Guild House Start

Today was not very productive for me. I did go visit the local Michael's store. I was looking for some large pieces of watercolor paper for my Guild House drawing. Here is what I have so far.

I did the drawing on Bristol but the angle of the photo caused me to draw it at an angle. I am afraid it will look too weird when it is framed. So I will transfer my drawing to a different paper before I go on and straighten the house.

I also found some Staedtler Watercolor Crayons. One of the ladies in the plein air group uses Karan D'Ache watercolor crayons. But I think this little set of 12 is new. I tried making some bushes and added water with a waterbrush, and they came out fine. I think I will be able to work with them. Much, much better than Oil Pastels. I can't do a thing with those.

I also received my pocket field sketch box of watercolor paints. I tried them and still not good. I am going to have to practice with a brush. The little field kit will be nice to take along if and when I ever learn how to use them.

Scavenger Hunt #43

I am the host of the latest scavenger hunt. It's the 43rd one. Wow. Can't believe it has lasted this long, but I sure am grateful it has. so much easier to make myself draw each day. As usual I made my list as odd as I could. I like to put many things in that would not be normal. I like people to have to think about what they will draw for each item. Also I like items on the list that can be interpreted in different ways by each person. I like seeing the varied sketches and most of the time the little stories that go with them.

I spent some time today trying to list categories I will need files for when I get my file cabinet. Files and then sub folders. It will be nice finally getting all the files sorted. I have them here and there right now.

We did have 2 old, large, 4-drawer file cabinets in the office here at home. They were way too big for this room. I took the stuff from them and just dumped it all in boxes. I still have to sort thru those. I have a box with files in it and the file drawer from my last desk that is still full. Hopefully I will have everything lined and can start to label so they will be all ready to file away when I get the lateral files.

Plein Air Outing

Well the outing didn't happen today. I had everything ready, lunch in a cold pack, and arrived about a quarter to 9. I waited and waited and watched many people arrive at the museum but no one from my group.

About 9:25 I decided to take a walk thru the grounds and see if anyone was in back working. Nice lovely walk thru the beautiful flowers blooming and some sculpture in the garden. There was also a nice gazebo, but I didn't walk that far. I did capture a photo of a pair of ducks who were wandering around by a small pond. They were asleep when I got there but quickly roused when they heard me.

By the time I got back to my car, my leg had had enough walking. I could have taken my sketchpad and pencil back but didn't have the stamina to make it again. Instead I just came home and worked on my picture for Armin's class. Here are two versions of the picture. I haven't decided if I like the map outline on the picture or not.

No specific plans for tomorrow except more drawing.

Weekly Challenge

I decided to get busy with the Weekly WC Challenge tonight and get it finished before the last minute. I did a crop on it and was satisfied with what I did. I would love to have a soft touch like Jeanette but we each have to be true to our own style. I will have to admire hers from afar.

Tomorrow is our plain air outing. We will be going to the Bakersfield Museum of Art. We will be sketching and painting on the grounds. It is adjacent to Central Park so there are lots of shady trees.

I haven't really been to the museum so don't know what is there to draw. The ladies seemed anxious to go there so there must be lots to see.

Hubby is out of town this week working so I don't have any commitments pulling me in different directions this week. So hopefully I will have time to work on several things. One is my drawing for Armin's class. I did some shading on my husbands portrait but didn't get very far. And I still haven't figured out what to do about the truck.

I also still have to plan and do a painting of the Guild House. I have a couple months but that will pass quickly. So I had better not procrastinate. So much to do and so little time. At least so little time used wisely.

Keene Ranch

More photos from the ranch we visited.

Old Masters Project

I finished my Old Masters Project. I had lost my original drawing. Tore the house apart looking for it with no luck. Finally had to make a copy on some drawing paper and finished that one. Now I will probably find the drawing. But I was driving myself crazy looking for it. Now I can forget it.

Plein air outing

Today was my day for art with the plein air group. We went to an old house that has been turned into a restaurant. It is run all by volunteers. They have a different menu for each day and serve only lunch. We were invited to use the grounds for our art and eventually the artwork will be shown inside. With an auction/fundraiser later in the year.

