Disregard this... just testing

I'm just doing a little test. Actually, I'm just looking for something to help my vision be more objective. I'm just looking at a couple of watercolors I've done of the same subject. I'm hoping for a smidgeon of improvement, but.... really, seeing things out here on the blog helps me see it more realistically.

 

 

Below is a close up showing a couple of 'coffee pools' of moisture as a result of my spilling a full cup of coffee the other day.

 

Morning Light

 

The picture above was taken thru a window screen. It is from this morning. (I opened the windows up before daylight to get the apartment cold. We are expecting it to be close to 90 degrees today, and I was trying for a head start. And I also was going to cook dinner... which I did, while the cold breeze flowed through the place.) The scene almost passed through my brain without registering with me. "DUH. Look at how kewl the morning light looks as it glazes the table top and the tree branch. Where's the camera?" (It looked better in real life.)

Below are a couple of shots of a moth that was on the door frame the entire day yesterday. One close up and another shot for scale. It was a small moth.

 

 

This morning there's a much larger moth now sleeping on the door sill under the door. There's enough room there so when I open and close the door, its not disturbed.

The Boys

 
In the comments Sandy inquired about the boys... my youngest daughter's two boys. I last heard from C. mid August. (She had borrowed some money and has not yet paid it back so I don't expect to hear from her any time soon.) And I talked to the boys then. Darius was talking so much better than he had been. We had an actual conversation where he was telling me how he was swimming now. (He had been scared of the water, even with 'floaties' on.) Little Vyron was also talking better. (two and three yrs old.. almost four.)

The picture here is my all time favorite. Its my wallpaper on the monitor so I see them each day and feel a smile in my heart.

There's a rumor that they will be returning to the Northwest soon. Where C's friend goes, so does she and her friend is expecting twins. The friend wants to get back closer to her mother so she can help with them.

Thats the newest news... news that is old. The latest photo was of them in the swimming pool and I think you saw it already. Its not very clear... and I couldn't locate it in my files. I know its there, but I just got tired of looking.

mutter mutter mutter

I've just got done spilling a full cup of coffee all over the table. The coffee table, people! Thats one of my main filing systems, fer gawd sake. Old mail, current watercolor wip, a couple of pads of art paper, newspapers, small personal phone book... You get the picture. All things that soak up moisture.

After going through a roll of paper towels sopping things up, I almost slapped my forehead. "DOH... I should have used a sponge. DUH!!" Fortunately, I caught myself, looked at the dripping mess in my hands and rushed to the sink. Close call.

I'm feeling boxed in.... no elbow room.... no butt room.... no room at the inn. The butt end? You know what I mean. Last night I was practicing some watercolor techniques (snort) and I needed to be near/over the sink. Trying to find room for the paint, brushes, palette, and paper, among the margerine, coffee maker, salt and pepper, not to mention the dishes that need to be put away, I began whining about not having enough room. Its one of my themes for this life time.

Oh sure, I could put some of that stuff away, but then I wouldn't have anything to play poor-me with, or to write about. Having a large enough room where it doesn't matter if paint gets on the floor or walls, sticking nails or thumbtacks in the walls doesn't matter... counter/table space to spare, filing drawers, racks, shelves.... these are the things that make up heaven. Knowing me, however, (and I'm being honest here) I would probably end up with everything in one of the corners whining about not having enough room. Sigh.

Thursday.... already?!

 
 
Its like, oh I don't know, early autumn? Perfect days. Cool during the morning and sunshine in the afternoons. How grand can it get! However, in a day or two we'll be back into the heat.... high 80s, maybe even a 90 degree day here and there. Yes, I know. Talking about the weather again. sigh. But its how I roll. These days, anyway.

You may have noticed I didn't come here with a specific goal in mind... or even a subject. Imagine that.

Oh... maybe you're wondering why the picture of the U-Haul truck. Its because I noticed right away that there was something different about it. I knew it was different in some way, but it took me a while to figure out what it was...what the 'difference' was. My first clue was that the license plate looked different. Not an Oregon license plate. A few more minutes and DUH... there's a lobster on the side. And a lighthouse. Now thats different, fer sure. Lobster... lighthouse... must be a state on the east coast. Then I noticed, in what seemed like very small letters to me, the word Maine on the side of the truck. Mystery solved. "Oh look everyone, look.... a different U-Haul truck!!"

