Scavenger Hunt from Life #176: Nov 22 - Dec 4 , 2025
- Thread starter AiArts
- Start date
Joan T
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Ai, great bottles in different colors. They remind me of when I was a kid they sold small waxy bottles (maybe 2/3 inches long) filled with some kind of sweet liquid. You would snap off the top and drink the liquid. Each bottle was a different color. Now I can't imagine having that as a treat, but kids like strange things. lol
Jade, have fun with the Caran d'Ache watercolor crayons. I haven't played with them enough to get used to them, but they do add a different texture to things.
I have to sit myself down and work on my Christmas card painting. It is started but still needs work. I also have a house commission to do for someone as a Christmas gift. I need to start on that as soon as I get some photos of the house.
Jade, have fun with the Caran d'Ache watercolor crayons. I haven't played with them enough to get used to them, but they do add a different texture to things.
I have to sit myself down and work on my Christmas card painting. It is started but still needs work. I also have a house commission to do for someone as a Christmas gift. I need to start on that as soon as I get some photos of the house.
jmfletch
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Joan - The cheesecake we had for dessert was chocolate mousse. It was delicious. Bottom half was classic cheesecake and the top half was mouse chocolate icing held it all in place. Your painting is nice and the pies look yummy. I cannot remember the last time I had homemade pecan pie. I lived over a candy store when I was little and they had a glass case full of penny candy including those wax bottles which I always thought was a waste of money as you could eat or even chew the wax. My favorite was Dots because you could eat some than roll up the paper and save sone for later. The proper name was Candy Buttons but we called them Dots.
Ai - Love the bottles. Like how you kind of stylized them. For Christmas cards I do one painting/drawing; scan it; and then print them. It is creative. You share the work but it is just one work of art. Cool composition. Classic triangle format.
Jade, Jo, Ned, Robin, Pine Cone and lurking artists
#3 Exercise - Hand weight. Graphite in 5.5x3in sketchbook. Grab this thinking it would be quick and easy with a few ellipses and a couple of long straight lines. I gave up as I had erased so much the paper was beginning to breakdown. It is not finished but I am.
Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
Ai - Love the bottles. Like how you kind of stylized them. For Christmas cards I do one painting/drawing; scan it; and then print them. It is creative. You share the work but it is just one work of art. Cool composition. Classic triangle format.
Jade, Jo, Ned, Robin, Pine Cone and lurking artists
#3 Exercise - Hand weight. Graphite in 5.5x3in sketchbook. Grab this thinking it would be quick and easy with a few ellipses and a couple of long straight lines. I gave up as I had erased so much the paper was beginning to breakdown. It is not finished but I am.
Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
Joan T
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Ai, you are usually so good at making original cards. I hope you have time to do them. You have an impressive amount of text in the can, book, and bottle. Good designs too.
Jade, definitely try using them in the hunts. That's a good way to practice.
Fletch, I thought the wax bottles were a bit of a waste too. You should have been able to eat the whole thing. I liked the Dots too because there were always so many of them so it seemed like you had a lot for your money. Do you print your Christmas cards on your own printer? I always print them as photos and then attach them to the card. We have a new printer so maybe I'll try printing them myself. The weight looks good. I like your shading. I keep a few near where I sit hoping I'll get inspired to actually lift them once in a while. lol That hasn't happened in a while.
This was done from my mobile studio while sitting in a parking area "for members only" at a marina at a golf course. There is usually nobody around there, so I just park and sit.
10 - free space #2 - direct watercolor
Jade, definitely try using them in the hunts. That's a good way to practice.
Fletch, I thought the wax bottles were a bit of a waste too. You should have been able to eat the whole thing. I liked the Dots too because there were always so many of them so it seemed like you had a lot for your money. Do you print your Christmas cards on your own printer? I always print them as photos and then attach them to the card. We have a new printer so maybe I'll try printing them myself. The weight looks good. I like your shading. I keep a few near where I sit hoping I'll get inspired to actually lift them once in a while. lol That hasn't happened in a while.
