad holding Easter eggs that I painted for him one year. Notice any resemblence?

Meet Matilda, the Resident Cat at the Algonquin Hotel

2009-03-31T21:47:00.007-04:00

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to stay at the Algonquin Hotel in NYC. Wonderful because I am a huge cat lover, and the Algonquin Hotel is famous for, among other things, it's resident cat named Matilda. On past day trips to NYC, I have stopped by the hotel just for a chance to admire her, and sneak a little pet down her silky, soft fur.

When I arrived to check-in, the bellhops informed me that Matilda was "out" for her grooming. So after dinner and a show, I returned to the hotel to find Matilda ruling the lobby. A swish of her tail, a well-maneuvered leap up the luggage, and 'plop' she layed down on the front desk, basking in all her freshly-groomed, feline glory. The next morning, she was busy, busy - from the front desk, to the luggage cart, to her personal cat-sized chaise lounge. And, the same, when I returned from my conference in the evening. The next morning she was on check-out duty at the front desk, and I scratched her ears and blew her a kitty kiss before heading out the door.

There has been an Algonquin Cat in the hotel since the 1930's. I was told that the beauty before me was Matilda II. Next time you are in NYC take a minute to stop and meet Matilda, the Algonquin cat, who lives at the Algonquin Hotel. >^..^<

Rosie Helps Me Draw

2009-03-30T21:19:00.005-04:00

My cats are a great source of inspiration for me. Rosie loves to help me work on a hatching project for art class. On this day, we drew at my easel in the warm sunshine at the end of my kitchen. Needless to say, she is quite the "helper" when it comes to batting around erasers and charcoal. >^..^<

PRSA New Media Boot Camp

2009-03-29T22:25:00.007-04:00

Last Thursday and Friday I had the opportunity to attend PRSA's New Media Boot Camp in NYC. It was quite an experience. After two days jammed packed with the in's and out's of all things relating to new media: search engine optimization, RSS feeds, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, delicious, Digg, blogs, online news rooms, etc. - my head was spinning by 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon!

I highly recommend the program for anyone in the fields of media relations, advertising and marketing. The facilitator, Eric Schwartzman is incredibily knowledgeable. I am very happy to have attended and gained many tips and insights of how all of the new media pieces fit together.

Five years ago, in my mind Twitter was something only a bird did; dig was something I did in the garden, and delicious meant a meal tasted good. Makes me wonder what the next five years has to bring to the world of the internet and media relations!

Animal Communication Leads to Creating Music

2009-03-28T19:21:00.006-04:00

Friends of mine are big dog lovers. Big in two senses:

they have an enormous love for dogs,
plus the fact that they co-habitat with five HUGE dogs....3 golden retrievers and 2 great pyrnese.

While visiting an animal sanctuary, my friend received creative inspiration via animal telepathy from a dog there and ended up recording an incredibly beautiful piano CD. Enjoy reading about his experience:

http://www.freshconceptsmusic.com/how.htm

Girls Club Mission Illustration

2009-03-28T18:35:00.009-04:00

This is a fun illustration that I just completed for the back of a girl's club magazine - Sparkle. It reflects the mission statement of the organization: "Teaching young girls to become world changers." My cat wiggled his way into this drawing - his long tail and all! *meow*~

Creating a Stop Sign

2009-03-27T13:07:00.005-04:00

For anyone in the advertising/creative services field, this video will hit home.

New at this!

2009-03-26T21:03:00.001-04:00

I'm learning how to set up a blog. I've been inspired and motivated by other artists that I've found through Twitter. Thank you for your insightful Tweets and helping me learn from your experiences.