Palm Tree Doodle

Below is a doodle I did from inspirating Traci Bautista book - Collaged Unleashed. Fun to do & I love the layers of color. I'm certain to do more of these, but for now we are off to China for 10 days. I don't think I can blog from China, so I'll see you when I see you. Enjoy!

5K Arlington Race

Art came in 1st in his age class. Yeah! Art!

China Sketchbook Covers finished -Trip delayed

Just as I finished the last 2 China sketchbook covers, Art had to postpone the trip (see below). I have decided to take 1 more blank watercolor sketchbook, just in case I need it. The dilema is always how do you pack very light, but have everything you think you will need.

The hardware Art needs to work with in China won't be ready so we'll be taking our trip a week or so later. This gives us time to work on the hardwood floor in the great room, but more importantly we will vote early as we will be out of the country the day of the election. It will be interesting watching the American democracy work from a communist country.

Life is an adventure.

China Sketchbook Covers

These are 2 out of 4 moleskinne sketchbook's I am taking to China. I am taking this large watercolor sketchbook, Hong Kong city Book, small watercolor sketchbook, & a small sketchbook, which I am making my own Guangzhou city book.

We are flying directly into Guangzhou & staying at the White Swan on Shaiman Island. Shaiman Island, being an island, is contained enough for me not to get lost, beautiful gardens with the river on all sides to paint & western enough for me to feel comfortable by myself. I realize China is going to be totally different from Paris & America, but the people always make for a great trip.

October Already!

Since I am a sloppy painter, I have decided to embellish my favorite clothes by drawing & painting patterns to cover any paint that accidentally gets on them.

Art washing the walls in the office end of the great room & the finished caulking of the office.

Work in Progress Bennett Cove Island or Nubble.

September Joy!

Lots going on this week - My birthday, Dad's Birthday, our aniversary.

My favorite photos of Dad through the years.

Our Wedding September 18, 1999

Bennett Cove Island for my Birthday - 52 years young.

Renovations have kept us busy this last month not to mention, asthma & drywall dust do not work well together. Now it is mid-September, I feel pushed for time with travel to Guangzhou, China looming in mid-October & no guidebook available except one I create. As a result, no Paris Travel Memoir yet, maybe I shouldn't have written it down. Art, my husband, thought Travel Memoir was too high flutetin a name for a project, but I wanted to include everything - photos, paintings, sketchbook & art journal(collage, etc.). I am blocked, overwhelmed & really scared of the art journal part, basically I don't know what I want to do with it & don't have enough time. I have to create something, so I'm moving on, shelving Paris for a while. Art has mentioned, we may be going to Paris next year so I can always pick it up again.

In the meantime, Guangzhou, China, which looks to be monumental in it's new architecture. I hope to find a few quiet places to sketch, old & new architecture, Chinese & Western style architecture, gardens & street scenes, too. We will be there 7 days instead of 4 days, which will give me a little more time to paint in the sketchbook as well as sketch.

Below is one end of the renovations, the kitchen.

Kitchen Before with my husband, Art.

Kitchen After - so far.

As a treat for myself, I bought this fountain spout fish to draw at Lowe's.

Above & below are two quick Tree Island sketches I did yesterday.

Below the photo of the actual Tree Island.