Sketching!

I've done a couple of botanical sketches. Yesterday!! First time I've done anything using pencils or brushes for quite some time. I feel out of condition actually, just like I do when I've not been to work out for some time. So... must get back to creative work. Perhaps with the extreme heat possibly over, I'll feel more like it.

 Coleus leaves and Sumac.

Sunflowers grown from seed from my garden.

Anniversary of this Blog venture

Today I turn 66, so this year of "Playing Creatively" is finished as such. Did I accomplish what I wanted? Have I been as creative as I had hoped? Did I carry this process to the intended end? No, no and yes.

Towards the end of the year, due to a variety of circumstances, I must admit I lost steam as far as staying true to my purpose of playing creatively and documenting the process as planned. I have managed 53 blogs since I started, so that does mean an average of 1 a week.

 When I look back at the body of work I did post here, it is definitely more than I have every completed in an given year, so that is something that I did achieve. Did I manage to experiment with techniques as much aas I had planned, no I did not. I found it increasingly more difficult to carve out time "away" in my studio without interruption. Made it difficult to dig in. But I realize that I can discipline myself to work. I am pleased with some of the pieces I created. On top of that, I did feel good enough about some of my work to submit a piece this spring to the Drawing for Art, and my artwork got chosen.

Will I carry on? Yes, but I think I need a new focus, so I need to think that through. I will determine that soon and  post my plans here.

Lastly, I did actually do a couple of pieces recently, and I have two incomplete paintings on the go.

This is a "botanical drawing" from our last Art Group meeting in May.

And this is a painting I did of orange poppies growing in my front garden. Which reminds me, I need to remember to move this plant to the side bed!

Garden transformation and Alex turning 70!

Part of my challenges this spring has been to transform my back yard  into "my oasis"!  I had the grass taken out last fall and wanted to wait till I was sure how I wanted it completed ( also what was affordable ). So this spring I contracted with my landscape guy to complete the work based on a photo I had seen in a magazine. That was March. Very wet spring. He was planning for late April, early May. I had wanted to have it done prior to Alex' 70 birthday so that we could have a little do. Then Mom got sick and the landscape guy got busy trying to complete his regular work load between rainfalls. Long story short, it was finally completed June 3rd. The "do" was on Saturdays June 4th!!! Much of what I had wanted to move will have to wait. I also got rid of the BBQ and the old outdoor furniture and was able to get just the set I wanted!!! Here is the result.

 
And here he is at 70 with me!

Challenges!

Its been a while! No kidding. Most of it has been due to challenges with mom's health and its effects on her mentally, physically and emotionally. And........ as a result, on me and my ability to get on with what I want to do. She has had a number of small problems, First, a scratch on her leg that got quite infected. Off to the doctor. Tetanus shot, creme and anti-biotics. Seemed to make her quite out of it mentally and physically. That cleared up, then she had a bit of a fall in the bathtub, when she could not quite get herself out. I had to haul her out by lifting her. Seemed to be OK, but 2 days later her right hand was quite swollen, so off to emergency. They diagnosed a small fracture, and a definite sprain. Her arm was splinted and more anti-biotics. Well... talk about problems keeping the splint on. She does not remember the fall nor the reason for the splint. Back to the fracture clinic for a follow-up appointment where she gave her a Velcro splint to keep on for another 10 days. No way!!! At least not for long. So the wrist kept being aggravated. Plus more anti-biotics so the the brain functions were even less clear!
In the meantime, I've gone an bought a bath-lift since she absolutely does to understand that one can take a shower to get clean!!! It must be a bath and only a bath. Very crabby by now. The bath lift is an intrusion to her. She has always had baths and why does she have to have this "thing" in the bath. Oh well!!! At least she is getting a bath and I have a little less to worry about her getting into the bath. It used to scare me to watch how she got into and out of the bath tub!!! Mom has always been quite agile, and she still is. But she is so unsteady on her feet these days and not functioning too well mentally. I also got a wheelchair for her, so that is actually a bit liberating. Has made small walks possible with her holding on to the chair, then when she gets tired (about the distance of 4 houses) she can get in the chair and we can go around the block or what not.