The Guild House Restaurant (http://www.bakersfieldguildhouse.com/) provided us with a "mini" lunch of soup, muffin, and iced tea. Monthly menus (http://www.bakersfieldguildhouse.com/calendar.asp/csasp/DepartmentID.343/cs/SectionID.731/csasp.html) It was really good. And the smells while we were outside were fabulous. Lots of shade trees and a nice refreshing breeze. Many of the lovely ladies having lunch there stopped to look at the artwork. In fact I saw one of my teachers from high school. She taught English Literature. Nice to see her again.

I did two sketches. One of the front of the house which was a perspective nightmare and the second was the brick flowerbed along the walkway.

Mom's Sunflower

Here is a drawing from one of the sunflower photos I took at my mom's house. It was so pretty standing tall against the blue sky. It may be many years before I get drawings from all the photos I have taken this last month. But it is so nice having so many photo references.

It was hot today. I stayed inside most of the day. We did have to go buy dog food, so while there we also got a new cage for Bozo. I have a bite on my thumb for my efforts catching her to put in the new cage. She is now there and getting used to it.

Tomorrow I have nothing planned. I need to do some housework before the outing on Wed.

A Day of Rest

I finally did the drawing for the Weekly Challenge this week. I had not participated for several weeks. Feels good to get one done.

I visited my parents today. They had several more new blooms to photograph. I got a beautiful photo of a large sunflower and a large very pretty bloom on a cactus. The cactus has several more buds but the blooms only last one day. I ended up taking about 55 photos of just different things.

The weather was in the 80s today. My nephew picked a hot one to put in a new lawn for his grandparents. When I got there he was hard at work raking out the roots and debris. When I left he had spread the mulch and the seed and was watering. He has been really working hard trying to make a nice yard for them.

In a Slump or just lazy

I haven't been accomplishing anything lately. Pretty much since I started going on the plein air outings. I usually do several sketches and I have finished one watercolor pencil painting that I was pleased with. But other than that, I have been slacking with all the regular forums at WC that I usually participate in.

I have so much I want to do but nothing seems to get done. I have a lot of new photos from my outings. But....

Here are some photos I took at the ranch we visited on Wednesday and the sketch I did that day.

ATCs

I was playing around with some new art cards today. I did three. One was from a ceramic owl I borrowed from my mom. I have another one with two owls. I will do that one also. I didn't follow it exactly. Just did my own thing with it.

The two cards with trees are from a lesson I found online. I added color this morning and really like the look I got.

Tomorrow is plein air day. Keene Ranch. It is a private ranch and we had to get permission to go there. We will meet with the guide at 9am and she will lead us to the site where we will do our art. From what I understand there are barns and buildings there. Later there is a possibility that we will be shown some other sites. As usual I will get many pictures. I am not limited to 34 shots now as I got my new card. Now I can get 154. Still not as many as the newer ones, but lots more than 34.

Looking forward to the outing. The time always flies. And I am getting to know these very nice ladies more each time. There was no problem fitting in.

I am at a standstill with my hubby's portrait. I can't seem to get past the perspective thing. I may have to put it aside and not finish. I'll think about it for awhile.

I'm anxious to see if there will be another art card trade project. Rose said she would be unable to host one. The last one won't be over till the end of the year. I think the 2nd is over in June or July. There are still a few people I would like to make a trade with, even if not thru a project. I admire their art so much. I just know they are so busy already that I haven't approached them about a trade. I have made couple or so side trades with some of the ones in the first project which I wasn't a part of. Also I had a request by an English artist and we made a trade. She does very nice artwork. I haven't had any contact with her lately so will have to make another visit to her site.

I ran errands about noon. Picked up pills, new knobs for the shower, milk, and then came home. Had lunch and that's about all I have gotten done. Almost took a nap but then the day would be gone. Dinner is leftover from last night. A roasted chicken I picked up at Costco.

Well time to do some art instead of writing or reading about it.

My Birthday

Today I wrote my usual yearly birthday poem. It usually pokes fun at how things are going in my life. I also wrote a spiritual one which is something I have been letting sit on the back burner for quite some time.

