Friday at last

I had a busy 2 days. groceries, church for Good Friday Service, bank, post office, and a few other errands. Tomorrow I stay home. Will try to finish some housework and some art.

Sunday will be spent getting ready for the colonoscopy on Monday. Won't be leaving the house on Sunday. Plus I can't have anything to eat but clear liquids. Great since I don't like broth. I will be eating lots of jello and drinking lots of sprite and juice. I will be totally full of sugar.

I have worked lately on my scavenger hunt list. I feel as it is my list, I should finish it. I have 22 items finished. Still have to do half of my face, something a chef would use, something you measure, + something the color of your least favorite color. And I have until the 10th to finish.

I didn't do the WDE or the Weekly last week. I think I needed a break. I will most likely participate this week. I have missed the last couple of colored pencil challenges. But I did get two art cards ready and sent for the newest/3rd Art Card/Postcard exchange. And someone has sent one to me. Can't wait to get it.

End of Season

I just counted the days I have left to work. 5 more. Yippee! Then more "me" time.

The new card exchange was ok'd last night. It will have 31 participants. In just one day, there are already 28 signed up. It won't be limited to size 2.5 x 3.5. This time you can do up to 5 x 7. It is for those who don't like working as small as the ACEOs. I can imagine that the painters and even the pastel people would have trouble working in that small a format. Now for me, it is great. For both graphite and colored pencil.

Well the new used desk is in place. Just have all those boxes full and no place to put anything. I will have to get a cabinet soon.

Time for bed. I am very tired tonight. Didn't sleep enough last night.

Goodnight.

Bananas Anyone?

Here is the drawing I did for the weekly challenge this week. I spent most of the day getting my office/art room organized so we can bring in the new used desk.

After I had had enough of that, I had my shower and sat down to finish my drawing.I started this at work on Wednesday. Got it about half done. Then it sat in my bag until today. In fact I didn't even know where my bag was.

Everything in this room was covered with stuff I took out of the desk. Now at least it is all in boxes where it may stay forever.

Weed killing

This drawing is the bonus ATC that I sent to IrishRose as a thank you for hosting the ATC Project exchange. I know she had a hard time as her mom passed away right after the exchange started. But she never faltered. She said it was her therapy. And we are hoping for another one soon. This is called Nemo Wannabe II.

I spent the day going thru stuff in my office/art room and the other spare room where the sewing machine resides. Weed killing is just the phrase I used to describe the effort I was making to get rid of extra stuff.

It is very hard to discard my stuff. Even if I haven't used it recently, I still never know when I might need it. I used to give things to my mom. Then when out at her house, I would be going thru books, etc and thing that I would like to take it home. She just saved them and didn't use them either, so was happy for me to have them back. There they would stay until my next nest cleaning project.

My garbage bin outside is about half full. And I have 3 boxes of stuff for donation to the church for their yearly sale. It is the largest yard sale you have ever seen. Takes a week to set up, runs for a day and a half, and they sell usually over $10,000. All of the money made goes for missionary work. None of it for running the yard sale. All workers are voluntary.

Right now my office/art room is such a mess, I have to walk carefully. Hopefully in the next two days I will get it in a little better shape before I have to go back to work on Monday. Right now I am missing my desk. The portable rolling computer stand I am using is just not very big. I am used to leaning on the desk and there is no room for that on this one.

I am anxious to get the new used desk in and see how comfortable it will be. There will be one problem. The new one has no storage and the old one did. Now to figure out what to do with the overflow.

Woops

I don't know why I neglected to post the last couple of days. I went to the ones I read daily and then just moved on.

Today I had to wait wait wait. A donation place was supposed to pick up some stuff. They didn't show up till about 5 pm. Nothing like being stuck all day waiting.

I had to leave a couple times. To take my schnauzer to the groomer and pick her up. But I tried to hurry so that I was here when the truck arrived. Now the stuff is finally gone. But...I put some more outside.

