My newest painting. I got some new paints and they are Kisshou Gansai Japanese watercolor paints, which are a little different from other country versions. Interesting article if you're interested: What is Gansai? 

 

Anyways, I had to test my new watercolors out, of course, so here is what I come up with. I titled it "Alone" Painting, drawing, coloring and many other forms of expression are healthy ways to get out your feelings. I guess you could look at the title and painting and interpret how it relates to you. To me, it has a meaning that even if you are surrounded by bright colors (or good friends/people), you can personally be covered in darkness (sadness/depression) and feel all alone. The "Alone while in a crowd" feeling. Also, I just really like galaxies and silhouettes.

 

I also used black and white gouache to get the darkest color and the white of the stars.

 

 

Here are my paints, if you're curious. Pen for size reference.

 

 

 

 

Number 12 is white, so you can't see it in the photo. Number 23 is grey, so also hard to see here.

My set was missing number 70 and instead I got number 52 (which wasn't supposed to be in the set.) 70 looks like a pearlescent gold shade. I want it, but I won't be petty. Haha

I wanted to combine two of my hobbies, which is art and reading, of course. I attempted to draw some covers. I guess this is "fanart" of sorts. I am a fan of the covers, for sure.

 

(I haven't read this book yet, but the little girl in the book gets a doll, so I am assuming this is supposed to be a doll house, but who knows!)

 

 

(We read this in school, but I can't remember the content. I have a thing for silhouettes, so of course I woud want to try and draw this. People are hard. Easier when in silhouette, but proportion is a thing I need to work on.)

 

 

 

Drawing Blood

 

A Sketch in Crime Mystery, #2

 

Deidre Verne

 

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Date of Publication: February 8, 2016
Number of pages: 336
Cover Artist: Bill Bruning/Deborah Wolf Ltd.

 

 

 

CeCe Prentice returns with her band of Dumpster-diving pals in this fast-paced mystery that puts the eco-friendly heroine back on top--of a pile of trash.

When Big Bob, manager of the town dump, goes missing, CeCe is worried about more than where she'll score her next salvaged car. First at the scene when Bob's body is recovered from under the weekly recycling haul, CeCe is quick to identify potential witnesses and provide crucial scene sketches. But when CeCe is uncharacteristically startled by an unidentified woman at Bob's abandoned house, her artistic talents are challenged, and her drawings, much to her frustration, come up short.

With CeCe's observational talents on the fritz, Detective Frank DeRosa, CeCe, and her network of Freegans are forced to recreate Big Bob's life from the garbage up. The team is soon thrust into the underworld of recycling where what appears to be junk could actually be the clue that saves a life.

Guest Post: 

I’m convinced my family and friends only read my books to see if I’ve incorporated their name, personality or recognizable quirks into my characters. Of course, they’d be correct in this assumption. I can’t help but include my family within my literary world. I love them all, and I can’t escape the impact my inner-circle has had on my perception.

I do this because my memories often drive the details in my books. Not big memories, but the little thoughts that wind their way through my subconscious - like remembering the feel of the first day of school with my mother by my side. For the record, it was sunny and I was over the moon with excitement.

Every now and then, I go overboard as my recollections snowball into intricate characters, some with less than honest intentions. In my most recent book, Drawing Blood, the manager of the local recycling center, Bob Rooney, is killed in a horrendous crime. It just so happens that I have an uncle by the same name and he was, indeed, the inspiration for this particular character. It all started with my uncle’s laugh; a low-bellied chuckle I’ve enjoyed for over forty years. It’s the kind of laugh that rumbles up and then reverberates like a tuning fork. I stole this laugh from my uncle along with his name, then created a lovable character who, unlike my uncle, is grossly overweight. I cleared the weight issue with Bob before the book went to print and he seemed amenable to using his name, although I’m afraid he’s now on an unnecessary diet.

Except for my husband, who insists on remaining on the literary sideline, I’m worried the rest of family will want their own personalized protagonist! Here’s hoping the Sketch in Crime Mystery series lives on for years. I’ve certainly got enough material to create a character for each of my friends and family, but new friends beware – you may be inspiring me in mysterious ways.
Giveaway: 

Author Bio:

Deirdre Verne (Lower Westchester, NY) is a mystery writer, college professor, and an active college blogger. Deirdre’s interest in green living inspired her to create an off-the-grid character who Dumpster dives her way through the “Sketch in Crime” mystery series. Verne’s second book, Drawing Blood, is available in February 2016. “A dysfunctional functional family to die for…[CeCe Prentice’s] second case is every bit as twisty and surprising.”-Kirkus Reviews.

