Day 42 - 365 Challenge

28 April

I didn't actually paint, sketch or etc but i spent HOURS setting up a page on flickr. WOW! I uploaded tons of stuff and then realized i have tons of pics missing. I have no idea on which thumb drive, ph card or media card, etc they could possibly be so i may end up taking a bunch of new pics of older art work, especially the pieces i submitted for Exhibitions and the ones that were excepted.

Come to think of it... i did take some pics today to use as refrences for that little mini watercolor set.

Does anyone know how to get pics to post here like a contact sheet? Three pics all in one row? Anyway, I  tried a few different exposures and lights. It is amazing the differneces! These show the best color vibrancies.

Day 41 - 365 Day Challenge

27 April 2011

We're not even going to talk about the missing days. It's enough to say, I survived! Ugh. (Seems some kind of stomach thing is going around.)

After breakfast this morning, weak as a kitten, i went in for my PT. Yea!! No weights! Then i went and walked off the muscle cramps (either breakfast or adrenaline had kicked in) and then headed for my studio. I did a bit of "redecorating" by adding these tool caddies to my drafting table. (Anyone recognise them cause i can't remember where i got them and i would like some more.)


Worked on my Doorway watercoloring. (update and add pic) I have to say that i like painting at an esael a lot more than at a table. It is awefully on my back!

Once again i ran into a point where i thought the directions should be rewritten. While i love the sketches involved with thi book, at this point, i would have to say i would not reccommend it for someone who is trying to learn from a book; a do-it-yourselfer.

I recieved a surprise in my Mailbox Muse package yesterday and i couldn't wait to tear into it! It's the cutest little kit; Floral Gallery. It contains everything you need; 4 canvases, 4 black foam boards for backing, a practice canvas, instrucion booklet, 5 watercolor pencils, a paintbrush, a pencil sharpener, ribbon and tape for making a hanger.

In concentrated bliss i made a color board mixing the differnet colors (one layer, two or more) and then adding water to see the "end" results. Now i have to decide a) if i want to use the colors provided or do my own thing b) what colors i want to do my flowers. Do i want to stay realistic or go off into imagination!

Day 40 - 365 Challenge

22 April

I think the instructions on my Doorway watercolor should be rewritten. I think
the order of some things should be changed. I painted in order of directions given but... I think after applying the wash for the brick the mortar coloring and the branch and limbs should be done BEFORE the stippling that is the leaves. Also the door wash should have been applied BEFORE the leaves in the left hand side plant.

For my own painting skills, i should have applied a lighter wash for the bricking. It is much too heavy.

After i finish this piece i think i should paint a 2nd one in the order i feel would have been better and see what difference it would make.

Thank God for the diversion. It is storming once again!

Day 39 - 365 Challenge

21 April 2011

I'm so excited! The paint didn't flow the way i expected it to but... i will learn. It needs to dry now so i can do the next part without risk of it flowing into anything else. The paint is also much thicker than i wanted. I have to play with it more so i can get a comfortable "wash" consistancy.

Day 38 - 365 Challenge

20 April

It was a dreadful night with our storms and then early morning PT but i did get to the studio. Applied masking fluid and about fell/crashed into my table! It would have been extreemly...publicly so...humiliating! Will work on it again tomorrow. I do keep trying. That is much more than there has been this past yr. I hadn't even been bethering to try so...Progress!

Day 37 - 365 Challenge

19 April

It's been a dark, stormy day. We have a light out in the hall which is really making it gloomy here. Strange how my SAD works.

New exercises in PT. I can barely move.

Went to The Advancements in Hip Replacement lecture. Never made it past the display tables in front of the doors. Of course, being the person i am, i had to pick up the ball & joint hip and check out some of the tools and suddenly my aid grabes me and asks if i'm ok. Well, i look up to see her standing there all green and then realize i am holding my breath. I start backing away form the tables. "Oh, no, no, no, no. Not me!" I couldn't get out of there fast enough! Doc is right. There really isn't enough bone left to attach anything to.

As for art.... i'm just hoping not to have nightmares!

Day 36 - 365 Challenge

18 April

I finally got over to Hobby Lobby (after my doc appt.) and exchanged my dried out masking fluid.


They had this GREAT chair in their window by the main door. Jason would love it. I wish i still had a house of my own. I would so buy this and put it out in the yard.





Physically, i am nothing of what i use to be. After two hrs out and about all i want ot do is collapse!

Day 35 - 365 Challenge

17 April 2011

I finished The New Scratchboard today but... Hobby Lobby isn't open so no shopping! That was a really good book. I would seriously reccomend it. Can't wait to get some white clay boards. I think i want to start with my Dancing Leaf in colorpencils and then try something using markers. As for my watercolor (Doorway)... soon!
                                                                                                                    
I did take some intereting pictures of shadows. Way cool! I think the left one works better than the right one. The right just seems too bright. Opinions?

