Wednesday, August 31, 2011

CommissionII: Getting Close

I'll type something tomorrow. I'm almost certain I'm getting a migraine.

Fiverr: Civil War Man

This one was a bit difficult for me. I had two photographs, one of a teenager in civilian clothes and one of the same as an adult, but in a war time uniform. I took the older man and put him in civilian clothes.

And gave the image color.

I think it turned out all right. I think it looks like him. And it's a pretty good painting.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Food: Home Made Chicken Noodle

I know, I know, two food posts in a row! But I promise tomorrow I will have two art posts at least and a language post.

This I'm just happy it turned out all right. I thought I might have messed up, but I kept cooking and things turned out pretty much ok. I know I'm not the best chef in the world, but I like cooking with good ingredients and not out of a box.

I know I could cook fresher food, get the meat straight from a butcher or find fruit and veggies at a farmers market, and I do sometimes. But it's much easier and closer to go to the store and not hike across town or hitch a ride from my roomie people.

I suppose I'll have to get over my fear of city driving.

Nah, I'll just keep painting.

Oh, finished a painting tonight that has been giving me fits! But I'll post it tomorrow, along with explanation!

Food: Chicken Machani

For some reason, I'm really creative when it comes to cooking. With painting and drawing I have a real process I follow. With cooking. Well. I usually start with an idea and it runs away screaming by the time I break out a pan.

For this endeavor I actually had an idea and a recipe. Chicken Machni is an Indian or Pakistani dish that I have had a couple of times and I have quite enjoyed. Though of course a few of the times I had Indian or Pakistani friends telling me "that's not how it really is..."

So I really have no clue how chicken machani is really supposed to taste! I have had, however, some excellent food made by Sufian-Bahi's wife who is one of the best cooks I know, so I know how good Indian food is supposed to taste. She even taught me how to make daal ka paratha which is my absolute favorite! Unfortunately I never learned how to make other foods from her, which is one of my major regrets!

So I hatched a plan to make some tasty chicken and gravy dish "like I had at Sufian-Bahi's house" knowing full well I had no idea how to do it. I surfed online looking for a recipe that called for things I had in stock (as I'm on a budget!) and mentally went through all the things I knew about food.

Cooking was kind of fun. I spent most of the time reading the ingredients and instructions and looking at what I had infront of me, making many, many decisions on the fly. "I dont need a whole box of butter! Good lord! I need more cilantro! I'm out of milk.... Ooh! Powdered milk, and it's organic: score! I don't really have gravy yet, thank you, cousin, for the cornstarch to thicken it up."

And on and on. Finally at the end of it I had something that wasn't too hot and spicy so my cousin could eat it, but something I found uber flavorful. And it certainly wasn't chicken machani, but it really tasted like Indian chicken I have had before. I was going to make alo paratha with it, but I was just tired by the end of it and broke out the insta-rice.

Maybe next time I will have all fresh ingredients too. I like cooking well on a budget.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Sketches: Memphis Park





So it's been awhile since I have gone anywhere and sat down and actually drawn from life. So when my cousins' decided that we were going on  picnic my first thought was. "It's way too early." But I drug myself out of bed and into the pre-noon sun and fixed us up a tasty picnic of lunch meat and cheese and hand made rolls and salad and melon and we set off toward the park.

I had no idea what to expect. In Ruston parks are trees and a lake and maybe there will be some people there. When we got to the Memphis park there were golfers and a museum and what looked like a bunch of people out for a carnival. The number of people steadily grew. There was one group practicing drums in what looked to be a giant jam session. The beats colored everything, giving the day a nice boho feel. Some people with hoola hoops and some with these strange sticks or balls and fabric practicing to the beat of them. I'm pretty sure I smelled evidence that a lot of people were high. Along the way there were people dressed up in period clothing having sword fighting lessons and gathered around. There was a team of people playing ultimate frisbee. And there were a ton of people walking their dogs and letting their dogs swim in the lake that had a very large sign: "No dogs allowed off leash or in lake" I am paraphrasing, but the idea was the same. 

