Girls in Hats

Thanksgiving of 2009 my daughter, Jody, and her family came to share the holiday with us.  She had asked before they came if Peepa (my husband, George) would do a photo shoot with all four girls so they could get their Christmas card picture ready early.

Well, Peepa set up the backdrop and studio lights and wanted to take some practice shots - just casual poses before the girls got in their Christmas finery for the final shoot.

That morning I had gotten out some wonderful hats that a friend had given me (she knew that little girls like to dress up, so I had hats and gloves ready).  The girls started posing as Peepa practiced with the lighting.  I got out my camera also and snapped away.  It is so difficult to get everyone looking good in the same snapshot!  Fortunately, or unfortunately, my camera was set on video instead of single shots so my first attempt was a low light video.  When I discovered my mistake I took a few more shots and that was that.

Afterward I downloaded my pictures and discovered that the first frame of the video was wonderful - except for the low light. Over the years I have often looked at the picture and fondly recalled the day.

So, this fall I decided I would tackle a painting - the painting - Girls in Hats.  I have been working on it for the past month.  My goal was to have it done by the time Jody and the gang arrived this year for Thanksgiving.  I rediscovered the video and was able to make a composite of several pictures, capturing each child in light and with their own unique expression. Quite a challenge...

They arrived on Wednesday last week and I presented the painting to them. Before they went home we visited a local framer and picked out a mat and frame  - it is their Christmas present.  I can hardly wait to see it all complete.  Now their dilemma is where will they hang it!

Waiting for Fish #2

Last summer when we visited family in Vermont, we again stayed at a camp on Nelson Pond.  It is a lovely spot, right on the lake/pond.  The water is clear and beckons me each day to swim.

One afternoon when the grandchildren came over to be with us, nine year old Kieran decided he wanted to fish. He had found a rod and reel and was anxious to catch something.  We had no bait, but did have some hot dog buns...so we went the 'bread ball' route.  I made the smushed up balls and put them on the hook.  You could see the fish swimming around, finding the bait and nudging the hook.  There was an occasional nibble, but no real bites.  The bread balls would get soggy and fall off - we just fed the fish.

Kieran finally got tired of re-baiting the hook and just let it dangle in the water.  After all, it is fun to toss out the hook and reel it in. Suddenly I heard a shout, "I've got a fish!" And sure enough, there was a little fish dangling from his empty hook!  He was so excited - it turned out that was the first fish he had ever caught - VERY special.

Of course, he wanted to catch some more... I had taken several pictures of his first catch and then continued to take snapshots waiting for fish #2 - which did not happen that day.  But, I did love doing this pastel of him from one of those photos...as he waited and waited and waited. That is, after all, what fishing is all about - waiting with the knowledge that the fish are there and that just maybe...

Bricks and Stones

Apparently, the watercolor class in which I have been substituting voted a few weeks ago to work on exercises rather than turn out masterpieces suitable for framing. So, we have been practicing techniques - like negative painting.  That is, you paint around a 'thing' rather than painting the thing itself.  The space surrounding the object defines whatever it is.  Well, it does make you think!

We painted the stones first...then the bricks, but had fun imagining a display of all our paintings and calling it "Bricks and Stones" after the childhood chant that we all know..."Sticks and stones may break my bones..."  These exercises were not that easy...fortunately, no broken bones!

Well, we began with very wet paper (like the drip paintings that I wrote about on September 19) and dropped on color.  Then we worked on the negative shapes.  We were a little dismayed that we had potatoes or loaves of bread, not stones.  After working on the shapes, we were told to put them in context, so I thoroughly dried my paper and laid down some blue washes.  Voila!  The stones are under water! My head tells me that they can no longer be loaves of bread, because they are underwater...and I think the little pebbles help, too.

The following week, we tackled a pile of bricks.  Here is a challenge in perspective as well as the wet on wet, negative painting techniques. The bricks had just been brought inside and were dirty, broken, and had mortar stuck to some of them. Actually, when put in a pile, they were sort of interesting.

