Happy New Year

I can't believe it is the last day of the year. Where has it gone? Of course it is always this way. I feel like it got away from me in some way. In 2013 I hope to be more aware of each day's presence and its passing.


For the month of January I am planning to participate in 30 paintings in 30 days with Leslie Saeta. The challenge starts on January 2 and runs through the end of the month. What about you? Do you want to try it? Just click on the link and sign up.


Meanwhile, I've been trying to do a bit of sketching in preparation for this 30 days challenge. I tried my hand at a couple of still life setups and am feeling pretty good about them. I do need to put more value into my sketches. They tend to be too bland.

It's been snowy and cold here for the past week or so and the cardinals have been having a feeding frenzy at the feeder. I swear there were a dozen pairs of them on the deck and the tree waiting their turn.

Tomorrow I begin a sugar challenge with some of the people at Positively Chiropractic. I don't have all the particulars yet, but will tell you about it when I do.

I am not doing anything to celebrate the end of the year. I don't like to be out on an evening when people tend to be drinking too much. The hubster bought a bottle of champagne and perhaps we will stay up to watch the ball drop on Times Square and share a bit of the bubbly.

What about you? Do you have plans for New Year's Eve? Do you have any new art plans for 2013? Do share.....

xoxo

Desperation Drawing

I think I might be fighting depression, but am not sure, as that is not a natural state for me. I just know that I would be happy to just sleep all day until my hand/wrist gets better. I like to think I can will myself better, but it is not happening. I am being good about doing the exercises that have been prescribed by the OT people and am seeing some improvement, but I want to be my old self with complete use of my right hand right now! and that is not happening.

Instead of giving in to the urge to just go to bed, I decided to do a bit of sketching. There was a couple of cardinals out in the snow so I did a quick sketch and then added a bit of color. I used my Neocolor IIs and didn't have the colors I really wanted, but these will do. I think you would know they were cardinals even if I hadn't told you so.

And then I decided to try my hand at a couple of faces from fashion magazines.

Then I tried to sketch a variety of scenes from photos I've been saving for just that purpose.

That is a house on the left and a deer on the right.

And finally I tried a rooster and a street scene.

I think it is time to get out pastels and try my hand at a small piece of art. I'll probably start with a still life as that is my favorite kind of painting to try.

What about you? How are you doing? I've been faithfully reading your blogs, but haven't felt too much like responding, but I am really enjoying your art.

xoxo

Watercolor, Neocolor IIs and AurynInk

I spent just a little bit of time while Miss Z was napping to begin a wet into wet still life - a pear and an apple. I obviously had too much water.

So I added a bit of Neocolor IIs.

And then added a bit of water.

Later in the evening after Zoë went home, I played with AurynInk on my iPad to make this tree.

I've done my 35 minutes on the treadmill, mostly uphill, then had a shower and went to Meijer's grocery shopping. The little girls are all coming over this evening to hang the dated ornaments (a yearly tradition). I picked up some hot dogs and brats and some crescent rolls to wrap around them and bake them in the oven. I believe they are referred to as pigs in a blanket. I will also whip up some cheesy potatoes from a package mix. I also bought 6 decorated cupcakes and half a dozen Christmas cookies. I will try to get pictures.

What about you? What are you doing today? Does it involve some kind of annual tradition? Some time for art? Do tell.....

xoxo

Getting My Life Back and A Face Sketch

Today was the third day in a row that I walked 2 miles on the treadmill and I must say it feels good (if a bit boring). I am really looking forward to the day I can go back to my personal training class. But for now, it appears to be another step toward my old life.


Miss Z is coming today after dinner and will stay for 2 nights. I am really looking forward to her visit and hope to get a few pix. I can now take pictures, if slowly, using my right hand to both help hold the camera and release the shutter button.


I spent just a little time in my "Face It" altered book and tried to do a face with mostly shading with a number 2 pencil. I may add some color at a later time.

I am hoping to get a watercolor started this afternoon and then spend some time on it this weekend. I hope to have something to share on Monday.

What about you? I so enjoy the comments in which you tell me about your art projects! What are  yu working on? Are you finding some time for yourself during this holiday season? Do share....

xoxo

Working in the Art Room

I did get the bathrooms cleaned (I am unable to do floors or bathtubs) yesterday and did pick up the art room and then I decided to take some time to play a bit. I opened up a folder of reference photos on the computer and began to sketch on a page in an old Chemistry notebook from the late 1980s when I was a student at MSU. As you will see some of the sketches ran into each other, but I really don't mind. It was such a wonderful feeling to be working in my room.

It would appear that scale is not a feature here and that I really like drawing birds.

While I was picking up, I rediscovered the "British Weather" book that I was altering and had retitled "Face It" and decided to try a page in it. I first added a bit of clear gesso and when it was dry I did a rough sketch and then used Neocolor IIs to add a bit of color.

It will be another busy day. I am hoping to spend a bit of time on the treadmill (I walked/ran 2 miles yesterday.) and then do a bit of art before getting help with a shower. The hubster is going to therapy with me and then we will do a bit of Christmas shopping before ending our afternoon at Klavon's for pizza. I cannot have any milk products, but have found their pizza with chicken, pineapple and mushrooms is really good even without cheese.

What about you? Are you getting your shopping done? Are you making handmade gifts? Cookies? Are you finding time for art? Do share.....

xoxo

Art in the Mail and A Sketch

I received a lovely card in the mail yesterday from my lovely and talented friend Tracey Fletcher King and wanted to share it with you. If you don't know Tracey, you will definitely want to follow the link above to visit her.

I took this photo using Photo Booth on my iMac.

