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Showing posts from February, 2010

Shadows and Challenging your Boundaries

For the first couple of months in our new rental house, Sputnik would plant herself at the top of the stairs and cry for me to come back upstairs. We tried different methods of coaxing her into coming downstairs and decided time would tell. One day as I was in the kitchen, I saw something move across the floor and realized it was my cat. She had made it downstairs on her own. Now she explores the whole house, usually at night, when all is quiet. She's reminded me that sometimes the limitations I think I have are all in my mind. (just a note that I was a 1/3 of the way up the stairs when I took this photo.)

Determination out of Chaos

Daydream I 14 cm x 18cm 5.5 inches x 7 inches This was my first New Year’s Eve in Mexico. I lay in bed thinking about the coming year and what I hoped to accomplish.  I could hear the activity outside our 2nd floor bedroom as the neighbors were starting their parties.   The super-loud bottle rockets started about 10:30 p.m. and went off about every 20 minutes from different locations in our neighborhood.   I stayed awake becoming more frustrated as the early morning hours progressed until something happened.  I could hear a child’s voice from the neighbor across.   She had begun to read as loudly as she could, and it was obvious that she had just learned to read and was delighting in that fact. She read non-stop through all the chaos.  Nothing could prevent her from reaching her goal.   With this I stopped being frustrated at the fact that I couldn’t sleep, and embraced this little girl’s determination and enthusiasm for the New Year. Some quotes on Chaos: Chaos is inherent in al

silhouette, morning sun and shadows

I was up early one morning last week and noticed the sun was shining on the wall.  Sputnik came to join me while I was taking this shadow shot. For more shadows from around the world, visit Hey Harriet's blog .

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever Gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. William Ernest Henley (1849-1903 )

Painting a Male Figure Watercolor ACEO, Time Lapse Video

I found out how to make a time lapse video with my Canon G9 camera and spent the day recording my painting of my Birth aceo series.  I used the iMovie app on my Mac to edit the time lapse sessions and sew them all together.  For the music, I used the GarageBand app to compose a piano piece. Time lapse video of Birth IV, ACEO, watercolor on paper. The video is on my youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ9Fg8CCUTE

New Male Figure ACEOs

I pulled an all nighter on Sunday. It all started with finding out that Sade released a new album. I watched the video of her Soldier of Love song on youtube and then bought the song on Itunes. That led to buying more songs from other artists. Listening to all the music I had bought got me fired up to draw. Once I finished the drawing, I wanted to paint it. This time I had blank aceo sized watercolor paper that I had cut the night before. Hurray, I had done my preparation! Male Fetal III is shown above and listed in my Gallery Juana etsy shop .

Old Car Shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday I saw this old car on one of my walks. I loved the red and the fact that the chains go around the entire car. Plus it is red for Valentine's day and has some shadows under the mirror and under the door. It looks like an interesting ride! For more shadow shots, visit heyharriet.blogspot.com

Washi

When it comes to Art, the hardest part for me is the preliminary step of preparation. My Japanese Washi (rice paper) comes in a large sheet, so I have to cut it to the size I need for each painting. When I am ready to paint, I grab any size of paper I find or quickly cut a piece of paper. I want to get to painting as soon as possible. This means that I have to measure and cut a painting once it has finished which then leads to several finished paintings waiting to be measured and cut. It's been 3 months since I left Japan, and I have finally gotten back to painting. I have three paintings that I've completed during the last couple of weeks. And ... yes ... you guessed right. They have to be measured and cut. And, I hear this little voice in the back of my head saying: "I think the solution is to cut sheets to the sizes you need all at once. Then you will have that step done."

Water Drops and Shadows

We had days on end of rain last week. I sure appreciated that sun when it came out again. I took this photo of the faucet that is on the upstairs uncovered patio. I let the water drip a bit and tried to catch a drop in the photo. I need to experiment more with my camera settings to get a better pic, so you might see this theme again. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. It is Sunday in Australia which brings us to Shadow Shot Sunday hosted by the wonderful HeyHarriet.blogspot.com .