So I ended up drawing the people drumming, and I started drawing the trees and the lake, but I got distracted. (You can't really see a lake!) I think it will be fun to go there again. and paint some different people. I hope more sword fighters come again, because I didn't paint them. Honestly I couldn't, I kept cringing when the shorter guy wouldn't center himself and man up and block. And the other fighter was just moving his arms without any other body movement to help. As a sword fighter this disturbed me greatly and kept me from concentrating enough to paint them. I will try to be more artist than sword fighter next time though! I can't wait to see who else will show up, and what I will have a chance to sketch and draw!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Website!

Website!

No, not one for me. I've still got a lot to do, photographing and photoshopping my work. But that will happen one day :)

No, no, my cousin has started her own blog talking about her new house and all of the projects she is doing. It's an older 1938 house and there are tons of things that need to be done, and have been done! So she's writing about her home improvement projects. She and her husband are definitely do it yourself people!

http://improvingourhome.blogspot.com/

And her husband started a blog as well. I am sure everyone wants to know how to get their own indentured servant to take care of cooking and cleaning, especially in a house like my cousins' with all of these large projects that are happening with both of them having jobs. Having an indentured servant is a great investment. He'll go through where to find one, how to pick one out, and how to trick them into offer them work. It's a blog that I read and laugh out loud! The humor is not for anyone, but I just love it. And it's a blog about me! (Sorta)

http://ourindenturedservant.blogspot.com/

Fiverr: Roxy

Roxy
Oil on Mat Board
4x6"

I thought this one was really cute. Looks just like my Jack did, except Jacks ears were always really pointed. I thought this one wouldn't turn out really well, but in the end I think it did. Especially the eyes. I had fits with those eyes...

Friday, August 26, 2011

Process: Gessoing Mat Boards

One way I like to save money is by practicing on pieces of mat or illustration or some other thin board. For larger work I use brown paper which is fun to work on, making the oil work more like pastel than paint; but for smaller pieces (less than 5x7 inches) I like something a little more stiff that is not going to roll up. Paper can be taped down to masonite and you don't have to prime it.

I guess technically you won't have to prime a piece of mat board or the like, but I prefer to prime it. An easy way to prime the board is hit it with a coat of shellac. Amber shellac can be found at Lowe's and last time I bought it, a quart cost $15.00, and lasts for just about ever. It gives the board a nice, smooth, glossy surface. It takes oil fairly well, though it will wipe completely off the surface so it's not good for rub ins, just thick wet into wet painting.

For something with more tooth, gesso works well. I always use three coats. The first one as smooth and as covering as possible. The second I make thicker so you can see the brushstrokes, all moving in one direction. The next coat, after that one has dried completely I do with thick lines going perpendicular to the first set. This gives the board a nice, woven texture, almost like a piece of canvas.

Anyway you choose to do it, it helps if the pieces are acid free. They'll actually keep then. You can use cardboard for the substrate if you wish, but your painting will not last because of the acid in the cardboard.

Anyway, it'll be good for practice if you don't want to spend a lot of money on canvas! I managed to get a ton of mat board for free, and have had it for years now! And had I not left my shellac open accidentally and ruined it I would have still been using that can.

Sketch

Even if you know exactly how a painting is going to turn out because of the photo you're given, it's a good idea to sketch it out anyway!

I learned something about the neck of this dog, and I know to watch for it now when I'm painting. Plus I made some short hand notes about value!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Drawing: Mughees

Mughees
5x7"
Wolff's Carbon Pencil aur Chalk

So I finished this pretty quickly this morning. It's been awhile since I've done a quick sketch like this. I like the toned paper and black and white.

I can see it's not drawn particularly well. Made him less thin than he really is.

