December 24th: The final window, and my favourite animal: My little donkey (for Marty) xxx

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans 2013.
Inspired by our beautiful cheeky son, Marty Wilson, aged 19 months old,
 and a Donkey Sanctuary leaflet that came in the post.
Pencil and watercolour on cartridge Paper Sketchbook.

Well, I couldn't resist a drawing of our darling son, now could I?

My mother mentioned that she remembers me saying, when I was around twelve years old, that, "I can't imagine a day without a pencil in my hand"... I'm beginning to feel that way again.

Merry Christmas everyone, and here's to a wonderful 2014!!!


Much love,

Elissa

P.S. Happy 6th wedding anniversary to my gorgeous husband.

xxxxxxx

December 15th: A gingerbread cat biscuit (for my gorgeous hubby, Owain Wilson)

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans
Gingerbread, made by moi, with icing and love.

The 15th day of December has been a soggy wet Sunday, so we spent most of the morning decorating our hand made gingerbread cookies, for friends and family.

Our little boy, Marty tried very hard to eat all the icing and sweets and my hubby and I found it a tad stressful. Plus it takes so long!We'd be rubbish in The Great British Bake Off!

Still we are pretty pleased with the results and after we got used to it, we actually found Marty's constant attempts to destroy them all, rather funny!

Go on have a go, and have some family festive fun! Yum, yum!

December 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th ! A mini zoo ( Giraffe, Monkey,Penguin & Polar Bear Cub) for you; Laura Kircough, Rhian Mai & Ffion Jones, Asa Seljestad & my darling Sis, Meriel Evans)

December 9th:

Copyright/All Rights Reserved EvE 2013
Giraffe drawn from a photo I took at Folly Farm, back in the Summer.
Tree inspired by, well, a tree.
Pencil and Watercolour on handmade paper.

This rather lovely Giraffe is for my old school friend, old as in from the 80's, not old as in 'she is old...',  oh dear. Hmmm.
Any way a Christmas Giraffe was suggested, and so this is my offering. I think it has a certain charm. Merry Christmas Laura! xxx



December 10th:

Copyright/All Rights Reserved EvE 2013
Monkey made up by moi. Pencil on graph paper.

This little sketch is a Monkey, or rather it should say 'Mwnci', as it is for my Welsh speaking friend and her daughter (one of Marty's baby/toddler girlfriends). Hope you like (hoffi) it, Rhian Mai and Ffion ?   xxx


December 11th:

Copyright/All Rights Reserved EvE 2013
Giraffe drawn from a photo in my dear friend, Asa's FB album.
With added military star ribbon, just because.
Sharpie pens and pencil, on the back of a brown envelope.

An extremely quick drawing for the 11th day of December. 11.12.13, was a busy old day for me but just enough time to do a doodle penguin for my lovely gal pal Asa. He's for you Asa babe! x



December 12th:

Copyright/All Rights Reserved EvE 2013
Polar Bear cub from memory after a visit to Poundffald Farm Winter wonderland.
They had a grotto full of mechanical animals and Santas and all things Christmassy.
It was really great.
Parker pen biro on handmade paper

And on the 12th day of December I drew this little fella for my beautiful and talented Sister who came over from Paris to join us for a trip to Winter wonderland, so Marty could meet Father Christmas. Such great memories! We all loved the grotto en route to Mr C with it's winding path of animals, singing Christmas trees, life size nativity (with a rather old looking 'baby' Jesus, the jazz band Santas, fake snow machine and real life reindeers (although one of them looked rather sorry for himself which made us all feel rather sad, too). Thanks for coming 'home' Sis - we'll come to you in the New year for some French memories! I love you!!! xxxxxxxxx

December 8th: A handful of Elephant (for my boy, Marty)

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans (and Marty Wilson)2013
Life drawing of Marty's Elephant handpuppet made by Bambia (an Aldi purchase).
Carpenter's pencil, with added lines and expressive marks by Marty Wilson, aged 18months.