We have had an oak desk sitting in the living room waiting to be installed in the office/art room. Well I didn't get it moved in, but I did move part of the existing desk out. The hutch part. The rest is in the room standing on its side. I put the computer on a small rollaway computer cart. That way I was able to do some cleaning around it.

Now there is a jumbled mess of boxes and stuff all over the room. What's bad is the newer desk has a lot less space. I have no idea where all the extra stuff will go. I still have to buy a file cabinet but that won't take care of anything but the file drawer. I hope that I figure out some solution soon as I can't find anything.

I just got the computer put back together. I unhooked everything to get it out of the old desk. And I still have a mess of cords sitting on the floor. Oh well.

Tuesday we had rain and these are some of the clouds that we saw that day.

Off tomorrow

I took the day off tomorrow. I will be waiting for an appliance repairman. Our not-quite-2-yr old clothes washer is leaking. Warranty still in place so it at least won't cost me. Just waiting around will give me a chance to do some artwork. And an extra day off this week. I think I can handle a 2-day work week.

Thursday is dog grooming day plus I will be waiting around again. This time for someone to pick up some donations we are giving. I have put it off for too long. Time to get the stuff out of here.

The news tonight said it was raining in a couple parts of town. You's never believe the weather here lately. Really hot one day, and rain the next. We'll all end up sick if this keeps up.

Here are some items I did tonight for the new scavenger hunt. (Next hunt is mine to host and provide the list)

Well I am getting very sleepy and had better get to bed.

Lazy Saturday

I have been surfing thru the WC site and looking at all the art and reading some blogs I regularly read. I decided to do another art card. I found a picture of a barn in the RIL.

I have to get some organization going with my art supplies. Just my reference photos are getting out of hand. I had to buy an external hard drive yesterday to give me more space to save picture files. My computer was down to just over a fourth of its GB. I now have about a third free plus 320GB on the new hard drive. Yes! I kept my poetry, family pictures, and my drawings on the computer. Anything I could lose and not have a meltdown myself went on the new drive.

It's warm here. Rained during the week. Actually it poured. Then the next day back in the 80s F. Soon we will have to start running some air. Enjoying the mild weather but not looking forward to the hot, hot weather coming up. Too much sweating going on during that time. Or complete inactivity.

13th Sketchcrawl 3-17-07

I finally got around to scanning and posting my sketchcrawl items from last Saturday. You can see them here: http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=410306

Just in time

As last week, I am running behind on my drawings. I just finished two art cards for the WDE. I did the host's (Blu ize) twi cattke dogs and a frog on a second. Now I still have to do the silk or satin and egg for the Weekly challenge.

Last week I didn't get the WDE drawing posted until it was a few hours before the new weekly photos were posted. I was really running behind that week. No reason as I spend plenty of time on here reading different things. I just need to quit dreding and surfing and get to more drawing. My house would probably say more housework. I know my husband would.
In the mall close to my house, they have a shop with local art. The artists have to join the organization and then they can put their art in the shop. Not sure what it costs to be a member or what the monthly fee is, or how much selling goes on, but I want to check it out. You also have to donate some time in the shop.

I have been in there when an artist was sitting at a table doing their art. I haven't been to the shop lately, in fact only once but I have an urge to go have a look. Since I have problems walking very far, it won't be easy. But I'd like to see what they have to offer.

Saturday we will be doing some fixups around the house and Sunday I hope to make it to church. I have missed too many Sundays this year.

Hubby was out of town working yesterday and got home today with some scrumptious round loaves of French bread. I will go get a slice and see what is on tv and then concentrate on some more drawing.

Free at last

Well I am free now for the rest of the week. Yippeeeeee!. Now I can draw, then draw some more.

Today at work I did some sketches for the scavenger hunt. I still have to do the WDE and the Weekly. And I am ready to do some more work on my Old Master. I also got some new colored pencils last week that I ordered from Dick Blick and haven't tried them yet.

Hubby is out of town for the night, and I picked up a chicken sandwich and fries on the way home. So just have to feed the dogs and get the trash out. Some good tv on tonight and I can draw while I watch. And tomorrow I can sleep in.