I tried to post my poem on the Crossway Publications site (I have other poems there), but it has been so long since I visited the site, I can't remember my username or password. I have been looking in my "book of everything computer" and no luck yet. So for now, the poem with just be posted here.
Nothing exciting today. I shopped, came home and took a long nap. Knee was complaining when I woke, and hubby showed up from work shortly after. He brought home a cake for me. So I had my chocolate fix for today.
Later this evening my nephew came by. He brought a large slice of cake that he got from my mom's house. Also brought me a very thoughtful card that pretty much sums up our relationship (friend, aunt, and extra mom). He brought me a gift card from Officemax. Does he know me or what? I love office supply stores. I can spend hours in one.

When he was younger, I took him with me and he loved them too. A lot of his gifts were office supplies. He got them over and over again. He probably could have started his own store at a young age. I think he has outgrown that now. He now is very focused on his job and making advancements in that. He doesn't want to just exist. He wants to prosper and have a rewarding career. He will turn 21 next month and is such a good , nice, capable, dependable, and sweet young man.

Here are my poems:

May 21, 2007

Here it is that dreaded day
My yearly bane, it’s my birthday

I look back with smarter eyes
I’m wizer now, I realize

Seems only yesterday I entered 50
But now sliding forward into 60

Getting older I should not mind
Even tho age can be unkind

The wrinkles come and health says bye
The pounds pile on I don’t know why

The foods I eat, the cokes I drink
The taste so good, the calories stink

There’ll be a time when life is cruel
When I may forget and I may drool

But until then, I’ll do my best
Before I take my final rest

Jeanne Grant

Our Gift

God is my comforter, of that I’m sure
He gave His son who was so pure
To take the burden of all our sins
So our new life we can begin

He suffered pain for you and me
His pain displayed for all to see
Our needs put first and His were last
His death was sealed our future cast

Upon that cross our lives were saved
Our past behind, our future paved
The greatest gift for us to take
A gift we all should not forsake

Jeanne Grant 5-21-07

The day Before

Tomorrow is my birthday. I usually write a funny poem about my birthday. I haven't been writing any poetry lately so we'll see what develops.

I worked off and on most of the day drawing my husband's diesel truck that he drives. It is for the WC class being taught by Armin. I will be doing a portrait of my husband as he is now. Tired, worn out, in ill health, and dreading each day he has to climb in the truck.

When he was young and chose his career, he was so happy and excited to become a truck driver. His dad, grandfather and brother were truck drivers as were my dad and brother. His dad didn't want him to drive. He knew what it could do to your body riding in that truck so much and working long hours. What he once loved to do and fought to be able to do it, he now hates and wishes he had chosen another path.

Above is the drawing I did of the truck. I still have to transfer it to the good paper with his portrait and then the work begins.

Yesterday I also participated in a photography project "A Day In My Life...May 19, 2007. I was home all day but managed to get 16 photos of things I didn't do and things I did do. It was fun.

Tomorrow I will go to Costco and get two new tires put on my car. If I am going to be taking my car on these plein air outings, I need to replace them. Then all 4 tires will be new.

Friday 12:15 a.m.

It's after midnight. I am still on the computer. Still watching tv. Still looking instead of drawing. Here is aother item for the scavenger hunt that I did at my outing yesterday.

Plein Air Day

I really enjoyed the outing today. Great fun in a nice cool garden. A comical cat from next door moving around like she owned the place. and some good food.

I worked from the front patio after taking about 34 photos. She had several flowering plants. Lillies, double geraniums, a lot of succulent plants, many bird feeders, a nice fish pond with Boston Ferns behind it, and a banana tree plant. It was such a peaceful day sitiing at her patio table sketching and listening to the birds.

As we sat at the table to eat, I noticed a squirrel come under the fence and stand there poised listening for trouble. Of course for that one my camera was full.

I sketched several of the plants and trees, the cat (she got up just as I was finishing), one lily, and two items for the scavenger hunt. I used the cat for the same thing. I needed an ear and of course the cat had one.

One lady moved on down the road a ways, but most stayed either on the front or the back patio.

Here is the banana tree plant I did during the outing.

Plein air outing tomorrow

Tomorrow is the weekly outing with the plein air group. I found a new and cheap chair that is very light weight. Hubby had a fold-up table of the same light material that he wasn't using in his camping gear. And I pared my supplies way down so I can carry them easier. Both the chair and table have carriers with slings. Will have to carry a small ice chest also with potluck stuff. But we will be at a private house in the garden. Hopefully I won't have to walk far from the parking area.

