Tall Tales from Kansas

forget what you think you know about team building activities

On a Tuesday afternoon in Kansas City all my brave work colleagues and I gathered at Hook Gallery in Westport and let our inner artists come out.  

Our extremely smart social worker came up with this brilliant idea as a "self-care" activity.  

It was FUN!  I loved watching all the different approaches to the daisy.  

At the end of an hour an a half we had 11 individual masterpieces (and a new appreciation of our collective creativity).

Forget what you think you know about team building activities and get your work group to a painting party in your neighborhood.   I do not go for "forced activities in the name of workplace productivity"... but a painting party?  Who knew it would be such a frolicking good time? 

This daisy now lives at Tall Tales Headquarters. 

facetime sketchtime

After Art Retreat #2 my sister and I did Sketchwar's Wednesdays on a somewhat inconsistent AND regular basis (not a contradiction in terms though it may seem like it).  This was in an effort to keep me in the sketching mode all through the year.  Since Art Retreat #3 we have been doing FaceTime SketchTime on Sundays.  

Today I practiced drawing vegetables.  Vegetables inspired by my friend (in my own mind only) Gregory L. Blackstock.  I figure the only way I am going to get better at drawing my farmers market finds this spring and summer is to carefully observe and imitate the style of an expert until I find my own way. 

My sister was drawing pretty things.  Like birds.

I just kept on with the vegetables.

Until I switched to flowers.

And before you know it 2 hours was gone and I had to go and finish the laundry.  Coloring in to follow. 

this pepper shaker got left on the stove one time

My sister and I had a FaceTime sketch session the other day.

While she did a jaw dropping rendition of Sharron's journal, I drew she and Pam from photos I took in Palm Springs.  Then I colored them in.

I like to color in.  It's fun.  I also put some finishing touches on other things from the art retreat.

Labels might be important in years to come.

I heard a man at breakfast say, "we need a German pancake for the table", when he ordered breakfast.  I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget to order one for our table.  It seemed like such a good idea.  But then I forgot.

I also colored in some leaves from a drawing of leaves I copied from a book. 

This pepper shaker got left on the stove one time and the heat caused it to become slightly misshapen but it still works just fine.  These things happen.  I actually think the pepper shakes out of it better than the regular pepper shaker.   I recommended to the manager on duty at Elmer's to put all the pepper shakers on the stove. 

captured while waiting for a table outside Elmer's

 In addition to cactus gazing, tea cup buying, and taking neighborhood walks... there was also quite a bit of sketching done in Palm Springs. 

It's important to let some paint just fly around a bit before you get down to the serious sketching.  By serious you know that I mean blind contour drawings. 

I am a BIG fan of these for many reasons.  But mostly because they are fun.   Fun with a capital F.  For the drawer, the subject, and any witnesses.  

Mary Ann was first to draw the bottle of green Tabasco on the breakfast table at Elmer's but she was by no means the last.  

The gentleman above was captured while waiting for a table outside Elmer's.  He was discussing whether to order the banana french toast or the egg white scrambler.   That look you see on his face was caused by the turmoil of the decision. 

I did not let the fact that I was out of practice interfere with my fun in any way, shape, or form.  Nope.  Not me.   When you are in the company of fearless sketchers you jump in and swim.  

we are considering his application

There are many important elements to a good art retreat.  Climate.  Accommodations.  Scenery.  Atmosphere.  Food.  Music.  Wine.  Decent tables.  Lighting.  But none of those mean anything if you don't have THE number one most important part of an art retreat.   

People.   People.   People.

Did I already mention people?   I can vouch for the fact that Pam and Mary Ann make excellent art retreat companions. 

When I finally arrived 6 hours later than planned, saying over and over to myself "the hardships of travel are the salt that give the trip flavor", we commenced to laughing, opening presents, drinking good wine, telling stories, sketching, and eating fabulous chips and salsa.  In other words, having fun.  Because THAT is what a retreat is about. 

Some of you may have heard that the president was in town for some kind of valentine getaway with Michelle.  The truth of the matter is he wanted to get in on the art retreat.  We felt bad about it, but had to tell him that the slots were all filled.  To his credit he said he understood and wanted to know if he could come next year.  We are considering his application. 

art retreat #3

As evidenced by these photographs...

