Watercolor

I am about to embark on a revisit to watercolor painting. I did a wc painting of a house a few years back and it was delicious. So I have a pad ready and some brand new paint. Just got to get the kids to the point where they go to bed earlier so I can have some time with it.  Check back for samples!

Laying In

Apparently ”laying in” is what they used to do to royal wives when they were close to giving birth. The pregnant wife would be confined to a dark chamber and not allowed to go anywhere or even get out of bed for fear the child would be lost. I sort of feel like that since getting around is quite the challenge. My new one is due soon and will be here before or on the 27th.

In the meantime, since I have not been drawing anything, here is something my 3 year old put together on the iPad.  Right now, JL is terribly interested in anything that exists under the sea – whales and sharks in particular. Last night, we watched “Hooked” on NGTv and saw some pretty impressive teeth!  Here is his imagination at work:

Micah Sleeping

Don’t worry you guys, I will be back in author-artist mode soon. Right now, I am working to make real money at a real job with a real cubicle. Got to save up for when the new baby comes. So Micah is sleeping soundly in my laptop, and in my dreams too. Still can’t get that first chapter right and am quite honestly stumped. Hopefully I can work it out in the long run.

Illustration Friday – Transportation

This is a photo of an old painting I did in 1995 (they used a flash so it doesn’t show up perfectly here). It is a portrait of my aunt, my two cousins and their horses. The red horse, named “Wix,” passed away shortly before this was painted, at the age of 30. A fine showman in his prime, Wix carried his riders to blue ribbons. He was the horse I first rode as a tiny child, and was the most beautiful and gentle horse soul we ever knew. Riding Wix was more than simple transportation.

My Aunt and Cousins

In the Woods

Yesterday, despite being sick and woozy, my son and I went into the woods. We have this small park nearby and it is chock full of every imaginable species of oak and hickory tree and 14 gazillion squirrels. A refreshing time indeed.

The problem with oils

Well, I tried the old oil paint. Darnnit! Paint was fine. I was not. Seems the smell of english turpentine takes me to another world of headacheness only experienced after long trips through the ER after severe brain injury. My family who are all asthmatics appreciated it even less.

Ok, there are low-odor thinners available, but I think even those would be problematic with the cold weather approaching. So, my 13 year old painting, the one of the black bears, will have to wait even longer until I can fashion an art nook in the garage. Or some benevolent art lover out there may send me a check or money order so’s I can buy a small studio space.

IF – Beneath

I had this grandiose idea of painting a paradise fish under his bubblenest (which I may still do), but I found these cute drawings I did a million years ago amongst my old oil paint. This one is a mermaid, pondering her existence beneath the sea, just like me. Drawn in 1998 on stationary.