I found out from a lady in the group that she takes a watercolor class. I don't know why, her stuff is beautiful. She asked her teacher if he will take a beginner. He said yes. So in the fall, I will be taking a watercolor class. I hope it doesn't interfere with my Bible study class or my tax classes. I really want to take the watercolor class. I have tried to learn on my own, but it just has not happened.

Hopefully some structured time in a class will help.

My latest scavenger hunt item.

Tagged

I have been tagged by Marie-Dom. I met her thru the Wetcanvas site in the Scavenger Hunt forum. I have become a fan of hers and check her blogsite regularly. She does beautiful colorful art work but she is too shy to sketch in public. She's also a French teacher which is my favorite language and yearn to speak it with fluency. But my high school French is much too sparse.

I have to list 7 things about myself, unusual, or a habit or things that people don't know and also tag seven others, by posting to their blogs and pointing them back to my blog. Those of you that I tag, I hope you will enjoy this experience.

1. Most people don't know that I have a hair-pulling condition called trichotillomania. I have had it since the 1970s, and it started when I stopped biting my nails.

2. I didn't date until I was almost 18. I dated a friend for 1 month, then met the man I married (32 yrs married now)

3. My paternal grandmother dipped snuff (and my dad still does). Gross and nasty habit.

4. I was never kissed by a boy until I was 17 yrs old.

5. I learned how to butcher a deer when I lived in Oregon. I don't like meat much and it was a disgusting experience. While I was still cutting it, they started cooking part of it.

6. I learned how to write shorthand in high school.

7. I love home cooked pinto beans with cornbread and fried potatoes.

Here are the ones I am tagging (several I wanted to tag, don't have blogs):

1. JoanT

2. IrishRose

3. Phoebecat

4. Polygon

Uneventful

Today was an uneventful day. Hubby didn't have to work this weekend even tho he was on call. We did make it to church. We have been missing way too many Sundays.
He had to go to work this evening and work all night. Not fun for him at his age. It's hard for his body to adjust to changes like that. Now tomorrow when he gets in, he will have a hard time sleeping. Sometimes the noise from neighbors keep him up and sometimes the dogs won't leave him alone as they missed him. Just like kids, try keeping them quiet when someone wants to sleep.
I plan to go find a new camera card with more memory. Taking pictures at the plein air outings, I want to take as many pictures as I want. Right now I am limited to about 34. If I make a couple mistakes, I don't know how to erase just one or two. I should learn how to do that. But the last time I tried at an outing, I lost all my photos. I did have a card that held 254 but when I used one of those attachments to download, it deleted my whole card and I didn't have my receipt. I even had my computer repair person try to fix it and nothing.
I also need to get some bigger good paper for Armin's class. It is supposed to be no smaller than 14x18 and the only paper I have that size is sketchpad paper. I also need a smaller drawing board to take on the outings with me. The one I have is way too large.

ATCs

More pictures taken at the plein air outing.

Today I got ready a couple ATCs that I need to get into the mail. One was a bonus card for someone in the exchange. Her daughter goes for surgery on the 22nd and the card is for her to help cheer her up. The second was one I did for WDE when Valri hosted. I did her dog Mat. I plan to send it to her since it is her dog. The third is a lion face for a friend from work. She requested a lion.

Today I fought my way thru Walmart Store. Everyone there shopping for Mother's Day. Hubby went there a couple hours later and he had a very long wait. I picked up a couple more sketchpads and several more packages of plastic inserts for trading card storage.

We have two motorcycles sitting in our garage and a motorcycle trailer. The bikes get ridden only a few times a year. But...hubby was looking at motorcycles at a grand opening at his favorite cycle chop. And later tonight he ran me off the computer to sit and "play" at the site for the same motorcycle. A new one coming out. He was able to listen to the motorcycle run, spin it around like it was on a lazy susan, and check out the colors.

Just what we need. Something new to sit around with the two motorcycles, motorcycle trailer, and camp trailer costing money for a couple trips of pleasure. I won't even mention the banjo taking up space in the closet that he can't play but wishes he could. Boys and their toys.