... a good time was had by all at art retreat #3 this past weekend.

Tom foolery prevailed. 

When I have slept, unpacked, and sorted photos (in that order) I will have stories to tell and journal pages to show.  Sister and Pam will likely be sharing stories and photos as well.   Count on me for the true and accurate version of events.  

I have "caftan shopping" on my to do list

Because the art retreat starts in exactly 26 days, and because I have not picked up a brush in months, today I opened up the watercolors. 

Going to the art retreat with Sister and Pam is like moving up from the farm team to the majors.   You better bring your A-game and get in some fielding and batting practice before you go.  

I found something pretty to copy from Pinterest today.  You gotta start somewhere.  

Did I tell you where we were staying?

I have "caftan shopping" on my to do list for next week. 

 

an excursion into "the territory of the imagination"

Somehow the other night, when I was attempting to sketch Jeanette, her beautiful heart shaped face took an unexpected turn when her mandibular symmetry got off resulting in a slightly problematic area that I don't need to point out to you.  I rescued it by adding a label and a frame.  See how it totally draws the eye away from the center of the page? 

After that I decided to copy some of these frames from my sister.

I am not sure yet what will go inside the frames.  Something.  Something that catches my mind this weekend.  This weekend when I am on an excursion into "the territory of the imagination".    I heard that phrase one morning this week while listening to NPR and decided then and there an exploratory journey was mandatory. 

people and chairs might see seem easier to draw from the side, but they are not

In case you didn't know it, chair legs are hard to draw.  Where to place all those lines for the legs?   Should a line that is closer be angled to the front or the back or the left or the right?  It's like a mouthful of teeth.  Only lines.  Relatively straight lines.  Why so confoundingly hard to draw?

Sometimes it's good to have another go at it.   Just to see if it gets easier the second time.  It usually doesn't.  But it's good to try.  In case one day it might.    

After two chairs, practice with simple letters is recommended.  I refilled my noodler with "Bad Green Gator" ink for this exercise.  Less water soluble than the last ink I had in it, but still interesting to see what you get when you go over it with some water.

I decided to turn the chair to the side after awhile.  Here's a little tip about that... people and chairs might see seem easier to draw from the side, but they are not.  Most definitely not. 

 

the beauty of a harebrained scheme

Ready or not you are about to hear about "the vogue papers".  I alluded to it last week when I showed you the the chair portrait project.   I've got enough projects going that I need a whole filing system to keep up with them.   Luckily my mind is like a steel trap from which nothing escapes.  Ever.  

The vogue papers emerged from the creative mind of  Lisa Hoffman.   We each went out and bought one of these behemoths...

... and I marked all the pages I thought would be interesting to try and sketch

... and started with this.  Kind of a warm up session if you will. 

I thought it best to start with one part of the human body.   Feet are hard to draw.  The human foot has 26 bones and 33 joints.  I like to tackle hard things first.  Get them out of the way and move on to easier things. 

Things like the hand.  The human hand has 27 bones.  Oops.  It's harder than the foot. 

Then of course there is the face which is quite complex in and of itself.  I do not recall from anatomy class with Dr. Sam Zeakes in 1979 at Marymount College of Kansas how many bones are in the human face, but no matter the number, it is quite complex to draw. 

I am starting from the extremities and working my way in.  I don't know what I will attempt next, but I have some ideas.

You gotta love the shadows on that face, not to mention the outfit.  Stay tuned for future episodes of the vogue papers and go visit Lisa to see what she's been up to.  We have 2 very different approaches to this project.   That's the beauty of a harebrained scheme - it's not supposed to be serious, orderly, OR well thought out. 

the chair portrait project

When Lisa and I met for coffee last week, she came with a brilliant idea for us to do chair sketches of each other.   The thought took hold in her mind as she was flipping through a magazine.  So I told her of course I was up for the project... knowing that the human form is quite a challenging subject for me.   

Lisa Hoffman you are full of GREAT ideas.  The chair portrait project was something I would never have thought of on my own.  I had the best time doing it.   Yes, your shoes need some work, but the practice I am going to get on the "Vogue Project" should take care of that.   Right? 

