Category: Friends

Christmas Commission #2….

Pet Portrait

Graphite on Bristol Board

       I had forgotten to post my commissions and since I am in the middle of a painting, I thought this would be a good time to post one of them.  This was actually the final commission, but I can’t seem locate the other picture.  It’s in my computer somewhere, but I can’t find it.  The two with the paw prints have sadly passed on to that great rainbow bridge.  I had heard that when she opened this she was so happy and overwhelmed that she cried.  I don’t know how I feel about the crying part.  I can’t stand to see someone cry, it just gets me all upset.  Yes, I am filled with goo, but I also remember how I felt the day we lost Sam.  It’s still just horrible if I let myself think about it, so I can’t even begin to tell you how difficult it was for me to draw these portraits.  I hope I get to the point where I can draw a pet and I will fondly think of him with a smile, but so far I just can’t seem to shake the look of helplessness in my husband’s eyes and the hurt in my daughter’s.  It just makes my hair stand up….See what I mean?  I had no intention of bringing him up…and there it is!  When I least expect it, it comes and slaps me in the face.  Soooo…let me move on to something else.

   The painting.  I have been working on 3 16 x 24 (I think) museum wrapped panels for my living room.  Right now, it has so much paint on them that I had to put them outside to dry.  Outside it’s in the 60’s with a breeze…really nice.  I just hope the creepy crawlies don’t decide to crawl, jump, fly in, run, or walk on them.  I’ll post a picture soon (hopefully).

Be Well and Happy!

Into The Wild Zentangle Series 8

Wow!  Another week got away from me, but maybe a new pattern will make up for it:)  This is the last pattern of my “Into the Wild Series” and I hope you have enjoyed these patterns as much as I like making them.   Thank You! Molossus at http://lifeimitatesdoodles.blogspot.com/ for posting links of my patterns to her blog.  I have enjoyed this so much that I will try to keep this a weekly thing (if I can come up with them) so stay tuned.

This is Ostrich pattern.  It’s pretty easy.  I like it because it also looks like a flower.  The center of the Ostrich print in real life is really dark and messy.  It almost..well not almost…it looks like a scab..EWWWWW! so I kinda improvised the center.  I guess you could use something like Jetties or Ennies in the center, it’s up to you and what you like.

Ostrich

Below is the finished Zentangle…Finally:)

Be Well and Happy!

YAY!

The pictures above are from the Arts and Crafts show that we held on Saturday.  The show was at the clubhouse in the retirement community of Yorktown Villas.  Talking with these people you’d never know it!  They kind of reminded me of the Golden Girls:)  They were such lovely people and so very kind and gracious that they made me feel instantly at ease.  With all the warm cookies that we were served who wouldn’t feel at ease.   The sales went far beyond what I expected, I was able to get a few commissions and I am just over the moon with excitement!   My friend did really well too.  She almost sold out all of her flower arrangements and sold some of her art as well.  So, it was a good day for both of us.  The best part was that at the end of the day, we got to trade art from each other and that was awesome!

  Well, since this has consumed my every waking moment for the last 2.5 months, I don’t have anything else to share, but I hope to very soon.  Until then, I’m wishing  you sunny skies and warm weather:)

Be Well and Happy!

Boxer…

Boxer

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

       I wish I could say that I have some new art work to show you, but I don’t.  I do have a few more pets that I needed to post to my blog.  So, I guess it’s a good thing that I have been hoarding those back.  There really hasn’t been too much going on lately.  Just the one mosaic fiasco and not much else…except for a little reading and research. 

       I did go home this past weekend for Christmas,  so that was fun.  I know it seems a little late to celebrate Christmas, but my mom has kept her tree up as late as July for us to spend Christmas together.  My sister and brother-in-law were in the military and there was just no telling when they would be able to come in.  So we wait until everyone can be there. Well, almost everyone…David stayed home with the dog.  It bummed me out a little, but I still had a good time. 

     Right now I am dog sitting my sister’s Yorkie pup because one of our nephews (her son) is graduating from Basic Training this week.  The Yorkie is a little bitty thing and his name is Biggie Paws. It’s an interesting experience because Sam is kinda old and I have forgotten how much work a puppy is, but we are muttling through.  

      I do have plans to do some Zentangling.  I haven’t drawn any in a while and I can’t let myself get too distracted at least until Thursday or I will be playing the find the poop or the guess what I’m stepping in game.  And a Zentangle is a perfect way to get my art fix and still be able to take care of Biggie. Well, I guess this is about it for now and I hope I will be posting a Zentangle soon.   If you are yawning while reading this post, that’s ok…If I were reading this instead of typing it, I would be too:)

Be Well and Happy!