Here is the still life I did last night for the scavenger hunt.

Wishing my life away

A lady whom I have known most of my life gave me some advise that I can't seem to follow. I was always wishing for time to pass for some event or other. She told me I shouldn't do that as I was wishing my life away.
What she said was true. I still seem to be doing that. At the moment I can't wait for April 17 so I can be home and not at a tax office preparing taxes. I don't actually like doing that job, I do it because we need the money.
Ever since I found WetCanvas and started participating in the forums there, I have become so passionate about my art that everything else seems to be an afterthought. All I want to do is "do" art or read about it. Everything else just gets fleeting thought. Poor hubby. I love him dearly but I do take him for granted. Of course he does work some really long and weird hours. I do fix his dinner but don't always sit down with him while he eats it. He is usually too tired for conversation any way. All I can hope is that he understands as he has a passion for camping and fishing and during times he is planning a trip, he thinks of nothing else.
Back to the lady with the advice...she lived to be 101 years old. She was part of history. She and her brother were orphans in the East and were brought west on the "Orphan Train". I didn't know anything about that until I attended her 100th birthday party. The woman I saw from childhood as a church-going Christian who crocheted her heart out, had some interesting things that made her who she was.
I miss her. I didn't see her that often, but I knew she was always around and doing her crocheting. Now I don't often think about her but when I do, it is with a fond memory of the afghans and things she crocheted, her dedication to church, and the kindness she always showed to me. She was my cousin's mother-in-law, her name was Myrtle, and she is missed.

Project Old Masters

I am participating in the Old Masters Project on WetCanvas. Here is the point I am at now. We had to choose an old master painter who lived during a certain time frame. I chose a picture by Remembrandt Called Old Jew Seated. It is done in a reddish colored ink or pencil, at least that's what it looks like. I am doing mine in graphite. We have a year to finish. I would say I am probably half done. You can see the reference and the progress updates here: http://www.wetcanvas.com//Community/Projects/index.php?cmd=browse_progress2&userid=84176&proj_id=1081

Weekly Challenge

I got my weekly drawing done tonight. Ref was a cute little kitten. I did it as another ATC. It is so nice to put as much detail as I want but not have to cover as much blank space. Tomorrow is the sketchcrawl.. Busy day with that and some errands.

Latest items for Scavenger Hunt #32

The current scavenger hunt ends on Saturday, the same day as the Sketchcrawl. I decided tonight that I needed to speed up my entries. I still have 5 do sketch but they will be harder for me to "find". One is a religious item for a religion other than mine. Haven't a clue what to use for that. Wind chimes which are outside. Chop sticks...I had a pair that I made a set of knitting needles from but can't find them. A pedal...that will have to be from the sewing machine of the unused recumbant bike in the living room. And the last item is sardines. I don't have any of those so they will have to turn into tuna or salmon.

Here is the still life I made of 10 items from the scavenger hunt. I think these little still life drawings turn out cute. All the things are usually unrelated but fun to put together for the drawing.

One of the scavenger hunts had a challenge to put all 26 items into one still life. I really enjoyed that one and have done small still life drawings for several of the other hunts. I am waiting for another lis that has items I can put into one picture again.

I worked on my Old Master's Project drawing last week. I am possibly half done. I have posted two updates so far. We are supposed to update at 33%, 66%, 90%, and completed. The picture I am doing is Rembrandt's Old Jewish man sitting in a chair. It is monochromatic in a reddish color. I am doing mine in graphite. We have a year to finish but I don't think it will take me that long. Probably not more than another month or two as tax season will end in another month and I will have more time to draw.

This week I still have the weekly to do, also the WDE and that changes tomorrow. (Yikes I am behind.)

Shell 3

I decided to try again with the shell. After I posted the last 2 pictures, I could see that I needed to adjust the spirals.