Link above to Lisa's blog provided so you can see Lisa's rendering of me in the chair... and see what I mean about our next project.  Those of you in Sketchbookery already know Lisa from seeing her sketches that Mary Ann showed in class.   I love her style, and the way I always find something, or someone, new and interesting each time I visit her blog. 

these things happen

Today I met one of my friends who has what I would call classic good looks.  Good bone structure, well placed eyes, shapely brows, thick straight hair... I could go on but you know what I mean.   While we were out I took her picture because I KNEW she would not mind what you are about to see. 

I can not get enough of blind contour drawings.  There is something very addicting about trying to capture an image with your hand and not letting your eyes get in the way.   I of course had to try and draw her while I looked as well.  There is a small resemblance to her actual appearance in the shape of her right eye. 

Tonight I tried one more blind contour - this time I started with the glasses on her head instead of with the eyes which is where I usually like to start.  I don't know how, but that led to her earring being in her nose instead of in her ear.  These things happen. 

Lisa - today was fun!  I am going to start on your "formal chair portrait" tomorrow.  I did a little practice sketch tonight, your body did not look even the tiniest bit stiff or unnatural.   After seeing these preliminary sketches, I hope you have not begun to have any misgivings about the large retainer you put down today for the portrait.  I think your editor is going to agree that it will be perfect for the book jacket on your upcoming new release!

 

we have a very fair division of duties at this house

This past weekend Chris took a picture of the supermoon the night before it got super.  So I guess it was a pre-supermoon.

While he was doing that I was sketching some flowers.

Chris also went to the store, did the re-cycling, and went to the dry clearners while I was counting the tomatoes in order to calculate when we might next be able to have BLT's.

Then while I was applying the watercolor to my zinnias he made beef and broccoli for dinner. 

Later on I went and took a picture of the sky and clouds and told Chris if he hurried I thought he could get my car washed and filled up with gas before it started raining again. 

I also got the paper off the driveway and made coffee on Sunday morning then found time to work on the ever challenging plain white coffee cup sketch while he made breakfast. 

As you can see we have a very fair division of duties at this house.   I may have forgotten to mention that I washed all the dishes and spent a considerable amount of time thinking.

this is like having a new bag of potato chips to eat when you have only eaten tortilla chips for a year

These are my new little watercolor/sketch pads.  I needed something I could easily throw in my purse or the car.  The one on top is 6x6 square and the one underneath is a landscape orientation and measures about 5 1/2 x 8 1/2.  

It was very fun experimenting with how this cold press paper takes ink and watercolor.  Very different from the hot press paper I have in my other journals.   I like it.  It really draws the ink and water in quickly.   The water soluble ink does bleed but it takes a bit more water to make it happen.  I am still in love with hot press paper, but this is like having a new bag of potato chips to eat when you have only eaten tortilla chips for a year.   If you know what I mean.  

I fully intend to draw this bottle of ink no less than 10 more times, but holy crap - the first time was fun!  So was doing the zinnia and practicing writing with my new paint brushes with water color.   It is very freeing to grab an inexpensive little book and just start without thinking too much. Thinking is so over-rated. 

I sketched the nasturtiums out back and the columbine out front.  The squirrel out front with the big nut in his mouth that went scurrying across my porch did not stop long enough for me to capture his image.  It might have been because I told him he better not even think about burying that nut in one of my pots.  

the fourth most important thing is to play with all your left-over paint when you're done

Last night I decided to draw my house.  Because it was there.  Plus I wanted to use my brand new pen.

It's a Noodlers Ahab Flex Fountain pen.  I ordered it from the Goulet Pen Company.  Don't click on that link unless you plan to buy a pen.  You won't be able to leave without one.  

So I sketched it out with the pen using some water soluble ink and then I added a little water color.   This doesn't look exactly like my house but it's close enough for you to pick it out of a line-up.  Not that you'd ever have to do that.  

The most important thing about sketching is to have fun.  The second most important thing is to keep going.  The third most important thing is to relax and not get all rushed.  The fourth most important thing is to play with all your left-over paint when you're done.  

I have to go and watch the sketchbookery video on drawing trees again.  I'm going to take my new pen with me when I watch.  It's important to have quality bonding time when you plan to have a long-term relationship with your pen. 