So, now I have two unsigned paintings...  They may get a signature - a sign that they are finished paintings 'suitable for framing.'  Who knows?  Maybe someday there will be a Bricks and Stones Show! As they say, "Stay tuned..."

Homework

I have been taking photographs of our grandchildren for years...hmmm, our oldest will be 23 this week. How can that be? A thought to ponder at another time...

It has always been interesting to me how various children react when they see a camera.  Some see the camera and hide behind their hands (or any convenient person or piece of furniture). Others run away entirely and occasionally scream "Don't take my picture!" Some respond with slumped shoulders and an unenthusiastic "OK."  And then, there are those who sense that there is a camera somewhere and immediately turn toward it with a big toothy grin.

Of course, we, the photographers are not without our own antics.  When the children are tiny we stand there with our cameras aimed and make all kinds of silly faces and noises trying to produce a smile in an infant.  Then we get to the "Say 'cheese'" phase and the dutiful subjects respond. Later when we look at the picture we see the 'bunny ears' that the little dears have bestowed on their neighboring sibling by holding up those two fingers behind their head!

A few months ago my daughter's #2 child asked if I would paint a picture of her for her birthday.  (Actually, she said, "Gramma Jo, I know what I want for my birthday. I want you to paint three pictures of me.")

OK, this is one of those children who 'know' when there is a camera about to be aimed in her direction. So, when I look through my picture file, all the pictures of her have teeth. She is beautiful and loves to have her picture taken but, when you paint a picture with smiling teeth it often looks like that person has a piano in their mouth!

She and I discussed this dilemma and then spent a bit of time taking pictures with her trying NOT to smile.  I know that was so hard for her.  She sat at the kitchen table doing her homework and I snapped away.

Last week she turned eleven and the picture is framed and ready to go to her.
Happy Birthday, Leighton!

Drips...

I've been subbing again in the watercolor class.  For the past two weeks we have been trying a new (to most of us) technique.  We began by thoroughly wetting the watercolor paper on both sides.  Then we thought about what colors we would like to use (I'm a primary color person) and began dripping them on our paper.

The wonderful thing about watercolor is that it runs and creates wonderful new shapes and colors.  If you raise your paper and turn it in various directions amazing things can happen...and also frightful messes can be revealed!

Our task was to see some 'thing' in these drips and then to paint around it  - highlighting and defining it. When you paint the space around the 'thing' you are painting negatively.

What we found was that it was VERY HARD to do.  We are so used to painting a thing - beginning with an idea and painting it.  To begin with no idea and then have it mysteriously revealed seemed a very backward challenge!

Well, the fun thing about this wet paper is that when you really mess up on one side you can just turn it over and begin again...  which I think several of us did.

So, this is what I ended up with that first day...

I confess, I didn't see any 'thing' but someone in class suggested that it could be a city skyline.  I took it home to dry.  During that week, I tried turning it in several different directions and cropped it here and there.

I think this is the forest fires out west.

This looks a little like an erupting volcano.

This is sort of nothing...back to square one...

So, I went back to class this week and showed these ideas. The class suggested turning the painting upside down (from the way I had it originally - who knew which way it should go) and they saw a waterfall! Hmmm...

Well, now I have worked on it ...played around with some more darks and lights and maybe it is a waterfall after all.  I keep hearing the voice of one of my instructors from a few years ago... "Go ahead and experiment.  It's only PAPER."  So, here is "The Waterfall"

Warm and Cool

From time to time I am asked to be a substitute in an on-going watercolor class that meets in St Michaels. It is a treat for me - I always learn something, the artist instructor is talented and helpful - she gives great critiques... and the other class members are such fun.

Last month I was fortunate to be able to sub two back-to-back weeks.  It's really nice to have that continuity. The class was working on warm and cool paintings.  The first week we painted our warm paintings using only warm colors - reds, yellows, greens.