Shell experiment

I sketched another shell tonight. Playing with the darks in the crevices like Katherine suggested. I think I got more depth but my spirals were a little uneven. Also the skell doesn't look much like the original. It is not as dark as the sketch. I will play around with it some more and see if I can get better with it. Both were done with a mechanical pencil. The one in the former post was colored with dry watercolor pencils. I am also including a picture of the shell.

Another work week

I received a call from my boss. My hours were changed. I don't mind. I don't have to be there until 11 as opposed to 9. Gives me more time to get around. But I work part of 4 days this week instead of 3. I kind of liked the 3 days and then 4 off.

I bought some more sketching props Friday. One was a shell. Several times in the scavenger hunts one of the items was a shell. I had one that was the base of a figure of a Mexican man that was a pipe. A gift from a neighbor. I don't even want to think what the pipe was for.

I did an art card of the shell. I like the way it turned out. But I also want to do it again and make the shell look more 3D. The part that spirals needs to be raised up and towards me as I look at it. I think I will ask KatherineT to take a look and see what I should do to make it spiral forward.

I turned the shell different directions and wouldn't have trouble with the look of it except on that heads-on view.

Time for bed.

Posting a quick one for tonight. It is too late and I have a hair appt in the morning early. Here is the weekly challenge that I did tonight. It is less than 2 inches square and not a very good attempt. But time was running out and I wanted to make sure I got one done.

ATC

Here is another ATC that I did a few days ago. I saw a starfish on something and wanted to do one of my own.

Art Card

This is an art card that I did a few weeks ago. I drew it from a silk flower I have on my desk. I needed a flower for the scavenger hunt. Bigs/Sue from the scavenger hunt said she would love to have that at her house, so I sent it to her. I liked the way this one turned out.

I went shopping last week at a craft shop and found several things I bought for my box of drawing props. I found several more large bloomis on long stems in different colors. A nice rosebud, a stem of 4 poppies in different stages of bloom, a couple of stems of fern fronds for greenery. I also bought a few pieces of fake fruit like grapes to practice on.

These were added to the many items I have "found" for the scavenger hunts. Many of the items I have sketched several times. In the box are things like rocks, wine glass, pinecone, stuffed fish animal, and other miscellaneous items. I started out with a small box and now have a storage box holding them. Oh well one more thing to find space for.

Nemo Wannabe

I did an art card of a fish. It looks a little like Nemo. I bought a stuffed fish so I could have it when I need to draw a fish for any of the scavenger hunts as well as several other items to use as props. This is the first drawing I have done using my purchases.

The Basque Man

I finished the weekly drawing challenge tonight. The photo reference was a Basque Man. So much character in his face. A lot of people are participating this week. It was a face just begging to be drawn.

Penny Sleeping

I started this drawing of my dog Penny at work today. Finished it tonight. I like taking pictures of Penny when she is sleeping. She sleeps so soundly. Plays hard and sleeps hard.

Wow. Long time between posts.

I didn't realize how long since I posted. I had a long bout with the second cold. Still doing a good bit of coughing. But at least I feel better. Work is also getting in the way. I am not working very long hours now but three days this week and a 4-hour class has to be fitted in. Haven't figured out if I will go during the day when I am off or during the evening. Third choice is Sat. Not sure I am willing to do that one.

I have been doing quite a few art cards. I have even been doing the WDE and the weekly challenge on art cards. At least it doesn't take long to do them.

Today at work, a client brought a camellia bloom to her tax preparer. I borrowed it and did an art card from it.

Then decided to draw a scene I can see from the office where I work. There is a telephone pole across the street where pigeons roost. They always sit on the wires a wing-span distance apart. I find this curious especially in winter when I would think they would huddle for warmth. But they are always that distance apart. If one lands in between, they shift to alow the same distance between them.

Then you will see one off by himself. Did he have an argument with the others? Is he being shunned for some reason? Wouldn't it be nice to know the reasoning behind their activities?

Back to Work

Well back to work tomorrow. I have been off for several days with a cold. Still not 100% but have to go in. Still coughing and blowing and short of breath when I get to moving around too much.

