Homework

I did the almost the same thing every day this week. Worked hard at work, spent some time with Hana, then painted "homework" portraits for the rest of the evening. There was some late night cooking, NCIS in the background, snuggling and stuff like that, but mostly work and painting.

This was an interesting exercise - two colors, dark and light and some shades in between.

The next one taught me a big lesson - there are many different watercolor papers. I mean, I knew that, but was never aware what a huge difference it makes in a painting. The following face was painted on a very inexpensive, rough paper. I had a horrible time trying to blend anything, paint was drying up in record speed, seemed like it lost half of the pigment etc.

Then I purchased Arches hot press paper and there was a world of difference. I used the same colors on both paintings and they look completely different! It was a challenge because I painted with an unfamiliar brush, color combinations that I don't use and on an easel (which I never do).

More faces that were done today and I think that I'm "faced out" and ready for something new.

It's Friday!!!!! I'm about to watch the last ever Monk episode.... I am going to miss him.....

Giveaway winner

Thank you all for the birthday wishes and for participating in my giveaway. Kelly Kilmer was close when she guessed that what I'm holding in my hand is a Nook, but Julie guessed it first - it is Amazon's Kindle. It was a gift from my husband, who somehow always senses what I would like.
I LOVE IT and at the same time I have mixed feelings about it. I always loved the tactile presence of a book.... there is nothing like a well printed book. I work for a printing company, so I'm not doing our industry any favors by not buying books...  And - I'm sad for all the bookstores closing (big and small, I just found that a big bookstore that I love will be closed at the end of the year). But still - the fact that I can press a button and download almost any book in less than a minute and start reading it... it's just unbelievable! And it's so easy on the eyes, and to hold. I can't put it down.... Now tell me - what is your favorite book? What should I read?
Congratulations LISA - you are the winner of the giveaway. I don't have your email address, but you can find mine on my profile page.

Happy December!

Playing in Misty's class

My favorite holiday of the year is over. The food and company were amazing, and we all feel even closer after acknowledging aloud what we are thankful for. So many things... big and small, deep and silly.

I didn't spend much time on art (wouldn't it be nice if I now had 4 days off work just to do art? asking for too much, I know).  I thought I can share what I've been doing for the last several weeks in Misty Mawn's class. Just as I knew it would be, the class is amazing. Watching Misty use art supplies and create beautiful pieces in matter of minutes is a treat. I've been painting backgrounds;

adding transfers;

starting a painting with one piece of collage (two, actually);

building on it;

then starting with a finished background, adding collage to it (not finished - more paint to come later);

sketching;

sketching some more...

There is so much to do, so many things to try and practice. I plan (expect, as Sharon would say) to paint every afternoon next week. Right now it's time to enjoy the extra hot weather and grill something nice... turkey days are over.

There is still time to join my giveaway. Click here to enter for a chance to win.

Solitude

Getting arboreal - Part TWO

Ignore the beautiful, sculptural, bare branches for a second. Look at the sky!

Can you believe that color?

 

What a huge difference from the month of August!

Just a few yellow leaves hanging on... One breezy day and they will be gone too.

 

I am enjoying all the lines.... imagine trying to draw each and every one of them. Impossible. At the same time I can't help but think about the way this tree will look in Spring. I'm sure you'll be surprised. I was when I saw it for the first time last Spring.

Check out the other trees on Julie's blog. Sooooo lovely.

Giveaway to celebrate an interesting number.

45

Me.

Yesterday.

I like the number.

Added they are 9 and for some reason I always liked number 9.

My family knows that I am not big on celebrations, much less gifts. What makes me happy are treasured moments that happen when I don't expect them and daily love that surrounds me. But, sometimes (like yesterday) I receive a box wrapped in colorful paper that I open and start jumping up and down from joy. What did I get? I'm holding it in the photo. Can you guess?

I would like to thank everyone for the support and sweet words that you constantly write. My blogging friends are a big part of my life, and since I couldn't offer you a piece of my birthday cake I would like to have a little giveaway. Please leave a note with your best guess of what is the thing I'm holding. Next Monday I will randomly choose a number (no matter if the answer was right or wrong) and give a $50 certificate for my etsy shop. The winner can choose whatever they want for $50 and I will ship it for free and with a smile.

Yesterday I decided that I want to be a vegetarian. Today I bought an 18 pound turkey.

45 years old and I still can't make up my mind on so many things.

Big hugs.

Catching up

Hello!
It has been a while that I have been here... almost a month.

My in-laws came from far away for a visit. Almost all of my after-work hours for the last four weeks were spent with them. They will leave on Sunday, and there will be more time for art, but I'll miss the laughs, stories, good home meals (and freshly made pastry and cakes) that waited for me almost every day...

The very little time I had for art play - I didn't know what to paint. I lost the flow... But since I really needed to relax, I picked up the brushes and some colors and allowed myself to just enjoy it.

I watched all the Teesha Moore's  videos and couldn't help but make the journal she demo-ed. It's very easy and fun to make. I started filling the pages and then stopped (distracted by another amazing teacher).

I plan to write on these pages. Not quotes, as I usually do, but the real stuff... I miss writing things, really journaling not only my thoughts and dreams, but everyday things too. Like - how my daughter looked when she said that a boy told her that he likes her, or how my son got a certificate that allows him to work and help battered women, or how I can't walk a flight of stairs without getting out of breath and how I should do something about it...
More to come...