I've been working hundreds of crosswords during my convalescence, and found a space at the bottom of one of them on which to sketch my left hand.

At yesterday's PT session, I finally began working on moving the wrist. I still  have to wear this hard cast/splint, which makes it really difficult to write/draw with my right hand, but I am working through it. The exercises can only help. I am hoping to get clearance to no longer wear this contraption before Christmas.

Today I have to try my hand at cleaning a bit in the bathrooms and then may actually begin the overwhelming task of cleaning off the surfaces in my art room so it is ready for me when I am ready to get back in there and really do some art. Perhaps later today I will try to get a photo of the junk drawer so I can catch up with Aimee and List It Tuesday - it appears I am a week behind.

What about you? What are your plans for the day? Does it include some arty projects? Are you making cards? sketching? painting? Do share.....

xoxo

List It Tuesday

I think I am a week behind because my list is Comforts and I think that was for last week. Maybe later in the week I will take a photo of the junk drawer and list it contents so I can catch up. For now here is my list of comforts. It is written with my right hand, but the cast is still making my handwriting a bit shaky.

I've been reading quite a bit lately and have a couple of books to recommend. The first is The Sandcastle Girls and the other is Cutting For Stone. Both very good reads. I've been downloading ebooks from the library and reading them on my iPad.

Today I have the chiropractor in the morning and then physical therapy in the afternoon. If I am up to it, I plan to do a bit of shopping for stocking stuffers and the like. I think Christmas is sneaking up on me and I don't want to be caught unawares.

What are you doing today? Are you ready for the season? Are you making art? Do share...

xoxo

A Bit of Sketching

I had a good weekend and am still improving at a good pace. The pain in my hand that has been white hot nerve pain is beginning to settle somewhat - still quite painful, but much less white hot. And the better I feel, the more I am chomping at the bit to get into the art room. I've been fantasizing about beginning a pastel drawing, but don't think I should be getting pastel dust on my cast. I think I will get rid of this blasted, but necessary accessory (the cast) in a week or two and then watch out. I have so much art stored in my brain just waiting, I am sure to be a maniac for the first few days of freedom.


For now I have a few sketches I did over the weekend to share with you. The sketchbook is too large to fit on the scanner bed, so I took photos instead. It feels good to finally be able to hold the camera and actually be able to push the shutter button.

What about you? I've already read this morning's new posts in Reader and have some really nice art. What a great way to start my day! Do you have some art to share? I'd love to hear about it and have a link to follow so that I can look at it.....


xoxo

Getting Better and A Quick Sketch

Both the doctor and the PT people were quite pleased with my progress in terms of my range of motion improvement. Athena, the PT goddess, altered the hard cast so that it would no longer rest directly on the most hypersensitive knuckle on the back of my hand. The doctor thinks that when I am fully healed he will remove the screws as he feels they are interfering with the tendons. I am not looking forward to that, but Athena did say it was a minor thing that did not require therapy.


I missed posting yesterday and didn't take the time to sketch, but have done a quick sketch this morning of a favorite pitcher I bought at the Salvation Army earlier this Fall.

I have been dreaming of drawing and then painting landscapes, but realistically I think it will be awhile that really happens. For now I am just happy to have a pencil in my right hand.

xoxo

A Decorative Birdhouse

It is a beautiful, sunny morning and I am feeling pretty good. I've done my first workout of the day (range of motion for my right hand) and the only really difficult, very painful part is the desensitization exercises. For now I am lightly running a silk scarf over the portion of the back of my hand where the radial nerve runs. It is unbelievable how badly it hurts. I continued this for a full 5 minutes. The feeling becomes a bit less painful as I work, but is still quite awful. This is the area in which I need the most work so far.


Once I was done with the torture exercises, I did a quick sketch of a decorative birdhouse that lives on a shelf in the living room using my right hand. I am finding the pencil a bit easier to hold, but the cast is still very much in the way.

Miss Z is coming later today to spend the night with us. I am still unable to change diapers or dress her or pick her up, but I am loving having her around regardless.

I will do the prescribed exercises and desensitization exercises three or four more times today and have an x-ray, doctor consult and PT session tomorrow. I am very pleased with my progress and am hoping for more of the same as I continue.

How are you doing? Are you finding time during this very busy time of the year to make time for yourself and your creativity? Do share.....

xoxo

Quick Still Life Sketch

I have a busy day planned today. I am going shopping and out to lunch with a dear friend and then I have physical therapy. I am looking forward to more advanced exercises even though the current ones do offer a bit of a challenge.


I took a moment this morning to do a quick sketch. It is so difficult to get a good grip of the pencil.

I am hoping to try a longer drawing with more detail later today.

It is really good to be back even if only with the most rudimentary drawings.

xoxo

A Bit of Art

I have finally been referred to the hand specialist in this area and no longer have to see the awful orthopod who continued to ignore the soft issues in my hand and appeared to be actively trying to crush my spirit. I have begun physical therapy and am already seeing a bit of improvement.


Yesterday while sitting in the living room after one of my PT take home workouts, I decided to try to sketch the view out my large window with my right hand. I am still in a cast to protect my healing wrist fractures, but am able to lightly hold a pencil.

I am going to try to get into the habit of doing art everyday and post to this blog Monday thru Friday.  I can make no promises that this will become a reality just as typing is still quite difficult and I really need to do some major picking up in my work room before any art can be done in there.

I have been keeping up with the reading of the blogs to which I subscribe, but have not been leaving comments. I must tell you that I've seen some fabulous art, though, and it makes my heart soar and my spirit begin to mend.

I need an assisted shower this morning and then the hubster and I are going grocery shopping and stopping to pick up my prescriptions.

I will try to do something arty later.

Until then.....

xoxo