….up until today I’ve used photographs for my drawings
Today I created a face from memory. It isn’t of anyone in particular, in fact it has a sort of ‘alien’ quality to it. I used pencil and a watercolour wash.
….I know that Cee is already onto a new challenge but today’s snow in front of the house made for some interesting shots in front of my house
And to think we’re only half way through winter. The snow just keeps coming.
….most schools don’t have kilns so working with clay has been largely non-existent
I have tried using air dried clays in the past but not with much success. This workshop let teachers experiment and play with a variety of air dry clays that are available from the board supply catalogue and from the local art store. I always thought that this type of clay was too expensive to use with a class, never mind 5 classes.
We enjoyed working with most of the brands. Of course the one brand we didn’t like was the one we can order from the board. The others were all soft and easy to handle and manipulate. We could also compare the prices and since we were allowed to take home our little pinch pots we can compare each brand for the time it takes to dry.
After experimenting with the different brands of clay, the real fun began. We used photos from the famous artist, Karl Blossfeldt, for inspiration and created three dimensional sculptures with the clay we liked the best. I was really impressed with how creative everyone was. At the end of the class all the pieces were attractively displayed with the photographs that inspired the creations.
Here are some close=ups of the individual pieces.
I’m actually excited about using clay with some of my art classes.
….here’s how I feel in this moment in time…..tomorrow my answers could be different
If you had a choice to live anywhere would be your preference salt water beaches, forest, fresh water lakes, hot tub, ski resort or desert?
My preference would be a fresh water beach. My cottage is on the most beautiful beach in Georgian Bay. The bay is part of the Great Lakes in Ontario. I’m only there in the summer so I might not feel the same way if I lived there in the winter, especially this winter. It’s been brutally cold. So if I were to live in one place year round I might choose a salt water beach in a warm climate.
What was your favorite toy as a child . . . and now?
My mother hated clutter and if our toys weren’t put away they eventually ended up in the garbage. The only toy I can remember having for a long time was a baby doll that I named Dorothy. When you fed her she would wet her diapers and her eyes closed when you laid her down. Now my favourite toys are my laptop and my ukulele. I would be lost without my computer and I’ve only recently pulled my ukulele out of storage. Some day I might actually learn how to play it proficiently. Currently I know only a few chords. I need to practise, practise, practise…..
Which do you prefer sweet, salty or both at the same time?
I initially wanted to say sweet but I actually love both at the same time. My favourite popcorn is Chicago style which is a combination of cheese popcorn and caramel popcorn. Yum!
Would you prefer snowy winters, or not, and why?
I prefer snowy winters but this year has been a bit much. It’s not the snow that bothers me but the frigid sub-zero temperatures and icy conditions have been extreme this year. I love the sound of soft crunchy snow under my boots and it has never stopped me from going for walks. The ice, however, this year has been treacherous and I spent some time in the emergency ward with my husband after he slipped and fell. Luckily he didn’t break anything but he did collapse his lungs and stretched the connective tissues between his ribs, causing him a great deal of pain. After three weeks he is just starting to feel better. Come to think of it, the winter where we had no snow and mild temperatures sounds pretty good right now. We were able to ride our bikes all winter. Hmmmm!!!!!
…I learned that the hard way tonight
I love to cook and since my husband does most of it, I’ve been a bit out of practice. Tonight I was draining the boiling water from the pasta when a large portion splashed out of the pan and onto the floor. Unfortunately my foot was in the way and I wasn’t wearing any footwear other than socks. Ouch!
I sat at the dinner table with a baggie of ice on top of my foot but I probably waited a little too long before I administered first aid to myself. The foot has already started to blister and at the moment it is stinging like crazy.

Maybe I’m taking this drawing thing a bit too far but I really didn’t think that the photograph did justice for the the pain I am feeling.
After reading about burns in restaurants I discovered that major burns are a frequent occurrence, particularly scald injuries (hot water from pasta pots). So to all my friends who work in kitchens and cook at home take this piece of advice…..wear shoes on your feet when working around hot water.
Cheers!