Guest Artist and My Zendoodle

When my little artist arrived I got out the elephant picture and a plain sheet of paper for her and showed it to her. She said, "Do I have to draw the same picture? Do I have to draw an elephant?" Of course I told her no that it was just a project idea. She immediately began her picture. I think you can see some of the elements from my elephant picture, but she wanted to draw a lion instead.

Here is her picture. I think I like it better than my elephant.

And while she was drawing her masterpiece, I worked on my current zendoodle. Here it is. I think it is done:

I am writing this Friday evening as I finish up my packing and I am trying for the first time to have this scheduled to show up on Monday morning, by which time I will be up  north at my Mom's house. It will be interesting to see if it gets posted as scheduled.

I will try to stay in touch and will try to get some art done.

xoxo

Birds and Packing

I am beginning to pack for my trip to my Mom's and am not sure how much or what kind of art supplies I am going to need. I do know that I will be downloading the next lesson in Marilyn's watercolor pencil class while at Mom's and I haven't done this week's lesson yet. I will try to get to that today. So I am thinking I will take doodling materials and watercolor pencils and brushes.

The first thing this morning when I got my coffee and came in to turn on the computer, there was a very loud buzzing noise that was louder than the sound of the computer coming to life. Imagine my surprise to find a ginormous bee flying around my room. Now, I don't know if you are aware of it or not, but one of my totally irrational fears is of stinging insects. So being the brave girl I am, I went out to the living room and asked the hubster to save me. He got a fly swatter and took care of it for me. My hero!!!

I am expecting the daughter to be coming out this morning (probably in a couple of hours) for coffee and hanging out a bit before going to work. Little miss 2 1/2 will be left with me for the day. Her 1st grade sister has an early release day today and the bus will drop her off at my house later. I am going to try to get some art done with her. I think we will attempt the elephant picture. Someone suggested that she trace mine, but she would never be happy with that. Instead, we will both draw from scratch using my drawing from the other day as our model. But we will feel free to make whatever changes we feel like. I try not to constrain her imagination too much.

I think the son and his 1st grade daughter are coming out later in the day (I think she has a full day of school today) for art and a hot dog roast if the weather cooperates. It will be a busy, but very pleasant day.

I do need to get packed this morning as I am planning to leave tomorrow morning so that I can have a good visiting day at my sister's while we get Mom packed up so she and I can leave on Sunday morning. The trip takes about 5 1/2 hours from my sister's house if you don't stop, but we will be stopping frequently to get the kinks out of our legs and to make bathroom stops. I am also planning to stop for a sit down, relaxing lunch on the way, so I am thinking if we leave around 8:30 am we will be to her house around 4:00 pm or so. Once we arrive I am only going to unpack the absolute necessities for the rest of the day and we are going to chill. Perhaps I can make a light soup with crackers for our dinner and we will have an early night.

For now, I have started a little doodle this morning that I hope to work on in between packing and such. Here is what I have so far:

I started with the bird in the lower left corner and then just made some random lines to get started. I'll show the progress I make as I go.

I am not sure how much internet access I will have at my Mom's, but will try to keep in touch. 

xoxo

Dylan ATCs

I have spent the morning working on my Dylan Song Lyric ATCs for a swap through ATCsForAll and I must admit I am having a lot of fun. I thought I had them done until I went back to the swap page to check on the parameters of the swap only to find that the song lyrics had to be included, so I've added them.

At first I was just alluding to the lyrics by photos, drawings and collage. For instance, the train background with a woman laughing and then the definitions from a dictionary of laugh and cry were all I had on the "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry" card, but then added the lyrics.

I rather liked the more ephemeral reference to the songs rather than actually including the lyrics, but rules are rules after all.

I am not sure if they are completely done or if I am totally happy with them or if I will make more, but for now here is what I have:

As usual, I'd appreciate any input you have or any suggestions.

I am quite sad today as I am supposed to be leaving for Artiscape with several friends for three days of arty fun in Columbus, Ohio, but have had to cancel for a family emergency. I have emailed twice now to ask about any kind of refund, but have yet to get an answer. Sure hope my friends have a great time!

I've had my two mugs of coffee and a banana, spent a couple of hours in my art room working playing, and can not put off the treadmill any longer. The only question I have for myself is, "Shall I do 1/2 hour or go for it and do the entire hour?" The blister on my foot is almost healed and I am planning to put some moleskin inside my shoe at the point where the offense occurred to see if that will help.

I hope to see you tomorrow.

xoxo

Playing While I Can

I am trying to spend as much time in the art room as I can these last few days before driving to the "far north" with my Mom. I am also planning to take some supplies with me, but haven't decided which ones or how much yet.

For today, I used a drawing from "Art Projects for Kids" by Kathy Barbro to make a practice drawing so that I can do another with the first grader who is getting off the bus at my house on Friday. She loves to do art and has told me that she prefers it if I have a plan when she gets here.

Here is my little elephant:

I need to come up with a way to make the tusks stand out, though. I don't want to introduce her to masking fluid yet, but maybe we will make a template in the shape of the tusks and use them to keep the area a bit more white.

I am pretty sure her picture will be much more exciting and interesting than mine and I will share it with you if she doesn't mind.

For today, I need to go into town to shop a bit for the trip north and mail off my zendalas to Janet. Oh, freebird, thank you so much for your input. I did add color (black actually) to the one spoke that was left white and I like how it looks. I looked at the first one again and decided that I like it for the flow of it. I see it as some, more, most. I don't know if I am explaining it well, but I like the way it draws my eye across from least to most.

