Back To The Drawing Board

Still trying to get over the keepsake box. I've been undoubtedly restless, instead of being a rested bum. I've started a few projects, and one very ambitious First Communion dress, but more on that later. I'm really tired but can't seem to go to bed early no matter what I do and I can't seem to focus my energy on any particular thing. I know I want to paint, and I want to paint on a grand scale, I just don't know what. As I kick a few vague ideas around my head, and try to get a clearer vision, I figure it's best to get a little practice for whatever comes next. Tonight I did a watercolor painting that I've been meaning to do since the Burritt Heritage Festival last October. One of the dancers there was a Lakota Souix/Cherokee (I think that's what she said but don't quote me on it) woman who did a dance I'm pretty sure I've seen on Reading Rainbow. That said, I really like the way the late afternoon sun was hitting her and since the danc...

I'm finally finished. I still can't believe it. I feel lost, not having a driving, desperate need to accomplish something (besides cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, and taking care of the kids). But since I was deprived of explaining to my daughter's class the meaning behind the box, I'm going to do it on here.    First off, this is a sacramental keepsake box that is meant to hold important objects (pictures, rosary, baptismal candle, etc.) that accumulate as one participates in the 7 Sacraments. It's part of the 2nd- grade class basket that will be auctioned off at the school gala. The kids are all supposed to participate in the making of it in some way. So I had them do their own religious-themed drawings and I used them to line the inside of the box. Some of the kids' artwork blew me away and others did about as expected.    Anyways, being the showoff that I am, I offered to take care of the outside of the box. Actually, that's not quite my reason -...

"Cromwell, I charge thee: Fling away ambition, for by that sin fell the angels." I don't remember what Shakespeare play that's from, but I think about it a lot lately.    I'm busy working night and day on a sacramental keepsake box as part of the 2nd grade class basket to be auctioned off at the school gala. There is so much to say about this box and quite frankly I'm too tired to right now. I spent an awful lot of time doing research, and planning. Everything from the colors to the symbols to numbers and formations have been carefully planned to coincide together. Let's start with the top- inspired by the Garima Gospel of Ethiopia. This is the oldest illuminated Christian manuscript, so it seemed fitting to start with artwork that gives a nod to it. No, it's not done. But that's why this is a WIP. Here's what it looks like now:  Apparently the theme of this year's 1st Communion/Reconciliation is "The Prayer of St. Francis". Si...

Went to get my hair cut yesterday. After the debacle of the last 2 times, I switched to a different salon. On the walls of this new place are various paintings and even some framed quilts that are consigned by the shop from local artists. Must be something about the light here in Alabama, because yet I again my eyes were barraged by an array of chalky paintings with discordant colors. After sitting there criticizing the paintings in my head, I decided to see if I could paint what I preach. I've always wanted to paint a picture of home, especially now that I'm exiled from it. Honestly, I didn't know if I had it in me. Every landscape painting of Tucson I've ever done, with the exception of rough sketches, has turned out horribly. But I surprised myself and came up with something that's not too terrible. I can almost even tell what it's supposed to be. Sabino Canyon in the summertime. My brother and daughters were in the original photo I worked from, and I took t...

Was invited to another painting session at 16 Main. This one involved no pre-drawn canvas. Instead we were supposed to Bob Ross our way through, complete with fan brushes, white paint to denote where the sky and water met, and a "happy little tree." This painting is supposed to be "Christmas on the Beach." I did a bad thing. I completely ignored the instructor's color choices and lighting situation. Please let me tell you why. But first, let's look at my painting: Ok. Now, let's imagine the clouds on the right corner of the painting are actually dark purple and go in a line all the way across the top of the painting. And that blue sky? Imagine it bright yellow. Then the water and the sand are both royal blue with some white mixed in here and there to make it look like shadows and highlights. The tree and grasses/bushes (whatever they are) are all the same green from the tube. If there hadn't been any white mixed in, the whole thing would have looke...

3 days ago a certain someone was feeling pouty about I don't even remember what. While we were on our daily family walk, we started talking and it came out that she really really wanted to wear something that looked like an Irish dance costume for her upcoming Christmas program. (Side note: this was most likely influenced by the fact that we had just finished reading "Girls of Many Lands: Kathleen", an out-of-print book by the American Girl company about an Irish girl in the 1930s who learns to dance. Her family is poor, and has no $$ for making a costume, but her aunt is inspired by reading "Gone With the Wind" and comes up with a great idea. Which in turn inspired my daughter...) I suggested she wear one of the new dresses I bought her for her birthday. Not good enough. We talked back and forth and I admitted that I had bought some lovely turquoise blue plaid flannel but hadn't decided what to do with it, exactly. I offered to make her a ruffled skirt out ...