Since today is my 35th wedding anniversary, I haven't had any time for the journal as I've spent the entire day with Keith. As a matter of fact, we spent the entire weekend together on a get-away that I'll share with you in more detail in my Weekend Journal.
Reflecting back over the past years is a pleasure we both enjoy each year. Somehow, this year is more poignant for me as it was 10 years ago that we celebrated our 25th by Keith surprising me with an anniversary party and the renewal of our vows. Family and friends traveled great distances to help us celebrate and it's a memory that I will always hold dear to my heart.
As I look through the photos of that happy time, it saddens me to see how many of our loved ones have passed on since that happy time. Keith's dad, my mom, Sam, Marilyn, Billy, Tom, Mike . . . it's hard to believe that just 10 short years ago we were all together.
Anyway....the hour grows late and I grow tired. I can't seem to focus and this post has taken a turn I hadn't intended! What I meant to write about was stamina, loyalty, commitment, laughter, love - all the qualities that can be found in a relationship that has endured so many years. I meant to write about family and the ties that bind over the generations. I'm not doing such a great job of it, but my son, Mike, has. He has captured in 6 minutes, that which I can not capture in 4 lengthy paragraphs. Please enjoy his video (for best viewing watch on YouTube at 1080 HD), and I'll see you tomorrow with tips and techniques.
It's been a busy couple weeks! After just one week of vacation from the usual daily grind, Keith and I both found ourselves struggling to get back into the "groove" of things. It felt as if we'd taken off more like a month! I think we're finally back on track.
I spent a little more time playing with my new watercolors. I gessoed the page and then poured and splattered blue and green watercolors wet-into-wet, wet-into-dry, and everything in between. What I could see was this tree and landscape, so I enhanced what was there. I added violet and yellow to liven things up a bit.
I had torn the top Blue Jay image out of a magazine, and it kept falling out of my journal. What was I to do except create a page around it? One of my students saw I was working with it, and as it turned out, she had the mate to it and happily gave it to me. This is a mixture of acrylic washes, Mod Podged magazine images and text that I assembled in the "intuitive playing" method.
This is another intuitive playing spread, created in much the same fashion as the spread above. I'm surprised to see myself using so much green and yellow. I guess I needed the change.
This spread was also created in an intuitive fashion, only this time, I didn't use any magazine images. I started this page with a dip pen and black India ink. I drew a random pattern of squares and it evolved into this. It's mostly craft acrylic.
Here's the latest addition to my journal, a WIP begun in my journaling class last night. The lesson was using your hand as a self portrait. I may have to detail that in a Tuesday Tips and Techniques in the near future.
WOMEN'S CENTER
I can't believe it's that time of year again - my art workshop with the women of the SMART (Single Mothers Achieving Real Triumph) program! We had our workshop last Friday, and I met a terrific group of women in the final days of the quarter. I'll write more about this after next week's graduating ceremonies.
NEW VIDEO
I've been on a roll with the videos lately. Thanks to my "tech guy's" help, I've been able to get Windows Movie Maker to cooperate with me! The real test will come when I try to record and publish actual video footage as opposed to stills. Here's my newest video, "Inside Out". Please enjoy and check out my other videos if you haven't seen them yet. You can watch them on YouTube by clicking on their icon in the lower right of the video screen.
Everyone have a wonderfully restful and creative weekend. Pamper yourself, ok? I took my own adivce. I used this wonderful coffee cup that Nadia brought me all the way back from the Kiltrea Bridge Pottery Company in Ireland. The photo doesn't do justice to the beautiful glaze on this mug. She also brought us into the current century with this awesome electric teapot, and dark chocolate from See's in California. YUUUUUUMMMMMM!
I had been savoring one piece of chocolate a day, but yep, I ate all three of these with my favorite cup of Chai. Now I have to go walk! I'll see you back here on Monday with some more of my musings.
When I say the word "draw" to other people, often the response is, "I can't draw a stick figure", or "My drawing is horrible." Well, I think drawing is just like any other skill that one acquires. Whether it's learning to ride a bike, learning to type, learning to play an instrument, or learning to walk, you have to begin with the first baby steps. You're going to have to concentrate. You're going to have to have determination. You're going to fail miserably at your first attempts.
Photo: Rodin's Sculpture, "The Farewell" 1892
Sooner or later, you're going to master the basics. You're eventually going to walk without giving it your undivided attention and concentration. With more determination you might even find the discipline to walk extreme distances or heights. I think drawing is the same. Here are some tips that I've found helpful and I hope you will too.
Copy artists who inspire you. Examine their techniques and try to mimic their style. Look to "The Masters".
Develop a tonal value scale. This is essential. It's one of the basics!
Watch drawing videos. YouTube is filled with informative, instructional tutorials.
Use a light touch. (I'm really heavy handed and have been practicing this myself) Successful drawings are layers of marks.
Really look at what you want to draw. Don't draw what you think you see, draw what you do see!
Squint your eyes to help find the darkest darks and the lightest lights.
Use a medium pencil to begin with and gradually use darker pencils to finish.
Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice may not make perfect, but it will certainly make better!
Did I say "Practice?"
Here are some additional tips from a YouTube channel that I stumbled upon recently. I like the first two videos I watched, and thought I would share them with you. They're short and informative, and I agree with the things he says about drawing. Take a look around his channel. He's completed some really fabulous celebrity drawings that I think you'll like!
I hope you'll pull out your sketchbook and do some drawing. Remember, there's no need to limit yourself to portraits or people. Draw what inspires you! Or draw something that has always been a challenge for you. I'm thinking that I may do some animal studies, perhaps beginning with birds. I love them so - I should learn to do them justice with the pencil!
I may work on this some more. Fix her nose and forehead and do more work on the hand. Or I just may move on to the next!
