Photo of the Day and A Bit of Art

Good morning! I have the day off today - except for the fact that the bathrooms again need a good cleaning, the carpets need to be vacuumed, the kitchen floor needs to be swept, my art room needs a good straighten, and I need to get to the library and the post office - and I still don't have my car back! I think I am just going to ignore this dirty house and do some art.

To begin, here is today's photo. The hubster called me outdoors yesterday afternoon after he and Miss 2 spotted this beauty on the butterfly bush. I ran and got my camera, but he was so skittish, this is the only one of about 6 quick shots that isn't blurry with his movement.

Remember the lovely art and handmade book I showed last week from my friend Sandy? Well, I finally got my exchange in the mail to her, but forgot to take pix first. She sent me a picture with all the goodies in it. Thanks, Sandy!

I had a hard time parting with the technicolor face ATC, but after seeing the really wonderful art she sent me, I felt I had to include the face in her package. The accordion book is printed on a long sheet of archival paper and has pictures of kaleidoscopes I made in Photoshop using my own photos. I had a great time playing and making that book. The covers are made from wallpaper covered book board.

I am currently working on drawing faces using my non-dominant hand. I have one done, but intend to fill a page, so I will wait to share until I have the page completed. I need to sit and work on the Drawing Lab today to get caught up. Plus, it is such a fun activity, that once I get started, I don't want to stop.

Those of you who "know" me are aware that I am in love with faces and birds. Here is my latest bird drawing. I rather like him and am tempted to sketch him on watercolor paper and try my hand at adding a bit of color. If I get to that, I will be sure to share.

For those of you who commented on the lack of the color green on the green heron, I must say this:

The person who got credit for naming birds must have been a bit color blind and perhaps a bit backward in his knowledge of body parts. For example, have you ever seen a purple finch? He is not purple - he is red! What about the red bellied woodpecker? The red he sports is on the top and back of his head - not his belly! And the red-breasted nuthatch. His breast is not red; it is a warm brown! Need I say more??

And before I forget, there is another free watercolor webinar coming up! I signed up for the one Molly Murrah did last year and then life got in the way and I wasn't available during the program. So I will try again this year. I copied this from my email:

The link in that email is: http://creativelive.com/courses/watercolor101/ 

I think this year, I am going to make it part of my plan to drive to Mason to the lovely bookstore/coffee and use their high speed wireless connection for this class. Mine is too slow for a smooth class and sometimes a class like this puts me over the limit I am allowed for the day and I get kicked off for 24 hours.

I think it is time to finish my second cup of coffee and then get started on some art.

Thanks for stopping by,

xoxo