I've got to practice by doing this again. Maybe just fix his cheek. Has to be more angled. Blah! Painting time now though.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

CommissionII: I Keep Forgetting Photos!

Here is a picture of what I did yesterday. I'll probably post what I do today, tomorrow :P

CommissionII: On Air

Well, I managed to paint on my commission, live, in front of... six people. Two of those being my cousin and myself. I think that's a pretty good number, considering I might have tweeted about it. Maybe.

I also received an HD webcam today! I wasn't able to use it for the show, but I'm hoping if I stay up late enough tonight, I can get my computer to recognize it. Or do what I normally do in this situation. Yell for help really loudly and hope someone here, or maybe on google, can help me. If I can't do it tomorrow after sleep and Neill is unable to fix it, I will blame my computer and save up money to buy a new one.

I still have my commission that I worked on for awhile yesterday. Would have worked on it more had I been able to sleep last night and have woken up at a decent hour. Ok, ten isn't bad. But I need a running start! I need to get up! After everyone else, of course, but I'm weird like that. I'm feeling sleepy right now, and it's midnight, so hopefully I'll go straight to sleep and wake up at 830 or 9. That way I can get in a full days worth of painting, and not a half day. I've almost finished his jacket, got a lot of paint down on hers but had to stop because it was running and bit and instead of adding more of my paint, I just decided to let it dry and work on her face. And his face. I'll be glad when I get done with their clothes and background and then put the paint where it matters! I'm so oldschool, not treating all parts of the canvas equally!

And I've got another project I was thinking about doing but never really got together. Until now! I have all the stuff I need for it, and after I paint long and hard tomorrow I'll be starting more book binding! I have a couple of post bound books I want to make, and so I bought the book board I would need and some new paper. And I got all the stuff I needed to hand make me some paper! I was inspired by my brother who made some really awesome paper and that seemed like something I would want to do. And it was cheaper than buying the paper I wanted. So instead of five dollars a sheet I spent exactly 20 dollars and I can make all the paper I want. For all eternity and long as Melissa and Neill still have paper they need to shred. And I've got paper I need to shred, come to that!

I also have one more commission that I might be able to start soon. I probably mentioned it. I don't want to say much more about it other than that I will probably have one. I just have to get a dreaded price list together and be as detailed as possible. I'm sure everyone hates doing that. When I figure out how I am going to do it, I'll post about it. I'm sure everyone needs help with that! Especially me and it will help to be able to look back on how I did it when I have to do it again!

Sleep time. Definitely sleep time. I've done all the computer work I can! I need to be fresh for art.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Bookbinding: Post Binding

Of all the books I bound during my bookbinding class, the post bound one turned out to be my favorite. It was also the easiest to make! Seriously.

Basically I took long rectangular paper and made it all pretty and straight, then made the cover with four pieces of book board, some bookcloth, and some cute pieces of paper. Then drill pressed the sucker and added the posts to hold it all together. Easy! This one even had a flap that made it a tiny bit harder, but still, one more piece of bookboard, a longer piece of bookcloth, and some magnets isn't rocket science!

I'm going to try and make another like this soon, but using nicer paper. And making it thicker will be fun too! I was thinking cold pressed watercolor paper, or some paper I make! It will be a fun project any way I do it!

Vacation photos and Prismacolor Pencil Tips!

I was meaning to post some photos from vacation but I never ended up doing it. Since I'm lying here sick in bed, I thought that this would be a great way to pass the time! Not just from vacation though, but other art related things!

This butterfly photo is one of my favorites! One of my first colored pencil works with prismacolor pencils was done of this species of butterfly.

One thing I learned from that project while watching everyone do theirs: do not burnish with white or those awful blender pencils! It ends up looking chalky, or thin. To get rich layers of color, well, layer rich colors!