I feel certain that together we can improve upon our techniques. 

birds of a feather

Friday night fun can consist of drawing black birds.  With a blue water soluble ink.  Then painting them black.  Adding some black lines.  And a title.  With yellow watercolor.

Being able to easily entertain myself is one of my very best qualities.   

P.S. Congratulations Greatgrandma Marti and Grandma Jennifer!  you let me know if you want me to come over and sketch that new baby :-)

 

reminds me of the way glaze sets on a pound cake

My blush aloe, along with all the other succulents I planted when I came back from California with a serious case of succulent envy, is doing great.  I was going to show you a picture  but decided you would much rather see a drawing. 

This is an extremely true to life depiction of it.  Come by my front porch sometime and tell me you don't agree. 

I am head over heels in love with writing with water color.  The way it dries leaving an ever so slightly darker ring around the edge reminds me of the way glaze sets on a pound cake.  That makes sense to you too doesn't it? 

I love that kid

I kept myself quite entertained this afternoon attempting to accurately capture the top row of the low bookshelf that sits just across from the table in my art room.  

It was almost as much fun as having a blind contour drawing contest with my 6 year old nephew Bryce last night. 

He confidently informed me "I am pretty sure I won" when we showed each other our results.  When I asked him if he was sure he said, "well we can ask some judges" and proceeded to ask all the guests at our dinner party if it didn't look like his was better.  I love that kid. 

 

I love the feeling in my brain

In 1999 my sister taught me how to make paste paper.   With that came the realization that art is fun.  Since that time I have been doggedly continuing at it.  Trying, trying, trying to let that thing in me that LIKES to draw, paint, cut, and paste, come out.  Going on art retreats with Mary Ann and Pam and Joyce and Sharron and just keeping at it.

Something has happened to me though since I started Sketchbookery class.  I have gone from thinking I can't really draw, to believing that I can likely draw ANYTHING I look at.  I see something and instinctively use my finger to trace its shape in the air, thinking how I would approach putting it on paper.  Don't get me wrong.  The outcomes are what they are.  They look like I drew them.  But I can't fully describe how I love the feeling in my brain that I CAN DRAW.

And that said, I give you The Tomato.

I had just as much fun making these letters as I did the rest of the page.  Everthing's a little wonky.  The lines wavery. 

Oh, by the way it tasted as good as it looked.  The tomato slice should be almost as big as the burger for optimal flavor. 

So in case you, like me, always knew you had it in you to be a sketcher, Mary Ann is going to offer the class again beginning December 26th. 

 

 

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get me a medium size, not too big and not too little

As someone who has been in nursing for 33 years, the first half in oncology and the second half in palliative care, I am intimately familiar with the process of grieving.   I regularly run into people in the community whose mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, child, I took care of when they were dying.  When I see them they usually look at me, they cry, and we hug.  Then we talk about stuff.  Stuff like how things are going, how much they miss the person who died, how things went at the end, how what they are going through right now is normal... you get the idea.  

Well the other day it happened to me.  I unexpectedly ran into one of the people from hospice who took care of Angie.   She was a nurse who swooped in during a particularly rough spot, at a moment when I really needed help.   When I saw her, I initially did okay,  then... horror of horrors, when I was telling her how much I appreciated her... I started to cry.  Yes, I know it is good for me to experience all this, and it's ok to cry, but lordy.  It's hard. 

 

In the last weeks I have been missing Angie a lot.  I think about things I would have done differently (knowing I couldn't have at the time), I wish for a 30 minute post-death visit so I can be sure she is doing ok (knowing of course she is doing ok!), and most of all wanting to go pick her up so we can go to Sheridans for a caramel pretzel crunch.  I want her to tell me just once more "get me a medium size, not to big and not too little" and "be sure and get me a lid in case I can't finish it all" and "get some napkins you know I always need napkins".  Then watching her total enjoyment as she ate it and when she was done hearing her say "oooh that was good". 

Grieving is funny business.  We all need different things to get through it.  I'll tell you right now what is the most helpful to me.  Doing blind contour drawings of myself.  It makes me laugh like nobody's business.

