Tennis and Self Portrait

I'm still staying up until the wee hours watching tennis. I found the Sharapova/Kvitova match a bit of a disappointment as both racked up countless unforced errors, but I stayed up until the bitter end. I'm glad for Sharapova (she is after all more American than Russian), but a bit sad for Kvitova. I couldn't stay up to see the Federer/Nadal match (It was scheduled for 3:30 am), but am sure to catch it some time today. While watching in the wee hours and working crosswords I did a bit of sketching. I don't think these are particularly good, but am pleased that I am at least trying.

Can you tell that the long, gangly sideways sketch is Djokovic?

I also decided to try a self portrait from the photo I took yesterday instead of sitting in front of the mirror. First I tried in ink (ugh!) and then used pencil. I like the pencil sketch, but am not sure I would recognize it as myself. I think the face shape in the ink attempt is truer to mine, but overall like the pencil sketch. I just wish I really looked like the pencil sketch.

I'm spending part of the day with a good friend I haven't seen in awhile. We will do a little bit of shopping and then have lunch out. I really must get on the treadmill afterwards as I didn't do it yesterday.

We had a lovely dinner late yesterday afternoon with the son and his family. I am surely going to miss them while we are on vacation. I have my lists all made and lots of planning going on in my head, but won't actually begin to pack until the weekend.

I subscribe to 217 blogs and must say that I really enjoy all the posts and art. I'm sorry I don't always take the time to comment and sometimes when I do try to comment, blogger won't cooperate. I do so appreciate all the fine bloggers out there - yes, you are one of them.

I hope you are having a fine day and that you will find time for creativity.

xoxo

This and That and The Winner

I think I am pretty seriously sleep deprived what with staying up until all hours watching tennis. I am using that as my excuse for not trying a Posemaniacs sketch this morning. But yesterday I did try a self portrait in pencil. It is not very good, but I chose not to fuss over it. Maybe I should try a self portrait each day until I get it right. Do you remember Myrna Wacknov's "Drawn to the Mirror" project, in which she did a self portrait every day for a year? I don't think I will do that much, but maybe once a week. Stay tuned.... Anyway, here is yesterday's attempt. I tried holding the pencil quite loosely and I didn't have my glasses on so couldn't quite see what I was rendering.

At this point, I think any others I try will be an improvement.

Yesterday I decided to concentrate on miles rather than time while on the treadmill. I jogged for 3 miles and then did some abs and upper weight training with Denise Austin. I have her ebook, "Denise's Daily Dozen" on my iPod.

I decided to take a couple of pictures of what it is that I am looking at while I am jogging and share it with you. I think what I need is a flat screen TV on the wall straight ahead with a path so I can do a virtual outside jog. As you will see, I have a pretty good view when I jog. The thing is I am usually far away in my head and sometimes don't pay attention to this view at all.

This is just left and ahead as you can tell from the angle. This is to the west.

This is right next to the treadmill to the right side. This is then north view.

Thank you for staying with me this far. I know you just came over to see who is the winner of the  wonderful zine, "How to Draw a Loon" by Andrea Joseph.  Drum roll, please....................

The winner is 

Tracey Fletcher King

Can you tell that I went to her blog and copied her name from there. Isn't that a lovely font. Tracey, send me an email so I can put that lovely art treasure in the mail for you.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to enter and perhaps you'll have more luck on the next giveaway.

xoxo

Blind Contour Friday and A Self Portrait Sketch

Good morning. It is going to be a really good day. I can feel it. I am driving to Nancy's house and then we are heading into Ann Arbor. I'd like to get some book cloth and maybe some Lokta or Bugra paper. Maybe we could also go to the store with manufacturer overruns where you never know what you might find. I never can remember the name of the place, but I know how to get there.

We'll eat lunch out and have a ton of fun. We always do when we are together. It's been a long time since we were able to make time for an art date and I've been starved for one. I think that maybe the next time we get together it will be to make blank journals.

I took a little bit of time to try a self portrait sketch and a blind contour of same. I think I probably should have tried to put pupils in the eyes of the blind contour, but I didn't think of it.

I am taking the day off from the treadmill today - that is if I don't find myself on it this evening. I really enjoy the walking and adding 3 miles to my total is a wonderful feeling. So far since New Year's Day, I have put in over 16 miles. I'm loving that!

I hope you have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend. I hope to do lots of art this weekend so I have something to show you on Monday.

Until then.....

xoxo

Another Bird

I have been working on sketching while I have a huge pile of borrowed books on sketching from the Interloan Library.

As usual, I am drawn to drawing birds. I am particularly happy with this one and wish my painting skills were better so that I could color him, but for now I am going to concentrate on the sketch and practice painting on other things.


I also tried another self portrait and have uploaded it (after coloring it in Photoshop) as my new avatar. I think it is more like me than the previous one, but my daughter's comment was, "You are not that ugly." Try again.


I am hoping to get more dominoes sanded, painted, stamped and sealed today. I will share them as they get done. Yesterday I tried a combination of my own art printed out to size from the computer and adhered to the domino and some transfers. The transfers for the most part were a bomb.

I need to remove all the "stuff" from my work table while working on the dominoes as things keep getting in the way. I think I need another work surface in this room in addition to my "painting" table. But for now this one has to do double duty.

I brewed the coffee almost an hour ago and have been so busy in here that I haven't gotten myself a cup yet. Gotta go!

Bye!