Shadow dancing

I hadn't painted out doors since last summer. I looked around the studio to see what I would need to take. By the time I finished, you would think I was going camping. There was so much; water for painting and iced tea for drinking. I needed paper, pencils, paint, tissues...

As I opened the gate to my yard, I scanned for the right spot: shady, level, not too close to the compost pile. I opened my chair and table. I tested the table for stability. One leg sank into the mud. It took a few tries to find my spot. Finally situated, blank paper before me, I was ready to immortalize the lilac tree. My hand reached out, but came back empty. I searched once more half-heartedly, but knew I'd forgotten to bring brushes.

Then I noticed a little piece of a sponge in my pencil box. I submerged it in water and squeezed it out on the grass. I dipped the edge in paint and looked at my paper to see where I would begin.  Branches of a huge pine tree were dancing across my page. I squinted, but was unable to see beyond the shadows, so I spent some time trying to catch them. Click on the pic to enlarge.

On the Rhod

 I love rhododendrens. They came up so quickly this year. Seeing them, especially the magenta ones, elevates my spirits. So gorgeous. But I was struggling with residual doom and gloom. So I decided to take some photos and paint from the pics. But to change up a bit, I used my non-dominant hand. First I drew in pencil and then I used watercolor. I admit that my left hand got tired so the other hand helped a bit. Did I transform my mood? Not really. But I was nicely distracted for a while.

Truncated

I don't know what the name of this tree is. We have several of them on the property. I enjoy looking up close as the bark is so interesting. Sitting right next to it, I could only see a small part. Of course, trying to paint the whole thing would be too big for the paper.

Pull up a chair

Got a new chair today at the tractor store. The tractor store! Don't I sound dainty?

It's a great chair. Opens and folds easily. I can get up from it without groaning. It's a rocker, too.

I think it's difficult to find a comfortable chair. And some chairs are impossible. Like the hi tops in a bar or restaurant. I cannot get up on one without looking like a complete fool or hurting something. Or those ice cream parlor chairs. They're all twisted metal with a little round seat. They're awful. Movie seats kill the lower back. You have to have a jacket with you to roll up and stick behind you.

Maybe we should all have our own customized personal seating to carry with us; collapsable, light weight. Then we can always have a comfortable place to sit.

Well for now, I'll just enjoy my new chair right here on my deck and not have to carry it anywhere.

Happiness runs in a circular motion

Happiness runs in a circular motion
Life is like a little boat upon the sea
Everything is a part of everything anyway
You can have it all if you let yourself be
--Donovan

When I'm feeling blue, I paint circles...tap picture to enlarge

Lead the way

I've been painting smallish pics lately, like 5x7 or 6x8 inches. I decided to let loose and use a 12x16 sheet of paper. Bigger brushes, more area to cover, led to bigger trees, sweeping fence and path. Very different experience by just changing the paper size.

Lilac Close-up

I made a practice piece of one of the lilac trees on my lawn. I call it practice piece has it was the first time I tried it and consider it part of my learning process. I misjudged the size of the tree I wanted to paint and as a result, the tree got pruned a bit too much. I also didn't leave enough room on the page for other elements I wanted to include, like mountains, sky, etc. So I cut up the picture to try to make something out of it. The result? A close up photo of the flowers and leaves. Just 'cause. Tap to enlarge.

Your Fat

My mother made me wear a girdle. I think I started when I was about 11. I don’t remember when I flat out refused to continue wearing one, but she did finally stop bothering me.

Panty girdles were supposed to hide your panty line in your slacks, and be much less confining than regular girdles. The top always rolled down, however, creating even more of a bulge above the waist. I always wore ‘boy legs’ to avoid chafing. You had to be careful, in the summer, that your shorts were long enough so they wouldn’t stick out.

One time, I was at my friend Susan’s house and her mother gave me a pat on the tush.
“Oh, that’s hard,” she said. Susan said, “That’s because SHE WEARS A GIRRRRDUL!”
Susan’s mother said, “That’s alright, you could stand to wear one, too!”

When the family was invited to a fancy “affair”, my mother bought me an all-in-one. That was a panty girdle and long-line bra, all-in-one. That took a lot to get on. Not to mention having to undress and sit half naked just to pee. How embarrassed I felt hanging my party dress on the hook in the stall and proceeding to peel off this armor like a wet bathing suit. Of course, this was all to appear thinner and more shapely. Hmm, I think it just made me look like Kate Smith.

Lilacs--4 ways

Holding Up My End

Lymphedema Woman-It's
been heavy, but I'm OK

Pond.....er

So I decided to continue to attempt a painting of a pond as requested by my friend, Christine. Now, I've been at this for a while, trying to get the hang of it, but I'm enjoying the challenge. What I get excited about, is making something new. Don't you?

Pick a pond

I've had a request for a picture of a pond. I said I would try. I made several. Here are 2 of them. Which do you like better; #1 or #2?

T

Another door opens

Here's another gate picture with a door only slightly open. It was a request. Thanks, Christine.

The imperfect path

Made a path picture last nite with watercolor. It had become rather muddy from too much water and my unsure hand. Rather than crumpling it, I took markers to it and gave it the scribble treatment. It looks better when I squint.

Loving the Daffodils

Still enjoying daffodils. Was gifted with a large bunch of beauties. They are sitting on my table where my drawing board usually sits. It's tucked underneath the table for now. I decided to snap some photos and see what I can do with them.

More Daffodils

Here's another piece from yesterday's mindful art class.  I made it in response to the prompt which had to do with exploring what 'edges' meant. I drew with ink, then used a watercolor wash on top. This was a way to define the edges of the flowers.

Graffiti

Had a wonderfilled time today in mindfulness art class. We could choose anything we like to draw, as always, but there was a host of lovely daffodils so I couldn't resist using them. I made a number of pics and I came home after class and continue to play with them. I took photos with the Ipad and have been editing the photos.

Blog Time 2

Just messing around.

Watercolor, paper construction, digital