I think after work on Friday I'll drive over to Sheridans and order up a carmel pretzel crunch.  Maybe I'll call ahead and let the people working know they should draw straws to see which one of them is going to get their picture drawn.  I'll just keep the part about me not looking while I'm drawing to myself.  That would only confuse them.   

after a cocktail or two you may want to get out the fine china

Ever since I started my sister's sketchbookery class I have been drawing up a storm.  Strawberries are especially good to draw.  I had almost as much fun drawing them myself as I had watching my sister draw them in double time in one of her videos. 

I left these out on a plate in case someone else who lives with me might decide they wanted to draw them too.  He selected the red pilot razerpoint pen as his weapon of choice.  

Then after your strawberries are drawn I am going to suggest you add them to a glass with some ice, lemon, vodka, elderflower liqueur, cranberry juice, and club soda.  It's important to get every single penny's worth of value out of your strawberries.  

After a cocktail or two you may want to get out the fine china and have a go at sketching that too.

Marti, I think you, Nancy, and Jennifer would have LOADS of fun drawing strawberries.  Hint.. hint... I await the photos from your next lunch time sketching session. 

the perfect summer soup

After I did this

with these

I did this.

I used this recipe with the addition of about 1 teaspoon each of ground cumin and curry powder.   When you get a taste for some creamy butternut squash soup this summer - make this instead.  You will not be sorry.  The orange juice (which I thought sounded like a very weird ingredient to add to this soup) makes it light and flavorful.  The perfect summer soup.  Plus I used up every single one of my carrots.

Thanks for the idea Phyllis!  Lunch is ready for next week. 

drawing doily's is great fun

The other day I decided I needed to draw Alice Mill's talcum powder shaker.  I did this in preparation for the beginning of sketchbookery which begins tomorrow (!!) and because I have never before, in my entire life, drawn a talcum powder shaker. 

If you decide to draw a talcum powder shaker, I hope you place your's on a doily to draw.  Drawing doily's is great fun. 

 

sketching your onion and your cucumber before you cut them is optional

In case you don't know ... the beginning of "official" summer also marks the beginning of pickled cucumber & red onion season.  I for one, have my first jar tucked neatly in the refrigerator.  Pickled onions & cucumbers is the quintessential salad to serve with all your summer meals.  I am serving them tonight with smoked chicken, corn on the cob, and baked beans. 

Sketching your onion and your cucumber before you cut them is optional, but highly recommended. 

I used smitten kitchen's pickling recipe except I used a bit less salt and added dill and some red pepper flakes along with the mustard seeds.  

it needed sturdier feet

A small sampling of journal pages from our trip to Summerland. I have become completely enamored with drawing leaves and shells. 

You may notice that I have labeled everything.  I like to be helpful.  In addition to leaves and shells and pots of geraniums I decided that I, like my sister, must take on drawing the completely magical art of Nathalie Lete.  Mary Ann's on the left, mine on the right.  Since I drew my hen a little bigger I decided it needed sturdier feet. 

If you have never sat around a table with 3 other people doing a timed exercise where you have to sketch and color a Starkist Tuna Fiestaware salt container in exactly 15 minutes you haven't lived.   Seriously!  You must do it.   Marti, Nancy, and Jennifer please send me a photo of the sketches you do at your next lunch meeting. 

No one should deny themselves the pure pleasure of drawing. 

Drawing is almost as much fun as walking on the beach, unless you don't have a beach close by, under those circumstances the principle of inverse theory applies.  That means drawing becomes more fun than walking on the beach. 

I am a process person when it comes to sketching

These are all the pages I completed at the art retreat. 
Warning:  what you are about to see is not for the weak of heart or anyone who has had recent abdominal surgery and needs to avoid busting a gut, or to put it in technical terms - suffering a dehiscence of their incision. 

I am a process person when it comes to sketching as well as knitting.   The simple acts of manipulating a pen or brush or yarn and needles is therapeutic in and of itself.  The only creative endeavor I engage in where I am more focused on the outcome is baking.  I really like it best when baked goods taste GOOD.  I am very fond of my knitting and sketching even if they are not quite anatomically correct.    

those among you who have attempted to draw a squirrel racing up a telephone pole

Today my sister and I had a FaceTime art fest.  I felt like I was on the set of a Disney movie what with all the birds twittering and tweeting from Moss Cottage in the hills of LA.  