And I'm liking Whoopi on The View. A lot. I mean a whole bunch. And wouldn't it be wonderful if Elizabeth was offered her own show. You know, somewhere else. Bless her little heart. (that makes it okay, right?)

Wednesday..... already?!

Monday morning I forced myself to go to Michael's Art and Craft store to take advantage of the 50% coupon.... Monday was the last day it could be used.

Below shows what I got... not a big shopping spree. The arcylic paint set was regularly $22 so I used the coupon on that item... YaHoo... $11. I also got a tube of 'retarder' for the arcrylics. I've never used it before... not out of a tube. (truly, I don't know what I'm doing, anyway.) Then just to make it a balanced three-item binge, I got a pad of canvas paper. I wanted some so when I'm done painting for the day, if I ever get around to painting, then I can use the leftover paint on the canvas. paper.

 

My first attempt of doing a painting using one of Sandy's photos. I'm hoping to do several more... maybe I'll get one that doesn't look all tight and bound up.

 

Nothing much going on here.

Monday's Show-and-Tell

Refrigerators have become a handy place for displaying all kinds of things. For this week's show-and-tell I've decided to expose mine.

Below is a full shot of whats hanging off of the refrig. Its not too full. On the left is the reorder form for more checks, face down. The magnet holding the form says real women don't have hot flashes, they have power surges.

 

Below shows the top of the refrigerator. Two packages of coffee filters ('buy one, get one free'), a box of small envelopes, a can of ant spray, and a can of fixative.

 

Below, Two church raffle tickets... top winner gets a TV and I could use one. Other set of coupons are date specific from Michael's Arts and Crafts stores. The big one, 50% off, is good only thru today and I'm not sure if I'm going to get out there.

 

And that wraps up this week's show-and-tell. Thank you for looking.

Keys... The Keys to Everything! (updated)

This isn't about the key to happiness. Or even the keys to success. This entry is about my keys. #$(*&(* The ones I can't FIND!

I've looked everywhere. EVERY. WHERE. And still they elude me.

The upside is that I cleaned the couch... you know, the stuff you find when you pick up the cusions. That kind of clean-up. No keys, though.

The funny thing is, I had them in my hands this morning when I went out to have a cigarette. (It was still dark out, too.) I had them in my hands because what I was wearing didn't have any pockets. When I stumbled back in and put down my "portable ashtray" I remember having a thought about trouble finding the keys. And I don't know why I would think that since I was putting everything on the coffee table.

I've got my 'portable ashtray' and my.... wait, do I have my lighter? Hold on a minute.

I'm back and, yes, I do have my lighter. And these things were all together with my keys.

The Universe is dinking around with me this morning. Sigh. Well... the only thing else I could think of doing was to write about the missing keys. I'm betting on finding the keys after I post this entry. I'll let you know.

About an Hour Later: I found them! (she's smiles with relief.) What an odd place, too. A place that I seldom use... but one that is with me always. I found them in my bra between my boobs. Go figure. But I remember standing outside with the ashtray, my lighter, and a cigarette as I tried to hang on to the keys. Thats when I had the brilliant idea to put the keys down into my bra. DUH. I totally spaced it out. But let me turn this into a hint for others to try if/when they need it. I think the secret to locating my keys was me relaxing and letting the thought of finding the keys go. Thats what I did (ahem, after asking the Universe to help me find them).... I took a break from looking through the garbage, you know... just in case, and was just sitting on the couch. There was a quick moment where, looking back on it, it seemed like I wasn't thinking of anything. A very quick moment. It was during that quick moment when a fleeting thought came through. The thought wasn't about the keys, but it was about the space between my boobs. It made me put my fingers down there... and viola!! After I stopped laughing, I came here to post the update. I knew it was just a matter of time before the keys showed up.

Folk Artist Video (4+ min.)

I like her style. I like her colors. And I hope you have your sound on when/if you watch this. You can find her web site here.

Not Much.... You?

 Not much going on around here and nothing to share unless I critiqued old TV shows.

Its a little after 6 in the morning here... I've got both windows open with a gentle breeze coming thru North to South. Its cool right now, 59 degrees F, but is expected to reach 90+ today. When I can get it cooled off in the apt. and close it up, then it stays fairly cool. Yesterday I wore a winter top until early afternoon.