Ranch Photo

Here is a photo I took at the ranch during the plein air outing.

Errand Day

I ran some errands today, then picked up some supplies I ordered with the plein air group. Now home and on the computer.

I got an email about the next two outings. Next week will be another private home, and the following one will be to another ranch. I've lived here all my life and it looks like in this month alone I will see more of the countryside than I have in a year. The last one of the month (30th) I will have to miss. I was unable to change my hair appt.

Here is the last of my scavenger hunt items for this hunt. I didn't finish this one but did get a lot of them done. And there is a dog for me to do on the WDE this week hosted by Phoebecat.

Rankin Ranch Outing

Today was my second outing with the plein air group. I drove and it was a curvy road. Not as curvy as the other road but curvy enough. We had a couple wrong turns but eventually got to our destination about 10:30. We took awhile to set up and just as we were ready to start, someone pulled up and said some cattle would soon be coming thru and we should go inside the fence so we wouldn't spook the cattle.

Well who could have predicted a better photo moment. The cow dogs kept them pretty much grouped together. I think one of the cameras rewinding noise caused them to start running. but only one got out of line and took the wrong road.

We painted until about 1:00 pm, then had lunch. After lunch, we had our little critique and then started home. I was home about 3:30 pm. One stop on the way home to the car wash at the local gas station then home for a nap. The dogs didn't let me sleep long and kept bugging me as it was their dinner time. Two dogs ganging up on me makes for difficulty sleeping.

Above is the picture I did at the outing. I didn't finish it there. Came home and added some dry colored pencil to add my darks, then added some pen and ink. Most of the ladies (there were 6 of us) were painting the barns. The other two were doing trees. There were two grey tree squirrels playing tag and they were so silvery looking. I tried to get a photo but by the time I got my camera ready, they had moved on.

Scavenger Hunt #39

I set up another still life with some of the scavenger hunt items. I may do at least one more group in a still life. Still 4 days left of this one. I have 17 items finished. I should be able to finish this one. I have all the items for it. I haven't done either of the challenges. One is to do a scene or person from memory from the day before. I went to the dog groomer so may try that. Should look really "not" cute.

Tomorrow is the next outing with the plein air group. Haven't heard a thing about any instructions. I don't even know if they are still going. I wish they would let me know. Time is getting short. I sent an email to the lady in charge this morning and haven't heard anything back.

When tax season ended, I gave each of the coworkers I had worked closely with an art card. One lady wanted a lion so I am working on one for her now. I will mail hers. I have one done and plan to do one other and let her choose.

Project finished

I sent off my last 7 art cards today. The cards are off to new homes. We had until the end of the year to finish the project. The last one I did, I finished in two months. This one I tried to take my time. But I decided to finish it off. Just in time before the postage rates are higher.
I have been looking for my Old Masters Project. I changed my desk and packed some things in boxes. Now I can find the drawing I was doing. I know it is here somewhere but where? I have looked and looked and tried to figure out in my mind where it might be. No luck so far. I may have to make a copy and finish the drawing from that. Not my favorite option but better than starting over.
I ran errands today. Came home and had a long nap. Now here I am at 2:30 am and still awake. I have a veterinary appt at 10 so hopefully I will be able to rouse myself in time for that.
Wednesday is the Plein Air outing. It will be my second. Looking forward to it. I even bought a hat to keep the sun off my face. Supposed to be really hot. I hope there are some trees to sit under.
Well time for bed. The dog has already come for me. She goes to bed with her Papa and sleeps for awhile. Then she starts coming in to the office/studio every so often. Then back to bed. About 2-3 am she will get really pesty and won't leave me alone until I go to bed. As soon as I lie down, she goes to sleep and doesn't rouse the rest of the night. She wants all her chicks in the same place so she doesn't have to worry. When we are all in the same spot, she can relax and sleep. I think she worries if I am up that I will either go somewhere without her or eat something she won't get a piece of. The dog dearly loves to eat.

Purple Grapes

A friend told me she would like to have a picture of some purple grapes for her kitchen. I looked at a lot of pictures of purple grapes on the internet and didn't see anything that appealed to me. Finally I combined ideas from several different pictures to make the one I wanted.