All of these drugs in her system though, have resulted in her getting a nasty infection in her mouth referred to by the medical profession as "black hairy tongue" . The taste receptors grow quite long and seem to feel awful.So much so, that she actually asked to go see the doctor. More drugs!!! This time to kill the fungus that causes this condition. Still cranky, but it seems to be getting a bit better. I hope that's it for a while so that she can enjoy things a bit more. She has been quite annoyed with everything lately, to the point that she keeps saying she should never have left Holland!

More stuff happened which I will recall in another post. I've not been in the mood

Botanical drawings

Still working to get some samples of botanical illustrations and to get my grove back. It may be working. I'm starting to look at my garden plants and at nature as I walk in a whole new way. Its still way too cold and rainy for this time of year. Means my garden landscaping work is still not done. Oh well.

Here are some examples. A branch from a magnolia. Done in Inktense I do like this medium

 My favorite: a drawing in Inktense of a daylily. Forget the name.

A drawing in ink of a day lily called  "french lingerie".

A drawing of an iris.

Hoping for renewal

I've been in a funk for far too long. I thought the coming of spring might cure it, but so far..... not so good. Not in the mood for much of anything I normally relish. So I'm doing less working out, less walking, less interest in getting to my paints and pencils, less interest in seeing folks. I have been starting to work in the garden a bit, but even that is less satisfying than normal. I'm still waiting to get a quote and movement on the back Plus our plumbing issues seem to be eating up whatever we got back on our taxes. Mom still comes looking for me every time I try to get something done in my office or studio. Does not need anything other than to see me here in front of her. My dad was like that too the last year. He had no interest other than to see mom in front of hem. I am getting a lot of reading done.

The only art work I did complete is this three media drawing of the same piece of wood bole that has been carved with a Buddha on the inside. Did it as an illustration for our next Art Group session that I'm presenting.

I used pencil for the first, then water soluable coloured graphic pencils, and then Inktense water soluable pencils for the third.

Drawing for Art Experience

Last Thursday was the Station Gallery's Drawing for art. I had donated a picture. In total there were 137 pictures donated and 100 tickets sold, so obviously some would not be chosen. Interesting and eclectic assortment. Nicely done event. Met most of my artist friends who had also donated and have been doing so for a while. Mine did get picked as well. So that is gratifying.

Here is my contribution again.

April 15 report

Its been three weeks since I last posted. I've not been "in the mood" for much lately. Too much dealing with car repairs; leaking toilets causing a collapsed part ceiling in the garage; oven burner turning white hot and laming out! There's more! I started seeds and had my mini greenhouse on the table in from of the living room window. Cats left it alone for 2 whole weeks. Then maxi decided to sit on top of the green house. It caved in and the seedling were more than a little the worse for wear. I've re-seeded some and are hoping the best for the rest. i'be taken them to the only place I could that had enough light and away from the cats. So its now installed on top of my art desk in front of a south window (the only one in our whole house!).


I have a painting of orchids on the way, but I can't seem to be able or willing to pick up a paint brush. Not sure why, but all of my creative juices seems to have gone into torpor.Maybe next week. I've decided to give myself space and time to re-kindle.

Spring maybe?!?!

Officially its spring, but I'm not so sure its really here yet. Mom is asking when it will be summer numerous times a day, and following me around all the time. I'm under-motivated and feeling less than creative.

Last week we did life drawing in our Art group. Good but am I ever rusty. I would like to be able to take weekly classes again. Some day!


I have started a painting of orchids two times, and then covered the canvas with gesso to start it again. The only thing I did do is an abstract acrylic. I call it Butterfly.

No computers and dishwasher repairs!!!

Why is it "stuff" always breaks down in multiples!!! Computer seized up and ended up having to be cleaned out and reloaded. As a results its going to be a while before all is back to where we can find it readily. Bookmarks being one area that was not completely saved, so I even had a challenge finding this Blog!