I listed a few of my art cards on ebay tonight. I will see how it goes. Hard to figure how much to charge as everyone's cards are listed at different rates. It doesn't seem to matter what the charge is or how good the art is. Some that I wouldn't think would be popular are having many bids and some very good art have no bids. I just imagine it is finding the right person for the right subject. I couldn't even see a pattern that would lead me to figure out what is selling best. Just no rhyme or reason that I could figure out.

I am finding that I do more of the colorful floral pictures on the smaller scale. And I have been doing some that are not my normal.

The WC Weekly challenge was an English water scene. I did it as an art card. Finished really early this week. My turn to host the Scavenger Hunt starting Wed.

Scavenger hunt still life

I was feeling a little behind in the current Scavenger Hunt. Can you believe it is #29? I am hosting the next one. I already have my list ready.
I decided to do like we did with Jamie's list. I put several items together and made a still life. I fit all that I hadn't completed in except things like a live animal, vacuum, hand, and lips/mouth. I will finish those off this weekend.
I really enjoy doing the still life works. One thing I think they are cute. And another, I have to draw and make sure I get them all in. When you draw one thing, it's just one size. When you draw many items together, size of each item in realation to the others becomes more important. Also it takes a little more time to make sure they are arranged in a manner that fits. That is especially important when you have things that don't really belong together.
Stayed home sick again yesterday. This cold is worse than the one I had a couple weeks ago. This one went straight to the chest and lungs. Miserable. Running nose and cough like a fog horn.
At least I am getting some art work done. Don't feel like doing much else. I picked up meds today and will get into my sweats, take the meds and stay in the rest of the weekend. Hubby is out of town overnight so except for the pestering dogs, I can vegetate. I plan to draw some more and do plenty of sleeping. I made potato/vegetable soup. Just had some with french bread and plenty more for tonight and tomorrow.
Everyone have a wonderful weekend. The weather here is nice, warm, and sunny. Too bad I can't enjoy it.

Catch Up

I stayed home sick again today. Went thru a half box of kleenex. I did some artwork tho. Did some catching up. I finished the weekly drawing of a bird stretching on a limb, an art card, and the colored pencil challenge of a chicken. I had been putting off the chicken. I did the line sketch last week at work. I decided today to finish it up. Not too many have posted theirs but they still have half a month left to go.

I received one of my art cards today. From Germany. It was an encaustic painting. Very beautiful. Something I had never seen before. I love getting samples of different mediums. All beautiful in different ways.

Under the weather

I have my second cold in a month. This one is more severe. Stayed home from work today and did some drawing. Here are a couple of the art cards I worked on today and yesterday.

Working small allows me to try new things in a smaller format. I don't have to fill so much paper. I have been experimenting with different florals. Different background colors. Nice to expand my color works.

Almost all my art cards that I traded have arrived at their destinations. I think only a couple more to go. I hope they have another of these trades as I missed the first and enjoy them tremendously.

My dog drawings

Edtree from WC said she would like to see all dog drawings all together so that she could see them. I thought about it and posted a new thread in the D&S forum titled Samples of my dog drawings here: http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401240

It has a sample of drawings from several years ago when I worked full time and did drawings for the people at the office. I did their kids, grandkids, and pets, then started on their portraits. They all received them for free. It gave me wonderful practice.

Also are some newer drawings. A couple of the art cards that I traded, a couple from the WDE forum, many of my babies, a couple from some neighbor's dogs, and some from friends I have met at a yearly barbecue that we attend. Then there are a couple commission I did for my Bible study leader. She requested a picture of all her babies that are no longer with her. About 9 of them. Dogs and cats. A lot of boxers. The reference photos were not really good and not very big. But she loved it. Then I did one of her current babies. In the reference photos was a couple pictures I just couldn't resist. One a cat looking over a wooden fence and one with a dog piled on top of another.

