Sketch - My Living Room , Colored Pencil

I got home late tonight after having dinner with my good friend SG.  We worked together quite some time ago, became very close and make a point of meeting for dinner regularly.  We know each other well and bonded immediately after finding out we both have twin sons.  Susan’s sons are grown and on their own as are mine but we had that base and built from there into the best of friends.

Our temperaments are very different but one thing we agree on is that the Cheesecake Factory is our favorite spot to dine only tonight we deviated from our normal routine and ate at a place in Crossgates Mall that was having a $20.12 three course meal special.  The food was good and our conversation nonstop!

After dinner (without a white chocolate caramel macadamia nut cheese cake for dessert) we headed to the Apple Store with my computer that seemed to have exploded.   I had hoped to have it looked at and possibly fixed but didn’t realize that you need an appointment at the Apple Store – who knew?!   I was nearly sent away without having one of the “Cool” Apple experts take a look at my laptop but with my insistent friend SG at my side they did manage to squeeze me and my laptop in for a quick look without an appointment.

I’ll tell you I was relieved to find that my it was only a defective battery and even more relieved when the Apple Store replaced it for free.  Yes for free!  Holy Cow.  I figured it was going to cost me big and now that it hasn’t I feel lucky.  Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket … it seems things are going my way!

"Cut Corn" Watercolor Sketch (6.5" x 3.5" or so)

[5...10...15... or 20]

I didn’t realize how much I’d missed the snow covered ground and the extreme contrast of the winter landscape until today.  We haven’t had much snow here in Upstate New York this season and even in Downtown Albany where I work – only 40 miles away – there is no snow.  But up here at my house if there’s a chance of snow I have a good chance of getting some here at this high elevation.

It’s beautiful really.  As I drove around today past the Old Tater Barn on Route 30A the cut corn stalks poked their heads out of the snow.  It is interesting and exciting to me.  The distant hills in shades of blue-gray with row after row of raw sienna corn stalks are all color mixing challenges for me.  I try and try but never can get it just right.  Nature knows her color mixture and isn’t sharing the combination with me.  I will not be deterred though and count winter landscapes as one of my favorite subjects to paint in watercolor.

The rows of cut corn converging in the distance drew me in and inspired me to snap lots of photos for reference to be used later.  There’s a whole world of things to paint and inspiration can be found everywhere!  Having freed myself recently of certain expectations with regard to my art I’m finding that painting these little sketches is great fun and a real education.

That’s what creating art should be… joyful, fun, peace filled and meditative as we tap into our Zen and commune with God.

My new hat.

I got this new hat for Christmas from Jonathan and Calico.  It’s really cute, colorful, very warm and when I’m wearing it I forget sometimes it attracts attention.

I used to wear hats all the time with my long, wool winter coat.  A felted Fedora, cloche or beanie I had them all and depending on my mood I’d toss one on my head and off to work I’d go.  I felt hip and fun in my stylish hats.   Wherever I went I’d always be on the lookout for another cool hat to add to my wardrobe.

One day I stumbled across the coolest hat.  It was a deep red, velvet and had a wide brim folded up with a very large, yellow, faux Gerbera Daisy planted right in front.  I knew immediately I had to have it!  It was me after all  – fun and cool – so there was no way I was going to leave without purchasing it!

Now most of the hats I’d worn to this point were classic and understated, stylish but unobtrusive.  If someone glanced in my direction, the hat would be duly noted as fashionable, conservative and perfectly acceptable in Downtown Albany where I work.  Week after week I’d worn my hats and after a while I began to feel comfortable and natural with them on my head, but this new hat was another thing altogether.  Red and loud with a bright colored flower right in front it said “Look at ME!”  I loved the hat but the message was not one I was comfortable conveying.

Nonetheless, I loved the hat, it was fun and I’d purchased it to wear it.  It was amazing really because this new hat made people smile and inspired conversations with perfect strangers.  The message it seemed to convey was “I am approachable and nice, talk to me.” After a while I began to feel comfortable and natural in my red hat with the big flower in front.  I smiled more and felt lighter.

For weeks I wore my red hat with the yellow flower and with the Downtown debut so successful I thought nothing of it as I tossed it on my head and headed to our local Agway one Saturday afternoon.  It had become a part of me by then and I felt fun and cool with my red hat on my head.

After the short drive to Agway we pulled into a parking spot right in front of the store and as I stepped out of the car some mean-spirited teenager yelled out from his speeding car window, “Nice HAT…. ASSHOLE!”

I was shattered and no longer felt fun and cool.  Where was the nice conversation and sweet smiles?  In a moment things changed… I was no longer cool and fun, I was an asshole.   I was devastated and my hat no longer made me smile and feel light.  Out of pure pride I kept the thing on my head but once home my red hat was tossed into the closet and forgotten.

And then this Christmas I got another hat that just might be a little risky to wear.  But the thing is I’ve gotten older and realize that some people will think I’m an “asshole” and it doesn’t matter because the people that really matter will smile and strike up a conversation because they can clearly see that I am fun and cool.

I wear the new that that Jonathan and Calico gave me with pride these days and already I’ve had a trucker wave and a passerby smile.  I just know they both wanted to pull over for a chat!  I think it’s time to dig through my closest, find my red hat with the big flower and remind the world that I am fun and cool and just might be an asshole.  ☺

"Why is he yawning when they're keeping US awake?

