Dizzy and the Jazz Singer

I like doing funky type paintings so a friend sent me pics of her standard poodle named Dizzy (which she is) with the comment "see what you can do with this".  She was a lot of fun to do as she is quite unique - in looks and personality!
The Jazz singer didn't come out quite like I wanted although the sketch did. I continue to try and continue to learn and most of all continue to have so much fun with pastels.

life drawing

30 minute pose

1 1/2 hr pose 

1 1/2 hr pose

30 min pose

10 min. poses

this past weekend I was so fortunate to participate in a life drawing session.  I have never done this before plus i'm very new to sketchng/drawing so it was a fun challenge for me.  There were many very talented artists there which was wonderful experience to see their work.  I was very pleased with what I did and hope it wasn't a fluke and that I can build on these next time i get to go.  We are tentatively going to be doing these every other month and on the off months a group of us are getting together to  sketch - not always nudes but just practice sketching.  This is something that I've found I really like.

paintings

red lady

blue lady with green hat

stopped to read the map

blue lady with green jacket

I've been experimenting with portraits - I don't want to do realistic ones but rather more impressionistic which for me is a lot of fun.  I start with a photo of someone I know and then take it to a different level!!!

pastel class group portrait

this is a portrait of one our classmates for her 80th birthday present.  Our instructor gave each of us a small square containing part of her photo and we were to dupicate as best we could and then Linda put them all together.  The painting came out fantastic and was so much fun to do.  Gigi (the recepient) just loved it.

soft dolls

 I have always been interested in soft dolls and years ago I made several dolls and gave them to friends.  Some of my friends were kayakers so I added a helmet, kayak skirt, and paddle but for the non-boaters this is what I gave.  My friend Marianne still has hers.  Sorry for the poor quality of the first picture but it still will give you an idea of what she looked like.  The next doll was for Marianne's husband.  I received an email from her saying that Doug's 50th was coming up and she expected something appropriate for him so I emailed back accepting the challenge.  They now live in Seattle but when they lived back east they had a white convertible with a ruby color interior which they named ruby so I took that as a jumping off point.  They and he loved it.  What man turning 50 gets a doll and what man truly appreciates it!!  I just love people like that!

                                           She was made out of a soft velvety type fabric with some tiny rhinestones in it for bling.  Her necklace which is hard to see is made of feathers with feathers in her hat also. And of course her name is Ruby.  Then we decided she needed a gentleman friend.  See Champ below.

I made Lulu for me.  It is so much fun deciding just what to do and anything goes.  It is very freeing to do these dolls.

This is Champ, the boyfriend of Ruby.  I originally wanted to make him a bicyclist as Doug and Marianne bike a lot but after putting the shorts on, the top didn't look right so I started changing things up.  You know the doll does talk to you somewhat.  I put the rope type belt on and then the hair and he took on a distinct personality.  I tied a piece of fabric on his head, placed some tiny orange beads in his hair and then put a peace symbol earring in the right side and low and behold there is this old hippie.  He does look a little stoned doesn't he?  I love him and he is very happy in his new home with his love - Ruby. 

Seattle vacation

this is Nigel and Henry - best friends  Every day when Nigel would come out, Henry (the rabbit) would come flying out to greet him like a long lost buddy.  Henry showed up two years ago and has adopted Nigel. He somehow manages on his own.

the new growth and the old trees  from MtSt Helens volcano

this is Keely on the trail but what you don't see is the sharp drop off to her right!!  For those of you who aren't bothered by heights, isn't this beautiful?

SEATTLE       at Pikes' farmer's market in Seattle - this place is well known for its flying fish at the fish market but it also has anything you would want with lots of small craft artisans.  We spent part of every day we were in Seattle in the market.

view of Seattle from the ferry.  Isn't this the view you think of when you think of Seattle - fog?

part of the street scene in Seattle

SAN JUAN ISLAND'S KAYAK TOUR      don't they look happy?  They actually are on rocks

the lighthouse in the fog

same lighthouse on the way back - no fog

look at this kelp - isn't it fantastic?  I thought you could if needed make a raft out of a few of the stalks. Once in awhile if the kelp was out a ways you could imagine it was some sort of a very large sea snake/monster!!

My daughter and I flew to Seattle to visit friends on Bremerton Isl. I think that will be my last long trip that includes flying - long, uncomfortable, packed flights coming and going, of course no food - just not fun!  However once we were there it was lots of fun.  The first day we went to Mt.St.Helens which involved very steep roads which out west do not include any type of guard rails.  The area itself is still very stark but beautiful in its own way.  Marianne, Doug, and Andrew went for a hike but again the height was a little too much for me so I turned back on the trail after trying to convince myself that I could do it - my daughter came back with me and we sat and  watched all the people come back with buckets of berries.  They must be like gold to go to those heights to get them!!
The next day Keely and I headed for the San Juan Islands.  We had booked a day kayak trip the following day.  The trip up involved going on two ferries.  The ferry system is fantastic in Washington. On time, turnaround time is short, reasonably priced, relaxing while on it - loved them.
Our kayak trip was with http://www.outdoorodysseys.com/ who believe in small groups only.  Our group was only two kayaks (four people) and our guide - Thomas-who was also a naturalist.It was very foggy so we stayed in close to shore.  The shorline is very rugged but beautiful- but what I was really enthralled with was the kelp-I have never seen any this large,it was incredible.  If we hadn't seen anything else I would have been very happy but we did see eagles who just sat in the trees above us, and seals who were having their downtime and weren't about to be disturbed.  We then had our picnic lunch on a sandy beach waiting for the fog to lift.  It didn't lift in time to continue on so we headed back and then it lifted!!  Still a beautiful trip.  If I was ever in the area again I would definately take a longer trip, like maybe three days at least.  I've kayaked off the coast of Maine several times and love it but this was a different type of terrain.  And having a fun and fantastic guide just adds another whole layer!!
Once we got back to Bremerton we did some day trips into Seattle, again taking the ferry over and back.  My description of Seattle area is that people are very polite -we didn't hear honking in traffic, no hand gestures, drivers stop and allow people in and in the city no one jay walks!!!  Everyone wears a backpack -even in the city - no high heels and black suits for the most part AND biking is a way of life.

laundry painting

I have taken pastel painting classes the past two years from Linda Packard (http://www.lindapackard.blogspot.com/)at the Hammond St Senior Center in Bangor and have loved them.  Partly because of the instructor, the medium which is so colorful, but probably more than anything the because of the people in the class.  It has been so much fun to be with such a group of energic, talented, and supportive artists. We have continued to get together this summer for plein air weekly which can be followed through a blog at http://www.plein/ air thursday.blogspot.com. I generally don't do a lot on my own but did follow through with a painting I started last week .I just wasn't happy with it however I did like the content and wanted to continue to try and change the composition  and coloring somewhat.  I started to do some laundry on the line and had a hard time with the shading - I finally ended up with a darker, complentary color and really like the end result.