While she drew some lovely flowers I worked on completing a page I started sketching on our last day in Palm Springs.  

I have two things to say about the FaceTime art fest experience.

#1:  2 hours goes by really really really fast when you are sketching away

#2.  Only those among you who have attempted to draw a squirrel racing up a telephone pole are allowed to cast aspersions upon my efforts

the chance to go to recess with my art buddies

Art retreat #2 was a smashing success.  The weather was perfect, the food delicious, and our house met all our basic needs... and then some.  That means comfortable beds, fireplaces inside and out, a lovely heated pool with a hot tub, nice landscaping to gaze upon, and most importantly - BIG tables to work at that could easily be moved if needed.

It is important for all of us to be able to sit at the same table so we can easily screech and howl when we see brilliance going on next to, or across from, each other.  Then we can run around the table to observe from the perspective of the creator and commence to whistling and clapping. 

Providing feedback to fellow art retreat participants is important if the need to do so strikes you.   Sitting quietly is also acceptable, as is calling out to your pals that you have just had a breakthrough moment and they might want to stop and look RIGHT NOW. 

I eagerly read each and every post on Mary Ann and Pam's blogs.  I gaze upon their creative endeavors with great pleasure as my brain puzzles over the working of minds that come up with the masterpieces they create.  

The extra-special thing about the art retreat experience is being with them in that space of creating.  AND in the presence of that BIG TALENT I do not feel small.  Instead, I feel possible, like any second I might do something that bursts out of me and makes me insanely happy.  There is no better feeling in the world than that. 

And in the end I always leave the art retreat skipping like a grade schooler.  Happy to have had the chance to go to recess with my art buddies. 

Planning for next year is already underway.   But you probably guessed that.  

all I need now are some miniature cars

When Mary Ann was here I got my new journal broken in with some sketches of kitchen utensils. 

And then I got this idea that I should make a map of Palm Springs, location of Art Retreat #2 (which is coming up in 6 days).  I have seen so many interesting drawings of maps.  They look fun and simple to draw.  Right up my alley.  So I consulted a real map and set about defining my perimeters and inclusion criteria, and then I got started.

It was fun and it wasn't terribly complicated.  But as I look at the completed page I am struck by something.  Perhaps you will agree.

What I have created is a game-board.  Not a map.  All I need now are some miniature cars. 

she held very still, except when she fell asleep

Today Angie came over to spend the day in Lawrence.  Sister and I needed her to be our live model for the final installment of Sketchwars Wednesdays. 

She was a very cooperative subject.  She held very still.   Except for when she fell asleep.  Which led to the slightly different hand position in Mary Ann's sketch below as compared to my sketch above.

Sketchwars Wednesdays was born last year at Art Retreat #1.  No, we have not kept to it religiously and yes we broke all the rules originally discussed at the outset.   Still, it has been a lot of fun and kept me (the non-sketcher) in a semi-regular though still somewhat rusty practice of attempting to draw.  

I love Sister's version of the Klean Kanteen's.  I am going to try and draw them right now.  Just as soon as I fix a cup of tea, eat a sugar cookie, make sure my clothes are ready for work tomorrow, and I wash my face.  

 

severed finger from carving accident

Sister:  I found your other coded message.  Not to worry.  I have already packed the white staedtler for the 2nd annual art retreat in January.  

I ate a few M&M's this time and cracked the code within 83 seconds.  Bring Your Eraser!  You thought I wouldn't get it didn't you?

P.S.  Dottie's flight was cancelled because of snow.  When she finally gets here tomorrow I have a bunch of outfits picked out for her to try on.  I am going to do a photo shoot so we will have lots of pictures of her to draw when you come back this way again.   

have you ever tried to talk someone through how to reset the time on their microwave?

In addition to drawing my Tombo markers, eating peachy crumb breakfast cake, and fielding calls from Angie about her microwave, I have been messing around in my pattern book this week. 

Have you ever tried to talk someone through how to reset the time on the microwave when you don't know exactly what the buttons on their microwave say or how they are configured?  Oh, and add the challenge of their phone cutting out so you sometimes only hear every 5th word they are saying?  