After I left my job, I did drawings for friends and family for gifts. My hairdresser got one of her two young children...the boy kissing his baby sister. My dog groomer got one of her black lab Mona. And my friend CArl has gotten several of his two Shitsus Riley and Cassie including one of each for Christmas this year. My husband received one from me of the Golden Retriever KC who passed away about 4 years ago. He loved her dearly and I doubt he will ever get over her death. I still grieve for her too but they had a special bond that everyone could see. I have a special bond with our Yellow Lab but like all mother's, my favorite is the one I am holding at the time. We have never had children and they dogs are our kids and they live with us as part of the family.

Weekly Challenge

Slow at work today so I did the weekly challenge drawing. Some really nice versions on the forum. Some in color, but more in graphite. This one is mechanical pencil on card stock. About 5 or 6 inches square.

Hello

I haven't been feeling too well lately. I have been doing some more art cards. I will be trading cards with someone in England. I have three completed and will give her a choice of which she wants. Here are the three I finished.

Tax prep has been sporadic. One day really busy and the next not so busy. Today I didn't do any returns. The night crew may have been busier. I will find out tomorrow. Only two more days until the weekend. Can't wait.

I still haven't done much for my drawing for the Master's Project. I have picked the picture I will use, and I did a small bit of the face. That was a couple weeks ago or more. I need to get back to that.

About 10 of my art cards for the exchange have been received by their new owners. I still have to do the monthly colored pencil challenge and the weekly challenge of a tree from the RIL at Wetcanvas. Running a little behind on my participation. I said I wouldn't let work interfer but between that, a cold, and not feeling good, it has happened. I have kept up with the scavenger hunts. But have not been commenting about the other's work as much. I also did finish the WDE early this week but another will be posted Friday.

I have been notified that 3 more art cards are in the mail for me. I can't wait to see them. The 3 I have received have been beautiful. Such fun seeing the different mediums and learning about the different artists. Some really great artwork is being traded and uploaded.

ATCs Update

I have 4 art cards drying at the moment that will go in the mail tomorrow. Now only 3 left to do. Some of the project members haven't started yet. Some are still fulfilling cards for the first project. I have had so much fun, just couldn't slow myself down. It is another addiction I could ill afford. All my addiction are at least not life threatening. All have to do with art.
I wanted to send my florals as well as graphite. I think I managed to intersperse quite a few of the florals in among the graphite. Maybe not 50-50 but at least a fair amount were the colored florals.
I started out with a lot of birds. Later I tried to do some landscapes and other animals. I was pretty happy with most of them. Some I was not at first happy with and put them aside. Later I took another loo, reworked them a little and finished them up for mail. Now for the last three. I believe they will all be graphite. But who knows. Whatever the mood that strikes me.

Another ATC

Here is another art card I sent for trade. I have received 3 so far and have just over half of my cards finished and mailed. Many of the cards I have sent are of birds. I seem stuck on birds right now. I am working on two more cards at the moment and neither is a bird. The last few I sent are the wc pencil florals. I have had trouble deciding what I would do next for graphite. I finished another floral tonight. The first I have done with a blue background. Until this one, all my backgrounds have been green.

I need to work on some scavenger hunt items tonight. The end is Feb 5th and I only have 13 things finished. I said I wouldn't allow work to interfer, but it seems to be happening any way. Doesn't help that I have had a cold for the last couple weeks and came home today with stomach problems and the last couple days at work have been like a tornado. One client after another. It feels like I hold my breath when dealing with them. I feel winded after.

In the Mail

Today in the mail I received 3 ATCs. Beautiful ones. All paintings. Can you imagine painting on paper the size of baseball cards? Here is one of the cards that I sent out for the trades. The title of this one is "I Am King".

ATCs

Art Trading Cards. I have 26 to do. 2.5 x 3.5 size. I have 10 in the mail as of next Monday. Two have been received so I can post them here now. I am having a wonderful time with these. And they are going to several different countries.

I haven't received any of mine yet. One person pm'd me saying it was on the way. I saw one today from Flamingo to Rose that was beautiful. Had oranges and purples.

