Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 45

Still working, spent about 40 minutes today.  Turns out two years ago Karen was sharing this exact photo.  One of my favorites of Joel.  I feel that I still have a ways to go on bringing up tones and finishing up the background, I also see somethings I want to adjust.  I won't be adding all the detail you see in the background of this photo, I think it is too busy.  Things are normalizing for the most part in my world, making it easier to focus.


September 1, 2014
Anxiety is building...my baby is going to preschool tomorrow and it's not because she's getting older....it's because I feel like he should be here to see it...this is probably just the first of many life events that we will have to endure without him...without him by our side...without his smile, without his loving arms to give her a big hug and send her off on her first day of preschool....
~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 44

Worked for about 30 minutes today on the background.  I see more shading work to be done on Kendalyns face, still more to do, more to do.


August 29, 2014
Missing him....A LOT right now ❤ ~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 43

Ventured out into the background today.  Bringing the carousel together.  Still averaging about 40 minutes a day.


August 27, 2014
Someone has caught on that I sleep in daddy's shirts and has asked me if she can too...
~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 42

Still working on tones.  Spent 40 minutes with them today.  They are showing so nicely.


August 21, 2014  ~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 41

Getting back into my groove, Worked on Joel today for about 40 minutes.  Sometimes you need a little push to get rolling again.  Seeing comments, photos, and being reminded that what I am doing is the bit of inspiration I need to keep the wheels turning.  I had put this drawing down for four months and had forgotten it is just what I needed.  My outlet is art, my connection is with the earth and beyond the sky.  Thanks for posting, commenting and sharing my art.  Keep on keeping on.


August 16, 2014
Hate that I can feel it coming...knowing there is nothing I can do to stop it... ~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 40

Still darkening tones where needed.  Enjoyed my time with them today.




August 14, 2014

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 39

Spent about 45 minutes working on perfecting shadows on both Kendalyns and Joels face.  I still have a ways to go but I will be working on getting back to a more normal drawing routine.  This photo and the last are unfortunately a bit grainy looking.  I will be using my regular camera again for the next post.  I post sneak peek photos instantly on my instagram account @heady_dreadie before I upload them here a day later.


August 9, 2014 ~  Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 38

I admittedly worked on Joel and Kendalynn a few weeks ago but put it back down again.  Here is a bit more progress from a few weeks ago with more to come.  My mother-in-law suggested I blog about our moving adventures from Pennsylvania to Tennessee.  The move has affected me way more than I thought and getting back into drawing has been daunting since I barely feel like me some days.  So expect a blog post coming soon about selling a home, packing, moving and traveling out of state to a new home.  Also I worked today on the drawing some more and there will be another update scheduled for tomorrow.  It does feel really good to be drawing again but I still feel like I am transitioning.  I have been working hard at normalizing myself, I am mostly working inside myself as I may appear normal on the outside.  I also apologize if I haven't called, written or otherwise - I am still inside myself at the moment.  Happy to be back and doing some important work.  I feel happiest when I am doing for others.

August 8, 2014
My bad days might be really bad sometimes but I am finding that I come out of it stronger ~ Karen