Well try it sometime and then you will appreciate fully the therapeutic value of making dots,  drawing flowers, and coloring in a pattern book.  

it keeps her on her toes

When my sister was here last week we talked about the need to resume Sketchwars Wednesdays.   We agreed that for this week we would start by drawing a simple lamp from somewhere in our respective houses. 

But tonight I decided my markers needed to be drawn.

So I sketched them out real quick like, took some pictures, and sent her an e-mail to let her know I changed the rules.  She likes it when I do that.  It keeps her on her toes.

Next week you can pick what we draw Sister.  I promise not to argue or whine about it.  Not even one little bit. 

they put in a nickel and I sing a little song

Right after work I dashed over to pick up my sister and we came straight home.  As we ran up the stairs we told Chris we would just eat in the art room while we worked in our books.   I had a bicycle to draw.  Mary Ann had a raccoon to work on. 

Then we started humming Melanie songs from the 70's.   If you haven't heard the nickel song for awhile (or if you have never heard of it all) please go and listen.  Maybe it will help explain these journal pages. 

I am going to go to bed right now and then get up in the morning and draw raccoons like this one my sister did.  Then as soon as I perfect my technique I am going to quit my job and become a raccoon portrait painter.  

I Ieft the bathroom and went upstairs to the art room

For week 21 of Sketchwars Wednesday, I left the bathroom and went upstairs to the art room.   Since my sister decided to draw with a sharpie and mostly just watercolor the backgrounds I did too. 

I really like writing out  S-k-e-t-c-h-w-a-r-s    W-e-d-n-e-s-d-a-y  and coloring the letters in.  That might be my favorite part of the assignment. 

Next Wednesday we will be in South Dakota.  Maybe I will draw Chris and his four brothers for my sketchwars assignment.    I feel certain they will be very cooperative if I ask them to hold still for me.  Heck, I bet the whole family will want to get in on sketchwars next week.  If they are so inclined I will be sure to share their work.  

If all else fails, I can always draw the house we are renting.    

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invaluable advice that I am committing to memory

invaluable advice that I am committing to memory

After a short hiatus, Sketchwars Wednesdays has returned with a few twists to keep it fun.  It is very important that when you set out to do something because it is fun, you change the rules as needed so that it does not become drudgery. 

I also took the time to practice my letters today.  Slowly writing out letters and coloring them in is like meditation. 

I heard this quote in the car this am.  I pulled over to write it down.  Invaluable advice that I am committing to memory.  I may even write it out a few more times and color it in with purples and greens.   I can think of at least 5 or 6 times in the last year when repeating it could have soothed me. 

I just tried my best

In Spoleto Mary Ann and I had a grand time in our travel journals.  I mostly had fun watching her create some masterpieces and then I tried to copy them.   When I was done I would show her what I had done and say each time,  "I just tried my best" and we would fall on the floor laughing. 

Have you seen a porcupine quill before?  I hadn't.  I picked up one on the path into town and taped it down along with a pottery shard I found on the way to Monteluco and the top of our wine bottle from Montefalco. 

I am a "process" journaler.  I don't really care as much about the outcome as the enjoyment in the moment of doing it.  When I look at this travel journal in years to come, I will think of staying up late into the night in the kitchen of the artists tower in the middle of the sacred woods of Spoleto laughing my head off with my sister.  If you haven't already seen her pages you should probably go and look here.

I had my hair sculpted by Edward Scissorhands

Just under the wire.  Week eleven of Sketchwars Wednesday completed. 

I had some hair trouble this week.  In my profile sketch it appears that I have had my hair sculpted by Edward Scissorhands.  I was going to show you but thought it might set you up for a really bad nightmare tonight.  I would not want that on my conscience.   

you can't be stressed while laughing

Sketchwars Wednesday took a back seat to moving this week.  I only had 10 minutes to spare tonight but here they are in all their glory.    

If this coming week proves to be stressful to you.  May I suggest you grab a nice black pen and do a drawing.   You can't be stressed while laughing. 

what happens between my eyes and my hands sometimes goes awry

Dear Allie:  You are a sweet and cute baby.  Much sweeter and way cuter than one would guess from this sketch.  I draw what I see.  What happens betweens my eyes and my hands sometimes goes awry.  