Saw too many people put down thick color right off. Not a good idea because you will have to put down thicker color to blend. Put down many layers of thin color and you can add dozens of colors to the space giving a luminous, thick, sexy quality to the drawing. Ok, sensuous was the word I was going for, but good drawing and good use of color is sexy!

And white. White isn't a nonentity. If you add it in top of a layer of good color to "blend" it, all you will have succeeded in doing is putting it behind milky glass. Not good. I've found taking colors and just layering them may take longer, but the difference between using white or a blender to blend and layering pigment is the difference between looking through a bathroom shower door and looking at Chartres cathedral windows!

I might do more tips on colored pencil soon. Just so I can stop going into art stores and hearing "I'd buy those colors but they're so expensive it's not worth it!"

... Um. Yeah. I wan to teach people how to really work with prismacolors! And to find the right type of pencil that works with their style!

I like using different brands of colored pencils, but I can't use them in the same ways! I have to adjust my decisions based on what the pencil can do! Asking a pencil from Freds to do the same thing as a prismacolor will just frustrate you and annoy the hell out of the pencil!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Fiverr: One is for sorrow...

One for sorrow, two for mirth,
Three for a wedding, four for a birth,
Five for silver, six for gold,
Seven for a secret not to be told.
Eight for heaven, nine for hell,
And ten for the devil's own sel'


Trying for a stormy crow image on a church. The photographs of these small things are not turning out really well no matter when I take them. I think it turned out pretty okay, when it's not getting photographed. The photographs never have the colors I put into these things! It's starting to get on my nerves!

Maybe I should take out my camera and stop using my iPhone! Just used the colors on my pallet for my large commission. Hope to be done with that soon too. Still no painting on the webcam! I'm sorry. I'll do that soon for y'all!

I had a good day today. I wish I had more light so I can go out and paint! I'll just have to go out early tomorrow!

The Live Show

So I haven't been able to do it live yet. I don't look very fresh after only three hours of sleep and yelling at dogs makes me kinda hoarse. That's kinda funny. Also my sense of humor dies a bit. Anyway, here will be the show! Yay!


Free desktop streaming application by Ustream

Saturday, August 20, 2011

CommissionII: The Video

Sorry I don't have a photograph of what I've done today. It got really dark really fast, and anything I photograph now will look incredibly yellow. The moment that light bulb goes out I'm putting in some natural light bulbs. I hope I don't find one that's too blue. I might review some bulbs soon. I'll post a photograph here tomorrow in any event.

But what I managed to set up is video! So I can hook up my computer and have myself painting online for everyone to see my process. I figure it will at least be fun. I remember I did it several years ago and I enjoyed it. And now I have a better space for painting, if I can make enough room for my web camera holder, or the third easel. I'll see how it looks when it's light out. The camera is pretty blurry so if I make money I might go for another camera too!

The only real problem I have is my computer does not like sound at all. It won't play any sound, and it won't record any sound. It has been doing this for awhile, and I will miss being able to answer questions and explain what I am doing while I paint. I remember doing that the first time I painted online and it made me feel less awkward, like I was an actual teacher, and not some random artist in front of a webcam.

The link to my art show profile is HERE. It's a little bit dull and drab, but I'll take time to fix it up if I actually keep doing this. I might decide I look to awful or paint too badly to continue. It seems like it will be fun though. I can dress up or something. And wear a smock. Isn't that a fun word? Smock. Smock smock smock smock smock! What's wrong with me?! It's late and I don't want to have another zombie dream. We'll go with that. Anyway, I plan on painting sometime after lunch because that's when the light is the best for video. And I'll probably be awake. So hop on in and see if I'll be broadcasting :) Don't laugh if I look funny either. You'd look funny too if you hadn't been sleeping well.

In other news, I may have another art commission soon. That would be good, because I need one after I get finished with this one. So far I haven't had to market a lot or sit down to really overhaul my online presence. I plan on doing that if the commissions stop coming in! I hope they don't.

So to talk about the actual painting!