I participated in the ww sketchcrawl today. The subject was "at home". I did 4 pages of my Moleskine front and back. Nothing spectacular. Just ordinary things. I did put together a small still life of things around the house and did a sketch and colored it. And I sketched my bird. She is the only one around here who will stand still long enough for a sketch. Hubby said no way could I sketch him and the dogs just do not cooperate at all. Even when asleep, they constantly move. Or when I decided to sit nearby, they get up and want to play.

Bad day

I had a bad day yesterday. Had a shopper at work testing whether I knew my stuff. I didn't pass. The question was one we had not trained on. Blew my whole day. Then today I woke up with a cold. I felt lousy. I stayed from 10-3 but felt bad the whole time. We are starting into our peak season and being ill is not a good thing. I am hoping tomorrow they won't need me to stay all day. I start at 9. Get off at 5 with an hour for lunch.

Here is a sketch I did of my sad little rubbertree plant. It was very beautiful when I had it at my last job. When I brought it home, it just got worse and worse. I guess I took more time to nurture it at work...kept me from actually doing work when I did. Plus my desk was next to a window. I had the window sill full of cuttings and plants. I am down to two left. Even all the cuttings have died off. I am bad. At home I have lots more to keep me occupied.

Scavenger Hunt finished

I finished the scavenger hunt early this time. Once I got the sketch done, I couldn't stop working on putting the color on. Now I am working on the 25 ATCs that I need to do. I have 2 finished and one will be mailed tomorrow. I haven't decided if I am happy with the second one yet. I may decided to do it over.

Then there is the weekly challenge. You shoud see the reference photo. WOW. And Jolanta was the first to post so all will pale compared to hers. Hers looked just like the ref.

Scavenger Hunt 26 challenge

For this week's scavenger hunt, JamieG challenge us big time. We can do the items as usual one at a time or in small setups. But as a challenge, we are to set up a still life in a cabinet or on a shelf all the items. Post a photo of the setup. Then work on the items and post them as we finish them and number them at that time.

I stewed back and forth. As the items have to be in the same position for a week, I didn't know if I had any where in the house to accomodate the set up. I finally emptied all the stuff off the upper top of my desk. There is a shelf there that was completely full with computer speakers, knick knacks, answering machine, clock, etc, etc, etc. I dumped all in a box for the week. Now my setup is there.

Jamie had a wall shelf with 3 shelves and her setup looks wonderful. Several others are doing the challenge using various shelving.

I took a face on picture and one from the view I have sitting at my desk. That is the one I will have to work from as I don't want to stand the whole time.

I posted the sketch last this morning. Then I worked on the items on the left side. I completed 10 items this afternoon. I can't seem to leave it alone and I need to be doing laundry, etc to get ready for work tomorrow. And it means I will have this one finished in no time. I am doing it in color with colored pencils.

I also signed up for the Old Masters Project. That one is for a year. That one will be a big challenge for me as I know absolutely nothing about art history, masters, etc. I picked a couple and have been practicing sketching them before I officially show what I will do. One has a person in it that I really like and the other is a more free formed landscape of what I think is a village. So far the portrait one is a bust. And all those houses....may have to search again. Why couldn't I have found one with a huge dog? The only dogs I remember seeing in older art are the skinny afghan/greyhound dogs, those black and white spaniels, or corgis. Not sure I want to do one of those.

And as if I don't have enough to do, I singed up for the ACT Project. I will be drawing 25 pictures 2.5x3.5 size (one a week) and mailing one of them to each of the 25 participants. Several countries are involved, and I really like that. Can't wait to see mine and have my art worldwide.

Anyway this will be keeping me very busy along with all the other drawings I do every week for the WC forum and now taxes to do. I guess housework just keeps getting pushed to the background. I hope I can still find my way thru the clutter by the time I finish all my endeavors.

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3, NLT

All work and no play

Work is interfering with my "me" time. Not a good thing. I did a few scavenger hunt items tonight. A couple days ago I finished the weekly challenge...strawberry shortcake. WDE is finished. A picture of Dozer, a golden retriever. Tomorrow another 16 pictures to choose from.

