The Wine Tree Garden........the "art" of growing things !

     Things are blooming here!!
This Amarilys is from Scott and Faith...a Christmas gift.
It will keep giving beautiful thoughts to me for a long time !

 I love SUNRISE !!
It is pretty peeking up behind the distant mountains !
Our village awakes ........I go out every morning to see the birds,and plants...just very peaceful!

 Swiss Chard is our cool weather plant.
Fresh from the garden...yummy.
Soon the heritage tomatoes will be planted .
There will also be peas,cucumbers and peppers.

 All three "wine trees" are blooming.
Look near the red post ,almost dead center. The first leaf for the 2011 growing season !
Last year we had 38 bunches of harvest.
Wonder what 2011 will bring ??

 After all the rain, cool weather, no sunshine, a gift appears.!!
Orchids in the garden under the palm.
This photo does not do them justice....they are beautiful!

Finally !!

My Aloe Vera is blooming.

I received this plant for a Teacher's Appreciation Day around 1998.

This was in Virginia....little 4 inch plant.

Never grew much bigger in Buffalo.

This thing has propegated into about 20 plants.

 It is sending up  a bloom !!

Thanks Antietam Elementary...think of you often!!

     Well signing off.

Must get some drawing done. I picked up a new sketching class which France -Marie offers. So now it is 9 hours of instruction per week. I'll post soon. Desperately trying to do watercolors.

I am loving portraits !!

Figure Drawing group..Encinitas Library....a decision made !

Well it took awhile to decide what to place in the show. I have finally made a decision.....

This is a 2 minute gesture which I really like. So simple. I want to do more of these.

This is a keeper. I will be a freestanding after it is matted and framed.

Portraiture ,Figure drawing class......Evolution of a man

     We were fortunate to have male model for class....volunteers are wonderful !! College funds do not provide for models in a figure drawing class !! He was a young man. My preference is drawing older people with skin that displays years of character.        Asssigment 3 figures.....same pose.....various stages of dress. I submit this to you !

Figure 1....used my view finder incorrectly. This put the perspective out of wack..elongated the torso and shortened his legs. He did have a big belly and short legs...but..

Figure 2....perspective is improving but my solution elongated the figure beyond 7 1/2 heads....not good

Figure 3.....consultation with Fance-Marie helped !! Proportion and perspective are more accurate.          

Three hours of studio work.

I love it !!

   

Figure Drawing group..Encinitas Library

        New things...are wonderful. A young woman of color was our model a couple weeks ago. I was intriqued by her graceful ,almost royal  appearance. I hit the watercolors again...the experience was very challenginging

Needs more time .......

 .

Finished !!!~

Almost done stage. Revised ,revised,revised !

I started this project months ago. I was intrigued by the natural pose. It was a challenge. Childrens bodies don't follow the rules !! Heads are large, limbs shorter , ......but intriguing !!

Started with this sketch. It was revised entirely about 6 sheets worth.

I feel good with the completed work.

Enjoy !!

Water color journaling......relaxing

     I have found that painting ...small , something daily.....is relaxing.. No pressure ,except, do it daily. OK
These are a couple little  pieces I have completed (or almost...)

From a pix on took in Rome.

Perspective was a wake up call !

Keeping it simple is not simple !

Southwestern scene from a pix.

The desert SW is an amazing jewel in America !!

 

                                                         Enjoy,.... I am enjoying doing them !!

Figure Drawing group, Encinitas Libray

     With jury duty behind me, I couldn't wait for Friday group. Such nice,extremely talented people. I feel humbled around them. A few are artists who teach ,show and practice ....,practice just like I am trying !!
     There is a show I want to be part of in Solana Beach,CA. Memebers of the group are "saying do it.".."gotta start somewhere , at sometime."
     Searching for mats and frames is work. I finally found them but now must make the decision what to include @ the showing. Under consideration......

Seated

I made every mistake with this one !!

Paper not appropriate for WC...color was an after thought.

Permanent marker instead of water soluable.....I learned .

Water-soluable on wet paper...ugh!!!

Positioning ...speaks for itself...

Members still feel this is the one

Standing

I like her...she's quiet

Skin color came out OK.

I can not finish a work in 20 -40 minutes.

She's a possibility.

I'll keep you posted. Friday's session was wonderful!! This  is work !!

             I still am WC journaling. My cactus ( work of the day) came out hilarious,but may use it for a mixed-media piece.

Have a good weekend !

    

Portraiture ,Figure drawing class.

     The local college, Mira Costa has a wonderful offering of classes.I was reluctant to sign up for the "older student" classes. What a find !!! There were sculptors,architects, sumi art instructors. All  there for the instruction offer by France-Marie, artist. She is marvelous, eye opening, patient . I can not wait for the next session!!
     I missed Tuesday because I was assigned to report to jury duty @ San Diego Superior Court. There were hundreds of other people sitting with me for hours!! Note to my NY friends...the phone  in procedure for jury duty there is great!. Bottom line, after  taking a 6:03 train to get there, sitting until nearly 4 pm,  great bistro lunch,I was not chosen !! I missed session #2 for civic duty.

This is home work. Hair !!The focus of the first class was contours of hair...

It is very difficult to define a person by their hair. Just had to put that eye in there!! I chose a noteable for this. assignment.

   
    Found a magazine, MORE. Great head shots. Great hair.

   While on jury wait also drew contours. It is becoming fun!!
I can not wairt for Tuesday, next class. France- Marie is so inspiring !!