Here they are, my three grandchildren, Grace, Matthew and Michael.  Don’t ask me which is which.  Let me stand corrected I do know that Grace is the one in the middle.  I remember when my twins, Jonathan and Michael, were babies I could always tell who was who, but since I haven’t spent much time with Michael and Matthew yet I can’t be sure.

I’ve got a Long Island trip planned soon.  Mumzie and Pa will be coming along.  It’s been a while since I’ve visited.   Life sometimes gets hectic and during the last month or so I’ve been battling a cold, which I did not want to bring Downstate.   I have been kept updated by telephone, with online photos and, of course, the new IPhone that Jonathan gave me for Christmas has a Facetime feature that really rocks and helps bridge the distance just a little.

I think they need nametag tatoos!

My three grandkids!

Step 1 - Pancakes, juice and real maple syrup... yum.

You might recall that last July I adopted two cats from our local animal shelter.  After my Beagle Penny died the house was eerily quiet and with the exception of two Black Mollies in my little five gallon aquarium there wasn’t anything in the house to nurture.  I do have a couple of house plants but they’re not much for conversation either so it made sense to bring a couple of cats into my home.  My two kitties, Luvy and Little Miss, have settled in pretty well and with the exception of that mishap with Little Missy’s tail we’ve become a nice little family.

Luvy is unlike any cat I’ve ever owned or known.  (Truthfully, who’s kidding who, he owns me!)  Luvy is a character to be sure and many of his behaviors mimic those that Penny possessed.  He can be loving or the resident terrorist.  He sits on the arm of the couch as I write this purring up a little cat storm.

If he hears me in the kitchen (and he always does), he’ll come running to see “what’s up?!”  (Penny did that!)  While I cook he’s an ever-present fixture on the scatter rug near the sink and any droppings are immediately inspected and sometimes consumed if they’re to his liking.  (Penny did that too)

Step 2 - Here's Luvy... waiting for his turn at the pancake breakfast!

Luvy begs like a dog at meal time and I’m surprised to have him obey when I motion him to sit and stay (another Penny thing when she wanted too, of course).   Luvy will wait patiently as you eat, watching intently and waiting for his turn to be the cleanup crew (Penny was the best clean up crew – no doubt).   These un-catlike behaviors make me wonder if Penny is up in dog heaven coaching Luvy so we’ll know she’s okay.   I’m constantly astounded by the little things he does as if knowing my next move before I make it.  It’s the strangest thing really.

Heck I thought for sure I’d bring home an aloof and independent cat (Little Missy is more like that).  But instead I ended up with this crazy, inquisitive, powder keg who is the best companion and friend.  Little Missy stays on the fringes mostly, always has, and so it’s nice to have Luvy whose personality is so big!  They’re a perfect compliment to one another and are the very best of friends as well.   They make me laugh and smile and bring new life to the place.  I feel lucky to have them around.

My backyard covered in snow at -6 degrees! Oh my.

It’s -6 degrees this morning… brrrrr!  This temperature is more typical of what we expect around here in January and February.  Not to say we like it but it is more usual than the 40 degree temperatures we have been enjoying.

After my morning coffee I’ll need to bundle up and head out for provisions.   The cats need their vittles and I could use a few things myself.   I don’t want to waste my day at Wally World so I’d better get moving so I can get back home.  Home… where I’d rather be when I’m at Wally World.

I’ve got lots of things I’d like to accompish today.  I intend to hunker down, stoke the woodstove and paint the day away.  But first I’ll need to get moving.  Stop back later.  Maybe I’ll have painted something really good!

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P.M. Update:

"Temperature Changes" Watercolor

I did manage to get in a little time to paint this afternoon and decided to use one of the photographs I took yesterday (no more sunsets for the moment).  The sun was out (yesterday and today) but it made no difference in the temperatures.   Cold… bitter cold is still holding strong here at my house!

I loaded the woodstove, got a fire started and then set up my paints downstairs near the warmth radiating from the fire.   There’s nothing quite like the heat that comes from a woodstove with the smell and warmth feeling so different from my “force hot air” furnace.   The heat from a wood fire is steady and comforting and the perfect place to spend the afternoon.   While listening to my favorite music I painted the afternoon away.  This was a perfect day.

Sunset No. 4, Watercolor Sketch

As you can see I’m continuing my practice on sunsets or sunrises if you prefer.   Some of these practice runs come out better than others but each one teaches me something.

Rendering these sunsets requires several watercolor washes be applied one over the other.  In order to achieve the best result, each layer needs to dry completely before applying the next.  This watercolor technique is called “glazing.”  In my haste I, of course, pushed ahead of the process by applying a second wash before the first was completely dry.

When you do such a thing there are several expected outcomes (1) there is the risk of lifting off the first wash or (2) you end up with “mud,” which is a mixing of colors you  intended to layer not mix.  Either way pushing the process lowers the odds of achieving a successful outcome.

It’s a good idea to have several pieces going at once or use a hair dryer to expedite the drying process or walk away and do something else while your painting dries.  I, of course, did none of the above.  When I finally did walk away last night I thought I’d screwed the whole thing up.  Instead when I returned to my art room this morning I realized I could salvage this little sketch and was ready to proceed with patience this time.

So… this little sunset taught me two things (1) bring patience to your art endeavors; and (2) if one of your pieces of artwork don’t come out as well as you had hoped you call it a sketch instead of a painting.

Practice, practice and more practice equals lessons learned!