On the 8th day of December, whilst still in my dressing gown,  I was playing with our gorgeous son and all his stuffed animal toys. Bambia elephant(handpuppet) posed for a quick drawing and it was all going well until Marty decided he wanted the pencil. I think he felt my drawing needed loosening up a little. My head of Fine Art, back in Art college, would agree with him and I,too, think our joint effort is actually rather lovely!

By the way I take commissions and love drawing other peoples long loved toys. A great way to keep them alive long after they have lost their eyes and limbs and fur! Contact me on elissavevans@hotmail.com or via my FB page

December 7th: A Kangaroo and Joey (or rather, 'KangaRuth & Joey Bach', for you and Sam, Ruth Cronin!)

Copyright /All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans
Kangaroo and joey inspired by Wikimedia image, original photo by Jenny-bee on Flickr
Fine-liner coloured pens on handmade paper.

On this the 7th day of December and after going to 2 different Christmas family fun events, with our lad, O and I are truly worn out. So this little drawing is a quick portrait for a pal and her son... Sam, look it's you as a joey ,and Ruth, yes that's right, you as a Kangaroo! Hmmmm... still friends? Hope so. xxx

December 6th: Mrs Tiggy-winkles needs our help (this one is for me!)

Copyright/ All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans
Hedgehog inspired by RSPB literature with an added heart, in pencil and Watercolour
on handmade paper.

On this the 6th day of December, my boys and I had a little trip to Cardiff Bay to collect an exhibition that Jazz Heritage Wales* had on in the Senedd (Welsh National Assembly building). We stumbled across an outdoor Christmas market and spent an hour looking round all the lovely stalls. One stand was for the RSPB and whilst chatting to the chap running it I discovered, to my horror, that our hedgehog population really needs our help. In the 1960s there were some 35,000,000 little spikey friends roaming around our fair isle, and now in 2013 there are only an estimated 1,000,000 left! We need to help create their natural habitat again... too many patios,concrete,and tarmac gardens all of which are walled or fenced in. Outdoor lights left on and cars everywhere don't help matters, either. I really hope it's not too late... absolutely heartbreaking.  Can you help?

December 4th: A Gwdihŵ (for you Sophie Spinks (oops Dodds), and your little owl lovers)

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans
A Gwdihŵ(Welsh for Owl)from Plantasia in Parc tawe, Swansea
Pencil and watercolour on hand made paper.

On the fourth day of December, a Gwdihŵ goes toowitt ta woo, or maybe she's saying, I love you (Sophie Spinks!)... xxx


And here's another one - which I made earlier.

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans
On sale at Oriel Ceri Richards Gallery, Taliesin, Swansea University of Wales
Or order from me at elissavevans@hotmail.com

I recently shared a picture of me sketching during a shoot(I do a sideline of Extra-ing/ Support Artiste work in TV/Films), on my facebook page and in it I was working on some Christmas card designs for a local gallery. This is one of several owl designs.

Right, gotta go - O and I are off out tonight. Not a date night though... little boy sitting for a couple of friends who are expecting their 2nd child tomorrow so want a night out together...Oooo hope the baby doesn't decide to come early!

December 3rd: Party Tortoise (Lynda, he's yours!)

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans 2013
A Tortoise party in amongst a Marty* drawing.
Crayola chid friendly washable pens on a torn sheet from an old flip chart.

*Marty Wilson (my gorgeous son) aged 18 months 

On the third day of December, after a yummy pasta special made by my darling hubby, I was 'helping' Marty to draw on the living floor (well, on some paper on the floor) and I zoned out and drew this little fella, just for you Lynda Hance. He's an I.O.U for our project which you are so patiently waiting for me to finish... Oh yes, and even though he only took a minute to draw, when I looked up Marty had emptied several of his Grampa's CDs onto the floor! Oooops! Naughty Artist mother.