Yoga, Reindeer, and Art Journal Spread

I went to my second yoga session of the week yesterday; this is my fourth class altogether. I need to find a better yoga mat because this one is very thin and I sweat so profusely that I begin to slip half way through the class. I will never be able to learn these asanas and get into position if I am sliding while trying to hold them. I am so glad that I found classes so close to home, though. I am hoping to become stronger and firmer and so far I am hooked on this exercise regimen. This morning I have my conditioning class followed by floor work.


I had a full day yesterday with Miss Z. She is becoming such a little person. She talks constantly and is always on the move. We spent quite a bit of time out of doors and even though I was lying on the hammock, she kept me busy. The hubster was out with us, so even though I was busy helping her on and off (and on and off and on and off) the hammock, he was keeping an eye on her while she was off.


After her Mom picked her up, I painted the other sides of the reindeer faces and then forgot about taking a picture of the finished reindeer until almost dark. I went out to the workshop and took a photo and then did a quick selection in Photoshop to remove it from the busy background. Isn't he so cute?

On the way back into the house, I stopped at the bottom of the deck stairs to appreciate a beautiful rose and decided to take a pic of that as well. I really must try to paint one of these.

The Tigers were rained out last night, so I spent more time in the art room than I normally would on a baseball night. I began another two page spread and have found another adage to add to all the ones I've seen online so far.  You know you are an artist when....you wake up in the morning with gel medium stuck to the ends of you fingers. Yes, I did wash my hands many times after finishing the pages, but apparently the gel medium had already dried and I didn't scour the ends of my fingertips hard enough to remove it.

This morning I will go to my exercise class, then to the chiropractor. On the way home, I will stop at the farm and pick up my biweekly produce. After a shower I am going into Mason with the hubster to pick up some things at the mall for his show tomorrow and then perhaps lunch before grocery shopping. His brother is coming to participate in the show in Mason tomorrow. He will arrive tonight and stay until Sunday. I think that means that I have some cleaning to do. While the hubster and his brother are at the Mason Down Home Days on Saturday, I will be decorating wrapping paper and getting presents ready and making cards for my two little girls who are celebrating their birthdays this weekend.

What about you? Do you have plans for the weekend? Do they include art? Won't you share?

xoxo

Photo of the Day and Watercolor Class

Good morning!

It is the last day of August and is expected to be in the 90s. Something is wrong with that. I am so looking forward to cooler temps and no mosquitoes. I am trying to remember to carry a camera with me everywhere I go so I can document the changes that are inevitable this time of year.

Today's photo is of my favorite rose in the early morning dew. I hope you like it and that you are not bored out of your mind with my photos.

I also have a picture of a very different rose. It is a hot house rose that my sister received from her co-workers on her last day at her summer job. She works at Star Line in St. Ignace in the summer and they really appreciate her. I thought this rose was quite beautiful, if a little too perfect.

I went to my first watercolor class in Jackson last evening. I was a little apprehensive and when I first arrived I was a bit overwhelmed. The setting is the main floor of an old two-story house. There is partially finished artwork everywhere you look and frames leaning against the walls in almost every square foot of the place. The sink was full of empty soda cans, the tables were unsteady and the chairs had some of the seat stuffing sticking out.

However, the people were extremely pleasant and friendly. There was one other watercolorist and four oil painters. They all had way more talent experience than I, but they welcomed me warmly and I got to work. The instructor was very helpful and appeared to be quite knowledgeable in both mediums.

All in all it was a good experience. There is not a class on Labor Day, but I intend to return the following Monday. I only wish the class was in the afternoon instead of the evening.

Here is what I worked on last evening:

The colors aren't exactly as they appear to the eye, but it will have to do.

I had another exciting mail day yesterday. I was the winner of Jenn's giveaway over at Just Add Water Silly and the goodies are here. Yippee! Here is what I won:

I am hoping to do more sketching today and maybe attempt a watercolor on my own. I know for sure I will be walking the treadmill, going to the library,  and watching the Tigers. Who knows what I will have to show you tomorrow.

