a bit of vacation

Finally, for the first time this year, I got to take a day of vacation!! Combine that with a regular holiday and a weekend, and voila, it's four days off!! Man, did I enjoy it!!

I went to visit my sister, which meant I also got to visit other family. Sketchbook packed, I spent more than one day just drawing whatever was at hand. My sister loves flowers as much as I do so I took her a bouquet of stargazer lilies. Divine fragrance...




Every time I visit my sister, her friend wants me to draw something for him, too. This time I was prepared and did a sketch of his best friend, Babs. He LOVED it!!



Meanwhile, in my everyday book, I had this sketch of apples to finish. They had been on my dining room table when I left.



On Saturday, sis had to work for a while, so I entertained myself by drawing vignettes around her house.



Val winters over some of her plants which means the blooms are sometimes slow. But I do like this specimen in this pot.



These grow in the alley-way beside Val's house.



and of course I had to take a walk-around and record what is there.



down the street is a beautifully-planted property that I couldn't resist taking a few photos of. Makes me want some hibiscus...



As always, I stayed longer than I meant to and then had to rush home to recuperate. I had visions of taking a long leisurely nap, but it wasn't to be.



We did have an awesome meal from this place. They've been around forever!!



Always, it is hard for me to leave my sister's house and go home. But there will still be plenty to draw when I go back.



And so, friends, I am back for now...

bird feeder

This is a little bird feeder hanging on the large ash tree out back. It really blends almost into the tree.



Note - I'll be out of town for the next couple days, so there will be a gap here on the blog. I'll still be drawing but won't be able to post until I get back.

See you then!

night critters

These guys are "cute" but they scare me!

monday in the garden

I was so excited to get home today and get out into the garden. For one thing, I can actually see it again (LOL) and for another, there is a great firepit out back and I wanted to COOK SOMETHING. Mind you, this rarely happens, so I don't know what my deal was. But I headed straight outside and got the fire going. I had stopped at the store on the way home to pick up steaks and asparagus, so that would be supper...



I've had cardinals in my back yard for as long as I can remember. They are great fun to watch and they like to feed rather low. I would like to get a feeder just for them.

another garden day

I am plum wore out. I had a young man come and help me in the garden today and we worked HARD. He was worth his weight in gold and I was thrilled to see my garden taking shape again. How nice to have someone do the heavier work while I weeded and pointed and gave directions. Meanwhile, son Bill got out the drill and hung a few things outside on the brick for me. First up was a star on the garage and then an iron star on the porch above the mailbox slot.



Once the drill recharged, Bill hung a birdcage on the front porch, too. It is just for show, but quite whimsical and cute. Who knows, I may see a bird perched on it one day - there are so many here now that seem to enjoy the garden as much as I do!



I will have to blog later about all the work that went on out back today. And the point of that was to get through the work so I can go out there to sketch and paint!! I am so excited at how nice it is shaping up! It is a wild child's garden, definitely one for an artist. I'll be out there sketching all summer and beyond!

Tonight, however, I will be taking a painkiller at bedtime. Oy, but being one with the earth can be painful...

saturday in the garden

Today was a long, fruitful day. First I slept in (ahhhh...) and then made an omelette breakfast with a nice latte. After the dishes were done, my son and I worked in the yard for several hours and really got a lot done. I was inspired when I looked out the window this morning because the hydrangea was blooming and I wanted to weed around it and get it mulched to show it off. Here it is...



Later, I set myself up to draw that hydrangea as shown here:



A second hydrangea, that isn't blooming yet, branches out over a sweet mosaic frog house. I moved over on to the ground for the cool, under-the-shrub view...



Meanwhile, my son's friend stopped by for a long-overdue visit and I joined them on the front porch for just a bit. It did my heart good.



This was such a nice day from start to finish. The weather was mild so it was easy to stay outside all day. The ground was moist and the weeds just popped out with a little encouragement. And everything looked so garden-magazine when the work was done. All I had to do was sit and enjoy! (I'll ignore that blister in the palm of my right hand...)

more everyday things

I didn't draw until late tonight, so was indoors looking around for a subject. Everyday things are everywhere of course.



I have a gazillion pens yet am always in search of another. Now I am wanting the watercolor pencils but where will I put them???

beginning of summer

It is a time of dreams and blooming.