I think I need to go get on the treadmill and then get in the shower, grab a bite and get this ole body moving. So much to do so little time.......

xoxo

Zendalas

I think I have finished the zendalas for the swap. I worked feverishly played all morning to get them done as I thought the deadline was April 15, but I went to double check and I have until April 25 to get them to the leader of the swap.

Here they are:

Can I get an honest opinion? Would you be happy to receive one of these in a swap if you were sending 6 of your own and got one in trade? Is there any one that needs more? needs to be axed and another made to replace it? Be honest! I can take it......

And, just because I couldn't help myself, I made a zendoodle in Photoshop just for fun!

Goodness, I just looked at the clock. It is 2:09 and I haven't done anything except work, work, work, play, play, play in my art room since I got up. Time to make some flavored coffee and work a crossword  puzzle, I think!

Please give me some feedback about the zendalas......

xoxo

A Birthday and More Zendalas WIP

My firstborn child turns 30 today. Where in heavens did the years go? She is now a grown woman with two little women of her own. P is 7 and M is 2 1/2 and I am sure she is already asking where the years have gone. I am taking her and the little one out for lunch today (the 7 year old is back in school after Spring Break). Her father and I bought her a lawnmower (a pretty practical gift, but one she really needs) and he will be tilling her garden and delivering the mower this afternoon.

Meanwhile, I have been working on my zendalas for the exchange I am in. I have done the rough outlines of the last three I need to make and now just need to add color (and in the fish one maybe some bubbles).

I am also working (at least in my head) on the Bob Dylan lyrics themed ATCs for a swap I am in. So hard to narrow it down to just three!

I am not doing the treadmill this morning. I have a huge blister on the inside edge of my left foot below the ankle. I walked an hour yesterday anyway by applying some moleskin with the center cut out and walking in my Teva walking sandals. I experienced no pain at all, but this morning my feet are crying out for relief and so if I walk at all it will be much later in the day and for 30 minutes only (unless I get started and don't want to quit).

The hubster has finished a custom order for a rustic bench and we delivered it yesterday. It was a lovely day for a drive and we listened to the end of the Tiger game on the way. It is a lucky thing I wasn't driving or I might have driven right off the road at the way the game ended. GO TIGERS!!

I've had a huge mug of coffee and will not get in the shower so that I can go to the daughter's house and spend time with her and the little one.

Hope to see you again tomorrow!

xoxo

I'm Back - But Not For Long

Life sure can get complicated. My sister, who lives next door to my Mom, is a sick woman. She seems to suffer from severe depression and has for as long as I can remember. Perhaps because of that and the fact that she smokes, drinks soda, and doesn't watch her diet and is sedentary (if she could she would spend all her time reading or sleeping), she also has physical problems. She thinks doing a load of laundry is a huge chore, hates shopping of any kind, and is usually unpleasant company. She thinks that because my Mom is 85 she should no longer care about taking care of herself, especially when it comes to eating wisely by avoiding sugars and sodium.

At any rate, she has decided she cannot help Mom out any longer. My Mom doesn't require a lot of help. She needs a bit of help showering, preparing meals, cleaning and doing the laundry. She is great company and loves to do crossword puzzles, play cribbage, yahtzee and other games, and has a great memory. This allows for great conversations. She loves it when she can get out of the house (she walks with a cane, but can't stand long). She enjoys second hand stores, grocery shopping, garage sales (if there is somewhere she can sit), eating out and visiting.

I have told my Mom that I will take her home (my sister took her to another sister's house before Easter) and stay with her until another sister gets out of school in early June. I will be able to have periodic internet access (I have to drive into town - about 8 miles) so will try to stay in touch. I am planning to take many art supplies and will try to do some art while I am away. But mostly I am going to enjoy my Mom's company and take her out whenever she wants to go.

Enough about my personal life.....

Here is a picture of the "Tin Can Alley" bots my friends made when we met in Ohio in March. I didn't finish mine yet, but will (probably when I get home from Mom's), but aren't these wonderful?!

And here are the zendalas that I started while visiting my Mom at my sister's house earlier this week.

The butterfly needs some work in the background, but that makes 3 of the 6 done. I am eager to finish this one and start on the rest.

I will post again when I have more to show you.

xoxo

Where Did March Go?

It is April already and I am in a bit of a funk. While I am loving the warmer temps and having windows and sliding doors open, I am unable to get any art done. I think my muse is playing on the tire swing in the back yard, or maybe catching frogs in the creek.

We had the family here yesterday for an Easter egg hunt and a mid afternoon meal. It was nice to have them all together.

I am going to my sister's house again today and will stay until Thursday. Then on Friday I think I have all three girls. They are on Spring break this week. I have some deadlines to meet so will take some of my art projects with me and hope to get some of them done or at least roughed out.

One of the projects I am involved in is colored mandalas. I need six of them and only have one done. They are due by the 15th, so they are my first priority. I am also participating in an ATC exchange in which the theme is Bob Dylan lyrics. I couldn't help myself - I had to get in on this one. They aren't due until May 24th so I have a bit of time to decide which lyrics I will choose and how I will sketch the cards to match them.

Meanwhile, I got outside yesterday with the camera and found a few interesting things to take pix of. Here they are:

A custom bench the hubster made for a customer.

A cute pair of boots I found at a second hand store for the little one. She loves them.

Pretty tulip beginnings.

Pretty Spring color in the front garden.

Traditional Easter Lilies on the dining room table. They smell fantastic!

I am not sure I will be posting while at my sister's house, but I will try. I will surely share any art I get done while there.

Until then,

xoxo