I didn't get finished with her clothing, and I messed up the sleeve of his jacket so I am having to wait until it dries again. I guess I could wipe it off but it seems easier to just move on because it really needs some paint in that area anyway, even if the drawing is kind of off.

I'm using an unusual amount of color for this thing. I've got a list longer than just about any painting I've ever done. And it looks like I have been using less! I always find that is the case. If I limit myself I squeeze every last drop of color out of just a few tubes. If I don't put on limits I get lazy and let the colors come straight out of the tube without any thought. It's cheaper this way because I don't use my good colors a lot of time, and I use less of what I use because I do a lot less mixing.

I would feel embarrassed listing out all of my colors. But I suppose I will.

Permalba
Yellow Ocher
Naples Yellow
Cad Yellow Lt
Windsor Lemon Yellow
Dark Sienna
Burnt Sienna
Raw Umber
Burnt Umber
Lamp Black
Payne's Grey
Davey's Grey
Alizarin Crimson
Cad Red Lt
Sap Green

What I find funny is I have not opened a tube of actual blue this entire painting and it seems like my painting is swimming in it. The closest thing I have are those grey colors. And one of them look more green when you add white! I always get them confused so I'll have to look and see exactly which one does what.

I feel like I'm being a bit lazy with this painting, not using only the colors I can mix to get the colors I need. I guess I was so worried about not adding enough colors to drag the photograph out of the seventies that I kind of went overboard and just starting adding colors. The good thing is it seems to be working. It's not as seventies looking. Well, to me at least.

Wow. I've written so much and there is not even a photograph. I'll definitely fix that tomorrow!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

CommissionII: Actually Painting

I'm finally at a point on this piece where it feels like I am actually painting, and not just putting paint on canvas. I'm actually working wet into wet and looking and really drawing. Right now I see a couple of huge mistakes, his shoulder comes out too much for one, which makes his head look incredibly small, and there are size problems with the side of his face. And just his face! I spent all night fighting with that smirk, and making it look balanced and friendly and not wonky and evil. And I technically wasn't even painting so chances are I'll lose that detail when I put some real paint on the face and will have to fight for it all over again!

No one better paint like me. Do as I say, not as I do!

I'm going to end up getting the jacket done tomorrow and start on hers. Maybe finish that as well if I get up early. I haven't been sleeping well and then once I get to sleep after tossing and turning I get up late, but only get 4-5 hours of sleep. Ugh. And plus I haven't been able to get this to work right and I've been hiding from this behind other work. But now the kitchen is done and all my stuff is moved in, so I really don't have anything to keep me away from it!

I'm just worried about it. Hope to have it done soon, Im normally much more confident! I don't know what's wrong with me!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Language: Urdu

I'm getting back into language learning now that I have a lot more time on my hands. For awhile I just listened to my two Urdu songs and my one chapter of Harry Potter my yaarchan recorded for me!

I broke out my book of Urdu yaarchan's ami bought for me and a few of my Urdu books. I also got my password for livemocha and signed on to finish one of my assignments!

I have a lot more Japanese books on my computer but all of my actual books are at my house. But I want to learn Urdu first! I have a lot of great friends to help me, and friends are always greater than books!

(I know, considering my love of books! Blasphemy!)

Food: Squash and Mint Orzo

Food
Squash and Mint Orzo

Being a cook is actually kind of fun. Right now you could almost call it my job, but instead of money it goes toward rent. I keep the food budget within a certain amount, the amount I save goes toward my rent. And when I'm not cooking I'm painting or blogging.

I think it's a brilliant set up for artists. Especially since I get a painting room in the mix. And a bunch of time to work.

Fiverr: Yarn and Knitting Needles


Knitting Needles, Yarn Ball, Skein
Oil on Mat Board
4x5"

This is my first fiverr commission in awhile. I've done a bit of spinning and and weaving and I was actually kind of excited to get this commission. I've never painted any of my fiber arts creations, but I'll try to paint some of my creations from life soon. I've got some roving that I want to spin into yarn, and I want to paint it after I get done. Not the yarn, but a picture of the yarn!