A member of Sisters in Crime, Deirdre’s short stories appear in all three New York chapter anthologies – Murder New York Style, Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices and Family Matters. Visit her online at DeirdreVerne.com.

To connect with the author online:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads

A PORTRAIT OF CRIME MYSTERY
RELEASE DATE AUGUST 3, 2010
BERKLEY PRIME CRIME
First in a Brand New Series

Rory McCain loved her Uncle Mac so much and is terribly shocked when he dies of an apparent heart attack. He bequeaths to her everything he has, including a huge Victorian home and his private investigation company.

Rory works as sketch artist and detective for the police department, and is not allowed to moonlight. She starts to review her uncle's open cases and contacting the clients to refer them to another agency, but one of the clients begs her to continue with his case. She agrees but cannot accept any payment so that technically she is not moonlighting.

As she gets settled into her uncle's home and begins going over her uncle's notes for the case she has agreed to investigate, she finds she is not alone in the big, beautiful Victorian. The house is haunted by the ghost of a federal marshal from the 1870's, Ezekiel "Zeke" Drummond. A letter from her uncle explains the apparition and tells her the ghost has been very helpful in some of his investigations. Not quite sure what to believe, she finds the ghost continually sneaking up on her and finds him to be quite stubborn, crotchety, and sexist. She doesn't understand how he can help her, but as she gets further and further into the investigation she finds her own life at stake. She decides she really needs a partner, even if he is ghost, it is better than trying to solve the mystery on her own.

I LIKED IT!!!!!

I am not really into the paranormal genre, but I truly enjoyed this book. I found myself almost forgetting that Zeke was a ghost. The story is well thought out and while the current mystery was solved it leaves another than can continue for the rest of the series. According to the back cover this is the author's first mystery and that is hard to believe. She told the story with just the right element of suspense and intrigue that keeps you turning page after page. There are bits of humor, how can there not be when living with a ghost? I look forward to reading more of this spirited series for more delightful mysteries.

To learn more about this author visit her web page at http://www.sharonpape.com/


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime, a division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 19s 16 CFR, Part 255 : 1CGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 1D

A PORTRAIT OF CRIME MYSTERY
RELEASE DATE AUGUST 3, 2010
BERKLEY PRIME CRIME
First in a Brand New Series

Rory McCain loved her Uncle Mac so much and is terribly shocked when he dies of an apparent heart attack. He bequeaths to her everything he has, including a huge Victorian home and his private investigation company.

Rory works as sketch artist and detective for the police department, and is not allowed to moonlight. She starts to review her uncle's open cases and contacting the clients to refer them to another agency, but one of the clients begs her to continue with his case. She agrees but cannot accept any payment so that technically she is not moonlighting.

As she gets settled into her uncle's home and begins going over her uncle's notes for the case she has agreed to investigate, she finds she is not alone in the big, beautiful Victorian. The house is haunted by the ghost of a federal marshal from the 1870's, Ezekiel "Zeke" Drummond. A letter from her uncle explains the apparition and tells her the ghost has been very helpful in some of his investigations. Not quite sure what to believe, she finds the ghost continually sneaking up on her and finds him to be quite stubborn, crotchety, and sexist. She doesn't understand how he can help her, but as she gets further and further into the investigation she finds her own life at stake. She decides she really needs a partner, even if he is ghost, it is better than trying to solve the mystery on her own.

I LIKED IT!!!!!

I am not really into the paranormal genre, but I truly enjoyed this book. I found myself almost forgetting that Zeke was a ghost. The story is well thought out and while the current mystery was solved it leaves another than can continue for the rest of the series. According to the back cover this is the author's first mystery and that is hard to believe. She told the story with just the right element of suspense and intrigue that keeps you turning page after page. There are bits of humor, how can there not be when living with a ghost? I look forward to reading more of this spirited series for more delightful mysteries.

To learn more about this author visit her web page at http://www.sharonpape.com/


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime, a division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 19s 16 CFR, Part 255 : 1CGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 1D