Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition

Since it's Spring Break, I've been attempting to work more on my Sketchbook Project: LE.  Here is one spread that I'm working on.  It definitely needs to be cleaned and sharpened up some, but it's coming along.

Happy Friday!

4x6 Exchange 2

The first time I saw the Art House Coop's 4x6 Exchange 2, I was so thrilled about it.  I was at work when I got the email, and didn't have the chance to sign up right then.  I had to wait until I got home that afternoon.  When I got home, every slot had already filled and my heart sank.

Thankfully, they opened another one, and I was able to sign up in time!  Here's what I've mailed off:

Lemon Chevron

Enjoy :)

My trusty pencil sharpener.

Right now, I'm working on finishing some animal portraits that are going to be given as Christmas presents.  I have finished four, and have two more to do before Friday evening, when they will be delivered.   They are colored pencil, 8"x10", two dogs and four horses.  I've been commissioned by two different people.  One person already has theirs, and the other five go to another.

Being a teacher has made it harder to do things like this.  Just trying to find the time to squeeze in between grading projects, lesson plans, meetings, and just being plane exhausted can be difficult.

In order to get me through the countless minutes wasted sharpening pencils, I found this little gem of a sharpener at Jerry's Artarama earlier this year:

(Mine is blue)

I absolutely love it!  It's the Alvin Dux Glass Inkwell Sharpener DX2580N.  I found this one online at the link for about $7.  At Jerry's, I paid $10, and it was worth it.  I don't like using electric sharpeners because the pencil always breaks, and have always preferred the manual, cheap, silver ones.  That's what is inside this sharpener, and you have a sturdy little case for all the shavings to fall into, without having to go to the trashcan every 5 minutes to sharpen a pencil.  AND, it also fits snugly in my hand when I'm sharpening.  If it ever breaks, I'm getting a new one!