I should really start sleeping. Insomnia sucks.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Process

When I first get a commission of any type I always sketch my ideas in my sketch book, even if I'm having to work directly from a photograph.

Helps me see value and design!

Fiverr


Okay! Awhile ago I was using fiverr to sell small 4x5" paintings of mine at an incredibly cheap price (five dollah!) and quit when I didn't have time to do a lot of paintings. But now that I have moved and I don't have a job at Lowe's I now have plenty of time to work on these little paintings.

I don't get a lot of money off of them, but I really like working on them. They are small, I don't have to set up a painting as most people know exactly what they want, and I get money for practice that I would do for free. And you do not have to pay a lot of money to get a small painting of mine!

That being said I don't work on canvas or canvas board, only mat board, I don't use my very expensive paint, though I still use light fast paint, and I make sure it ships without being damaged. I show people what they are getting before it ships and will try and fix any problems, though so far no one has had any!

I sort of lost my login information for my other account, so I just made a new one here: http://fiverr.com/users/cloud8point9/gigs/create-a-four-by-five-inch-original-oil-painting-on-mat-board

If you are interested in past gigs I have done, I have tagged them all with the "fiverr" tag on my blog, here. If you have any questions about what I will do, just comment, or send me a convo over fiverr. You can also have me not post your painting on my blog.

Well, I'm going to get back to painting :)

CommissionII: Covering the Lines

So I fixed the drawing but it left a ton of marks on the background. So I'm trying to cover up those marks with lots of opaque colors like white. And his jacket ended up blue... What was I thinking? I guess more about value and the seventies instead of what I am doing.
Oh well, once it dries that won't be hard to fix at all, now that I'm aware of it. The fun part is I don't even have a blue in my palette! It's coming from the grey I decided on, and the warm orange background.
Color theory ftw!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

CommissionII: uh...

I haven't done much... Will post more when I'm not carsick...

Friday, August 12, 2011

CommissionII: The Background

Normally I don't work on one area like this, but I thought I'd add the back to give me something to work with, plus I find it quick and easy. I was going for quick! This is how I started yesterday, and I've done quite a bit more since then, but I have to get a picture of it.

Also, it's a bit too blue on my phone. There are a ton more colors in the actual background.

No vermillion yet. I'm saving that!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

New Art Store

New blog post to follow shortly!

One thing I was worried about when moving was finding out how I was going to get all of my art supplies without having a car to drive to an art supply store. I agonized over bus routes and wondered if I could borrow my cousin's car and then I wondered if I would be able to drive in city traffic. (I have a slight problem with left turns without a signal and there seems to be a fair few here. Not knowing where these are would cause me a lot of stress.) I know that this doesn't bother some people, but coming from a place where a traffic jam is a three car pile up behind a tractor, well, I know it will take some getting used to if I do start driving.

So, my cousin, while driving a couple of days ago, pointed out this building with "Discount Art Supplies" over the door. In an offhand way, she mentioned: "This is the art store you'd be able to walk to. I don't know if it's any good..." and I immediately perked up. Any place I could walk to, even though it looked like we were starting to get into the rough side of town, would be preferable to some place I'd have to drive to.

So today was the first day we actually walked there. I'm lucky she came with me because I would have been so lost. Plus I would have freaked out over the amount of traffic at the end and walked straight back. I don't do well with crowds, obviously!

But the store was great! It was a tiny store but just about everything in it was for the serious artist. No cheap winton paint here! Before I left I took all my cash out of my wallet so I wouldn't go crazy in the store, no matter what was there. Unfortunately I still had my debit card... this is not good when I find my first tube of vermillion that's not attached to the word "hue"... As a lover of the Zorn Palette, not having a tube of vermillion and never even having used it has always seemed like a sin to me. Ordering it would have been an option but the price has always made me shy away. I knew however whenever I saw it in person I'd probably end up and buy it. And that is exactly what happened (see picture above!)

