Petunias

There is something about petunias. The blossoms are billowy. The leaves are compact. The buds are long cylinders. You have to yank out the dead blossoms to promote new blossoms. I feel like I have written this before. I will stop there.

Landscape Arboretum

I decided to become a member of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum since it looks like I might be in that area more often now. I have family nearby. There are many perfect painting spots. The first one was right on the path on a busy day, so it was hard to ignore the people stopping to look over my shoulder. The second one was a bench that was about 5 yards off the path, so fewer people came to look. I think the young couple sitting on a rock behind me were waiting for me to get off the bench so they could sit there. I was aware of their conversation, and I could have chosen to listen to the words, but I was in the zone and wanted to stay there. I'm almost certain they were not speaking to me directly. If they were, they eventually gave up and left.

The pen drawing is of a fake waterfall in a garden at a hospital. I was there visiting.

That was a long dry spell.

For the last six months I have considered giving up on having art of my own. Life would be a bit simpler if I removed this expectation from myself of having to create stuff. I still kept a sketchbook, but I did not give myself permission to use my time to pursue my own artistic interests. So far my summer has been lots of dishes and laundry and gardening and walks and visiting people and reading and doing puzzles. Those are all good things to do. I realized the other day that it is not enough. I need to have a project that energizes me. So far I do not know exactly what my next project will be, but it will not come to me unless I start showing up at the canvas or watercolor paper. Here are a few images I created recently.

Feet Sketches: Fourth, Forth

I have now tied my record for consecutive days of sketching. Nine.

I started to lose patience after the folded over fabric. The second foot is not right. I was not able to get the fabric and my feet to be the same for the photo as it was for the sketch, but you get the idea.

The shadow of the pen about to touch the paper is something I plan to continue to use in future attempts.

Onward.

O Christmas Tree

Had to do this before the tree comes down.

I still like doing the feet sketches, and I have some that have not been posted.

I'm trying to figure out what is important about the feet sketches.

I think it is the folds of fabric, and trying to represent form.

Since it is technical skills that seem to interest me, I'm going to continue to sketch for awhile and not start a big painting yet. 

Am I just trying to talk myself out of starting a big painting? Probably.

Feet Sketches: third

This is me relaxing at my Dad's house.

Amber was just on the other side of that doorway making a quiche.

Dad was probably checking on the chickens.

I like how we visit for awhile, and then do our own thing for awhile.

Yes, that is a guitar case. Lots of options for music here.

And now, a Banjo

I'm at my Dad's house and there is this banjo sitting in front of me.

I never noticed before how the frets get closer together at the base of the neck.

My pen ran out as I was doing the shadow.