Withie

I seem to be in 'dog mode.' I woke up one morning after painting all the dog days of summer - all the dogs wearing masks - with an idea that really made me smile.

I have a friend who had the most adorable little dog. His name is Withie. My friend lives alone and had been experiencing some health issues. She did not know how long she would be able to care for him adequately and had talked to the dog's groomer about her concerns.

The groomer loved the dog and offered to take him when my friend was ready to part with him. As it turns out, the groomer has two other dogs and could not take Withie anytime soon. However, the groomer did know a couple who had recently lost a dog and she thought they might be ready to adopt Withy.

About a month ago, the groomer arranged a meeting with my friend, the other couple and Withy. Of course, the other couple immediately fell in love with Withie and my friend was delighted to see that Withy would be cared for in a loving new home.

A couple of weeks ago my friend bid farewell to Withie and he went to live with his new family. Transitions like this are never easy, but knowing that Withy would be loved and cared for did make it less difficult. It was thoughtfully and carefully planned.

So, when I woke up recently I had this crazy idea. It turned out that I knew Withie's new family! I emailed them and asked if they would take some pictures of Withy so that I could paint his portrait for my friend.

Within days, I had some reference photos and got to work. Withie is a fluffy little guy - curly hair is not easy to recreate!

Using my pastels, I got the first shapes and colors in...

I began to define his face more - to capture his expression - and to figure out about the fluffy body. As it turned out, he had recently been groomed so he was not so fluffy... he had more of a shaved look.

 Whereas, I like his stance, I decided to do a little cropping and throw the emphasis toward his expression rather than his body. This also solved my problem of what to do with the background. Would I put him in grass? or what?

A few more tweaks here and there...

Here he is.

Today I surprised my friend by ringing her doorbell and delivering the framed painting. We had a delightful visit and I left with such a great feeling. Almost burst into song "Oh, what a beautiful morning..." 🎵🎵

Dog Days of Summer

I don't think I have ever posted two days in a row, but this is an unusual time. Before I upload any paintings, I confess that I am getting a little quirky... (I believe quirky was a word that a friend used to describe me recently, so maybe I'm not just becoming quirky...  let's say Quirky 2.0)

So, what's going on today? My art group looks for a theme each week. I like having a focus - something to get me kick-started. This week our local art museum posted the theme "Dog Days of Summer."

It has gotten very hot here in the mid-Atlantic area and COVID-19 is spiking in our county... hmmm, the 'dog days of 2020.'

What if...???

I began thinking about all the dog paintings that I have done over the years... maybe they are a place to start. I went to my photo file and sorted through pastels and watercolors. I settled on six paintings and printed them out onto watercolor paper.

Then I began to give them a 2020 look...

But, then I thought, dogs are not known for transmitting this virus... so perhaps ...

I can't see these little girls smiling now, but they were in the original paintings!

I do so miss seeing the faces of my friends...and others I meet at the grocery store, etc. I miss smiles!

May we all stay safe and wear a mask! You are not just caring for yourself when you cover up, you are showing that you are for the people you are with. 

June - sketch a day

Yep, I'm still doing the daily sketches with the word prompts.  This is the month of June...

Unfortunately, the sketchbook paper is off white, so it doesn't photograph well...and my Photoshop keeps crashing when I try to manipulate...  Don't we just love electronics...when they work!

Last month I tied to figure out how things were related. Since my small sketchbook has room for two days on each page, here's another attempt to see how things might - or might not - fit. 

June 1 stands alone - Toast or Bread...  Apparently, each month begins with a question.

Bulldozer and and Caterpillar are on the same page. It occurred to me that they could be the same thing. Caterpillar makes large machinery. However, I have always loved the children's book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"     

Insect and Snake - I have this thing about snakes and just cannot bring myself to draw one...thus the plumbers snake...a very useful tool!

   

Danger and Hippopotamus - they could easily go together.
Mermaid and Rapunzel - Possible two stories about young maidens...

    


Wind and Snowflake - I liked the idea of a fall wind blowing the leaves off the tree. That would be followed by snowflakes... I confess, I got a little carried away when I began drawing the snowflake. It does not look light and airy. ..and it just kept getting worse!
Seaweed and Puffin - Hmmm, theme could be water...

     

Shark and Frying Pan - now there's a challenge. I guess you could fry a shark steak... not sure I want to go out and catch one right now.
Birthday and Armageddon  - I see birthday as a fun celebration and armageddon as NOT. For me, this is a page of opposites - I love celebrating birthdays...but I imagine some people do not!

     

Teacher and Woodpecker - How do I make that work? I supposed I could have drawn the teacher with red hair... Really? Sometimes it's OK to NOT find a connection. Maybe someone else has an idea.
Baobab Tree and Giraffe - I think both these things might be part of a safari adventure. Although, that has not been on my bucket list. I did love seeing the giraffes at the Baltimore Zoo when my children were little.

       

Elephant and Fairy - Must be another page of opposites! Large/small, heavy/light. Or, maybe another idea would be 'magical.' One of my granddaughters loves elephants. They would be magical for her.
Tree House and Sleep - And, speaking of magic... what about building and then sleeping in your own treehouse? It's a child's dream come true!

        

Early and Tattoo - I don't know anyone who loves their alarm clock. Who wants to get up early? Unless you possibly had an appointment to go get a tattoo?
Nurse and Xray - Certainly these belong together...it's the medical page.

       

And the final prompt in June is Sign. There are so many things that could be sketched for sign...road signs, signs of seasons, ads, ... Lately, we have seen more and more people signing public announcements. I am always fascinated by the way they use their hands to communicate words. I offer this for the end of June.