 

November 30

     Today is the last day of AEDM, so my last contribution to this challenge is a gold Christmas ball drawn in colored pencil from an old tutorial that I found. 

   In this past month, I have never had as much difficulty finding  things to do and words to post in all my life.  I think coming up with things to write was a lot harder than the artwork, beading and little crafts.  I’m really not very interesting and I posted some things that I should have been ashamed for others to see.  Still,  I had absolutely loved it!  It was a lot of fun getting acquainted with so many talented and sweet people.  Thank you Leah for doing this!  And hopefully, I’ll see you guys next year:)

Be Well and Happy!

November 16

 

I made these eggrolls last night and  they do look kinda strange so I thought that they would be a good contribution to AEDM this morning.  They are a lot of fun to make (believe it or not) but they were a lot more fun to eat!  Below is my recipe.  I make these with ground beef, but you can substitute with turkey, chicken or pork. 

1 head cabbage shredded

1/2small bag shredded carrots

1 lb. or so cooked ground beef (crumbled fine)

1 can of bean sprouts or (fresh)

soy salt to taste

1 bottle of PEANUT OIL (for deep-frying the eggrolls)

Mix all ingredients together (except for the oil and soy sauce) in a large pot.  When ingredients are somewhat tender add soy sauce to taste. When the veggies are fully cooked,  drain ingredients in a colander to get rid of the excess water, but don’t press down on the filling. (It will burst the bean sprouts).  Fold eggrolls per instructions on the pack  and then deep fry in the peanut oil.  Peanut oil will not get as hot as vegetable oil and keep that golden brown appearance until your last eggroll. ENJOY!

Be Well and Happy!

On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful…

Beach II 

Acrylic on Canvas panel 

     You may look at this painting and think that there isn’t much going on and it seems a little boring. But I look at this painting and I see peace and relaxation.  I can imagine myself just beyond the borders of this canvas taking a nap in a hammock under a couple of palm trees.  Ahhh…doesn’t that sound nice?  

   There have been a lot of moments this summer where I would  have loved being on a tropical island somewhere.  As you know, the first part of the summer was spent getting the house ready to sell so we could move back home.   But as time passed, it was just one obstacle after another preventing us from making that leap.  So we called off the move and we are going to stay put in Newport News.  I was a little sad at first, but I learned a long time ago not to ignore God’s signals and these were impossible to ignore.   Life is slowly getting back to normal,  David is home and we as happy as three peas in a pod.  ok, enough already with the personal stuff…. 

I’ve been trying my hand at pastels.  I’m a little scared of working in pastel, because they are pretty toxic.  I wear a mask and open a windows and all that good stuff, so I guess it’s a respectable fear..kinda like fire.  Annnnnnnnnnyway, I’m not very good with this medium and my color falls of the paper.  I’m just playing so it’s no big whoop, but I don’t see how artists get that fine detail unless they are working on a large-scale.  If any of you have any suggestions,  I accept all help.. I’ve been using Derwent, Gioconda from Koh-i-noor, and chalk pastels if this is useful. 

Gosh, I forgot to mention that the painting above is from a photo and not a tutorial…Yepper…I painted this one all by myself:)

 

 

Be Well and Happy!

Still A W.I.P. . .

This drawing is really irritating me.  I wanted to try a different drawing technique to get more detail in drawing animals leaning more toward a hyper realism (can that be a real phrase) that is lacking in my drawings.  I guess want the strokes evident  close-up as well as far away.  Usually, when I draw I use my own technique which involves:  Stroke, Smudge, Smear, Squint and repeat.   Yes, I realize smudging and smearing is highly ridiculed and Yes, that’s just how I roll.  I do spend time drawing the fur on the neck following how the hair naturally grows.  But this drawing is causing quite a bit of stress because I’m completely lost.  I have so many graphite layers and not only is the portrait a little more than half finished I have also ran out of tooth on my paper.  I can probably spray a workable fixative  to finish the piece, but its looking no better than what I usually draw in half the time.   And the nose looks like it belongs on Mr. Potato Head.   This drawing has lost it’s romance with me and I think I need to move on to something else and add this to my best intention, to be determined pile.  I guess what works for some doesn’t work for others. 

  To change the subject completely….. I have been wondering how to respond to comments left on my blog.  Although I don’t get many, I like to show my thanks or someone will say something that I want to respond to.   I am going to follow suit and respond in my blog.  I’m just telling you first before it gets aired on Fox News tonight BAHAHAHAHAHA.

Be Well and Happy!