When I first started painting, it was tole painting. I did a lot of mushrooms and fruit. Then I graduated to barns, ducks, and all the other things that one tends to paint when first starting. Now I pretty much stay away from a lot of that stuff. I really did so many, I burned out on them.

But I actually like the grape picture. I didn't know if I would enjoy the process, but it was fun taking different elements and putting them together into one picture.

New Class May 7

A new class is starting May 7 in the Drawing and Sketching Forum at WetCanvas. Being taught by Armin. Here is his website: http://arminmersmann.artroof.com/. Wonderful artist. I will be looking forward to the start. I notice many of the Art Card exchange artists are joining in.

I have been slacking in the Scavenger hunt. Seems I didn't get anything done until tonight. During other hunts, I would have been half done by now. I will have to make up for lost time as I didn't do nearly enough on the last one. Sorry to Azulparsnip who hosted.

The Art Association I joined is having a workshop on May 19. That is a few days before my birthday. I think I may take the workshop. Being taught by Deanna Nelson. We will be working on 4" squares. Making her version of art cards. She said the attendees will be working with paint, pencil, computers, and collage. She thought we might want to exchange with others that day. Any way it will be fun to learn something new.

Mixed seasons.

At the plein air outing last week, the hostess' cat Gypsy had a catnap in the catnip.

Well the day started out warm and pretty hot. I did some errands and made it home around 4 pm. A little while later the wind started blowing very hard and the skies became overcast. No rain so far but the wind is still fierce.

This year the weather has been really crazy. You can't really tell what time of year it is. Just when you think it is spring or summer, the weather takes a turn back toward winter. Makes for a hard decision on selecting clothes for the day.

Some people would be surprised at Bakersfield "costumes". You will see people in sweaters at the oddest times and shorts with sweatshirts even during the winter.

Inside offices the men wear suits and keep the air conditioning going full blast while the women in dresses or shirts and pants have sweaters on to keep warm.

When I worked at a bank, I would forget to take my sweater off when I left the office for lunch. Tell me how weird I looked with a sweater on when I walked out into 108 degree F. Then I would forget to bring back my sweater, and I would freeze the rest of the day. But being Bakersfield born and raised, it is the way I am used to, and a 4-year stay in Oregon made it clear that I don't want it any other way.

Annual BBQ

Friends of ours live in the mountains and have an annual barbecue. Lots of people, food, music, food, talking, food. You get the idea. Several of the attendees play musical instruments. This year there were mostly guitars and a steel guitar. Some years we get a banjo, fiddle, keyboard, or others. This year only about half the people were able to make it.

There are about 12-15 camping rigs of one kind or another. All camped out around on the property. It is on a cattle ranch and my friends live on the ranch and work for the owner. I have made many new friends and only get to see them at these 3-day campout barbecues.

We don't go and camp out. It is only about 30 minutes from our home. We just drive up for Sat and spend the whole day there. Others who are camping out, arrive on Friday and have an enchilada dinner that night. Sunday morning they all get up and have a joint breakfast. I have never gone back for that. All day Sat is about as much fun as I can handle in one weekend.

On Saturday, the music starts fairly early. They all have breakfast in their campers or motor homes, or there are usually donuts and stuff in the house. About noon out come the dips, chips, salami, cheese, vegetables, cut up fruit, crackers, and more. That gets munched on for a couple hours.

Then they start the huge outdoor grill. I think they cooked about a hundred pounds of tri-tip steak. I am not a meat eater so that sight doesn't really do much for me. Now when the table gets filled with salads, beans, watermelon, potato salad, coleslaw, and who knows what else, well that is when I get excited. The hosts provide chili beans, garlic bread, and the meat. Each family brings a salad or main dish and a dessert. You would not believe how many different desserts are there.

Usually after everyone is stuffed to being sick, there is more music, but this time several of the musicians were leaving. It ended up being an early night. We got there about noon and got home about 10pm to 3 very hungry dogs who were anxious to make a stop on the grass. They were all locked inside the house all day. They had slept all day and were ready for some play.

I am glad this only happens once a year. What with Christmas and Thanksgiving and this BBQ, I may be three times my size in a few years.

When I was on the plein air trip Wednesday, above are some of the photos I took. Click on the pictures for a larger view. WetCanvas members have my permission to use these flower photos.