We are now halfway into July... more to come next month!

Collections

About a month ago I mentioned in a post that I had been sketching lots of 'stuff' around my house. I felt I needed to just sketch and was looking for 'collections' of things. I began by picking out various flower vases... here's the sketch from a prior post.

It was fun looking around to find what things would go together. I found myself singing that wonderful old Sesame Street song, "One of these things is not like the other..." as I made decisions about including or excluding what I would sketch.

I began with coffee mugs...probably we all have collections of them! I excluded a lot due to space and also composition...

Next were candlesticks and candles. I found them on the mantle and on several different shelves.

I guess, by then I was into lighting, so I went looking at lamps. I was concentrating on shapes... 

Now I am feeling pretty proud of myself and wanted to tackle something a little more difficult. What about chairs? This would give me challenges in perspective and force me to look closely. I really worked on seeing them from different angles.

By now I am pretty giddy and want to go in an entirely different direction. 

Hmmm, what other collections do we have around the house? And I spy... EEYORE! He is everywhere... small and large floppy, stuffed animals. One of them talks and moves his head when you squeeze a foot; another one walks when you wind him up. Then there is a hand puppet, a coffee mug and even an alarm clock!

 


It is amazing what I can find right in front of me! Take a look around. What collections (or other stuff) is right there for you to sketch, paint, or create something new?

The other thing that had meaning for me during this process was looking at 'things' in new ways... and, remembering the stories that each thing had to tell. Each 'thing' was a lovely prompt to reflect on it's history...

Life-giving project

Several weeks ago, one of the art supply sites that I frequent offered a short video on making an accordion sketchbook out of a 1/4 sheet of watercolor paper.  Just a few folds and a single cut and the paper is ready to go. Add a front and back cover. There are spaces for 6 portrait sketches on the front of the paper. When you turn it over, there are 4 portrait sketches and a double landscape sketch.

Having been 'locked down' with COVID 19 restrictions for a few months, I needed a project to help lift me out of 'funk-ness.'! 

So, I found an old watercolor painting that I cut in two and glued the pieces to mat board. I had my covers.

Then, of course, I stared at the blank pages. What would I sketch?

Many of my friends - and I - have been feeling down. How would I get myself out of this hole?

I decided to really make an effort to feel better. I looked around for sketch ideas. I needed something upbeat. I began looking for new growth... new life...and found it all around me.

The tree was trimmed and began to sprout new growth...

We have friends who have chickens...new life....

After a long winter, there is the hopeful quality of spring as the trees begin to burst out with new leaves.

I am always amazed as how a single seed can find just enough space to flourish.

And, then there are buds promising to become beautiful blossoms.

The final sketch on the first side of the book takes me back to church. (We haven't been able to be there since the virus restrictions were put in place.) But, the community and the bread and wine offer both hope and new life.

That completed one side of the book.

I turned to the other side and again stared at blank pages...

I began thinking about the things in my life that give me pleasure and bring me peace. I was on a new journey.

I began with a cairn - marking a trail, each stone having been put there honoring a significant piece of a journey.

I looked around me and there was the obvious...my sketchbook and painting supplies.

What next? I didn't have to go far, swimming helps me unwind. Being outside, being in the water and being surrounded by the pine forest.

There is nothing like digging in the dirt... my St. Francis garden brings me such pleasure. (except that the deer consider it their private smorgasbord)

The last sketch is the double page landscape. We spend so much time on our deck which overlooks Broad Creek. Want to lower you blood pressure? Just sit and look at the water...

I loved thinking about this project and then actually doing it. It did give me energy and helped me to think through where I find that energy. It helped me focus. 

And, I have a meaningful little book of sketches that I can go back to again and again. I can remember and renew...and maybe even come up with some new ideas.

My challenge to you... where do you find goodness in your life? How do you feed your soul? What brings you peace? 

Slow down, stop and take note. Be creative...draw, paint, write, sing, dance, connect with friends...just imagine a new leg of your journey.

What's going on?

Several years ago, someone sent me this quote:

"When a lot of things start going wrong all at once, 

it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born.

This something needs for you to be distracted 

so that it can be born as perfectly as possible."

I have thought about that from time to time...sometimes I think it's a lovely idea. 

There is so much going on right now in our world. What can I find to redeem the ugliness that has presented itself? Maybe we have needed these viruses, COVID-19 and racism, to make us really stop and get it right this time. They certainly are distracting... 

I have seen hopeful signs of people helping each other, being kind, listening, feeding, trying to understand and caring for neighbors. 

What does this have to do with my artwork? Perhaps just saying it's OK to reflect and not have to produce. I've 'kept my hand in it' by doing a few pages in the accordion books. Refer to previous posts: Group Project, March 12 and Another page in the book, April 21.

I recently received two more books. 

I've been trying to look at this lockdown as a 'gift of time.' Normal life stops... reflect and look for something new. Thinking about 'time' and 'reflection' took me to my grandmother's gold pocket watch. I have photographs of her wearing this watch on a long gold chain. It is a beautiful antique keepsake. 

For the other book, I started to think about something new being born. (Actually, we have recently become great grandparents for the first time - think about something 'born as perfectly as possible.') 

A week or so ago, I was part of a discussion about new growth and we talked about how some things emerge in very challenging circumstances. How many times have we seen new growth in a crack in the sidewalk? So, the other book has a sketch of hope...and perseverance!

I've also been doing a lot of sketching of things around me... series/collections in my house. Here's a preview of my next post. A few of the vases on the shelf...

Next time, chairs, lamps, candlesticks, coffee mugs and a surprise...