topiary cats
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Cactus Monday: Funky Trees Edition
I found a supercool cactus today! HCM Cactuteers!!
And how can you not love these trees?
Daya loves this bug the very best on the Bug Carousel.
And how can you not love these trees?
Daya loves this bug the very best on the Bug Carousel.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
A Coincidence Story
This morning on the train a woman got on with three kids. One of them was a toddler in a stroller who yelled for 20 minutes straight. (So much for my early morning nap) But anyhow that's why I noticed them in particular.
This evening on the way home I was zoned out as usual, when after a few stops I heard a child starting to wail. I thought, this again? (So much for my evening meditation) I looked up and it was the exact same family!
Kinda freaky!
This evening on the way home I was zoned out as usual, when after a few stops I heard a child starting to wail. I thought, this again? (So much for my evening meditation) I looked up and it was the exact same family!
Kinda freaky!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Some Snow and a Cactus
How about that, it's Cactus Monday after all today!
I went out painting in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens again. I was so frozen after standing in the snow that I just had to go to the desert room and paint a cactus! I stayed until they kicked me out to close up. :)
Both are 9x12 Oil on Panel
HCM!
I went out painting in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens again. I was so frozen after standing in the snow that I just had to go to the desert room and paint a cactus! I stayed until they kicked me out to close up. :)
Both are 9x12 Oil on Panel
HCM!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Magic Shoes
Another little 6x8 oil painting! :)
I do not believe I properly introduced my brand new Belly River pochade box by Alla Prima Pochade.
It arrived last week. I LOVE it! Of course I will always love my beautiful 9x12 box too. But this one is tiny enough to take anywhere!
And...isn't this just CUTE?? I got a little clippy book light. It's like my little pet paint box... :)
I do not believe I properly introduced my brand new Belly River pochade box by Alla Prima Pochade.
It arrived last week. I LOVE it! Of course I will always love my beautiful 9x12 box too. But this one is tiny enough to take anywhere!
And...isn't this just CUTE?? I got a little clippy book light. It's like my little pet paint box... :)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Kuan Yin
Not too sure what happened to hands this week...I'm stuck to oil paint.
This one didn't come out too well. The light on my painting was bad...couldn't see what I was doing. I'm thinking about rigging a book lamp on my pochade box.
6x8 oil on panel
This one didn't come out too well. The light on my painting was bad...couldn't see what I was doing. I'm thinking about rigging a book lamp on my pochade box.
6x8 oil on panel
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Red Pear
Well, it's not a hand. But it is my smallest ever and fastest ever oil painting!
6x8 on panel, only took one hour!
6x8 on panel, only took one hour!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Another Hand
I started this oil study Friday and just finished tonight. Enough is enough- I could work on it a lot more- but I don't want to.
The refernce is from the WetCanvas image library. Special thanks to WC user DraigAthar.
8x10
Oil on Canvas
stay tuned for more hands next week!
The refernce is from the WetCanvas image library. Special thanks to WC user DraigAthar.
8x10
Oil on Canvas
stay tuned for more hands next week!
Thursday, February 04, 2010
More Hands
This has been an odd week, and I'm honestly not sure where it went. All day yesterday I thought it was Tuesday- I would have placed money on it.
Tonight are a few more hands, from Burne Hogarth. I have to say I'm suprised at all the notes I've gotten indicating you don't think copies of hand drawings are boring, but then again you are all fabulous so there should be no suprise.
I fully admit I am not in a tight technical drawing mood, even if my pencil is really sharp. But getting good at anything requires discipline, and if I don't practice I won't improve.
I like graphite just fine, and firmly believe that drawing is absolutely essential to creating visual art, but I really miss my oils. This weekend, or maybe tomorrow night, I will do a hand painting.
Tonight are a few more hands, from Burne Hogarth. I have to say I'm suprised at all the notes I've gotten indicating you don't think copies of hand drawings are boring, but then again you are all fabulous so there should be no suprise.
I fully admit I am not in a tight technical drawing mood, even if my pencil is really sharp. But getting good at anything requires discipline, and if I don't practice I won't improve.
I like graphite just fine, and firmly believe that drawing is absolutely essential to creating visual art, but I really miss my oils. This weekend, or maybe tomorrow night, I will do a hand painting.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Starting with Hands
By the way, I think you should know that Anatomy Month might be really boring blog material.
I decided to start by going through George Bridgeman's Constructive Anatomy and copying some drawings. He starts with hands, and so will I. Graphite tonight. Nothing fantastic. I'll work on hands all week, just drawing, maybe something in oils at the end of the week.
More to come.
I decided to start by going through George Bridgeman's Constructive Anatomy and copying some drawings. He starts with hands, and so will I. Graphite tonight. Nothing fantastic. I'll work on hands all week, just drawing, maybe something in oils at the end of the week.
More to come.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Welcome to Anatomy Month!
I decided to take on monthly artistic challenges this year. So this month is Anatomy Month, because I need soooo much practice!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Day 28 Joy
Today is the last day.
My deepest joy this day is all of you, my readers who have shared this journey with me. It means more than you know. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading, and commenting.
Love and peace to you.
My deepest joy this day is all of you, my readers who have shared this journey with me. It means more than you know. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading, and commenting.
Love and peace to you.
Day 27 Joy
Once again, my joy for today is great friends. I had such a great evening tonight- my friend hosted dinner and had all kinds of fun things for fondue. It was so elegant. Tomorrow is the very last day of Soul Coaching! Wow!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Day 26 Joy
Today's joy is a miracle. Something I have been wanting to happen for four years. Someone is agreeable to some legal stuff that frees everyone concerned from things that don't benefit anyone.
Also, free lunch (again) at a very nice Japanese restaurant.
