Cactus Monday

It's time for the Ferocactus Faerie to join the ranks of color.

She's barely started, but that's better than not started at all!

Happy Cactus Monday!

Friday Night at the Met

Last night I had a child-free evening, so I went up to the Met after work. I am always a little incredulous of the changes that have happened there. Sign of the times I guess. The crazy bag check is one of them. Last night I needed a special pass and security check to bring in my laptop: a far cry from the days when I brought my pet rat Sylvia and left her in coat check.

I started in Greece. The museum is so pretty at night with the lights.



Here is Aphrodite.




Here are some paintings I LOVE and like to visit:
Georges de la Tour: The Penitant Magdalene



Emmanuel de Witte: Interior of the Old Church in Delft



There is a special exhibit in the medieval sculpture hall called something like Choirs of Angels. The room is full of illuminated songbook sheets. They are lovely.





Check out this detail!



I want this book!



I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but I deeply love medieval illuminated manuscripts. Which brings me to....

With my generous (it is for me!) 45 cent admission, I got a coupon for $10 off any $25 purchase. Uh-oh. If it was $5 off I might have been able to resist spending money I should not. But...$10 off!

I got a book. Like I really need another book. Like I really need another book with illuminated manuscript plates. Like I really need another medieval herbal. But...IT's SO PRETTY!!! Someone please tell me you would have done the same thing.








For Teri C:

Cactus Monday

Happy Cactus Monday!
Here is a little card for today:
Gouache on Canson Acrylic Paper
5 1/2 x 3 1/2



Also, special thanks to wonderful Soulbrush for sending such a lovely tea towel! I've decided to hang it in Daya's room since she's half South African. She calls it her Picture-Towel. She loves it.

Thanks so much!!

Daya says hello to everyone.

Today Is Wednesday

I have another sinus infection. Stupid stupid sinus infection. This one isn't from Hell though- it just hurts a lot and is very annoying. At least I am (mostly) functional and don't have a fever and am not at Death's Door like last time.

My neti pot is my BFF. Did you know that using COLD water in the neti pot instead of warm feels even better? It gets the gunk out and takes all the pain and pressure away. If you have sinus issues try it.

And friends, here is my Wednesday Lament:

Over the weekend I picked up some wonderful, fresh, thinly sliced Meunster cheese from the deli, and a box of Wheat Thins to go with it. And I cannot enjoy either one. Why not?

I went off all dairy due to the stupid sinus infection, so cheese is off the menu.
As for the Wheat Thins...well, Daya stole them. The whole box. I looked and looked and can't find them. It's been 2 days.

:(

Daya Draws!

Firstly, Lisa over at Flying Colors sent me a gift!!! I have a beautiful print of her e-Stamp!!!! It is GORGEOUS. I called Lisa to say thank you and we had a lovely conversation. She is one cool lady. THANK YOU LISA!!

Daya has started to draw actual things instead of just scribbling. She is very proud of her work and insists that it is put on the wall. She's drawing airplanes and faces...the faces are so funny; I love them.

:)





Look at this one.



She did it right after I finished the Sundew Faerie with all that sticky dew.

Daya is so clever.

Cactus Monday: Invisible Edition

Can you find my cactus for this Cactus Monday?

I can't either. Probably because it's missing. I've been fighting off yet another cold this weekend and have not been feeling so great. I'll try to get some painting done during the week and will hopefully be back in full force for the next Cactus Monday.

Have a happy one, Cactuteers!

PS Daya thinks the flat optunia cacti are ping pong paddles. :)

PPS My card from the other day isn't a self-portrait... LOL...and thanks for the nice comments!

Little Card

I have been so inspired by Serena's mantra card that I decided to make one for the last day of Fire Day in the Soul Coaching program.

The affirmation was yesterday's- "Incredible creative life force flows through me."

It is hard working so tiny! From start to finish, it was about 5 hours of work last night.

3.5 x 5"
Gouache on Canson Montval Acrylic (185 lb/400 gsm) <--- great paper by the way!

Sundew Faerie

She lives in a bog!
She's carnivorous!
She's sticky!

She's the Sundew Faerie! (based on Drosera Regia)

Watercolor 11 x 14

Cactus Monday: Retro Edition

As part os the Soul Coaching program, I have been doing quite a lot of clutter clearing. The night before last I found a box with a bunch of stuff from college. Including my very first-ever college drawing and my Cactus Connexion catalog from Graphic Design (bound in sandpaper!)

I'll have to show you the catalog another day because I haven't properly photographed it.

But here is the very first ever drawing from my Freshman Light, Color, and Design class. I remember this very well. Our teacher (Dwight Johnson) talked all morning, then told us to bring something back after lunch for critique. I went back to my dorm room and sat on the bed by the window just being scared. But, I had to show something so I took out my colored pencils (I think the piece had to be in colored pencil) and drew one of my little cacti on the window. (I did bring my plants to college. I had a few, because the previous year I had done a high school portfolio concentration on...you guessed it, CACTI!)

Here is what I drew: (14 years ago eek!)


And you know what? Everyone loved it including the teacher. I felt a lot better after that.

Happy Cactus Monday!!

PS I just remembered I never posted last Friday's 12 Secrets to Highly Creative Women. I'll do that very soon.