Photo of the Day and A Sketch

Today's photo is a familiar subject from a different perspective. I just love the "hairs" on this one. It is a whole new way to look at a sunflower.

It is the first day of school here and I feel so fortunate not to have to go. This marks the 4th first day of school that I have been able to stay in my "jammies" drinking coffee watching the buses go by and it still feels glorious. I am tutoring a bit and have been all summer. I expect I will have more tutees now that school is in session for Fall semester.

The weather has been Fall-ish, too, and I gotta tell you, I LOVE IT!!

Last evening before I went to bed, I tried a quick sketch of a fawn in a field. I may have to try to put some color in it to see if I really like it. It is drawn on regular sketch paper, so I may have to use colored pencils rather than watercolor; or I may just leave it as a sketch and turn the page to start another of another subject - maybe the sunflowers above.

Anyway, here he is:

It is a bit faint, but if you click on it, you will see it better.

I have a lot on my plate today. There is the usual half hour on the treadmill followed by a short ab and triceps session. I need to do a bit of grocery shopping. The bathrooms are screaming at me to be cleaned. I want need to start the "Totally Tangled" workshop through Artists of the Round Table Yahoo! group. I've got to get a package and letter to my Mom in the mail. I need to put the Title to my new car in the safe deposit box. I need to take mug shots of us and we have to go to the post office to apply for passports. I also want to take the time to watch some tennis and baseball.

I feel some multitasking coming on!!!

I hope to get most of the things on my list done today and still have a photo and some art to share tomorrow. If that is going to happen, I'd better get it in gear.

xoxo

Labor Day, Photo of the Day and a Bit of Art

Good morning! If you are in the US I hope you are enjoying a long weekend and are not planning to go to work today. Enjoy!

Today's photo is of a rock that was found in the yard. It is a strange one:

It almost looks like it formed up against a hinge or something.

I had a birthday party on Saturday and decided to make my own wrapping paper and card. I forgot to take a picture of the card, but have a shot of the art on the paper. 

The party was for my "just turned 7" granddaughter.

I've been faithfully walking the treadmill every day for the last week (I was walking just 4 or 5 days a week before that) and on alternate days I do ab work and triceps work. I feel really good about that.

I have not been getting any art started and I am feeling bad about that. I have cleaned up my art space, so I have no excuses except maybe for the fact that the US Open is going on and many of the singles matches are televised and I've been watching the Tigers each day they have a game.

My muse is somewhere around I think - she is probably outdoors enjoying this Fall-like weather. I am hoping she will show up some time this afternoon so I can get something started. I've been wondering if I force myself to start something even when she is absent if that will make her come back. I'll let you know.

Have a great day!

xoxo

Photo of the Day and A Blind Contour

Today's photo was taken through the living room window. I love how the colors pop this time of year and am so impressed with the multiple heads on the "volunteer" sunflowers.

I also remembered to try a blind contour this morning. I did this at the dining table even before my morning coffee.

NOTE: THE EYES AND NOSE WERE ADDED AFTERWARD!

This is the model.

I have some questions about blind contour: Am I supposed to be able to do the facial features and spots without looking also? Somehow I think of a blind contour as just the outside of an object.

My art room needs a good cleaning, the last of the free Creative Techs WC painting webcast is on today, and there are a couple of YouTube videos to watch. I am planning to go to the coffee shop in Mason to do the computer related tasks later today. 

My art assignment for today is to paint the Kraft paper I bought at the dollar store yesterday to make personalized wrapping paper for Katie's birthday present, and I have to make her a card. Her party is tomorrow. She will be 7.

So I am off to walk the treadmill and then get this room picked up. I sometimes think my Muse leaves me because she can't stand to be in this room when it is such a mess. I am thinking that if I get it cleaned up she will spend some time with me later today. I'll share whatever finds its way onto paper.

xoxo

Photo of the Day and Guest Artists

Good morning!

Yesterday I didn't get any art done, but I did have a full day with a couple of art divas in residence. I will share some of their work later in the post below the photo of the day.

Today's photo is of the berm on the north side of the house. I think I have shared a photo of this berm earlier in the summer, but the colors are so much stronger this time of year. Even though it is still hot and sticky, the quality of the light and the intensity of the colors say "Fall".

I subscribe to a wonderful blog that is full of art ideas for kids; it is actually called Art Projects For Kids and I have seen and used wonderful ideas from her. Her name is Kathy Barbro and I really appreciate the fact that she not only shares projects, but actually has step by step instructions.

Here are a few pix of the divas and their lovely art work:

This is not from the site mentioned above. These are from Michael's and are just right for little ones to paint.

I called them divas for a reason. I was running for ideas and art supplies and trying to explain to the little one why she should use watercolor paint and a brush instead of my Copic markers or my oil pastels. And as they worked, they expected photos to be taken. I must say hosting art divas is not an easy job, but someone has to do it. (grin)

Now I just have to get Miss I'm going to be 7 on Saturday out here to do some art with me. When I do I'll be sure to share it with you.

Not sure what I am doing today besides the treadmill and shopping for the birthday girl. I hope to get some art done so that I have something to share tomorrow.

xoxo

Photo of the Day, Watercolor Workshop and EDM #136

I didn't get back to my still life to add some dimension yesterday, but I did get to the library, sketch my tree frog, and had two little girls stay overnight. Miss 7 and Miss 2 stayed overnight last night and slept with me in my bed. At about 4 am Miss 2 woke up and was very talkative and was telling great stories. Miss 7 was half way down the bed sleeping horizontally and Miss 2 was at the top of the bed lying horizontally with her head on my pillow. I suppose it is no wonder that my back hurts this morning.

Here is today's photo:

I'm not sure this a great picture, but it draws me in everytime I look at it. It is a reflection of the rock retaining wall on the road bridge over the creek in my yard.

I also sketched my tree frog from yesterday's post as EDM #136 Something That's Alive. I tried to use a bit of crosshatching for the shadow, but am not altogether happy with it. I really need to refine my drawing skills as they pertain to shadows.

And perhaps most exciting of all, yesterday on Kristameister's blog she told about her experience in a 3-day workshop with Joe Fettingis and showed an egret she painted in that class and she described the class as life-changing. I sent her an email to ask her about it and she responded, "RUN, do not walk and see if you can get into one of his classes." 

I did a quick search online and found that he is teaching a 3-day workshop in St. Joseph the weekend of September 10-12. Knowing that it would already be full, I emailed him to ask if there was room and he responded with a phone number to call and told me that there was one seat left. I called and then sent in my registration. I am waiting to see if I made it. The best thing about the St. Joe location is that my sister lives just 15 minutes away and I will combine a trip to visit her with this workshop. I can't wait!!! And you know I will share my experience with you.

Gotta go; there is a 2 year old bugging me to play and do art.

xoxo