This was done from my mobile studio while sitting in a parking area "for members only" at a marina at a golf course. There is usually nobody around there, so I just park and sit.
10 - free space #2 - direct watercolor
Jo Castillo
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Jade, I saw on TV today that many people in the UK are celebrating Thanksgiving to enjoy eating turkey, etc. Sounds good to have a thankful day. 
Sorry to make you hungry. I find that happens here a lot.
Hi Fletch, no pastel yet. Not thrilled with my watercolor version. I like your drink good reflections, double glass or plastic and ice. I always like your conversations with Joan about the old things in NY. I remember the wax botles, the idea was always better than the actual wax and bit of drink?? I don't remember dots. Our "little store" sold pine nuts (piñons), a little glass full for a penny. We always had nuts and candy. Nice hand weight. I understand, I am always tempted and I see now they aren't that easy.
Hi Pine Cone.
Joan, thanks. Your pies made me laugh. 3 bears, indeed. Good drawings. Again, made me hungry. I like your free space with the boats and grasses and very dramatic sky. Good luck with your cards.
Ai, thanks so much. Love your bottles. Your books, can and drink are so decorative. Nice work.
I sketched at the kitchen table after I took the photo of the flowers in the studio. I turned them differently in the pitcher. changed the water and trimmed them. Not too pleased with the sketch but may get a pastel done. They have changed so much today. This is on Master's Touch Premium watercolor pad, 9 x 12 inches. With watercolor and regular brushes not water brushes.
Done today and tonight added the ink.
Sorry to make you hungry. I find that happens here a lot.Hi Fletch, no pastel yet. Not thrilled with my watercolor version. I like your drink good reflections, double glass or plastic and ice. I always like your conversations with Joan about the old things in NY. I remember the wax botles, the idea was always better than the actual wax and bit of drink?? I don't remember dots. Our "little store" sold pine nuts (piñons), a little glass full for a penny. We always had nuts and candy. Nice hand weight. I understand, I am always tempted and I see now they aren't that easy.
Hi Pine Cone.
Joan, thanks. Your pies made me laugh. 3 bears, indeed. Good drawings. Again, made me hungry. I like your free space with the boats and grasses and very dramatic sky. Good luck with your cards.
Ai, thanks so much. Love your bottles. Your books, can and drink are so decorative. Nice work.
I sketched at the kitchen table after I took the photo of the flowers in the studio. I turned them differently in the pitcher. changed the water and trimmed them. Not too pleased with the sketch but may get a pastel done. They have changed so much today. This is on Master's Touch Premium watercolor pad, 9 x 12 inches. With watercolor and regular brushes not water brushes.
Done today and tonight added the ink.
I like talking about food so that's ok! 
lovely picture and Joan, Fletch and Ai x
jmfletch
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Joan - Yes I print them on my own printer. I order 8.5x11 greeting card stock from Amazon as well as envelopes. I also use the stock to print other cards for birthdays and anniversaries as well. Your illegally parked landscape has a dramatic sky. Well done with the hint of masts in the distance.
Jo - Love the watercolor flowers. There is something about watercolor and ink. It always has a polished or finished look. Cannot think of the proper word. Formal? Looks pretty.
Ai - You are the master of food painting. If I ate half the food that you paint so well I would weigh 300 lbs. Like the cool shadows with warm on the veggies.
Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
Jo - Love the watercolor flowers. There is something about watercolor and ink. It always has a polished or finished look. Cannot think of the proper word. Formal? Looks pretty.
Ai - You are the master of food painting. If I ate half the food that you paint so well I would weigh 300 lbs. Like the cool shadows with warm on the veggies.
Keep sketching and learning
Fletch
Jo Castillo
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Ai, beautiful veggies. So fresh looking, ready to eat! Thank you.
Fletch and Jade, thanks so much.
Fletch and Jade, thanks so much.