Last put not least, STOP CRITICIZING YOUR WORK! Making note of what you've done incorrectly and learning from your mistakes is fine. Telling yourself that "this SUCKS!", without any real critique and solution is NOT. Did you hear me? Great! Now grab your pencils and have some fun with drawing!
It's been an extraordinary week for me. Mike and Nadia arrived safely from California last Saturday, so the entire family has been together for the whole week. Yes - I'm happy beyond words! There have been family cookouts and way too much food (but I've enjoyed every calorie!), quiet strolls along the beach, visits to parks, and hours just sitting around reminiscing and laughing. I really hate to see it come to an end as Mike and Nadia head back to CA tomorrow.
Heather has been making mouth watering desserts for us all week. My personal favorite - Biscoff Truffles. Biscoff spread. Cream cheese. Chocolate. Speechless goodness. Heather is amazing with the baked goods and has a wonderful blog: Bake, Run, Live. If you want to see some great baked goods and sweets and collect some wonderful recipes, this is your ticket! And the most importantl part - they're "made with love, not calories". I've been telling myself that all week.
Other family members got in on the sweet action, too. Mike and Nadia sent Keith this unbelievable box of chocolate covered strawberries from Sheri's Berries for his birthday. They're deliciously sweet and crazy big! Sis also contributed awesome chocolate peanut butter brownies to the dessert table.
And let us not forget Nadia's creamy, luscious homemade flan. Definitely no calories in this! (Ha!)
Of course, we had to offset all the food (a trip to Melt, breakfast at the 50's Diner, cabbage rolls, chicken curry, etc., etc.....) with some activitiy, and I also had to sneak in some journaling via camera. Here are some snippets of our trip to the Cleveland Metroparks / North Chagrin Reservation in Willoughby Hills.
Squire's Castle front
Squire's Castle rear right
Looking up through the tower
Crab apple tree blossoms
Red Bud tree
Spring Beauty flowers
Yesterday was all about "the guys" as they washed, polished and "prettied up" the Mustangs. Four-wheeled Mustangs, that is. Mike, (videographer extraordinaire), attached his camera to the back window of my car and took video footage of the trip to and from the beach. I can't wait to see the finished product and I'll be sure to share the link with you. Here are a couple pictures from yesterday's photo shoot.
Mustang photos: Keith Thompson
Nick's 99 Saleen, Keith's 69 Coupe and 96 GT Coupe
I have to admit to just a little journaling activity. Remember the 29 Faces Challenge? Mike helped me iron out my tech kinks and make a short video of the project. Here's the finished video. For the best viewing, watch on YouTube in full screen.
As this week winds down, I hope you are finding ways to not only create, but to celebrate and love this amazing journey we call life. I hope you're surrounded by loving family and friends, and all the wonderful things that bring you pleasure.
Heather, Nick, Keith, Nadia, Mike
As for me, life just doesn't get any better than this. I'm an extremely blessed and happy woman.
Well, here we are again - another week has seemingly flown by and we find ourselves here in mid-January already. It was a busy week, and I have this strange sensation of time being a figment of my imagination. Things that I know I did this week seem like they happened weeks ago! Have you felt it, or is winter making me a little nuts despite the nice weather we've been having? Nice weather - until now, that is. Today's talk of the town is the weather, but we'll get to that later.
JOURNAL PAGES FROM THIS WEEK
Here are three journal spreads from this week, all in three different styles inspired by subject matter and imagery. Do you recognize two of the images that I used from the calendar pages I posted last week?
Collage, gesso, Pitt pen, acrylic paint
Gesso, collage, acrylic paint, Sharpie fine point marker.
Acrylic paint, water soluble pastel
FABRIC JOURNALS
My class continues to work on fabric journals throughout January. We are all having a great time with these! I have assembled the cover for my first journal, and I'm really pleased with the way it. I can't stop looking at all the bright, patchwork of colors, and I can't stop running my fingers over the embellishments!
There are sequins, buttons, fibers, beads, lace, and charms sewn to the cover. That's Christmas garland sewn along the edge of the front cover. I can't wait to show you the finished product!
Here's what it looks like opened with both the inside front and back covers.
Here's the outside back cover. I'll be adding a couple things to it, but not much. I have the signature pages prepared to sew inside of my journal, but I've decided to complete the journal pages before attaching to the book.
PHOTO JOURNAL - SNOW!
As I said, today's big story is the snow. Snow is usually no big deal here - after all, I live in the Northeast Ohio snowbelt! What makes this a big deal is that we've gotten use to 40 degree weather, and we got absolutely hammered with snow overnight. Keith measured 18" this morning around 8am. I'm just a little annoyed as I was supposed to be judging an art show this morning. Que Sera, I guess. It finally stopped snowing about 2 hours ago, and now that I've resigned myself to the fact that I am indeed snowbound, it's really beautiful.
Keith finally got a path cleared to the bottom of the deck stairs. It's been a very long time since we've seen this much snow!
My little red zoom, zoom (Mazda) looks like a mini van sitting in the driveway!
Standing at the end of my driveway looking west at snow-laden pines. Gorgeous!
MY ARTIST SON
I'm really excited to share my son's video with you. It's really artsy, and this proud mom has watched it....well, let's just say a lot! I can't wait to see Mike's next artistic endeavor. I think he's found his creative niche, don't you? I suggest watching on YouTube and in HD if you can. The video is set to a musical score, so you'll want to turn my blog radio off. Please comment and "Like" (if you do!) to encourage my budding artist!
Well, I guess that's about it for this Weekend Journal edition. I hope you're snuggled in and warm in your neck of the woods, and I hope your creative genes are bursting with inspiration. Until next time, much love and many blessings to you!
