Day 827: Three cousins and a friend.

Three cousins & a friend




Some blog friends have asked (and I always respond) ...
to see what I do when I play?

original old photo

I chose an old photo of cousin Katha, a friend, Nancy & Donna ...

I have four cousins, cousin Martha wasn't born yet.

I chose a close up of weathered wood  ...

and then started playing in Photoshop, with ...

with varying degrees of success, but ...

... lots of fun experimenting.

The original photo, always the best and charming, is still intact.

And, I did a "Pacific check" today ...

while in Corona Del Mar ... 

Catalina Island, normally visible,  is on the horizon, hiding behind the incoming clouds.

and, yep, it's still there!

Happy Halloween!

A (Halloween-ish) smile for Friday ...

Day 826: Travel Plans!

Whimsy, acrylics, ink & pastel

I would love to take credit for this, but I'd get caught!
You'd know I am not that clever.

From my best friend in high school, Karen ...

My Travel Plans for 2015

1. 

I have been many places, but I have never been to Kahoots.

Apparently, you can't go there alone. 

You have to be in "Kahoots" with someone.

2.

I have also never been in Cognito. 

I hear no one recognizes you there.

3.

I have, however, been in Sane.

They don't have an airport, you have to be driven there.

I have visited there often thanks to family, friends and work.

4.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but ...

you have to jump, and I'm not too co-ordinated.

5.

 I have also been in Doubt.

This is a sad place to go, so I'll cross that one off.

6.

I have been in-Flexible, but ...

only rarely, when it was very important to stand firm.

7.

Sometimes I'vebeen in-Capable.

Didn't enjoy it much.

8.

A favorite place is Suspense!

It really gets the adrenalin flowing & heart pumping.

9.

I am open to your suggestions, as I make my travel plans?

And, for Throw (way) Back Thursday ...

Pittsburgh, Pa Tournament, circa 198?

A (Halloween-ish) smile for Thursday ...

Day 825 : They gave me a hand!

Aqua O,  acrylics and ink

I know, I know .. . I should be working on a canvas!

But, they gave me a hand.

My assignment is to decorate the hand in any way I choose.

It is to signify the ...

colorful event logo above right.

Each art instructor for the event is asked to design a hand, 

using their art media, as a table centerpiece & raffle gift.

The CAEA Annual Sate Conference 

"Art: The Power to Innovate"

will be November 13 - 16, 2014 at ...

Normally, I wouldn't start till at least November, but ...
I am trying to get some things off my list.

Plus, I could photograph the process for today's blog.

Since the hand is acrylic plastic, I sanded the surface.

Next, gel medium, a foam brush and papers.

Not as easy as I had planned,

problematic skinny fingers and stuff!

To avoid glare, I didn't use a flash, 

so the colors shown appear more "orange-y" than they are. 

Just glad to be done, and check that off my list. ;op

What's on your list?

A gorgeous day, 86' in Santa Ana today ...

A Halloween-ish smile for Wednesday ...

Day 824: The story of the canvas and the 5 year old critic!

Dame de Chipre  (with liberties taken)

Today, Thomas La Badia and Elusive Muse, a wonderful site, offered

Resources for Artists: The Folger Digital Image Collection,

so when I should have been working, I played with a free image.

A very little story.

ARTbar, circa 2009

Years ago I used to demonstrate for the ARTbar ...

during ArtWalk at the Art District, Santa Ana, Ca.

It was fun, and I usually got some work done.

I recently came across this photo ...

and thought I'd tell the story that goes with it.

Families came by, and these kids wanted to stay, 

so their parents went on to other galleries, to return later.

As I was starting to put down a piece of paper on the canvas,

I looked up to see the young lady (maybe 5?) on the right...

 shaking her head, no. I said, no? She shook her head, no.

I moved it to another space, and checked with her.

She nodded yes, and that's where it went.

My youngest critic, and I think she was right on!

That same canvas has had several lives,

but parts of that original are still there.

Today I  re-worked that same canvas for an upcoming show.

Liberty, 24 x 24" collage on canvas

One done, two to go. By Friday.

Please cross your fingers & toes for me?

A (Halloween-ish) smile for Tuesday ...

Day 823: An artful dodger?

Montana markers

The last day of the ASW sale ... a great turnout.

free mini-journal to first 50 participants

participants at journal demo

Then I took Pam Smith Hudson's Strathmore class ...

where we got to play with gelli plates, brayers ...

pens, markers and ...

all kinds of free Strathmore products.

Another fun day, but ready for a nap!

Would love to hear what you are up to?

A (halloween-ish) smile for Monday ...

by French Company