36/100: Bob Ross (coloring book style)

Yay for Bob Ross! I made this coloring book page for the art center I volunteer at for fun. If you don't know who Bob Ross is, shame on you. Your homework is to look up a Bob Ross video on YouTube. This was just done with a sharpie on computer paper, nothing fancy. Yay for Bob Ross and his happy trees!

35/100: different male model

This model was simultaneously my favorite and least favorite model I've drawn this summer. He had the coolest features-- he was half Caucasian and half African-American, so he had this awesome kinky hair, high cheekbones and dark skin in addition to these piercing blue eyes. I could have drawn just his face the whole time. However, he had a hard time coming up with any remotely  interesting poses for the first two hours. But by the end it was great. This was my best drawing from the session. Done in graphite. 

31-34/100: zoo portraits

Portraits don't have to be confined to people. Brent and I went to the Albuquerque zoo a few weeks ago and I had a ball taking pictures of all the fun animals they had there. Then, an acquaintance asked me if I could teach her how to paint with watercolors. Now, watercolor has always intimidated me, but I looked at this as a chance to learn myself, and so I agreed to do it. I checked out some watercolor books from the library and did some practicing using the pictures I had taken at the zoo. I was amazed at how well they turned out! Once I started, I couldn't stop!

31:100: Jaguar (watercolor and ink)

32/100: Gorilla (watercolor and salt)

33/100: Polar Bear (watercolor)

34/100: Elephant (watercolor and salt)

30/100: zumba model (Natalie)

This lady was a blast to draw! And holy cow did she have muscles. It's fun to have models from different backgrounds because they come up with different poses. Unlike the more classical model from the previous post, Natalie did poses inspired from the Zumba class that she teaches. We also listened to Zumba music the whole time. It was great! Graphite on sketch paper.

29/100: female nude model

This model came in from Kansas and specifically asked if she could model for us. She did a lot of classical poses and I LOVED it. I had only drawn male models up to this point and it was fun to draw some curves for a change! I've included several of the sketches I did of her this time. Also in graphite.

28/100: model

My next few portraits aren't completed portraits, but I felt that it could still count. I joined a figure drawing group here in Los Alamos and I am loving it! Each person brings their own supplies and the only thing you pay for is the model! 

This model was very fun to draw. This was my sketch that I felt turned out the best. Graphite. I loved how his feet looked and felt bad that I couldn't fit them in the picture so I added them at the top to at least get some more practice in.

20 weeks today! Halfway there!

Today marks my 20 week mark of pregnancy! Halfway!! And yesterday we had our ultrasound--it was SO incredible to see that little person moving around. And...drumroll...it's a:

We are so incredibly thrilled. We really were hoping for a boy (not that a girl would be bad by any means, we just wanted a boy first. A little girl would have been just fine!) Let me tell you, that ultrasound was one of the best moments of my life, even with the terrible cold I am still fighting (I miss you, Dayquil). Brent was there next to me and I could sense his excitement. Brent would just stare at that screen watching his baby and occasionally gently touch my leg. The longer we were there the more I fell in love with these two boys in my life. We were both amazed at how much our little guy moved. He even tried to suck his thumb and toes--it was adorable! It was also so cool to see that tiny heart beat so quickly. He would put his hand by his face and I even thought I saw Brent's cleft chin on his sweet little face. The doctor said that she imagined our boy would inherit his daddy's height. (There is hope for my children!) For as big as he is, though, we are also amazed that he still weighs less than a pound. Better cook in there a bit longer, wee one! He kicks a lot these days, and those kicks keep getting stronger. It's an incredible feeling and totally makes up for all those sick days! 

Here are some of my favorite ultrasound pictures:

His cute little face!!

Left foot. Look at those cute little toesies!!

There's a hand! I think it's so cool how you can see all the little bones.

We can't wait to meet you in person sweet one!!