2nd sketch en plein air

Here is another page of sketches I did at the plein air outing yesterday. this was my first page. First I worked on the skull, but I couldn't see the skull too well. I was too far away to see the details of the horns. I then worked on the topiary tree in graphite. Then came the vine that was on the overhead wooden arbor (?) and then the fountain. I couldn't get the fountain just right and couldn't see the little ceramic frog that was in the water with the rock. So I left him out.

I then decided to add some colored pencil to the topiary and the vine as we were going to be critiqued and all the others had done paintings.

One thing I wish I had done was go around more and see how everyone worked. I couldn't really see very many of the ladies but I could hear snippets of advice. Next time I will have to get closer to the other artists. That means I need to get a hat before the next outing. It will surely be hot by then.

En Plein Air

I joined my plein air group for my first outing today. It was great fun. I met about 12-15 new people. Quite a large turnout as one brought some family members who were in town for a visit. Luckily they all were painters.

We visited a home with a wonderful garden. Flower lovers would have been so envious. Varieties of poppies, roses, Bird of paradise, and so many others. All in full bloom. Also little areas all over the yard had little groupings that made wonderful "targets". Most of the ladies were doing watercolor. Most of those were doing the huge, beautiful poppies. We were able to take as many photos as we wanted, and use any of the areas for drawing/painting.

Since I work in graphite, my choice was in the shade (weather was 80 degrees F) and I had that area pretty much to myself. Altho I liked the colorful flowers, you don't need color for graphite. This is a yearly visit for this group, and I hope by the next trip I will be doing some form of painting. Either acrylic or watercolor. That is my goal. But if not, I still love graphite.

The next trip is to mountain area where there are old buildings. I won't make that one. But the one in two weeks is a cattle ranch that has an actual dude ranch for visitors. Should be fun.

Mary's White Rose

I "borrowed" some roses from the neighbor across the street. She has scads of them. Especially the white ones. I got a couple smaller orangey ones too. It gives me an endless supply of flowers to draw. And they are on the front fence and within easy access. And the neighbor doesn't mind.

The neighbor next to them has some kind of plant that blooms the most beautiful purple blooms. I am watching anxiously for those to bloom. Hopefully they won't mind a loan of one.

Bought a few more drawing props Saturday. I found the cutest little set of about 10 ceramic animals. I bought one of each species that they had. Lucky for me they were at the dollar store. I still haven't found anywhere to display them. Hubby promised to build me a shelf that I can use to set up still life displays. Of course who knows when that will happen. We are in process of changing the furniture in my office/studio, so nothing is in order. In fact it is piled high with stuff all over the floor. Will be nice when all is in order again.

Very productive day

I had a productive day today. I joined the Photo Scavenger Hunt at WC and posted 15 of the items. I took the pictures here in the house. It was fun trying to find things to snap that fit the different categories.

I have been wanting to go to the local mall gallery. It is an Art Association. I wanted to check into joining.

Well today I browsed their website and found they have a plein air group. I talked to the lady who keeps it organized, and I hope to join them next Wednesday. The journey will be at a private home with beautiful gardens. I will go tomorrow and join the organization. It will be nice to be a part of the art community and to have a group to share some art time.

The weekend of the 28th, I will be at a 3-day weekend barbecue. It is an annual get together on a cattle ranch in the mountains. There will be motorhomes, campers, tents (15-20 of them) camping on the property. Musicians, good food, lots of people, more food, and many dogs. I usually take pictures of all the dogs so I can draw them.

We go on the Saturday. We make a whole day of it. That is the day of the potluck. Everyone brings a salad or chip and dips and a dessert. The hosts provide meat, bread, and a pot of beans. Fun is had by all.

There are many musicians who are very good. They sit in and sit out as they have the urge. It will be a sketching and photo opportunity.

In the past I have only taken pictures, but this year I want to do some life drawings. Especially the musicians. They sit for long periods. I hope to find an out-of-the-way spot but will probably have trouble staying out of the way as most people there know that I draw.

Latest items for the scavenger hunt.

More ATCs

Two of my trades for the ATC Exchange have reached their new owners. Both went to states in the U.S. One to Florida and one to Northern California.