I saw this "quiz" on Moleskinerie, a site I like to peruse. I have seen similar quizzes before, but was in the mood to answer this one. Please feel free to copy the questions and answer them for yourself if you like...



This plant goes through so many stages during the season. I wish I had done this sketch in my garden book, but will just have to do it on the next phase. I love how this plant keeps changing and staying interesting - kind of a hint, don't you think?

tea time

This evening I sat on the porch and chatted with my sister on the phone. I used my headset so that I could draw while we talked. Result: tea...

sunday and monday

Sunday's sketch:



Monday's sketch:

drawing on a summer sunday

Even though I've cleaned the kitchen and done several loads of laundry, today has been a lazy kind of day. I keep going and drawing in between other things and here is what has accumulated. First a garden sketch from yesterday evening. A bit overdone since I tend to forget that my Moleskine is not the watercolor paper version. I wish I had gotten that for my Garden Book! Oh well, next time...



Meanwhile, the shrub rose out back - Fairy - is blooming like mad:



And just for good measure, I went and got "5 things" from the bathroom. I've never gotten "tagged" for the "5 things" game, so I'll just do my own!!

drawing with the gray markers

These gray markers are great for illustration-style drawings. Just lay in the tones and keep on going! Here is a drawing book I am going through now with my son and his wife:



Then, this morning I drew "5 things" by my bedside...

a few challenges

I've done a few challenges I didn't post. Here are #68, Draw Your Computer:


#69, Draw a Beverage and write something about it:


#70, Draw something you are afraid of...

things i love

there is nothing better than an ordinary free evening, don't you think? tonight is a long, beautiful, perfect June evening and I had the luxury of just sitting on the porch with my sketchbook. what bliss!

First I drew this week's challenge: a sport you love...



And then I looked around me for something else to draw and noticed the fabulous variety of leaves on the plants. God surely loves us to grace us with such a surplus of design brilliance!

zen

well, I broke down and bought an mp3 player. Partly for music, but just as much for digital photos and downloadable books. it's been interesting - and challenging - to get set up!

seasons

I was reminded this weekend of the seasons we can divide our lives into. These posts are more contemplative than artistic.






Carpe Diem!

friday evening again

It was a beautiful Friday evening here so I sat in the driveway and sketched the Oak Leaf Hydrangea that is just coming into bloom. It undergoes so many changes during the short summer months.

Right now it is a cluster of spring-green buds, starting to bloom from the bottom of the floral spike. The new blossoms are a delicate green, so paper-thin that you can see through them where they overlap. I'll try to sketch the progession and record it here - these transparent but pliant petals will change dramatically as the season progresses...



note: this is a watercolor and ink sketch on Aquerello paper (6"x6") rather than my usual moleskine. I wanted to see what a difference real watercolor paper would make. It is very significant when it comes to the way the colors take to the paper. The paper itself is a wonderful white that adds light-ness to the whole piece; the color, of course, grabs the tooth of the paper and just settles in without muddying. mmmmm. I guess I will have to check out the moleskines made with WC paper. hmmmmmmmmm.

in the garden

I HAVE been drawing each day, but due to computer issues I couldn't post! Gradually I am getting my computer reformatted and back up to speed - what a pain!! But the drawing is a joy as always. Last evening I sat outside and sketched a couple of current bloomers. Here is Miss Stella D'oro...



and the oriental girl known as The Little Princess ~



And how is your neighborhood??

a fast weekend

Another two days off that went by at lightening speed!! Saturday was garden sketching - what else this time of year?? This is the first year I had bluebells and I have to say that they are spectacular. They don't last long, but oh what a treat they are!!


I went out to one of my new chairs in my jammies on Saturday morning, and there, right beside the chair, was a healthy tuft of some sort of Iris, just bloomin' away in the morning sun. Oh, what a nice surprise!


On Sunday I made myself do a bit of cleanup at home and then my reward was a wee shopping trip (to quote my friend Maureen). I used a coupon to buy a new outfit and then promptly went and blew the difference on a restaurant dinner. It is something I don't do often but it was terribly fun!! And I have leftovers for later...

at the bookstore

My boys and their wives spend a fair amount of time hanging out at the bookstore. They often invite me along, but I usually fink out. Tonite I actually went and enjoyed it immensely.


It was fun to sketch in a public place even if the people do move around and change position non-stop. I have to do more of this!