Welcome to Older Than Dirt, and Proud of It by Karen Samenow. I named my blog Older Than Dirt because that's where I am in life. You may find art or music, or inspiration included because, I'm an artist, a spiritual medium, and I'm always learning more and exploring. I hope you find us interesting. My focus for this blog is to bring a little levity to well seasoned women. Sometimes it actually may help!
Funny how when you’re learning something new, sometimes it turns out really good. But, after you have been practicing for a while, you become more critical and almost go backwards.
This watercolor is the second watercolor I had ever done. My teacher was Lola Jarvis, and she was really a good teacher. Lola was a perfectionist, and she demanded certain things from her students. She definitely brought out the best in her students, and I was lucky enough to have had her first.
Since then I have taken lesson from several watercolor artists including Helen Shafer Garcia whom I have become friends with, and to this day love and admire her work.
Today I only use watercolor in my visual, or traveling journals, and usually paint in acrylics or even oils.
I loved this post from Zebra Designs & Destinations, and think we could all do these little exercises. It feels so good when you complete a little sketch, it doesn’t matter how good or bad it is. The more you do, the better you get!
If many of you are suffering from cabin fever in below-freezing weather, why not pass some of your time with pencil and paper? Drawing can be very relaxing, if you can endure the first five or ten minutes of frustrations and keep working, you might be very pleased with your results.
Go ahead; pick one up and have fun!
While staying at my friends’ home, I gave a drawing lesson, and after a few warm-up exercises, we drew sea shells. I worked earlier in the day on a study to lllustrate the stages of the drawing. Sometimes a simple line drawing needs few details after the dark background is added.
Several years ago my husband heard me say I wanted an airbrush. So for Christmas he bought me an Iwata Airbrush, and compressor which I love. The problem is he spent so much money on it, I’ve been terrified to use it, and even more terrified to take it apart to clean it. So each year that went by, he re-wrapped it, and surprised me with the same airbrush and compressor. After about four years, the joke got a little stale, and he had to let it go. But a couple of years ago, he re-wrapped it again, and I figured I’d better do something positive, or he’d think I didn’t appreciate his efforts.
Earlier this year I ordered another, much less expensive airbrush to use for make up, and other little things. It was only forty dollars, so I figured if I can use, and clean this one, I’d start using the good one. I’ve used it several times on make up, but I can never get it cleaned the way I think it should be. Now it’s starting to get sluggish, and work off and on.
This led me to take it apart and really give it a good cleaning. I so carefully placed all parts in the order they were removed, and guess what? Now they won’t go together properly!
I knew it!
That is precisely why I was afraid of the expensive one. After asking everyone I know if they had any clue at all as to how it goes together, I went to YouTube and found a “How To Video.” The video is great, but it is showing the Iwata, and I’ve got a I-want-to-be-a!.
Although I did get it back together ——with one exception—-there’s this little part! This piece puts pressure on the trigger. It fell out before I noticed exactly where it came from, and now it won’t go back in place. The video shows putting it in, but this gun isn’t the same gun, and it won’t play nice with me. I have to find someone who has taken them apart before, and maybe can help me figure out how to put that one part in properly.
I’m sure you’ll hear more on this subject, because I still haven’t found anyone that can help. The mystery continues!
God of Wine abstract painting I completed several years ago. Before I even had it off it easel, friends of ours came over for wine and cheese one evening, saw the painting, and purchased it right off the easel.
If I remember correctly, this was another watercolor, however I also use acrylic inks that look exactly the same when finished. Somewhere off to the left are a bottle, and grapes. (This is where you have to visualize.)
Much of my inspiration comes from Zebra Design & Destination, although this time it was my muse that walked me to the finish line.
After cleaning our carpet in the living, and an extra carpet for the office, I have to admit to being pooped! There is nothing like cleaning, moving furniture, shuffling rugs, and repositioning them to wipe out all your energy.
And Yet…
My way of relaxing, and catching my breath would be art of some kind. Now as much as I’d like to break out the paints, I’m an early morning girl. My best creative time is early before I’ve lost my energy.
So as I sat to take a break, it came to me to do some Zentangling. Something that doesn’t take a great deal of energy or planning, zentangles are perfect, meditative, and exactly what I needed. It’s so easy to lose myself in the tangles, and before I knew it, I was relaxed and ready to do more on the carpets.
I was surprised that after shampooing twice the living room rug came out as nicely as it did. I loved the Zebra print jute carpet when I found it a year and a half ago, but didn’t have any idea how it would hold up. It fades, looks worn, but… it is hardy, animal friendly, and takes a lot of abuse.
Old as Dirt and Proud of it! 
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