Joan T
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Jo, glad to see you got to do a little art today. Hope you get those pastels going. Funny that those wax bottles were out there by you too. Can you imagine having them around now? Some kid would get at them, try to swallow the wax, and end up choking. Then a lawsuit would happen. They were a little strange. These are the Dots Fletch and I were talking about. Peel them off and eat them.
Jade, thanks.
Ai, nice combination of fruits and veggies...so colorful!
Fletch, you nailed the shading on the winter slippers. I like the shadow inside too.
Jade, thanks.
Ai, nice combination of fruits and veggies...so colorful!
Fletch, you nailed the shading on the winter slippers. I like the shadow inside too.
Jo Castillo
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Joan, I remember the Dots now. Not popular. Candy cigarettes were popular. If we had a nickel we would get a Sugar Daddy. Fun memories.
Fletch, you do such beautiful shading. I could wear those slippers. Applause.
Fletch, you do such beautiful shading. I could wear those slippers. Applause.
AiArts
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Thanks so much, Fletch, Joan, Jo, NedL, Jade, and et al.
Fletch : lovely graphite sketch. It felt cozy, warm, and snugly.
#10 freespace #1 --i) ham+mushroom+ cheese pancake and ii) a fruit pancake iii) a cup of Caramel Macchiato...Thanks Tone for let me have 10 minutes to sketch with the food...After we share these super pancakes from Dutch cafe...We agree to run extra miles today and tomorrow ;-)
Fletch : lovely graphite sketch. It felt cozy, warm, and snugly.
#10 freespace #1 --i) ham+mushroom+ cheese pancake and ii) a fruit pancake iii) a cup of Caramel Macchiato...Thanks Tone for let me have 10 minutes to sketch with the food...After we share these super pancakes from Dutch cafe...We agree to run extra miles today and tomorrow ;-)
3 - “festive” - window box decorated for the holidays
— virtual sketch
— sketched in my mobile studio
— freehand
— iPad Pro and Apple pencil
— Procreate app
— My Re-Learning to Draw Program - Phase 3 (bits of buildings and structures)
———————————
Full disclosure: This window and its window box were decorated beautifully, so I stopped in my mobile studio to sketch it (on Thanksgiving in the U.S.). But I was freezing already, and only getting colder (the controls for my car’s heater are broken). So I had to sketch very fast, and then stop before I sketched the bottom part of the three globes because my fingers could barely hold my Apple Pencil.
Today, with my fingers all thawed out, I finished the three globes.
Then, **from imagination,** I added the three metal plaques on the right to spell “JOY” because that’s what I wish for each of you this season in return for all the kindness and goodwill you all have shown me for so long…..
NOTE: I never use the Procreate features that stabilize strokes, straigten lines, or round out circles for the artist. Also, I never use the grid overlay that Procreate offers. However, those are valid artistic tools, and I don’t wish to discourage their use.
— virtual sketch
— sketched in my mobile studio
— freehand
— iPad Pro and Apple pencil
— Procreate app
— My Re-Learning to Draw Program - Phase 3 (bits of buildings and structures)
———————————
Full disclosure: This window and its window box were decorated beautifully, so I stopped in my mobile studio to sketch it (on Thanksgiving in the U.S.). But I was freezing already, and only getting colder (the controls for my car’s heater are broken). So I had to sketch very fast, and then stop before I sketched the bottom part of the three globes because my fingers could barely hold my Apple Pencil.
Today, with my fingers all thawed out, I finished the three globes.
Then, **from imagination,** I added the three metal plaques on the right to spell “JOY” because that’s what I wish for each of you this season in return for all the kindness and goodwill you all have shown me for so long…..
NOTE: I never use the Procreate features that stabilize strokes, straigten lines, or round out circles for the artist. Also, I never use the grid overlay that Procreate offers. However, those are valid artistic tools, and I don’t wish to discourage their use.
Robin Gillis
Contributing Member
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- 716
Lovely seeing all the sketches and comments.
This is busy time at the Christmas/craft store....working extra hours.....
keep sketching!!!!!
This is busy time at the Christmas/craft store....working extra hours.....
keep sketching!!!!!