Thank you so much for visiting!

xoxo

Photo of the Day and More

I hope you aren't tired of photos of roses because here is another one:

I think I want to draw this and try to paint it with watercolors.

Remember my blind contour drawing of the wooden cats that I couldn't find. Well I found them. I mean I found one of them and the hubster found the other. The one with the long tail was discovered in our bed. I guess Miss 2 had a nap with him. Here they are:

I didn't get to the non-dominant girls drawings yesterday. I went to the library to pick up a book I had asked for through MelCat and browsed the new books. I found one I wanted to read and read it in one sitting. I am really awful good about reading and disappearing into the world of that book. It was a good day. I must remember to read once in a while because that kind of afternoon is fulfilling and enriching and good use of the imagination.

I did get more work done on my third Faces in Technicolor girl. I don't think she is done yet, but she is getting better. What do you think?

Sharon has suggested another flower to the left on her neck and I think I will do that. I also think her eyes are way too "staring". I'm not sure what to do. For one thing I think I may need to lower the top line of her eye a bit and I think I need to put a hint of a lighter color between her eye and the crease.

I also spent some time putting a bit of color on the plover from yesterday.

The most exciting thing about the plovers wasn't adding color, although that was fun! It was trying to print onto watercolor with my printer. I took a large piece of 140 lb cold press watercolor paper to my guillotine cutter and cut it to 8.5 x 11. I used Photoshop to make 4 copies of the sketch and placed them into the four quadrants of the paper. I printed using the matte photo paper setting and printed in grayscale. I am thrilled to find that I can print very nicely onto watercolor paper!

I am spending the day with my friend Nancy today. I don't know where we are going yet, but I know it will be a good time. I still don't have my car so Nancy will drive and I will buy lunch.

Before I go, I have a wonderful video to share with you:

Now I really need want an iPad!!!!

Gotta go! Have a great day!

xoxo

WC Pencil practice, doodling and more

I think I will start with "more". I walked around the yard very early yesterday morning and took some pictures of the "lake" that is in our backyard from the storms last weekend. We usually have a pleasant meandering creek, but sometimes it escapes its banks. Such is the case now.

While on my walk around the house I espied the peachy roses that grow between the house and the hubster's workshop. I took a few pix and then was playing in Photoshop to maximize them when I made a very small discovery. You see, I frequently use the 3 x 3 grid that can be found under the custom shape tool as an aid in cropping with an eye to the "rule of thirds". What I usually do is put the grid on its own layer above my picture and then move it around until I like what I see. Then after I crop, I discard the grid layer. Here is what I got today:

But when I looked at it cropped with the "grid" still on top, I thought I liked how it looked as though I was looking through a window and so I beveled the grid and here is what I got:

What do you think? Is it just me or does it look pretty cool with that "window" in front of it?

Meanwhile between running errands, getting my hair cut, visiting at the daughter's while her Dad cut and weed whacked her lawn, taking her little one out to eat and play while her older sister was at ballet class, and watching ballet girl's last softball game of the season, I did manage to get some art time. 

I actually doodled this domino on Saturday morning before the girls showed up for the day. It is a bit messy, but has potential, I think.

These two are part of the WC Pencil class I am taking. I am having fun with them, but wish I had been able to work at them while the lessons were fresh so that I could have paid more attention to others' attempts and read and digested the feedback.

Today I have to cover the box that I am using to return the Tupperware Chef Series pans that I purchased for the hubster about 5 years ago that cost a fortune, but that have Teflon coating that is beginning to fall apart. The box I am sending them in is from a toddler car seat and is full of pictures. I don't think UPS will take such a distracting box. I have some postal paper that I bought at the dollar store that I think will work. Meanwhile, until they replace them with new ones that don't have Teflon coating, I will be without my four most important cooking utelsils.

Later today, I am going to Stockbridge to tutor an Algebra student before he takes his final later this week.

In between I think I will do some art.

What do you have planned for today???

xoxo