Also, free lunch (again) at a very nice Japanese restaurant.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Day 25 Joy
SNOW!!!!!!!!!!
I tried to get a pic of it, you can't see it too well but i promise it is pretty.
I tried to get a pic of it, you can't see it too well but i promise it is pretty.
Day 24 Joy
Gratitude is joy- even if life isn't going exacclythe way we'd like or expect, there is still so much to be deeply thankful for. Going to that place of deep gratitude is such a joyful thing- and best of all, it is always accessible!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Day 23 Joy
Joy is inspiration and insight from others' stories.
I just finished Eyvind Earle's autobiography, and it was amazing. Lots of things to think about.
I just finished Eyvind Earle's autobiography, and it was amazing. Lots of things to think about.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Day 22 Joy
This morning Daya was painting while i was getting ready from work. Usually she paints people out of her head, portraits of me and herself, or colors pictures in.
But today, completely on her own with no guidance from me, she decided to draw from life!! She painted her paint water cup. :)
Tonight i spent a half hour playing with my new pan pastels. It's been years since I've worked with pastels! They are fun (but dusty).
But today, completely on her own with no guidance from me, she decided to draw from life!! She painted her paint water cup. :)
Tonight i spent a half hour playing with my new pan pastels. It's been years since I've worked with pastels! They are fun (but dusty).
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Day 21 Joy
Today's joy is color! (and new art supplies!)
I've been wanting to try pan pastels, so I got some. They are so pretty and handle so well. Oils will always be my love number one but these might become a solid second.
I can't believe there is only one more week in Soul Coaching...it's been so extremely relevant and insightful, once again.
I've been wanting to try pan pastels, so I got some. They are so pretty and handle so well. Oils will always be my love number one but these might become a solid second.
I can't believe there is only one more week in Soul Coaching...it's been so extremely relevant and insightful, once again.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Day 20 Joy
Today's joy is friendship. I am the kind of person who has a few close friends rather than a wide circle of acquaintances.
I always appreciate and value friendship very deeply...especially because I spent many school years without many friends.
My friends rock and I am so blessed to have them in my life.
I always appreciate and value friendship very deeply...especially because I spent many school years without many friends.
My friends rock and I am so blessed to have them in my life.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Day 19 Joy
Today's joy is giving- specifically, giving blood.
Needles scare me very very much but I still do it because it's so important.
Please give blood!!
It's somwhow fitting that the focus in Soul Coaching today is about facing our own death, and the blood drive at work was today. I hope my blood helps someone.
And even though my blood type is B Negative, I really advocate being a positive person, even when I don't particularly feel like it. This Be Positive junk is hard work- but worth it.
This joy journal has been really helpful the past few weeks, because I have been feeling blah, have had some rough days, and overall have not been feeling particularly joyful- but this is helping me balance my perspective.
Needles scare me very very much but I still do it because it's so important.
Please give blood!!
It's somwhow fitting that the focus in Soul Coaching today is about facing our own death, and the blood drive at work was today. I hope my blood helps someone.
And even though my blood type is B Negative, I really advocate being a positive person, even when I don't particularly feel like it. This Be Positive junk is hard work- but worth it.
This joy journal has been really helpful the past few weeks, because I have been feeling blah, have had some rough days, and overall have not been feeling particularly joyful- but this is helping me balance my perspective.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Day 17 Joy
Free Food! It's hard not to feel joyful about free food.
My co-worker and I nabbed an whole entire Bella Vita pizza that was left over from a meeting.
Best of all I didn't even have to go to the meeting!
My co-worker and I nabbed an whole entire Bella Vita pizza that was left over from a meeting.
Best of all I didn't even have to go to the meeting!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Day 16 Joy
I am NOT feeling very joyful today, it's been a rough day.
But every day, no matter how crappy offers joy somewhere, I guess it's a matter of looking for it even if you do feel shitty.
So, um, I'm looking around and back through my day.
Well, i'm pretty healthy so I'm going to feel grateful and joyful about that.
Because I'll happily keep my shitty day rather than exchange it for being sick or in the hospital.
But every day, no matter how crappy offers joy somewhere, I guess it's a matter of looking for it even if you do feel shitty.
So, um, I'm looking around and back through my day.
Well, i'm pretty healthy so I'm going to feel grateful and joyful about that.
Because I'll happily keep my shitty day rather than exchange it for being sick or in the hospital.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Day 15 Joy
Joy is oil paint, fresh air, gardens, and wonderful trees! Combine it all and you get plein air painting.
I got 2 paintings done today in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
I got 2 paintings done today in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Day 12 Joy
Today's joy is the start of a three day weekend.
Though to be honest, while I am making a big effort to focus on the positive, I do not feel joyful today. I have to work all weekend. No other details, since this is not the place to vent about my job.
Though I am grateful to have my job, no question.
Though to be honest, while I am making a big effort to focus on the positive, I do not feel joyful today. I have to work all weekend. No other details, since this is not the place to vent about my job.
Though I am grateful to have my job, no question.
Day 11 Joy
I didn't get qa chance to post yesterday, so I am doing it today. Joy for day 11 is having good co-workers. It makes such a difference when the people around you are friendly and capable.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Day 10 Joy
My joy today is the gratitude I feel for being an artistic person. There are so many people who go through life, just going through the motions of everyday existence with no creativity. And then there are a lot of people who wish they were artistic but think they can't be for some reason. (Which isn't true- anyone can do it!)
Having any form of art in one's life is a great gift- a lifetime journey of development, something that is your unique addition to the beauty of the world. Because there's so much crap everywhere, we need balance.
I can't wait to go out painting on Monday! :)
Having any form of art in one's life is a great gift- a lifetime journey of development, something that is your unique addition to the beauty of the world. Because there's so much crap everywhere, we need balance.
I can't wait to go out painting on Monday! :)
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