The good news about my splurge is that I now love this shop since I A.) finally own a tube of vermillion, B.) Received a free small tube of ultramarine blue, and C.) got two free samples of paper! Woo! New art store FTW! *Does the happy art store dance* They are also selling a press, something that I will be saving up for if at all possible! And kilns! And beautiful paper! And, my favorite: bookbinding supplies! As soon as I am done with my commission I will be doing so much book binding it will be unreal! Painting and books! I am so happy :)

Also I plan to do some work with vermillion and actually see how it works. I have been wondering which color it's closest to (I'm told cad red light, but I'll actually get to see first hand!) and how it works mixed with different paint and... well, as soon as I get my commission done I will do a ton of work with my beloved Zorn Palette. <3 yay.

So, if you're in Memphis there is a great art supply store. I just wish I could remember the names of the streets. I think one is Highland and the other is Summer. Or Southern. Or...

You know, I should really learn to pay attention! I'll have to get there by myself next time!

Moved, finally!

Well, I am now currently in Memphis Tennessee and this is going to be my new painting room. Tons of natural light from the south, but in a fairly shady yard so all the light is diffused. I hope this works. We'll see how it turns out once I start painting from life out there. It was actually quite terrible at first but Melissa and I got it cleaned up and it smells and feels great. I can even walk out there barefoot. I'm still working on the kitchen. Melissa has forbidden me saying much about that. So I won't... Much.

I have everything moved except for a few things that didn't fit in my tiny little Honda, like my wood easel. I'm using my tiny portable one which is nice, but a little shaky when I'm working so large. I'm hoping painting goes ok tomorrow. I'm trying to finish my painting in the next two days (probably not going to happen) so I can paint what I want to in Eureka Springs (I will probably be painting this commission up there as well.)

I also haven't blogged because my computer is stubbornly refusing to connect to the internet. Right now I am on my phone, so if things are a bit off, I am sorry. I also don't type well on it, and I've already caught several mistakes, whether from auto correct or not I am unsure, but it's still getting under my skin. Hopefully my computer will stop being homesick and let me connect so I can type a decent blog post!

As far as the painting goes I have found several things wrong that I need to address, which I would have caught doing the Giacometti method. I'm working completely on the drawing tomorrow! I need to redeem myself.

Friday, August 05, 2011

Etsy: Ginger and Jasmine

I found such a wonderful list of things on Etsy today that I went ahead and made a treasury list I had been thinking about for awhile. I'll probably delete and add stuff on a regular basis, or maybe make a new one!

Here is the link:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTQ2OTYzOTV8NTM4NTYzOTE1/jasmine-and-ginger

That's right! Jasmine and Ginger. I'm such romantic sap some days. (I hope not many people get why!)

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Packing! and a blog to hold ya over XD

So far I haven't done much painting this week. Mostly because I thought I would have a whole other week to pack. But I am leaving on the seventh. This leaves me little less than four days to pack up everything.

Everything.

I didn't realize one person could accumulate so much stuff. I would post pictures but I don't want to frighten anybody. It looks like I should be on hoarders. The best part about doing this is a lot of stuff is getting donated or tossed or finally used.



So, in lieu of a new post, I'm going to send everyone to my friend's blog/journal thing. It is here. This isn't an art blog. This is my friend who just found out she has a rare form of cancer. But I love her upbeat attitude and humor through all of her posts. I'd start at the beginning, or you will be wondering what "Chiquita" means, or why everything is teal! I think she needs as much support as she can get. She's just starting Chemo today, so a fresh wave of prayers and thoughts is the only thing I can give her. Thank you everyone who takes out just a bit of time out of their day to pray for her!

<3