Laura K Maxwell
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get your crayons ready

10/29/2014

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Man, Fall 2014 is turning out to be all about coloring books for me. Not only am I working on drawings for a coloring book for Dallas Heritage Village (which I finished today!), but I also just found out I was chosen to be apart of the Doodlers Anonymous Coloring Book!

There were apparently over 1,426 submissions of drawn pages to be apart of their 4th annual coloring book, and they narrowed it down to 60.  I submitted a version of my Pirate Peril drawing and it was chosen!




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I feel so encouraged!  And I'll let you know when you can pre-order the coloring book.  I get my own free copy, of course.

And here's a sneak peak of one of the finished DHV Coloring Book pages. 
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Citizen's Bank, 1905
A bit about the bank from the museum's website: "Built in Justin, Texas, a small community north of Fort Worth, the Citizen's Bank provided necessary credit for farmers and security for local depositors. Housed in a brick building with classical architectural elements and located on a prominent street corner, the bank was typical of many banks built in North Central Texas around 1900." I especially love the clock out front.

I've never made a coloring page, and now it's suddenly all I'm doing.
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Ink and color

10/24/2014

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Those things in pencil from my last post are now becoming things in ink.

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I'm really pleased with how they look when they've been outlined with sharpie pen.

Aaaand I've finished filling in the land in my world map and have started adding color.  This is a much quicker process than drawing.
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I'm using watercolor pencil, because its easy, quick, and magical.
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Then we'll tackle the water.  Phew, both of these projects are very time consuming.  But also rewarding.

Earlier this week, I was playing around with my Stripes and Circles painting on my computer and turned it into this.
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And since it is a square I think it makes a nice pillow, clock, or tote bag.
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And there is free shipping happening right now if you agree!

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WooHoo! by Valentina Harper
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things in pencil

10/17/2014

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More buildings from Dallas Heritage Village.....


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The Sullivan House
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Miller Log House
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The chicken coop behind the Farmstead. This one I've been working on this morning. I plan on adding more chickens.
And you gotta have some background noise while drawing.  These two bands/musicians are my current favorite drawing soundtracks.
Lucius.  You have to appreciate their outfits.
Chet Faker.  You think he stayed in one place for a year for this video?
And here is me drawing this morning.  I was procrastinating and trying to take in-process selfies with my iPad.
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You can see it didn't really work out.
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buildings 

10/15/2014

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Here is a brief update on some ongoing projects.  As many of you know, I work for Dallas Heritage Village.  Some of  my coworkers and I are helping out with a coloring book project.  We are drawing the building/spaces/people that make DHV special.  This is getting me out of my Zentangle comfort zone for sure.  I've started by sketching a few of the buildings in pencil, and then will go over the lines with a ink.  Here are some sneak peeks.

(You can click on the photo to find out more about the actual building.)
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Pilot Grove Church
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Citizen's Bank
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The beginning of the Sullivan House
When I draw something I feel like I really get to know it.  I feel like these buildings and I are becoming good friends.

And I feel I am very close to finishing filling in the land on my world map. 
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Then I plan on tackling it with watercolor pencils, like I did with the water of the other globe.  (The hearts on Japan are in honor of some good friends.)

Phew, lots to do.
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Weapons of Mass Creation by Bianca Green

And if you haven't already you should like my new Facebook page!
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hey big tex

10/8/2014

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Free shipping is happening right now in my Society6 shop!  Only through this link.  On things like this hoodie.

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And this pillow.
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And this t-shirt!  Modeled by my cousin John.
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(Thanks, John) And loads more! 

(Have I mentioned I love seeing your pictures with my art?)

I'm also working on adding coloring sheets to my Etsy shop--$2 for an instant download.  I would love to see how you decide to color in my drawings! So far my Royal Octopus is available, and there will be more soon.

Map drawing update.
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Slowly but surely making my way around the world.

I made my way out to the Texas State Fair on Monday with my hunky husband and his parents.  The corn dogs were definitely a highlight.
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Hey Big Tex! Gotta love all the happy facial expressions in this picture..

I just love this illustration by David Fleck.  And it is kind of fair-like.
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Voyages over Edinburgh
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Highlight of my day...

10/2/2014

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...and possibly my week (though having lunch with my mom yesterday was pretty fun too, so I don't know...)  I'm so excited about it right now I just have to tell you.

So I was working at the museum today,  ringing up about 100 3rd grade students in the gift shop, when one of the moms made me do a double-take.  I thought, "She looks JUST like....."
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Not Sarah  Michelle Gellar, but the girl on the right.  She's Amy on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she's only in 8 episodes but still is memorable.
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(I know my sis-in-law, Bailey Jo, will appreciate this.)  So I battled back in forth in my mind as to whether I should ask the burning question..I didn't even know her name.....but I couldn't help myself.

"Are you an actress....?"  

And then she confirmed my suspicions!  She was super nice and shook my hand.  Her name is Elizabeth Anne Allen and now she lives in Dallas, working hard on being a mom to her kids.  Wow!

I know most of you could care less about this, but you can write about things you care about in your own blog.
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street walker

10/1/2014

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I've started a new project.  A big piece--a drawing of the whole world, commissioned by a friend.  The stressful part is over, actually drawing the continents. 
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I just had to keep telling myself--I'm not a mapmaker, it doesn't have to be perfect.  It's supposed to be my artistic interpretation of the world.


Now I am doing the fun part of filling it in with loveliness.
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Then we'll add some color.

And today is October.  Ah!  Too bad it doesn't feel like it.... of course this is the usual for Texas, so I guess it technically does feel like it.

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"Pumpkin" by Cindy Lou Bailey

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"Pumpkin" by Laura Maxwell (drawn last year)

I found this amazing photographer on Society6, Kevin Russ, thank to one of their blog posts.

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Street Walker
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Sleeping Fox
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Foggy Forest Creek
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Three Meadow Moose
Beauty.
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    Laura

    A place to share the process. A space to be honest about the triumphs and trials of my daily life as an artist and mama. Writing motivates and refreshes me.

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    Laura is currently reading..

    Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling
    Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups
    Longbourn
    The Complete Sherlock Holmes


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