…thanks to Sue W and GC for hosting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/04/weekly-prompts-colour-challenge-valentine-red/
Red has always been my favourite colour.
Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge – Valentine Red
2
Category Archives: About Me
Bookmaking and Botanical Lines in Ink
…results of yesterday’s free on-line class
I’m always getting offers for free on-line classes to make art. Some of them are good and some have way too much talking and not enough ‘making’. Yesterday’s class was one of the good ones. It was hosted by two artists, Amy Maricle and Ali Manning. I’ve taken classes with Amy before called Inchies but this was my first class with Ali. Ali instructed us on how to make books. I’ve done this before but it was a good refresher and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I may make more books over the weekend.
After the books were made, Amy took us through a process of using India ink and a bamboo brush to make botanical marks in our new books. It was a way to experiment with ink and diluted ink. In the past I’ve used Micron Pens in her classes, which is much more controlled. I enjoyed learning from both artists. Here are the results of the hour spent with these two lovely ladies.
Thursday Trios – Winter Trees
…it’s been frustrating couple of days because I couldn’t upload any of my photographs
Thank goodness when I woke up this morning, I was able to access my photos again and so I’ve been posting two days worth of stories and challenges. On a brisk, cold walk yesterday I came across these lovely trios of trees and burrs. Hope you enjoy them.
If you have any photos of trios why not share them with the Thursday Trios challenge. If you copy my link and post it into your post I’ll get a pingback and I’ll be sure to leave a comment. Have fun!
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Belonging
…thanks to Sue W and GC for hosting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/01/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-belonging/
Before COVID I belonged to a group of bakers. Every week, twice a week, we got together to make dough and bake bread in the wood burning oven at Montgomery’s Inn, one of Toronto’s Historical Museums. When COVID hit in March 2020 all volunteer jobs were eliminated and bread baking ceased to exist for almost three years. I loved belonging to this group of men and women who came together every week and I look forward to the day that we can once again get together to make bread.
I also belong to an organization of mostly women artists but also some men and that too has reduced it’s in person activities considerably since COVID hit. I love belonging to such a creative group that shares knowledge and ideas so freely and openly. It’s given me the confidence to pursue my art journey and I even hosted my first solo art show in 2022.
I also belong to a lawn bowling club and this past year we’ve been able to get together in person to play ‘normal’ games where we can have three people per side and use all the lanes at the same time. We were also able to celebrate Canada Day and we had a year end dinner. A great group of people that I’m happy to call friends.
The most precious of groups that I belong to is that of my family and friends. COVID has been difficult but thanks to ZOOM and WhatsApp, I’ve been able to stay connected. In the past year we’ve been able to travel again to visit family overseas and on the east coast and we’ve even gotten together for celebrations to acknowledge milestone birthdays.
Baby Steps – Clearing My Art Board
….I haven’t posted any of my art in recent months
…the reason for that was because I couldn’t find a space to make my art. Yes I have a studio space dedicated for my art making but in recent months it had become a dumping ground for my bills, Christmas cards, craft supplies and more. All my supplies were unorganized and I didn’t know what worked and what needed to be thrown away. A lot or reasons excuses to not make art.
Last week I finally put aside time to start organizing my space. I cleared the art board and the extra table I had for my sewing machine and making my mono prints. I went through all my pens, pencils, crayons, paints and brushes and threw away those that were dried up and cleaned and repaired those that were worth saving.
During the cleaning process I came across a pile of small ink line drawings of mugs. I made them years ago and two years ago I took one of them and added colour and more line detail. I found that one in one of my sketchbooks and I decided to take another one and do the same. The one above has a bird perched on the rim of the mug. I made him before Christmas out of a strip of paper that I folded and cut into the shape that you see. I added some line detail to the mug and then some watercolour to the coffee in the mug. Like I said earlier, I’m taking baby steps to get back into making art.
To inspire me I’ve enrolled in another year long on-line art class with Carla Sonheim called Year of the Rabbit….how appropriate. I’ve already made a few sketches of ‘rabbits’ that I will share later in the week.
Thursday Trios (January 27, 2023) – Little Boxes
…once again I’m late for my own challenge
Now that I’m retired I literally have a hard time keeping track of the days of the week. Sorry for the delay for Thursday Trios.
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Home
….thanks to Sue W and GC for hosting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/01/25/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-home/
Home is where the heart is and my home and heart have lived at the same address for over 44 years. My favourite part of my home is my backyard where we’ve entertained over the years with family gatherings, memorials and milestone birthdays.
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Bored
…thanks to Sue W. and GC for hosting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/01/18/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-bored/
How does one convey bored in a photograph? Is it someone napping in the middle of the day, a grim look on a child’s face or the sad look in an animal’s eyes?
It’s hard to see what someone is feeling in a photo unless you use your imagination.
A Surprise Encounter on my Walk Today
….I was almost home when I saw these magnificent creatures one block over
I quickly walked towards the park when I spotted the mounted police heading in that direction. They stopped in front of one of the homes so that the owner could give the horses some apple and chat with the police. I also ran into a friend who was walking her lovely dog, Gaby. As long as the horses were still the dog was fine but as soon as they continued on their way she began to bark. You know when horses are well trained because the barking didn’t bother them one little bit.
I’m a Fan of….Shells – January 16, 2023
…thanks to Jez for hosting I’m a Fan of…..https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2023/01/16/old-doocot-fan-of-191/
These shells came from the East Coast and the beaches along the shores of Lake Ontario.