Dear John:  With a crazy beard like that you have to expect that people are going to have trouble drawing you.  A little trim would have made you look much more civilized, though that would not have solved all my problems with you. 

Another edition of sketchwars wednesday completed.   This coming week we are doing contour drawings.   My favorite!

it was apparently taken from the abigail adams museum

It's another edition of Sketchwars Wednesday.  Each week there are a few questions about this escapade my sister and I have embarked upon.   One thing I do want to make perfectly clear is you should NOT expect to recognize the subjects from my renderings of them.  If you do, you have great vision. 

I would therefore like to recognize Dianne Throop who noted that the young woman from last week bore an amazing resemblence to Abigail Adams.   I was contacted by her great, great, great, nephew once removed who wanted to know where I had gotten the image the sketch was based on.  It was apparently taken from the  Abigail Adams museum in the early 1900's and they want it back.  More on that story another time. 

This week's work is all about men.  Men with hands on their faces.  Oh dear.  I might have to work on this awhile. 

Luckily I have a nice cup of tea at my side.  Stalwart and steady.  The perfect refreshment for what could be a few more hours of sketching. 

it turned into something quite unrecognizable from the original

This is exactly half of this week's Sketchwars Wednesday  work.

 
The other half is not going to be posted.  I got a little carried away after I first drew it.  I kept trying to improve on it until it turned into something quite unrecognizable from the original. 

The only rule of Sketchwars Wednesday is there are no rules.  Which means you don't have to post your work if you don't want to.   

friendly but somewhat serious

I am always one week behind my Sister in our friendly, but somewhat serious, sketching challenge.

This week I would like to blame my lateness on the snow.   Plus Chris has a cold and I have to take care of him when I am not at work.  Fetching advil, making chicken soup, ensuring his kleenex supply is adequate.  

This takes me back to the days when I wrote those "please excuse Carol..." notes for myself when I needed to be absent from school.  To save Angie the trouble.   All on the up and up of course. 

peals of laughter that rival the monkey cage at the zoo

Sketchwars Wednesday Week #5. 

I want to think of some explanation for this.  I really, really, really, do. 

But as you can see there are no words.  Only peals of laughter that rival the monkey cage at the zoo. 

important friday night tasks

It's Friday evening.  6:43 pm.  I had a most lovely day at work.  I met a 92 year old man who was entrusted with carrying a secret document across enemy lines in Italy during WWII.  He told me the story of how a young boy helped him pass safely across a beach filled with land mines so he could make it back to his ship.  You may be able to imagine something nicer than sitting by a bed listening to stories like this.  But I can't.  He also told me I had nice teeth. 

Tonight I am giddy with delight at the thought of a 3 day weekend.  Chris is downstairs fixing dinner.  It smells divine.  I tried to take a picture of his famous garlic bread but the light is bad.   Another time. 

Instead here is what I am doing.

Messing around.  Drinking wine.  Important friday night tasks.  Thinking about how I am going to try and duplicate the sesame covered, honey coated, almonds I tasted from Trader Joe's this week.  Yes I know I could just go and buy some, but what fun would that be?  It will be plenty fun if my idea doesn't work out.  But only then. 

I plan to figure out how to turn on the new fangled steam machine that Chris bought for cleaning so I can use it to block this afghan that I finished on Sunday night. 

After I finish that I am going to work on this. 

And when I get done with all that I'll probably start writing a novel .    On a Friday night with a 3 day weekend looming ANYTHING is possible. 

you have nothing to lose but your dignity

Sketchwars Wednesday - Week #4



If you haven't found your own personal drawing partner yet I don't know what you are waiting for.   You have nothing to lose but your dignity.  

P.S.  James, the next time you come over please remind me to show you the pictures we drew of each other on July 7, 2001.  

any of those other tricky body parts

Today is national "draw your phone" day.  If you haven't done it yet, it's not too late to put pencil to paper and capture the likeness of your phone for posterity. 

I like drawing my phone.  It doesn't have a nose, or ears, or any of those other tricky body parts.

so you can do this

Please go and get yourself one of these...

so you can do this...

You will not be sorry.