OHMYGAWD... I'm talking about the weather, fer gawd sake!! I'm outta here. Enjoy the day.

Monday's Show-and-Tell

A moleskine for a sketch journal? Who needs it. Its a fad that many artists are using. A small notebook (with many different options) to keep notes in or sketch the view. Its biggest selling point is that it lays flat and the sketch-type can take watercolor without falling apart. Or so I've been told.

For those 'new' to the product: Moleskine: pronounced mole'skine or mol-a-skeen-a if you want to pretend you're Italian.

Here's the little sketch book I decided to use as a daily journal. It lays flat too and was a lot cheaper. I had a coupon.

Below: the tape dispenser is there to show the size of the sketch book... I mean, sketch JOURNAL. 4" x 6"

 

Below: page sample. If its not legible, I've used portions of conversations. "I heard you said I deal drugs. I don't." Its the boyfriend in apartment F. He was looking really tired that day.

 

Below: another sample page... It starts off with Bear is back. 'Bear' is the nickname I gave to one of the regulars who stop by apartment F. (You know, the one where the boyfriend says he doesn't do drugs.) I first noticed Bear last year. I named him Bear because he lumbers like one. He went up to apt. F and left 5 seconds later. It doesn't take long to purchase drugs. Hand the money over and stuff the 'bounty' in your pocket and leave.

 

I keep the sketch journal on the coffee table with a pencil or pen handy. I don't put EVERYTHING in it, just some small 'happenings' of the day with a very quick little sketch. Now I'll get to see just how long I keep it up.

Speaking of Pastels

"Speaking of Pastels? Who was speaking of pastels?" Well, I was, sort of... see attempt at using cheap colored chalk here.

Back to pastels. I was over at EBSQ checking out the winners of the last three contest and then looking at the current contest entries. The current contest subject is lavender. Thats where I noticed the art of Brenda Boylan (dot com, if you want to see her web site.) Most of her current work is done in pastels (and they look like they were painted). She has more of her art on EBSQ than she has on her web site. Oh... and she's a Portland artist so I can relate to some of her locations. Or at least kind of visualize the areas that I've been around.
(coding is so particular. I had a hyphen instead of the equal sign and it didn't create a 'hot link'. mmmmmm Hot links... with mustard. And a cold beer. mmmmmm.)

'Visitors' seems to be the theme for today

'Visitors' is the subject for Illustration Friday this week... and I just had a visitor. The ex-neighbor. Sigh.

Last night one of my dream snippets showed the ex-neighbor following her ex-boyfriend (the one who worked for the property management company for a few months) as they walked towards her former apartment. He was carrying a power screw driver and gave me a little wave with it as he smiled. (The apt. door is covered by a sheet of plywood.) In the dream it was his way of saying 'we're getting into the apartment'. (Did I mention he had stopped by the other day in real life to see what had happened to the ex-neighbor?) And that was all of the snippet.

Then earlier today I noticed the ex-neighbor walking down the street carrying a couple of plastic bags. Plastic bags seems to be some sort of identifying badge or something with the addicts. So many of them carry one or two. Or maybe its because they're homeless. Anyway, I just watched her walk on by. She's wearing the same clothes and is looking a bit straggly. (She had a chance to get some of her clothes at the time she was evicted, but she chose not to... for whatever reason.)

A few hours later I was standing outside by my door having a cigarette and she came around the back corner of the building and came up to me.... like she had already decided to come to my place. (soft internal moan of 'oh no....') I know she's after something. Most likely a place to stay, or use of the shower, or a few cigarettes or change.... something.

We talk for a few minutes. She's on the street. No place to stay. The night it rained she stayed in an abandoned car. Her kids won't even help her. (All of her kids are staying with the oldest son. (Three sons/one daughter) These are the kids that she kicked out of her apartment and she wouldn't let her daughter get any of her own clothes, etc.) "They wouldn't even let me stay there until I go into rehab on Monday." (I don't blame them, although she does. I think she's forgotten how shitty she's treated them.) Everyone else seems to be wrong, in her opinion, for not helping her out of her own mess.