I looked through my picture file and found a picture that I had taken on my recent trip to Vermont.  Paul's sunlit, red barn had all sorts of flowers growing up the side.

I struggled with the windows and doorway.  In my photograph these were very dark areas and as I was painting them they I lost the warm feeling.  A red watercolor wash helped.  However, when I got home and looked at it again (after a day of staring at it on the easel across the room) I couldn't let it be and began to 'play' with my pastels...  The white window frame warmed up as did most everything else!  Ta-da, my warm painting...

So, the following week was the 'cool' assignment.  Another look through the picture file and I found one of the beautiful morning mist rising and rolling across Nelson Pond (a camp where we stay)... birch trees and firs being alternately seen and partially hidden by the haze.

I painted this wet-on-wet... beginning with very wet paper and dropping watercolor onto it for a soft, flowing look. These blues, blue-greens and grays carry the cool feeling.  If fact, when I showed it to someone without any explanation, they thought it was a winter painting.  I guess I captured 'cold'!  I may have to stick in just a little blue sky (and water) to bring it back to summer...and hear the wonderful calls of the loons across the pond.

You Never Know...What's Really There...Until Later

I have found that I am more and more passionate about painting children - and grandchildren in particular.  So, I am taking pictures whenever possible to use for future paintings.

I grew up with a film camera and knew that every shot I took needed to be carefully crafted because it would cost real money to have it developed and printed.  Enter the digital camera...  aha!  Now I can shoot at will and review hundred of pictures...for free.  (My darkroom photographer husband thinks this is 'bad form,' but he's tolerant.)

However, I know he has also had some experience with this phenomenon. You take a picture and it is not until later that you really see, I mean REALLY SEE, what is there.

A couple years ago we were on Spring Break with my daughter and her family.  I was taking pictures like mad of all the granddaughters at the beach.  A few weeks ago I was looking through old photos to find something to paint and discovered one of the four year old walking along the beach with late afternoon shadows.  I was up on a deck when she walked by so it is at an interesting angle.

I began to paint it - actually I sketched it and did a watercolor underpainting...planning a pastel.  Picture this...I am painting away...finding the right pastels to paint her arms and her leg...yikes!  Only one leg!  It's not until I am well into this painting that I discover that this child has only one leg!  The unusual angle highlights the child and shadows...her dress hides the other leg.  My head knows that it is there, but I NEVER saw that it wasn't!

Now I am laughing to myself (and at myself) and finishing the painting to give to her for her sixth birthday.

And, I am wondering...did anyone else notice that she had only one leg?

Pondering Fall Leaves

Remember that big pile of fall leaves that we used to jump in?  Remember the crunching sounds we heard when we ran through them?  Remember that distinctive smell when we burned the pile after we finished playing in it? I am also remembering the hot dogs and marshmallows we roasted on that fire... sadly we have learned that some of these things were not good for us, but the memories are priceless.

Well, now that all the pictures are framed and ready for the show that we are hanging next week, I had time to look through old photographs and see what I wanted to paint next.  And, I came upon several of a granddaughter who is about to turn 13 - can't believe that - when she was experiencing her fist pile of leaves. She wasn't too sure what to do.  As the oldest child, there was no one to run through them with her, so she spent some time just sitting in them and pondering.  I remember snapping several photos at the time - I love this one the best.

It's still a work in progress, but that birthday is coming up fast...

His and Hers

Several years ago, George and I did a His and Hers Show - his photographs and my paintings.  It was a small collection of our artwork in a rather out-of-the way building in St Michaels. Since then, we have talked occasionally about showing again, so when I heard that there were some unclaimed months on the sign-up sheet at the St Michaels Library, I filled in our names for August.

As part of the preparations, we talked about making a sign to go with the show... hmmm, what to do? We tried a couple of different things - and since we 'do' different art, nothing was quite right.  So, we decided to go with our differences.  "His" in black and white with a black and white photograph.  And, "Hers" in color with a watercolor/pastel painting.

On August 1st we will hang our show - photographs and paintings. It has been fun preparing and comparing.  (You show me yours and I'll show you mine...)  We'll show YOU all of it.  Drop by the library gallery anytime in August and/or come to the artists' reception on Thursday, August 23 at 5:30 when we will talk about putting it all together... and our experiences creating the various pieces of artwork.

First Date

A few years ago my daughter sent me a photograph of her youngest daughter (who I think must have been about 4 years old) walking to the Timonium Fairgrounds - Maryland State Fair - with a friend.  I think they must have been told that they needed to stay close together and not get lost in the crowds.  I remember thinking at the time that this these two little ones would make a wonderful painting...

In August, George and I are presenting his photographs and my paintings in a "His and Hers Show" at the St Michaels Library.  For the past few weeks we have been organizing, painting, printing, framing - generally trying to get ready.  Just a few weeks left...

I decided to do three groupings: landscape, still life and figures.  As I was going through my figure paintings trying to decide what to show, I recalled that I had not yet painted the two children.  So, I did the watercolor underpainting and then (after it dried) began the pastel.  Now, I'm not sure what to do...  I love this, but... what to do next?  They probably need to be walking on a path or something...or maybe just some kind of non descript, suggestion of something...

Help... anyone?

Elephants in the field

When I was growing up - in a small farm community in the Midwest - we used to see the hay balers in the fields spew out rectangular bales of hay.  One by one, the bales would appear - tied in some kind of string - and wait to be put on a truck to be hauled away.

Many years later when I took my children to Georgia to visit their grandmother, we went to my uncle's pond to go fishing.  This was always a treat.  The pond was hidden away on his farm and we had to drive on dirt roads and through fields to get there. One particular evening I remember my mother exclaiming, "Oh, look at the elephants in the field!" And there... we saw big round bales of hay 'standing' all over the field. The new baler had arrived.

As I was going into St. Michaels the other day, the hay had just been cut and there was a small herd of elephants!

They are not much to sketch, but the memories are priceless...

The New Watering Can

I am loving painting children at the beach.  This was a chilly day at Caspian Lake (many years ago), but Maizie had a new watering can so we had to have some beach time.  She was fearless and waded into the cold water to fill up the can and then enjoyed pouring it onto the gray sand...again and again.

Never mind that the sun wasn't out and that she had to wear a sweatshirt because of the chilly wind.  It was a happy day.

This little girl turned 13 last week - how can that be?  Happy Birthday, Maizie!

Pastel on sanded paper

Chloe's Frog

A few weeks ago, my other grandchildren, Chloe and Issy (Issy's Bracelets - July 14, 2011 post), dropped by for a quick visit during their Spring Break.  It was wonderful to see them.  Now that they live in Vermont, it is harder to connect so any time we have together is very special.

Ever since I painted Issy I have been trying to draw Chloe. She has just turned thirteen - and is a lovely, talented 'young lady.' She plays several instruments, is a member of the Vermont youth orchestra and is now also singing!

But, when she was little, she was so interested in nature. (actually, I think she still is...) Whereas, Issy would be dancing and doing 'little girl' things like playing with bracelets, Chloe would be looking for snakes, frogs and creepy things.

So, the reason that it has taken so long to paint her is that I had several pictures, but none that was just right.  I wanted to paint her with a least one of her nature 'friends,' so I have tried combining several pictures and added the frog.

I think I have caught her...perhaps at age five... can't believe she is now a teenager! Happy Birthday, Chloe!

Signs...

For many years I have been intrigued by headlines and signs.  There are two clippings from the local newspaper on our refrigerator right now: one reads "Man Turns Himself Into Police"(an interesting magic stick to be sure...and it does not even indicate the involvement of a phone booth) and the other is an ad that says "2 Dozen Large Males $40" (I am sure that one could be of interest to a number of young females).

I love the way our language is used. Words imply so many different things and the messages we put out there can be very amusing at times.  One of the things I enjoy doing is to look for signs in relationship to other signs. My all time favorite was in Towson, Maryland several years ago at one of the strip malls.  There were two businesses next to each other - actually sharing a building. Picture this:  "Raver's Fine Meats" immediately next to "Towson Animal Hospital."  Mr. Raver, the butcher, had a great reputation, but I could never make myself go in there!

Recently on our spring break vacation I spotted these road signs.  Like the aforementioned signs which really had nothing to do with one another, I am trying NOT to treat these as being connected...but I had to put them in my sketchbook.

There is something about 'Lovers Lane' and 'Dead End' on the same pole...   its gotta make you smile!

Spring Break

Last week we were on "Spring Break." For the past couple of years, my daughter and her husband have invited us to spend this vacation time with their family in Florida - they love the beach...and this spring we were again blessed with fabulous weather!  Daytime temperatures in the 80's - cooler at night.  LOTS OF SUNSHINE!

Most of the days are spent on the beach and/or in the pool with occasional 'outings' to play miniature golf, shop or, this year, a trip to the Naples Zoo.  It's a fun time to be with family and really 'hang out.'

Every year I take my sketchbook.  Last year all the girls wanted to draw/paint in it.  This year there was hardly any interest in that, but I did do a few sketches...just because I have to!

The place that they have rented is a nice sized house on the beach with a smaller house in the back  - a grandparent suite.

There are plantings everywhere and pathways lined with stones.

The pool is between the big and little houses.  The girls spent many hours here and practiced doing flips off the side.

Lizards abound...all sizes and darting around everywhere!  One evening (after we had gone to bed) the girls found a tiny one in the bedroom!  That must have caused a bit of commotion. I understand that their mother wisely put a plastic cup over it, slipped a piece of paper under the cup and released it outside...after they took a picture of the culprit.

 
A FUN time for us all.  Thanks for including us again this year!

Painting Outside the Box

Last month at the SMAL (St Michaels Art League) meeting we were presented with a new painting opportunity.  There were two boxes filled with 'things.'  We were to take a box home and use 80% of its contents to paint a picture.  We could arrange the 'things' in any way we wished and use any medium we wished.  At the end of the meeting one of the boxes had not been taken, so I thought, why not give it a try?

I opened the box and looked at its contents... a ball of yarn; a small round vase; a taller interestingly shaped bottle; a small wooden berry basket; a pine cone; a large piece of blue material (for a backdrop, I guessed); a small piece of glass shaped like a seashell; and some plastic flowers... tulips and some smaller white bunches.

Oh my... what would I do with that stuff?  I got out my background frame and draped the material over it.  I tried various arrangements and different lighting...  Everything seemed to fall flat!  I couldn't get excited about any of it.

I looked back at the box and re-read the directions for this project. "Still Life Box" it said. Okay, use 80% of what was in there AND you can add two things of your own.  Hmmm... maybe that would help. I started looking around for something to add. Again, no excitement...so I just left it all there and decided to go at it again the next day. (sometimes that helps - to just let it go for awhile)

I awoke the next day with an idea.  What I really love doing is painting children.  What if I painted a child looking at all the stuff?

Then a little research...  a 'still life' painting does not contain anything live in it. I checked the directions again - no where did it say 'paint a still life painting.'  It did say, be creative - stretch your imagination and use the box contents.

So, I began by using the little girl at the pool - see blog from February 16. I changed her swim suit to a pair of shorts and a top. I rearranged the box contents. And voila! There she is...looking at some of the stuff.

How many of the mentioned objects can YOU find?

Another Pastel Class

For the past four weeks I have been taking another pastel class - this one is "Face and Figure"...mainly figure.  We begin each class with warm up exercises - mostly doing gesture drawings with a live model.  I love doing this.  There are usually about 10 short poses.  Our model has been wonderful. She is a yoga instructor and maintains poses really well.  If you are doing these right, they look like wire sculptures!

Then we went on to charcoal line and value drawings. Here are a few from my 'homework.'  I didn't have a model at home so I've been using photos of children that I have stored on my computer.

These classes are always great - I meet new artists and we share stories and ideas. We start at all different levels and learn from each other.

Next comes color... I'll keep you posted!

A trip to the mall - delights and surprises

George's computer screen turned pink... After reading lots of posts about this issue (and possible fixes) we decided that the best thing to do was to take a trip to the Apple Store. The nearest store is in Annapolis at the mall. We made an appointment on line and arrived the next morning.

It is an amazing place - full of blue shirted young people (the Apple employees) each one holding an iPad and eager to assist.  We were led to the 'Genius Bar' and introduced to Danny. He was very helpful.  He typed away, 'stressed' the computer, typed some more and gave advice.

While all this was going on I began looking around the store.  Near where we were standing is an area just for kids. Computers on low tables (kid height) with big cushiony balls for chairs. I was immediately taken with one little girl who was patiently waiting ...playing on an iPod.  She was so engrossed. I couldn't resist, I got out my iPhone camera and took some pictures.  Then I noticed a tall man standing behind her...probably her father. Understanding today's world, I went over to him and asked if he was her father.  Yes, he was. I told him I thought his daughter was beautiful. I said I was an artist and I particularly liked to paint children.  I had taken her picture to paint and assured him that it was not for any other purpose.  He was OK with that.

I went back to where Danny was working and a few minutes later the man came over and handed me his card. He asked me to email him when I painted her picture - he'd love to see it! How cool is that?  Then I looked at the card...would you believe, he was a Secret Service Agent! You never know...good thing I talked to him about taking her picture.

So, here she is as a preliminary sketch. I think this will probably find its way to becoming a lovely pastel one of these days.

SMAL Banners

The St Michaels Art League (SMAL) has this terrific banner program.  For the past two years we have brightened up the town with colorful banners hanging on many of the utility poles on our main street.

Art league members are encouraged to produce artwork that represents our town - a rather quite village on Maryland's Eastern Shore.  We are a tourist 'destination.' Particularly on summer weekends, the town fills with visitors who come to shop, dine, visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and just enjoy walking around a small town.  It is one of the few places left where you can ALWAYS see people walking around, holding hands and smiling!

The banner competition has two judges who look at all the entries and choose the ones they think best illustrate life in our small town... and the ones they think will make good banners.

Most of the banners are true works of art - fine art, that is.  My entry this year was a little whimsical... more like a cartoon. I did have fun painting it and it makes me smile.  I think that I need to have fun with my art - when I get too serious, my work looks labored.

So, here is this year's banner entry...  and YES, it was juried in!

It will be hanging on Talbot Street toward to middle of April until sometime in November. All the banners are available as posters for visitors who want to go home with a special remembrance of their trip to St Michaels.

And, another plug... there will be an Art Show and Sale of banner art and more on the last weekend in April - Saturday the 28th - which is Winefest...  a time to come to town, sample lots of different wines and BUY ART.

Transitions...

Transitions are hard...  we arrived home last night from a wonderful month in Puerto Rico.  Today it was dreary - rainy and chilly here.  We are remembering with great fondness the crashing waves, blue skies, sparkling water...need I say more?

I am in "swimming withdrawal" already.  Yes, I know I could swim here, but not outside (yet) and not with the new friends I made at the Crescent Beach pool.  I was fortunate to join an impromptu water aerobics group - we met at different times almost every day...depending on when golf, tennis, and grandchildren were happening.  Bright colored 'swim noodles' filled the pool and our group had a great time exercising together. There was a lot of jumping up and down, ocasional complaining that the water was too cold, telling of stories, laughing and generally enjoying being together.

So, here's to you WA (water aerobics) friends!

And, I can't resist posting this sketch...  one of the exercisers had a visit from her granddaughter.  Children in hats and bathing suits just beg to be drawn!

Cheers... home again...