I did manage to finish some painting this week.

This is a painting of orchids that I did using acrylics. Red iron oxide background. Not quite as " removed" as I had wanted it, but I did learn a lot about colour and contrast.

There is also a watercolour of ice ponds that I finally finished. Same photo source as the pastel I did a couple of weeks ago.

Acrylics pansies and success with replication!

I participated in a session painting pansies with acrylics. Results are OK, but I will try this again.

I also played some more to try to replicate the effects I got when I did the painting that I'm giving to the Drawing for Art. I knew I used a brayer to apply colour, but the effects were not right until i used Hot Press paper and inks!!

Drawing for Art

I waffled for a while, but I have decided to enter one of my abstracts in the Drawing For Art exhibition at a local gallery. All proceeds go to the gallery, so its a good cause. Made me sit up though and take my art more seriously, and made me start to think about how to write my Bio and/or Artists Statement. What is my art all about? Why do I do what I do and what inspires me? Not so easy.

At any rate, I chose an abstract and have had it framed. Here it is.

Only challenge is that I have not been able to recreate the same effect in my efforts this week. So I'll have to practice some more, since I do like the result.

I also did another pan pastel. Mostly this is something I can do downstairs in the family room with mom. As soon as I try to do something out of her sight, within 10 minutes she is looking for me. Makes it a bit of a challenge to work in my studio. Oh well.

2011 Week 4

Winter is too long already! I've had an up and down time of it lately, what with all the shoveling snow, and dealing with dark days. Same with my creative endeavours. Last week, we had our Art Group session. Watercolour landscape. Marion's instructions were great, as was her execution. Mine I found to be more than a bit boring. Sky turned out well, aweful trees. But here it is.

So I decided to try another similar scene my self. Bit better, but still boring.

To get myself looser, I decided to do a pastel of a scene from Sable island.

I've been thinking of taking the same source but producing it in different medium for effect. So here is the same scene in watercolour with the ghost like impression of the horses that were in the photo.

 I like the pastel best!

2011 Week 3

Its already the start of the third week of this new year. Too much winter for me. I am pining for spring. Bought some seeds yesterday to get my garden started.

New year, new week, new paintings.

I tried another pastel painting using my new Pan Pastels. Its of an orchid spray.

I also completed an acrylic study that I started last week. I've thinking about doing colour studies. This one is in reds with some analogous highlights.

New Media!

I got some Pan Pastels for Christmas. A gift to myself!!! Why not, eh! I ordered them from Cheap Joe's, but now I noticed that Curry's has somewhat of a display finally. I've always loved the effects that some artists can create using pastels, but so far I've not felt that I was able to really master the techniques with the types of pastels I had been using. So I was interested in trying these. I must say I looked at them for a couple of weeks before I was ready to try them. Had a lot to do with my malaise as far as feeling creative. I hope that I'm over that, now that I've given myself permission to just do without the need for whatever pressure I seem to have been putting on myself.

At any rate, these are very creamy and easy to apply with the sponge applicators. I'm still trying to master control of details but I like the potential, especially in mixed media. Here is my first attempt at Irises.

 I may work on it some more.

And here is another stamped piece on my own hand made paper that I also completed this week.

New Year, new focus!

Its now January 5 2011. Hard to believe that this century is now more than a decade old. Made me antsy initially since I was very conscious of not doing much to further this mission of spending a Year Creatively! Very low interest. That gets coupled with self imposed pressure to perform, which leads to disappointment. Then I had an ahah moment today! This year is about being true to myself and fostering my inner artist, NOT about meeting artificially imposed deadlines or expectations. Not an earth shattering idea overall, but useful when it dawned on me that I have no one to please than myself.

So, who knows what I will or will not achieve this year. All I know it that's its a journey, but its MY JOURNEY, to do with what feels right.

So  right now I'm sitting here typing this first Blog of 2011, with Max curled up on my lap. Makes typing a bit of a stretch, but its very pleasant to realize that he now feels this secure that any time I sit at the computer its lap time. He's actually asleep! A first.