She's been to court for when she robbed her employer and they dropped the charges. She asked the court for help... that she needed help in getting off the drugs, and I guess that is how she got the rehab lined up for Monday. If the rehab story is true.

Anyway... she talked for a while then she gathered up her things and I went inside as she left. She had given me the opportunity to invite her to stay with me for a couple of days, but I didn't take the bait... and she didn't come right out and ask me, either. The answer would have still been no. I'm not going to invite a crackhead into my home. When I was younger, I was more "use-able", but not now. Addicts are desparate people who do desparate things. Their intentions are always good and always sincere.... at the time, but intentions fade quickly in the sight of temptation.

Seems my dream snippet was a heads up so I wouldn't be caught off balance. I hope things work out for the ex-neighbor, but I can't help her. I won't put myself in harms way. Chickenshit? Perhaps.... but I'm not a fool. Usually.

Illustration Friday: Visitors

 

The infectious smiles on these ladies faces made me feel good when I saw them. (picture in a magazine) Then I found myself making up a short story about how the lady in the flowered dress had stopped by to visit the sisters and they ended up looking at the wild flowers out by the dirt road.... laughing over the silliest stuff!!

I sketched it in ink and used watercolor type pens to color it.

Going Postal on Dish Network

That's what I would like to do.... go postal on whoever decided to use telemarketing aggressively. THEY ARE HARRASSING MY ASS AND I DON'T LIKE IT!!

I think I've probably gotten 30+ calls from people trying to get me to sign up. They call early in the morning and late at night...you know, just to bookend the calls made in the middle of the day. They feature people who speak English and people who don't. They come from recorded messages as well as live people. The live people I yell at... I know they're just trying to earn a buck, but I can't reach anyone else to yell at AND IF I DON'T YELL AT SOMEONE I'LL EXPLODE!!

This company is getting on my last nerve.

Nobody to blame but myself, however. Until now I have not signed up for the Do-Not-Call list, so shame on me. I did sign up today and it should be in effect in 31 days and will remain effective for five years. That should get 'er done. (The bulk of the calls, anyway.)

Are My Eyes Crossed?

Are There Curly Question Marks Coming Out of My Head? Steam Escaping from My Cranial Openings? If Yes.... SLAP ME NOW!!



IT DOES.... IT DOES HURT!!

Oh... wait. Hold on. Let me get a grip.
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.
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"Oh. Guess what I have" she said as she put on a fake smiley face. "I just loaded Corel Paint Shop!"

I've taken a quick look, tried one feature...erasing the background (I think), but I couldn't figure out how to apply the change so I could see how it looked. Thats when the steam started appearing. As I looked through the help menu, those pesky little question marks started popping out. But I exaggggerate for effect only. However, this is going to take some learnin' fer sure.

She Sells Sea Shells....

What a mess that was... I've already got the pastels stored away. All thats left is a fine dusting of chalk.

 

My next move is to search for the fixative and then try to figure out what to do with this picture to keep anything from touching it. But its done and, again, a great learning experience. Although something may look easy to draw, its not necessarily so.

Okay... Who's choosing the next one?

'Should You Accept this Mission...."

Mission Impossible. Kind of appropriate in a way, huh. And maybe that should read 'commission', but I digress.

Here's my selection for the next art project. I've had this picture saved for over a year. Its from someone's photo blog. I do remember asking the person if I could save her photo so I could use it to paint. She said it was totally okay. So to the unnamed Blogger... we thank you!

 

Unless this one just spews out of me, I'm fairly certain I won't be posting my results until tomorrow. I have errands to run and I HAVE TO do something with that other painting I should have had done eight months ago.

I do hope others who want to join in do so without hesitation. The only stipulation is that you let either Sandy or me know about it. We wanna see, we wanna see!

Larry Lizard - I

I think I've done all I can to mess Larry up. I should have stopped with the last version in the post below... but of course I didn't. Nonetheless, he's done and that, in itself, is an accomplishment. And all those folds of leathery skin... well between the folds and the scales, I got totally lost. And a little motion sick.

 

Good exercise. Nice challenge. Hard challenge.

Larry Lizard - II

Below, my initial ink sketch

 

Below, first laying in of color. My plan was to follow up by going back over the scales again.

 

Below, I got lost in all the folds of leather. But I think this is the version I should have stopped at... but no matter. Its all good exercise. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it!