Look at me.

Here is the gibbon I did for the WC colored pencil forum for the monthly challenge. I thought the photo reference was adorable.

EArly this morning I had a hair appt. Feels good to have my age once again concealed under the hair dye. I am not really hung up on age but don't much like the grey hair. Sometimes I wish I had never started to dye it. It would have been easier to get used to it slowly. But I caved in to office vanity while working with young girls half my age. I have threatened to stop the dye appts but my hairdresser has a fit. But it would save a lot of money and a lot of time better spent somewhere else.

I shopped for groceries today after the hair appt. About halfway thru, my knee gave out on me. Thankfully I was pushing a shopping cart. I limped painfully thru the rest of the store. Hubby was at home to help with the unloading but disappeared when it came to putting everything away. But he has worked so many hours lately, and he has health problems, so is just exhausted. He spent the day in his easy chair watching football.

I spent a good part of the day napping after my errands. I was cold and still in pain. Took a pain pill and curled up on the couch with the dog. She keeps me warm. Downfall to that, football noises from the tv running thru my head while I tried to sleep.

It is suppoes to me about 20 degrees F. in the morning. Very unusual for Bakersfield. We have had quite a lot of cold weather here this year. What I call "snow cold". It's no wonder why I can't seem to get warm. Brrrrr.

Toucan (fruit loop bird)

I did a drawing for the Drawspace.com weekly challenge. I had not participated much in that forum, but I will try to start doing that. I had fun with the colors on the toucan.

I only worked 3 hrs today but peak season is coming up soon and those days for about 2 weeks will be stressful. Starting next week I will be going in every day.

I am almost finished with the scavenger hunt. I think it is only for another day. Then a new list. I have three items left and will combine them into a still life. Blanket, pillow, and house slippers.

In Bakersfield it has only snowed 4 times in my lifetime. Well it is predicted for this Friday. Quite funny that it is coming so soon after the last one. Just about 5 years or so. That one lasted overnight. The snow I mean. I wonder how long this one will be. It has been cold here for some time. We still have some sun that peaks out most days. But the weather seems colder this year. I am having a hard time staying warm.

Weekly Challenges at WC

I finished two of the Weekly Challenges at WC this weekend. One was the bottom of a liquor decanter (crystal) for the Weekly Challenge. The other was a lighthouse scene for the WDE. I still have to do some items for the scavenger hunt this evening.

It has been nice being offwork today. But I spent quite a lot of time sleeping today. I guess catching up from all those late night visits to the WetCanvas site. They are addictive. Also when my puppy Penny gets a little rowdy, we go to bed for a little calming down and a snooze.

End of the Week

I worked a few hours today. Then came home to browse thru the WC site. Played with the dogs a little then took a nap. Now dinner is over for me, the dogs are fed, and I am back on the computer.

I have looked thru the blogs that I do regularly and browsed some that I haven't been to for awhile. Some of them have news, some seem not to have been posting much lately.

I have found on WC that many come and many go, but thankfully some stay. I get to know them, then they just seem to disappear. If they come back, I think to myself "I really missed them". I think maybe life gets in the way. Some people lose their focus; others find new roads to travel. I feel bad for the ones who lose their way, and feel elated for the ones to find new roads.

I hope eventually to find my new road but hope in the process that I still remember the ones who helped me along the way enough to stay and help the next ones to come along.

Here is a drawing I did awhile back.

Can you smell the garlic?

The Weekly Sketch challenge this week had a reference picture of a head of garlic. It didn't look too hard, just a lot of black and white and gray in between. It turned out harder. I think because things were all intermingled. You couldn't always tell where one clove top started and another began. But I think the drawings for the week all turned out very nice. Some had more darks and some didn't, but it didn't seem to make the garlic any less nice.
The scavenger hunt will have a new list tomorrow. I am ready. I have been finished for several days. I continued to make my comments as the host of the list. Now ready for a new challenge list.
"…we who are still alive and remain on earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT