Mar31Art

I'm reading a book I got a while back 'The Art of Whimsical Lettering' by Joanne Sharpe.  I do that a lot, buy books and then don't read them, until they've sat on my stack for way too long.  At least these days with Kindle and Nook books, I don't have an actual pile of books to trigger my guilt, well at least not a huge pile, I still buy printed books and keep a pile on my night stand to read a page or two before drifting off to sleep.  I'm rambling aren't I, well anyway, you may see a lot of quotes and strange lettering for the next few days as I try out some of the suggestions in the book.

Mar30Art

An easy, breezy page after a long day today.  My new art bag 'The Nomad' came in the mail today, I like that it will attach to a tripod, or allow me to draw standing up.  It has these rather heavy boards with straps all over to hold your pens or whatever.  I've tried loading up a palette and some pens and my clip on water cups, along with a sketchbook… problem is it won't close… hum?  So I'm going to have to carry a tripod or ditch that idea (which allows the removal of the tripod connection piece) take just water brushes and leave the water container, and paint brushes home.  Remove one of the boards, since my sketchbook needs the space where it goes… I think that is how I'll make this work.  There are pockets that my iPad and/or Galaxy note (or both) would fit in, but carrying those would add more weight and bulk.  It is a very narrow design, without much give for extra stuff… which is good, because I tend to carry too much and then wear myself out lugging all of it around.

Mar29Art

The wisteria is in full bloom around here, I just love the wild vines and the violet blooms.  Went to a luncheon this afternoon for Senator Tim Scott, he is such a happy upbeat person, he and I shared a laugh today, I love my Senator. 

I snapped this photo of the wisteria in the trees at Charles Towne Landing as we were leaving this afternoon. 

Book 31 - Title Page

Back to hand*book 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 landscape format watercolor sketchbook.  I got a new wooden artist model today at Barnes and Noble, he's about a foot tall and was only $10 with my frequent buyer card, a bargain compared to the prices at art supply places. I used colored pencils to add color on him.

Mar28Art

Stingrays winning streak ended tonight, they lost to Indiana Fuel 3 -2, it was an amazing record breaking winning streak, had to end some time.  It was a good game down to the wire, but they just couldn't get it done tonight.
This is the last page in this sketchbook, so I had to include my Dogbert doll.

Mar27Art

Stingrays winning streak continues in Ohio, just now beating Toledo 5-3, for win #23, on to Indiana Fuel tomorrow night.  This sunflower inspired by an L.L.Bean catalog that came in the mail today, they had sunflowers in one of their monogramed marine tote bags… they were selling outdoor lawn furniture but all I noticed were the sunflowers.  Crazy weather today, sun, clouds, thunder storms and now it's COLD!!!  What happened to Spring?

Mar26Art

When I first got Danny Gregory's new book 'Art Before Breakfast', I quickly read thru it, skimming the words, drooling over the art work.  Now when I need inspiration, I'm really studying the words, taking them to heart, personalizing them.  I have a well established daily sketch habit, but I need to create some art on a big piece of paper, with lots of water and paint.

Mar25Art

Inspired by Danny Gregory's book 'Art before Breakfast', where he did a drawing of a pile of his colored pencils.  Instead of a camel for hump day, a pile of pencils… maybe the 'straws' that broke the camel's back.

Mar24Art

Went to Dentist today and had impressions done, and got the 'estimate' on his part of this dental implant adventure… it is crazy expensive, but I need to do this while I have a job and a way to pay for it… so time to talk to the bank about how to make this happen.
On another front, Jeb has his first hot spot of the year, he created this one over night last night, I'm hoping I don't have to use the cone on him. Discovered my stash of Advantage II is low, so a re-order to cover all the dogs thru the Summer was needed. Inventory check on their heart worm pills shows a Summer's worth of pills still in the doggy medicine cabinet.

Mar23Art

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down (just like the song), I hate driving in the rain, so it rained all the way to Columbia and all the way back.  It was still raining when I went for my flute lesson tonight, which went ok, I'm getting back in the groove after my hand surgery.  So a clown fish to make me happy, we have a huge salt water aquarium out in the shed out back, no fish.  From time to time I think about setting up the fish tank and then I think, no, the dogs, cat, and parrots are enough for now.

Mar22Art

Whenever I'm stuck of what to draw, especially on a rainy stay at home and do laundry and other household chores, my hand is right there waiting to be a model.  My friend Helen Beacham asked a question on her art blog today, what do people want to read on an art blog?  It's a good question, I'd like the answer to that question too.

March21Art

Didn't have a cake, would have had to have the fire department on stand by if I had.  Got a new Magic Dragon 1 inch flat Kolinsky Sable brush for my birthday… I can't wait to try that beautiful brush out.  Headed to a hockey game tonight, could be our 21st win in a row, history being made here, it is exciting.
Late Update: Win number 21 tonight, in a shoot out… a nail biter all the way the boys from Ohio came to play and gave the Rays a tough game tonight.  Now they go on a 7 game road trip.

Mar20Art

First day of Spring, started out cloudy, but the sun is shining now.  I'm off to dinner and then to a hockey game… could be win number 20…. and it was win number 20 and 4 to 0 shut out against Indiana Fuel… Cincinnati tomorrow.

March19Art

Rain, rain and more rain today, it pretty much has rained all day, and in fact is raining now.  So some cheery imaginary poppies, painting these made me happy and that is the point of art is it not?

March18Art

I love lampwork beads, I even made them myself before my back issues ended that artistic journey.  I got this bead today from a lampwork bead artist I admire, it is so darn cute I can't wait to wear it.  Here's her Etsy shop link, check out the baubles girlfriends. https://www.etsy.com/shop/nlcbeads I love her sheep beads too, perfect for the Chinese Year of the sheep.

March17Art - St. Patrick's Day

Dug out my green beer earrings today, didn't drink any green beer in case you wondered.  Gracie and I enjoyed a walk at lunchtime today and again after work, while Ron rearranged the motorcycles so that he can work on the trike.  Just a gorgeous Spring day in Charleston today, Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone that is wearing green today.

Mar16Art

Just Empty Every Pocket, my Jeep died around 6:30 am on my way to Columbia, I never got out of Charleston.  Due to some serious wrecks with injuries, just West of my location, the tow truck didn't get to me until well after 8:30.  I rode in the tow truck to the Jeep dealership, and there got a complementary ride home.  They finished the repairs around 4pm, and my wallet was empty.  I'm am truly blessed, my car broke down before the wreak happened that I could have been a part of, a person driving the wrong way down the interstate… yikes.  I am truly blessed that my USAA car insurance sent the tow truck and his fee is covered by my car insurance, and I am blessed that I was able to pay the outrageous bill at the Jeep dealership and still got to my first flute lesson in 3 weeks.  My lesson went better than I deserved with as little time that I've practiced lately. I am blessed that the surgery on my hand that could have left me with fingers that didn't work at all, that I am able to move my fingers and play as well as before the surgery. God is good and I am a very blessed woman today.  Sweet dreams everyone.

March15Art

Beware the 'Ides of March', it proved a good day for the Stingrays as they won again against Gwinnett today a much closer contest 4 - 3.  The Rays added #19 to their winning streak. We went to Arby's for roast beef sandwiches after the game and I had to try their new Mint Chocolate Shake, with bits of Andie's Mint candy on top… yummy to the max I highly recommend it for mint chocolate lovers.

March14Art

The Stingrays, beat the Gwinnett team 6 - 0 to break the ECHL league record of 17 wins in a row tonight.  It was an exciting game and to top it off Ron and I won the drawing for Season Ticket holder of the night.  Our prize was a $50 gift certificate to Dick's Sporting goods.
I got a box of art supplies from Dick Blick today, with this new Quin Pink, I like it a lot.  I also ordered some Montana Acrylic markers, tried to mix them as I only got the 3 primary colors… disappointed they do not mix, they run when you wet them, but the colors do not blend.  Got a softcover Strathmore journal… that soft cover is VERY soft, so I don't think it will work for an out and about journal.  Need to order another journal soon because this one is almost finished.

March13Art

Are you superstitious?  Friday the 13th reminds me of those silly horror movies of the same name, but that's about it.  I watched another Koosje Koene video on lettering and banners today so I tried my hand at a banner and lettering.
Ron and I are listening to the Swingrays hockey game in Gwinnett on the internet, at the end of the 2nd period we ahead 3 = 0.

Mar12Art

Spring took a break today and the cold winds from Canada blew in… brrr… and I was so close to getting my shorts out of storage.  Wore my flip flops even anyway.  This page has no basis in reality, mostly I was throwing paint or trying to.  Tip natural hair brushes HOLD the water and paint, making splatter difficult, synthetic brushes release the paint drops MUCH better.

Mar11Art

It was predicted this morning for 82 to be the high, but at our house it got up to 85 today.  The house thermostat kicked on the air conditioner today, and it got so warm in the computer room I turned on the window A/C in there too today.  Gracie and I took a nice walk to the park before lunch today.  I love Spring and Fall, too cold in the Winter and too HOT in the Summer for a lunchtime walk.

Mar10Art

Signs of Spring in our yard today, the resident Mockingbird was trying to drive the  cardinals away, and he did appear successful in distracting the male, but the female remained pecking about under the Sugar Maple tree unimpressed with the fight going on over her head in the tree.

Mar09Art

Always tough the Monday morning after we change to Daylight savings time, today was no different.  Sketchbook Skool assignment, draw a tree, I couldn't get it together to draw the whole tree, so a branch will have to do.  #art4all #sketchbookskool 

Mar08Art

Sometimes things go in a direction that you did not plan for or see coming at all.  I had every intention of drawing a girl's face and painting it with watercolor.  However, I drug my hand across the pupil of her eyes and it smeared a black streak across her cheek, well the only way to cover up black ink is with acrylic paint, I only have a few colors, and don't really know much about using it either…. but it did cover up the black streaks.  It was a gorgeous day in Charleston today.

Mar07Art

Spring forward, on the clocks tonight, and Spring was back in Charleston today.  Blue sky, warm weather, not as warm as last Wednesday, but nice enough for a short ride this morning. We went to the Blessing of the bikes this morning, Ron stayed for the Hog meeting, I had another meeting to go to.  We went to the Flea Market to get some patches sewed onto our leather vests.  Wings and beer at Hooters, and home in time to listen to the hockey game on the internet, another win for our boys, so now 15 wins in a row.

Mar06Art

Stingrays beat the Gwinett, Ga. team tonight 5 to 1, for their 14th win in a row.  These boys are on fire. Back in January, I would not have given them a chance of making the play offs, today, if they stay healthy and keep playing like this they have the potential to go all the way.
I broke out some stencils I bought a while back and some liquid acrylic paint, the pink, blue and yellow on this page is that paint and stencil.  I used a Kuratake felt tip pen to do the letters and gouache for the white.  I believe this is my very first mixed media page whoo hoo.  It was fun.

Mar05Art

Another great day today, raining started around 7pm, but up until then, it was a taste of Spring in Charleston today. Another lunch time outing for Gracie and I, I discovered my neighbors daffodils are in full bloom, wonder why mine aren't blooming yet?

Mar04Art

Gracie and I took a walk to the park during lunch break today, just gorgeous weather here today.  My day lilies are peeking out of the ground about 1/4 inch, my daffodils are up but no buds yet.  The tulip trees at the park are covered in buds, and I saw one flower open.  Spring is coming folks, if we can just hang on a little longer Winter will be over.

Mar03Art

When I was a little girl we called these fish Carp, more colorful than catfish, and not edible like my favorite catfish.  As an adult I discovered that some people call these Koi and keep them in ponds in their gardens.  They are fun to draw and paint.  My stitches are scheduled to come out next Tuesday, 7 days from now.  This is what my hand looks like on Day 5, the swelling in my fingers has gone down a lot, and except for my little finger most are back to normal.  I haven't tried to put my wedding ring back on yet, maybe tomorrow. I think it looks better but it's still pretty ugly, guess my career as a hand model is over now LOL.

Mar02Art

Just another thing I cannot do right now…so my knitting waits for two good hands, as does my flute.  I read somewhere that a fellow in the hospital, with broken arms and legs in traction requested a qwerty keyboard be displayed on the ceiling so that he could study typing as he lay there.  He imagined his hands on the keyboard and taught himself to type during the months he was in traction.  When his casts came off… he could indeed type over 90 words a minute just from imagining that he was typing.  Wonder if that would work on my flute practice?  Couldn't hurt, could it?

Mar01Art

Someone sent this 'Common Core Math' problem to me, I thought it was funny, and so… today just words, and math word problems. As long as I hold my hand very still and don't try to use it, it doesn't hurt.  I am discovering how hard it is to do anything with just one hand.  I'm feeling lucky that the hand I can use is my dominant right, but I still miss my left hand A LOT.  I can 'touch type' without looking at the keys, I've been able to do that for well over 50 years… but, when I have to type using just one hand, I must hunt and peck, it's like I don't know where the keys are if I can't use both hands.