Saturday, March 12, 2011

Sunday Sketches ~ Flower Catalog

Happy Sunday Everyone!
Be sure to visit all the other great participants of Sunday Sketches over at Sophia's place!
Or if you are feeling sketchy, join us by posting your sketch, and linking it with dear Mr. Linky over at BlueChairDiary.

I've decided to start a flower catalog, much like the doodle directories many artists have produced, in order to keep track of the flowers I use in my pieces.  I am always looking at past pictures to get ideas for flowers, and I thought this would be a great way to have a quick place to look for ideas.
I took this 12" X 24.5" piece of paper and marked it off in 3" X 4" sections...
Then I just started filling in squares with different flowers I have used before in my pictures...

I am planning on including lots of leaf and vine sketches also as I love to combine all of these elements in my work.
I got the idea for this from Eden who has made a wonderful doodle directory, but also from our dear Sophia, who has recently started sketching every day, just for fun, with no heavy expectations.  I find this flower directory to be very relaxing, creative, and no pressure!  I don't have to worry about ruining a piece I have spent hours on, this is just for fun!

Also I posted this below during the week, but wanted to be sure to share it with all of the Sunday sketchers as you have watched her evolve over a few weeks...

You can see the full post about her below.

Hope you are all having a wonderfully relaxing weekend, or if not, that you are enjoying each moment.  In light of the tragic events unfolding in Japan right now, it reminds me how much we need to treasure the wonderful people in our lives, not the things, and not let even one day pass without thinking about how we can make this planet a better place for those less fortunate.

Hugs to you all and as always...

S M I L E S

34 comments:

Heather said...

Julia,
that's a great idea. A quick reference. your flowers are so well done, and so detailed. I bet that would look pretty framed, too!

I agree about the idea of treasuring every day....and the people we love!

have a great night! xo

KateHolloman said...

Very smart and oh so beautiful! I love your sketches and the flowers!! :) You are doing great with them! Anyway, you were just about a minute quicker than I was to post your blog on sunday sketches haha:) (no worries - I got to see you right away!) :)
Have a beautiful sunday (first I guess you will go to bed sometime... just like I will in a little bit) and see my post too! katehollart.blogspot.com byyye:)

EVA said...

Definitely treasure every day! I hope the tsunami waters didn't get too high on your island!

I have a number of doodle patterns in a small sketchbook but I have seen Eden's and they are great! Yours looks like it will be fabulous!! Such big paper - will you hang it up when it's done?

I love how Sepia girl has progressed. And the tree!! Wow! What a wonderful background that complements her SO well, Julia!

Unknown said...

Great idea for the flower directory. I have a sketchbook that I cart about everywhere and refer to often.. love your lady, she looks gorgeous.. my heart goes out to Japan and everyone who has been affected...

batsick said...

Love it! Here's mine http://thelunaticsdiary.blogspot.com/2011/03/it-came-from-lab.html

WrightStuff said...

Great idea Julia. They look like they would make great tiles too. Do you fancy coming round and decorating my kitchen?!

jywheeler said...

What a wonderful idea for a reference. Oh WrightStuff is right...it would be a great idea for tiles!!!

Kristin Dudish said...

Good Morning Julia!

Your flower catalog (and the doodle directory) is a great idea :)
I totally agree with Lisa and Joann - those would make fabulous tiles!
I love Sepia Girl - your details are always so wonderful :)

xo
Kristin

Marlene said...

Wonderful idea and something to think about doing for sure. I actually got to sleep in this morning, mostly because of the time change but I'll take it. As I said previously your lady is gorgeous.

Sinderella's Studio said...

EXCELLENT IDEA and it's a beautiful piece of artwork in itself!!! I love all your work.
cheers, dana

Crystal said...

Your drawings always amaze me, and the flowers are no exception.. just beautiful! :-)

Christine said...

love your sketch, and it's a great idea for a flower catalogue.

Deanna said...

What a wonderful idea! I think this is beautiful and a great way to incorporate a little bit of all of your designs.

Tammie Lee said...

yes yes, we must treasure each other and all life.

your flower catalog is wonderful. Such a beautiful source for inspiration! and lovely to take another look at your beautiful lady!

Jehanne's doodles said...

The sepia girl turned out fantastic. I think it is the best one yet.
Your designs are amazing. I am sure when you are finished the catalog you will surly be able to publish it as a design book.

Unknown said...

oh what a wonderful way to see all of your florals Julia!!!! this is going to be fantastic!!!!!

Virtual Boy said...

Awesome work, you make such great patterns in everything you create! Looks amazing~

Nelly said...

Wonderful idea, and they are so awesome. What a fun project.

lissa said...

love the flower ideas and they look like pieces work of art, quite lovely.

hope your day is sweet.

Heather Foust said...

These are fantastic!!! Your new girl is just lovely. I love all the details.!

Morph Waffle said...

Your flower directory is going to be a beautiful piece all by itself! I'm loving it, so pretty and great idea.

Michelle said...

Pretty! Your flowers remind me of henna.

Alexandra MacVean said...

I love your flowers and what you're starting to do. Isn't it fun to keep some sort of a "journal"? I'm loving what you've got started. Hugs!

Hannah said...

What a wonderful idea! Your flowers are beautiful :)

Nicola said...

What a fantastic idea!!! I love these flower doodles they are gorgeous and great that you can keep track of what you have done!! Fantastic Sunday sketch! :0)

Jenn Bower said...

These are lovely...what a great idea, almost like a visual inventory of the flowers gathered over time in your work. I love each and everyone. Great graphic appeal

Reflections said...

Love the catalog idea - fabulous reference piece!

And your lady has turned out wonderful. Such spectacular detail both with her and with the tree. The colors speak of henna, moss... natural beauty.

Jess said...

I agree, to cherish every day. The Japan disaster is so shocking I can hardly bear to watch the TV news.
I love your patterns. I did a simlilar thing to this on the back few pages of one of my sketchbooks. I often refer back to it when I feel a bit stuck on ideas for flowers shapes! I think by the look of it you're going to end up with a huge piece of beautiful artwork in its own right!xx

Heather said...

Hi
hope you are having a good week so far. :)
just wanted to say i put my signature in my signing a pice of paper and then just scanning and dropping it in...fun! enjoy the day....hope you are working on some art! :) xo

Julia Christie said...

Thanks for all the lovely comments and thanks Heather for letting me know how you dropped your cute pink signature into your posts!

Smiles

Chris said...

OMG Julia I ADORE your finished Sepia Gal... you put so much detail into your pieces...I am in awe of how beautiful she is. I love everything about her... the tree, the skirt, her gorgeous face and all the pattern...wowsa...just fabulous me lovely.

What a great idea to catalogue your flower designs that way..maybe I should take a leaf out of your book and start doing something similar. I'm always struggling for inspiration especially at times when I can't bloghop (I'm so glad I found blogland as there are so many inspirational peeps out there..including yourself).
Hugs
Chris xx

Helen said...

What a great idea and I love them!

elena nuez said...

que guapa amiga pocahontas!!!,
cada vez mejor, me gustan muchiiiisimo tus dibujos!!!!
(me habias preguntado por el proceso de mis fotos, simplemente elijo un tema y disparo, como un ejercicio de creatividad, me divierto muchiiiiisimo y los comentarios me animan mucho tambien!)
Tu español es fantástico, me tienes sorprendida!!!
gracias y feliz domingo de primavera!!!

Un abrazo,
Elena

outdoor.mom said...

you are so talented!! i am just always amazed every time i visit your blog!!