Other than palm trees - the Ceiba

Yes, there are palm trees everywhere, but there are also some other stunning trees.  We have been 'taken' with one here called a Ceiba - or Kapok tree.  It has an amazing root system that winds around the ground sometimes arching up several feet. It creates unusual patterns and begs you to stop and look at it. One of the Ceiba trees here is even lighted at night and has other lovely plantings around it - it just shouts "Look at what I have done!"

We have driven by two of these trees at different times of the day trying to see just the right time to photograph it. When is the sun at the perfect angle to capture the mystery?  I gave up with that and tried to capture at least some of the peculiar nature of one of them.

I need to work on the other one - it is even more dramatic.  At least my sketch reminds me of the 'nature' of this creation.

The Water!

One of the lovely things about where we are staying is the water.  George walks to the beach every day with his chair and I guess he just sits and stares at the waves. (He says he is reading...) I look at the waves from our balcony - and don't get sandy.  From any vantage point, it is a beautiful sight... and the sound of the waves is soothing and hypnotic.

My 'swimming water of choice,' however, is the pool. There are three pools here: a small baby pool, a strange shaped pool that is 3-5 feet deep.  It has a concrete bench and some jacuzzi-like jets in it.

'My' pool is the larger, deeper one.  Every morning I watch from my balcony as Felix - the pool guy - cleans my pool.

As soon as he is finished (and sometimes even before) I walk over and I swim laps (about 1/2 mile) - it feels wonderful. So far, I have been the only one in the pool - it is mine...  When I swim, I loose myself  - my mind wanders. It is such a peaceful place - no cares, no worries. Ahhhhh...

The Big Rock Path

There are many paths in the complex in which we are staying.  Everything is beautifully landscaped and well tended.  Some of these paths lead to the beach, others to the pool, and others are just walking trails.

My first time to the pool I looked back and mentally marked the path I had taken (so I could get back to our villa!)  There is a big rock there with two small palm trees and some flowers.  I really liked the way the rock and the plantings were laid out and kept thinking that would be a fun sketch.

So, one day on my way back from swimming my laps, I put my towel down on the grass and got out my sketchbook.  How lovely just to sit in the sun and draw.  When I got back to the villa, I got out those dried-up paints again and did some watercolor washes. I always lose myself when I paint - even when I am challenged by aging paint.

Well, am I glad I decided to do the sketch when I did... the next morning the lawn crew showed up and snip, snip... the flowers were gone and everything was trimmed back!  Plant life is lush here and I guess these guys know what they are doing... but those flowers would have lasted a little longer at our house.  Chances are, there will be more blooming within the week, but my sketch reminds me of my first sighting.

 Oh, how I look forward to fresh paint - tomorrow!

2012 and the 'Good Life'

Can it be that we are already half way into the first month of 2012?  Yikes, how did that happen?

Actually, I do know how that happened... we spent the first two weeks madly putting everything in order so we could escape to our wonderful retreat in Puerto Rico.  We are now lazily spending our days looking at palm trees and listening to the ocean waves break outside our door.

For the past few mornings my husband has asked me, "What is your agenda?"  One would think he just doesn't get it... but I know he does.

Well, my 'agenda' has been: leisurely breakfast, catch up on email, go to the pool, swim 1/2 mile, sit and read until lunch.  As if that is not enough, I brought my sketchbook with me...

I did a few ink sketches and then opened up my 'travel' watercolor bag.  Would you believe, all I found were some dried up paints!  I had forgotten to transfer my small tubes of paint into this bag...  'oh my', (or something stronger)...

Well, I would NOT let this ruin my relaxed mood...  I sprayed the dried-up paint and used it.  The colors are certainly not as strong... and I had left my turquoise (ocean color) at home, but ...

The good news is that friends and neighbors have come to my rescue. My neighbor found my paints and has delivered them to friends who are coming here soon.  My fresh paints will be here at the end of the week!

In the meantime, here are a few sketches of what we are seeing.

The view from our balcony...

There are palm trees everywhere - a big pot at poolside.

More tomorrow - maybe, it depends on my agenda...