Hello Friends,

Well, now that I have finished that big writing project, I am planning a few different painting projects (when I feel up to sitting at my desk again, that is.) But actually, lately, I have just been sitting in the easy chair with my paints on the end table and working on paintings and drawings.  I can put a wet heat pack on my back while I sit there and listen to music or watch t.v. at the same time.  I do like multi-tasking.

Anyway, one sea creature I have been wanting to paint (besides jellyfish) is called a Leafy Sea Dragon.  They are found in the shallow coastal waters around southern Australia.  I love these!  They are made to look “leafy” so as to better camouflage themselves while swimming around.  And their bodies look like dragons!  They are so cool!

So here is a picture of the one I am going to attempt to paint.  It is in the book from National Geographic Kids “First Big Book of the Ocean” by Catherine D. Hughes.  I bought it a long time ago when I was looking for bigger pictures of sea creatures.  So here is the photo from the book…

and here it is on my light board.  This one I had to trace because it is so detailed!  The photo credit in the book just says there was a Director of Photography from Kids Publishing and Media named Jay Sumner.  However, I couldn’t find specific credits to the photos themselves.  So I am not sure about who actually took the photos in this book.

Anyway, here it is traced onto tracing paper on my light board.

THEN I had to use the light board to trace it again onto my watercolor paper!  This particular Leafy Sea Dragon is carrying a bunch of eggs, too!  Now I don’t know how this one is going to turn out, but I know it will be a big challenge.  Actually trying to match colors is the hardest part, although, it doesn’t have to be exact, of course.

I still haven’t decided what exactly I’m going to paint in acrylics on the rest of the toy box pieces, but I will eventually.

Today I NEED to exercise and get this little kink out of my back.  So until next time…

Have a wonderful day, and give someone you love a big hug!  🙂