Beginner


A daughter is a mother’s gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. And mothers are their daughters’ role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships. ~Victoria Secunda

Happy Mother’s Day

Seven Synchronized Swans

Meet the Synchronized Sisters of Sunnyvale.
These lovely ladies are known far and wide for their beauty, grace and of course their precision technique! Never a more friendly gaggle of gals could be found. That is, until Sylvia joined the group! She was a rare bird indeed!!

Then the feathers flew!!  “Why does she always get to stay above water?”

Sylvia just smiled and let it roll like water off a ducks back… or should I say swan!

Join me and my friends over at the Doodle Diner for all of the Twelve Days of Christmas! There are some wonderful twists on the old classics!

Illustration Friday ~ Satellite

This is an illustration I’ve been working on and I  thought it fit pretty well with the Illustration Friday prompt  Satellite.

www.robertabaird.com

Art by Committee ~ Cinderella’s Maid Service

cinderella+maid-service_RobertaBaird copyOver on  James Gurney’s blog, Gurney Journey, he hosts a monthly art challenge. Usually it’s a prompt from a book, but every once in a while he puts up a business card he’s come across.  This is my entry for the prompt Cinderella’s Maid Service.

Visit his blog and look at the other entries on Decenber 15th. While you’re at it, take a look at his new book Imaginative Realism.

If you enjoy his blog, you’ll love his book!

Art by Committee ~ Shorter Than I Remember

shorter_thanI_remember_RobertaBairdThis is a piece I’ve been working on here and there for James Gurney’s Art by Committee. It’s a monthly art prompt that he hosts on his blog, Gurney Journey. I really like to participate when I can as it shows another side of my work.

You can see all of the other entries on November 15th. Be warned…. once you get there, you won’t want to leave! His blog is chocked full of valuable information and inspiring examples of his work! You might even consider buying his new book Imaginative Realism. Check it out!

Art by Committtee ~ Keep an Eye Out

From Art by Committee

James Gurney has started his Art by Committee prompts game up again. This time around however, it’s monthly instead of weekly.

The prompt this week was “I should stay here and keep an eye out….” So of course I thought of reclusive, cannibalistic… but kind Auntie Gretchen.

She’s always willing to treat a stranger in town to a home cooked meal. All that she asks in return is that they do a little gardening. You know mow the grass, prune the roses.

We really don’t have much of a problem with loiterers in our town thanks to Gretchen.
It’s just too bad she can’t keep a good gardener. They all seem to leave town without notice….

Hee hee… so where else are you going to take a prompt like that!

IF ~ Memories and Art by Committee ~ Tendril of Anger

This is a piece I created this week for another art themed blog.
It occurred to me as I was trying to come up with something quick for IF that it’s exactly what this post is all about.

How many memories does it take to carve the lines of life in a face?

“The old man felt a tendril of anger rising.”
This is the theme over at James Gurney’s Art by Committee weekly art challenge.

Check it out on his blog Gurney Journey.

I find that when I’m going through a dry spell in my art, not knowing what to draw or where to start, I always go back to the basic of what I’ve always loved to draw most: Portraits.

The last two posts are of imaginary people. I don’t know them but somehow in the creation of them, they have a story. As a draw I think about their inspiration for the way they look or feel. They come alive on paper.

What’s the first thing you draw to inspire your “Mojo”, as a good blogger friend calls it?

Art by Committee ~ Roasted

This is my entry for the Art by Committee art challenge hosted by James Gurney.

As you can see I had two ideas for this one, I usually don’t have time for two, but I just couldn’t decide. In the end, I went with the marshmallows, but those pigs kept screaming out at me for color, so I thought I’d post them both!

BTW… James Gurney is celebrating the one year anniversary of his blog.
I learn something new with each post and he’s so generous with his knowledge and charismatic wit. If you haven’t visited his blog, you should.
As you know, a blog is quite a bit of work, enjoyable yes, but but it takes some time and thought!
Often I’ve wondered how does he do it?
His daily posts include such wonderful information and photos!
He must have an incredible notebook, full of anecdotes and ideas…
or maybe it’s the oompa loompas…..
Congratulation on your one year anniversay! GurneyJourney

I Was Thankful I Brought Goggles

Here’s one done for James Gurney’s Art by Committee weekly challenge. With such interesting prompts this is one of my favorite art challenges. The prompt was “I was thankful I had brought goggles when the quick, deadly dust storms came boiling up.

Please do visit and see all the entries of this talented group of people. Then head over to James Gurney’s website for a visual treat!!