Day 34 - 365 Challange

A friend wrote me today about an "inchie" challenge she is in. Making art one square inch at a time! Anyway, the littel video explaining the project talks about this particular board to use for the project but i can't find it anywhere on the web (did a bunch of searches). I will have to come up with my own stable for mine. What an idea!

Back to looking thru magazines for ideas and inspiration and cutting out images. etc for my college colletion.

Day 33 - 365 Challenge

Upstairs/Loft Studio @ Anthony Square

Coming from my apartment, you climb the rear set of stairs and at the top you look back towards the east (parking lot) and find my loft studio. I still can't get over that Jill blessed me with such a place!




 There is this small hall where i would like to display some art but i haven't gotten the nerve up yet to ask!









Coming back you discover this litte cubbie of space! In the other building some of these cubies have exercise equipment. One has a bike/rowing thing. (Don't ask!)





Prepare for the shock. Everyone cracks up when they turn this little upcoming corner because of the amount of STUFF they discover cramed in here!

I want to put this poster i found over my drafting table (again... I'm too chicken to ask permission). It is this great picture of all these colored penciles set out on a black background with the caption "Team Work; When the best and the brightest come together, the possibilities are endless."  Wouldn't that be the greatest thing for my studio?

My corner where all the finished and half done canvases are stacked.  There is also stuff (boards) stacked behind the drafting table, if you look close, and there are two of those wrapping paper rubber made boxes btwn the table and the window with all my large sketches rolled up. Kris says i'm a horder but at least i'm an organized horder. (I wish she could see some of my friends' studios. HA! I don't have anything!)                                                

                                                 

 


Looking back from the window overlooking the parking lot. (There is a beautiful tree just outside the window where a Robin nests every year. I will have some great company while up there working)                                                      

Inspiration!

Do you ever get the feeling tht something is just not meant to be? After taking these pictures i sat down to work on my Doorway project and discovered my masking fluid rubber inside the jar! So, i went down and dug thru all my stuff and found another bottle and found it almost as rubbery! Work is back on hold until i can get to HL and replace product. UGH!

Day 32 - 365 Challenge

14 April

There are a lot more greens in this selection then required because, based on names, i couldn't match up the colors so i picked a range to play with thinking along the lines of foilage. I also added white gouche for... mistakes/highlights.





This is my entire watercolor painting brush collection so... i will soon ko what else i "need".

Everything is all set up and ready. "Just add water"!  I have discovered something rather surprising. I am worn out! Standing here, leaning over arranging stuff, etc. I am praying it is just the after effects of the new Physical Therapy classes! I can't imagine surviving a 3 hr art class! After all this waiting it may be tomorrow before i get back to the studio.

Day 31 - 365 Challenge

13 April
It is said that 30 days is all that is required to create a new habit. Well.... hmmmm. Maybe it will be during the 2nd 30 day period.

Today is my grandson's Bday. He called to thank me for his books. I sent him a graphic novel version of The Hobbit and a Dot-to-dot book (1-500) color book of dinasaures. During the phone call i discovered he is now into Star Wars stuff! They took him to Pizza Hut for pizza (minus the cheese-lactos intolerant. Have you tried pizza withOUT cheese? cardboard, ugh)

My last two tubes of wc came! I have moved all the stuff required for this project to my new studio but...

Jeremy showed up to look at my car. After waiting WEEKS i couldn't very well gaff him off to paint. Then they stood around and visited for almost an hour. ("God forbid that they should come in and SIT DOWN).

Maybe tomorrow

Day 30 - 365 Challenge

12 April
I decided i would start adding the date (so you can see how far behind i am with posting).

I had cabing fever so i walked over to the new Barnes and Nobles. It turned out to be just a fancier/larger ISU Bookstore. Seriously? And no handicapped entrance! (I thought that was against ADA after ?? year in the 90s). When i got back home i just crashed! OMG! Sleep......zzzzzz.

My paint is still out "there" somewhere.

Day 29 - 365 Challenge

What a day! My adie walked out on me so I spent the rest of the day filling out paperwork and interviewing for new gals. So much for my art....

Day 28 - 365 Challenge

I bought a few of these Travel books a while back for the grandkids. They are like clayboard so i picked up the New Scratchboard to learn more about this form of art. WOW!

My origianl art form was ceramics. I loved puring a thinker slip and then "lifting" a desing in it with these tools i had inherited from my grandma. I really didn't know what they were for... i was just playing. But the idea of putting a layer of slip on a board and then scratching into it.... never even occured to me. No, that is not what this is but i don't know how else to explain it. I am discovering that there was a lot i was never exposed to during "art" classes.

The New Scratchboard is a wonderful book. It is very well written and presents the art form in a very simple yet complete manor.

Day 27 - 365 Challenge

Spent the day going back and forth between cutting out pics for collegeing with and watching old movies. i found the best picture of a guy in a chicken suit. Now i just need pics of the kidos doing the chicken dance. It will be a great layout!