I have sent out about 16 so far. Since we have until the end of the year, I am way ahead of schedule. I am trying to slow down and take a little longer, but I am still putting them out pretty fast.

Now that I am finished with work, I am hoping to try a couple cards in acrylic.

Half A Penny

This is an ATC that I made for the exchange project, but since it is of my sweet Penny, I couldn't part with it. I think this is so Penny.

I addressed 7 envelopes and sent out 7 art cards today for the exchange. I think that is 12 I have done so far. I still have a lot to do. Some of the ones I sent today are ones I had already done. But I looked thru my supply, and found some that I thought would be perfect for certain people.

I still haven't done any new medium. I thought about trying some in acrylic paint. I still may. Just have to get thru the last two days of tax season. Then maybe I will have time to experiement.

The two mediums I do now are totally opposite but with the same general tool. A pencil. One has color, the other has none. It gives me room to play with color when I feel in the mood but still do my "comfort zone" graphite.

Scavenger Hunt #36

I did 6 more items for the scavenger hunt tonight. Only 13 more to go. Half done and still 5 days to go. I also did another ATC, and it will go out in the mail as soon as I spray it. It will be going to Petaluma, CA. That will be 5 done and 25 left to go.

ATC Exchange Project

Two more of my art cards have been received by their new owners. Both of them went to Australia. The one sent to Bigs/Sue is a drawing of her two Daschunds. The one to Bluefrog is a fish I did from a prop I bought. A fish figurine. I like the way it turned out. A little bit of a different look for me.

I did another tonight of some poppies. I liked what I had done except it looked too bare. I tried to add some foliage and now I don't like it. It will probably be sent in a packet with some of my ATC Stinkies. We share them with others who signed up ro receive them. When they get them, they are allowed to rework them, or cut them up for collages, or whatever. It gets rid of unwanted ones, and so far most of the people who receive them think they are great. They keep them with all their others. I have received one or two packets (3 to a packet) and loved them all. I'm keeping them as is.

I have managed to do a few extra trades. One with a lady from England, one from Valri, and now I will trade with Nonny Kor. This one will be a challenge. It can be ATC size, or up to 5x7. We each chose 3 colors, and the other person has to use those 3 colors to do our picture. I still haven't decided how I will do mine. The colors I will be working with are purple, orange, and lime green. She will be using purple, blue, and red. Should be interesting.

Two more days of work. I'm off until Monday. Then those two days will be busy. Last minute walkins mostly.

Tomorrow I think I will go shopping. I want to visit Walmart and get some more of the hard plastic badge holders I found. They are perfect for mailing the ATC cards in. And they are really nice for hanging mine for display. Besides it is time to browse the Michaels store. I need my fix. All those supplies.

Tax Season

Tax season is in full swing this last couple weeks. After spending some slow weeks and filling the time with sketching, we are now pretty busy. No more time for sketches. In fact I had a client almost as soon as I clocked in. But only 3 days left since I am off on Thursday and Friday. I think I can hold out that long.

For the 35th Scavenger Hunt that I provided the list, one item was draw half of your face. I decided to do pieces. Here is my half a face (or my newest self-portrait).

Happy Monday

Yesterday was a bad day for me. I wasn't feeling weel most of the day. Today I had my medical procedure and everything was fine. My parents took me and brought me home. On the way home we stopped for food. Good old food. And boy was I hungry. But I was so groggy still that I didn't fully appreciate the food.

I had a breaded chicken sandwich, fries, and a coke. Yum. Then home to a 5-hour nap. Finally felt like my old self after the nap. Glad that the medical procedure is over for a few more years. This one just about did me in. I guess I am just getting too old. Any change and my body protests.

Here is an ATC that I traded on the newest ATC/Postcard exchange. It is the first one to be received during this newest project. This one has 33 participants. That will add 32 more cards for me and everyone else on the project. I received my first one today. It was a postcard of a very cute little puppy in colored pencil.

Doggy "Bad Hair Day"

I finished my WDE drawing tonight. It was hosted by Valri. I decided to do an ATC of her dog Mat. He looks like he was having a very happy vacation. She said he had been in the water. Not a good thing for a dog that requires grooming. He looks like he is having a bad hair day. But a very happy day.