Inspired by Esté MacLeod's Sketchbook Revival lesson

 

This idea was mostly my own after watching Esté MacLeod's lesson on Day 9 of Sketchbook Revival.  It's really the only lesson I was actually interested in viewing.  These lessons were geared for people who paint, draw, and sketch.  I am not capable of any of these.  Don't get me wrong.  I have other skills, but sketching and drawing aren't two of them.  These techniques are just not in my wheelhouse.

This is a screenshot of what Este created.  I thought this also would fit nicely with my recycling projects.  Cardboard tubes are a great way to get circles and other shapes.  And they are definitely recyclable, even with paint on them.  

I suggest finding tubes that are a bit stronger than those found holding toilet paper in place.  

Este also used watercolors, but I planned to use fluid acrylic paints.  The first thing I did was draw a circle on the 110 lb cardstock.  I would later regret doing that.

Using the long tube, I ran gold circles around the circle I drew.

Originally, I planned to change colors for the center, then decided to stay with the gold paint.

Once the gold paint was dry, I used every eraser I owned to try to remove the large circle I had created.  Sadly, all it did was to bring even more attention to the circle.

I originally wasn't planning on filling in the small circles, but needed a way to try to hide the mess I'd made with the erasers.  I was still working on filling in the small circles when the sun came up and brightened my workspace.

 

I grabbed some glaze called Iris Bleu.  Bleubeard was delighted and asked if they had named it after him.  He was so sure that was the case, I didn't have the heart to tell him differently.

Although Este's shapes were quite simple, I chose to try to shape the short toilet paper tube into a bird. 

 

For someone who can't draw, I was quite pleased with the way this turned out.

True to form, I didn't get a good stamping from the bird.  Even though it kept its shape, my less-than-successful stamping prohibited me from getting a good image.

I now give you my "sweet" bird on a flower.

For Day 19 of 22, I repurposed two cardboard tubes to use in making art.  They are now back in my basement studio where they live when they are not making circles and other art forms.  Thank you so very much for joining me today.  I am very grateful you are visiting and seeing what I'm keeping out of the landfill.   Since I was inspired to use these cardboard tubes in my art, I'm also joining Art Journal Journey, where we are honoring Eileen's Inspired By theme this month. 

I realize this is an art blog, and I don't often interject my opinion on current events.  However, I will be watching with great interest the closing arguments today of the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin who "allegedly" murdered George Floyd.  Remember, it only takes ONE person to vote not-guilty and they have a hung jury.  However, I want to reiterate my word of the year, which is HOPE.  I have HOPE the jury will do the right thing and vote him guilty of second degree murder.  I have HOPE in the unlikely event he is acquitted, or we have a hung jury, my country doesn't go off the rails and violently protest the decision.  I HOPE we are all safe after the verdict has been announced.  I'm just glad I'm not  sitting on that jury.