Day 26 - 365 Challenge

I spent the day running errands and since I was out UPS came with an order which they wouldn't leave without a signature. I just can't imagine! I hope not my watercolors. I have enough other things i am waiting one but nothing so important that they need it signed for.

Looked through others books for ideas but... I have to stick to working on one project at a time. Enough of this half done things! Beiseds, I'm runing out of funds to be stretched so thin.

My Future?

I have reached a frustration level that is bordering on hopelessness and fear. I live in a "Senior Living Facility". I live on the "dark" side. The side no one seems to ever really hear about unless they have come intentionally seeking it. While we have congragate dining, we are constantly being told "this is an indepently living facility". If you have to cook for me doesn't that somehow proclaim my dependence?

We got a new resident today. Her daughter moved her here from Oregon and "dumped" her here (OK dropped her off while she returned to her own apartment to shower and sleep). After "mom" had been here three hrs or so she started freaking out because she couldn't find said daughter. It looks like mom has Alzehimers or some form of dementia and was moved here. BUT mom swears she is only here to "visit" and "check it out" and was suppose to be staying with her daughter. She did NOT move!

The thing is, she's not the first one. Yes, in time they all calm down but... Again, how is this an example of independent living? When you don't even remember that you made the decision to come here?

It makes me so sad watching these women. Their own minds ...forgetting. But then there is the way the woman from the main office treats us/them. It is even sadder. I want to copy our lease so you can see all the "rules" cause i, personally, am always getting yelled at for "causing trouble" when i ask questions about them. As with everything else in my life, there seems to be two sets of rules here; the printed ones and then the ones the office enforces. i just don't understand why they are one way for one tenant and another for the next. It looks like it depends on who else you know here or who you are or even how bad they need rooms filled. And she talks to me like i'm three! Grrrrr it makes me so mad! And we can't do anything about it!

There is another woman that works here that will lie right to your face and then swear things are such and such. I've started taking pictures of things, if for no onther reason than to show myself when she starts making me doubt everything.

Day 25 - 365 Challenge

Woop, woop, woop!! Most of my paints came today. I think i am only missing 3 tubes.

I actually did some doodling today! (yes, i know, shocking!) We were making a list of the vegetables to plant and i drew my blue cart and some potatoe baskets while i was chattin gwith Kris so I'd remember to tell her to get them out of storage. It's small steps but... it's progress!

Day 24 - 365 Challenge

I am still wating on watercolor paints.

I have been looking through another book i had ordered.  WOW! I am already excited about doing projects inspired by the articles here. Now i have to find a place that can/will print a pic larger than 8x10 without charging me and arm and a leg. And finding clear gesso. I had no idea such a thing was out there. It might have been sitting right next to my white or cream but i just never noticed it!

I have also hunted through Blogger for other artists to watch for inspiration. I can already tell there is going to have been a great change in my art by the end of this 365 days!

Day 23 - 365 Challenge

My new art books arrived today so basically i daydreamed all day. Such wonderful ideas! And the punch art flower bouqets! Still waiting for my paints for the Doorway. I did get a new sketch book for watercolors...for Ireland. Made me homesick to return. I think i will use thie sketches and inspiration and see if i can make some based on my pics from my trip there for my actually paintings next time.

More Punch Art

Oh, such fun! Now all i need is Ivan here to do the punching for me. Of course, he was right. He said when i told him i had ordered this book that in spite of how many punches i own i was going to have to buy more!

Day 22 - 365 Challenge

What a busy day! i searched through a ton of sights looking for the rquired colors to paint my Doorway watercolor project. So... after place three different orders (one for only one tube of paint) I am now back in "wait" mode. I never realized there was so much waiting involved in painting.

Day 21 - 365 Challenge

Prepared studio area for doing a watercolor. Looked thru books on Amazon.com and did some day dreaming. Not too much though because i can't afford it!

Day 20 - 365 Challenge

I woke this morning with a headache from hell. I think it might be from working under the new light i bought because it came back this afternoon when i started the tranfer using the stylis. So... I am about half way through the transferring process. Maybe i'll work on it some more later tonight.

I am trying not to wait so late to post my day's notes/pics.

I finished transfering the sketch to the wc paper. Read thru all the directions and marked (highlighted) masking, let it dry instructions, wet on dry, wet on wet, etc. instructions. Made a shopping list of the colors i will need. (Why don't i think of these things BEFORE i start a project?) Shopped on-line for the lowest prices. Ooops! Project on hold while i wait for supplies.

sketch on wc paper brightend for contrast to show sketch

Day 19 - 365 Challenge

I discovered today why I like working on such large pieces. It's the hand control. It has taken me three sessions to go over the sketch with pencil so that it can be transferred onto watercolor paper. That small, precise work is just awful on my hands! And tomorrow I will have to do it again with a stylist.