October 31, 1970

This is Bill and me on our wedding day. Complete with big hair, a thick polyester dress that I made and carnations that my mom made. I wish I was still that size. Bill probably wishes the same thing for himself. And he would probably like to have his hair back.

Portrait Exchange

There is a portrait exchange in the Portrait area of Wetcanvas. Here is the link: http://wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526751

There will be 4 weeks to do the portrait.

Anniversary

Friday I will have been married 38 years. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime and at other times it seems much shorter. It seems almost unreal it has been 38 years.

We met in high school. Were steady dating from the first day. Dated for 4 years and got married when he was 20 and I was 21. It hasn't been a bump free road, and not a dull one. We still like each other as well as love each other.

We started out complete opposites but as time has passed, we have grown similar in many ways. Funny how that happens. But nice because it helps when two separate parts blend together. Less friction.

It is a long story about why we got married on Halloween. Not a planned thing. We had opposition from his parents and at that time, men had to be 21 to marry or have parental consent. They wouldn't. When they finally agreed, we didn't want to wait and the next Saturday just happened to be Halloween.

Halloween is not the most romantic day for an anniversary. Early in our marriage we would go out to eat to celebrate. A few times we were served by Dracula costumed waiters at the place we favored. Now like an old married couple, we stay home and I cook dinner. No bells and whistles but just glad we have been together for such a long time and are still friends as well as spouses. And thankfully I have never seen anyone else who would have been a better match for me.

Sketchcrawl #20

Bakersfield Country Club plant behind a retaining wall.
More landscaping at the country club.
At Green Frog Market sitting in the eating area of the deli. These are plants that peek over the wall that surrounds the eating area.
Still at the market and still in the eating area. The deli case.

Virtual Sketch Date for October

I decided to crop to just one pear. I left my drawing to the last minute again and wanted to finish in time. Also I plan to give this one as one of my postcard exchanges in the project I am in on WC.

I am happy with this one. I used colored pencils and was going to leave it with no background, but it looked lonely on the page. I decided to give it a red background. At first I wanted to let it be a soft background but it just didn't do anything for the pear. So out comes the bold color in me and this is the result.

I hope everyone had a great time this month. I did and also got one more of my trade cards finished. Thanks Belinda for the reference photo.

Please check out all the other artist's versions of the pears at http://virtualsketchdate.blogspot.com/

Christmas Cards

I am making my Christmas cards this year. I did one a couple months ago. Tonight I got two more done. I am using as models some items I bought at Michael's Craft Store. The cards are the reason for the purchases. I also did two trading cards but can't show those yet. They will go in the mail tomorrow. I will show them when they arrive.

Worldwide Sketchcrawl #20

The next sketchcrawl is on Saturday 10-25-08. It is #20. I plan to do something but not sure what yet.

Tomorrow is my plein air day. We are going to Murray Farms. It is a produce stop along the freeway. They have many things for entertainment. A hay maze, petting zoo, wagon rides, a small train for rides, and you can even go out to the farm and pick your own produce. Also many many pumpkins. I will get some good pumpkin photos but plan to spend most of my time with the animals in the petting zoo. Me and the scads of little children. (Schools take field trips there.) Should make for an interesting day. I may need some valium when I get home. lol

Nothing New

I don't have any new art to post. I tried to do 2 different postcards today and failed miserably at both. I just couldn't get the colors right.

Yesterday was art day out. We went to the local zoo/preserve called CALM. Many animals, native plants, and lots to see and paint. I love going there but usually pay dearly with a sore ankle for a few days.

I have several boxes of items I use for props for still lifes, the scavenger hunts, and any other time I need something to draw. I have mentioned my "props" several times in the scavenger hunt threads. Jo Castillo asked to see photos of my boxes. I think she wants validation for her own collection. I know she has a collection of red, white, and blue items, and a ton of blue bottles. You can see her blog here: http://www.jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/

Under the Sea

Here are the ATCs I did for the Under the Sea trade in the Drawspace Forum. Since I did graphite last time on the safari cards and fish and the sea are colorful, I decided to do these in colored pencil. I bought a ceramic fish figurine with 2 fish on it from Beverly's Craft store, a rubber, squishy dolphin toy from the dollar store, and a squishy puffer fish toy from the dollar store to use as models for some of my cards. I ended up using the dolphin for 6 of the cards. Afterward I thought I should have used it for all of them. Just different angles.

Woohoo

I finished my Under the Sea cards. They are in the envelopes, stamped, and ready to mail today. I finished them last night but needed more stamps.

I went on the plein air outing today. But no one else showed up. I had the place to myself. It was very nice and peaceful. Not too hot, quiet, and I didn't see anyone except one lady who walked by and the gardeners who were across the parking lot.

I wasn't going to take photos as I have been there twice before, but all those blooming rose bushes just called my name. I ended up taking 113 photos. I did do one pictures while there on a postcard. It will either be a trade for my art group or a trade for the Anything Goes trade on WC. I have some tweaking to do first to finish it.

I was at the mission (San Clemente Mission in Bakersfield) for about an hour. I decided not to stay longer as I had errands to do. I got all those done, watched my soap, and was home by about 2 pm. Nice day even tho it was getting pretty hot by the time I got home.

Here are a few of the photos I took today. You can click on them to see them larger.

Under the Sea

I have been working today on some Under the Sea ATCs for the trade on Drawspace.com forum. I have 8 finished. Two were done today and another one went to the trash. I was so disappointed in that one. I had it all done, then decided to add something. That didn't work so tried to erase and messed up the whole thing. I think I have 12 to do in all. Only 4 more.

I was really looking forward to this subject for a trade but have struggled with it. None of them have come out just the way I wanted. After the safari exchange went so easily, I expected more from myself. Maybe it was because this one is in colored pencil and the safari was in graphite.

Holiday Postcard Exchange

I noticed that I had not uploaded some of my holiday dream exchange cards. I am finished with that project and hopefully all have been received. Some have not responded. Here are some of the ones I just uploaded to the project on Wetcanvas. All are done in colored pencil.

Productive day

I worked on a piece for a competition/show for the association that I belong to. BAA or Bakersfield Art Association. The subject for the show is "Valley Scenes". I already had one picture to show. It is the one I did of the old jail from out outdoor museum (Kern County Museum/Pioneer Village). It has a lot of old buildings that have been moved there and refurbished.

The one I did today is of an old school. I stopped and took a photo of it during one of our outings. I knew right away that I wanted to do a picture of it. My scan didn't turn out very good. I will have to take a photo tomorrow in the daylight.

Now I have to get busy and find a frame and get them ready. They have to be delivered on the 4th. Yikes. That's soon. Nothing like waiting till the last minute.

I also have a half done postcard sized picture I'm working on of a goat that lives at the local animal preserve/museum. It has a petting zoo area. The goats are really friendly. They were begging for attention. The next time we go to the museum, I plan to spend most of my time with the goats and sheep. The sheep didn't come up to the fence but the goats stayed close.

Here is a scan of the school picture. In person it isn't that brown on the house. I used some graphite over the picture after the colored pencil was down. My scanner scans graphite as brown. I always have to adjust it in my picture program. But when there is color, can't fix it.