Category Archives: Journaling

An Unexpected Diva Day!

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Last Saturday was the monthly Diva Day.  The fact is most everyone was either out-of-town, or busy in another way.  So what do you do when your monthly girl day falls apart?   That’s what we did……Maxine and I had our Diva Day together, without the others.   My painting still needs a few finishing touches, they will come in the next day or two.  But it was lots of fun just painting with just the two of us…

It seemed very quiet, and after talking about how, sometimes quiet is good, we decided to put some music on and liven the place up.

Maxine was still working on her art when I left at one in the afternoon, but as always she produces wonderful pieces, and I love watching her work.

While I was packing up, I noticed ants just walking around her home like they owned the place.  We never tracked them down, and haven’t any idea where they came from, or what they were after…..But they cannot stay!

 

Later after lunch, my husband and I went to Trader Joes to pick up a few things, and the entire trip  was nothing but red lights.

Another sit and wait day.

Thank you for visiting Stone Soup, see you soon…..

https://youtu.be/DohRa9lsx0Q

A Special Day!

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Last week my granddaughter, Sage and I were able to spend an entire day together.  Sage is my little artist, and we always have so much fun together.

I picked Sage up, went to the bank, and together we decided to have lunch at Rubio’s. it was even nice enough to eat on the patio.

After lunch, Sage decided the thing she wanted most was to make art!  Why would I ever disappoint that girl?  So off we went to do art. My car was stuffed with new art supplies.  There were soft pastels, Canson colored sheets of paper, ideas for creating new things, new watercolor pallets for her to try, and two bags of goodies to use.

As you can see, we created for hours ,

and hours…

when we finished with our projects, Sage “tried” to teach me about an app on her iPhone.  Turns out you really can’t teach an old dog new tricks.   Apparently there are some things I just don’t get!

However, before I headed back home that day, Sage did manage to show me one more app that I’m not sure I know what to use it for.  This is what happens when I spend the day with my eleven year old granddaughter.

Thanks for checking in on Stone Soup, see you next time. Don’t forget to check Zebra Designs & Destinations for a little art, and adventure. It’s Thursdays Time out for Art!

Happy Fourth of July!

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The first thing I want to do is appologise to all of you.  For some reason I set this post to publish today, not the forth of July weekend.  Why….who knows.  I can think of many reasons, however I found it tonight and I don’t have any idea why! So i’m going to publish it anyway.  The flowers are from my friend Johnelle’s garden, and so beautiful I couldn’t resist.

Today is a special day, a day to have family picknicks, & the gathering of friends & family.  This is a weekend we all love to go to a special place to camp, or for some of us, the retreat might be a “staycation.”   For many, fireworks are a yearly part of the 4th.  For us, this year we didn’t go.  It was too cold here in North San Diego for me to sit comfortably.

I hope all of you had a safe and fun 4th of July.

What do we do when it’s to hot to do anything?

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https://youtu.be/Ytk0aoXXICo

 

Now as the summer heats up, and we all get just a little at the end of our rope, this is the time to sit in front of a fan and  sketch.  As  I’ve told everyone many times, I’m a “Goldie Locks Girl!”  I like it just right….not too hot, not too cold.  Needless to say, this is not my favorite time of year.  It is way too hot for me to function, and if I do go out of the house for any reason, it has to be early, late,  or I’m out.

What do we do?

This is what I do… I will sketch, draw on rocks, cut images out and glue them on paper, sometimes I look for ideas on Pintrist.    Sometimes I’ll take a picture out of the paper or a magazine, and just draw it.  This gives me an idea of how to shade a subject or the perspective of a subject next to something else.

That’s cheating!

In my eyes, that’s just practicing.   Art students copy the masters all the time enabling them to study a particular artist, a method, or just perfecting their skills.  I’m working all the time on simply getting better at what I do.  If I’m not trying to sell these little sketches, how can it hurt anyone.  On the other hand, I think it’s very difficult for me  to copy a piece of art.  I can’t help changing things, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.  I always have to put “me” into what I do.  So, no I don’t think I’m copying anyone.

Inspiration comes from everywhere!

Often I say that I’m inspired by many things.  It could be nature, or someone elses style, or color palate.  I love color, and I’m always seeing something new, and creative in my world.  Isn’t that why we take classes from an artist we admire?  I frequently sign up for an online class in hopes of learning a new technique.  The classes are usually Pen & Ink, or Sketching on the Move (that one I’m still working on).  But I believe everything we do, think, and experience makes us, and our art more interesting.

I thought this little video would be of some help in getting everyone going, because I think it never hurts to get another kick start, or see something from another artists eye.  Coffee shops are a great place to find new material.

Thank you for following me, and checking in to see what’s happening. Each of you provide me with a wealth of inspiration, and add to my creativity.  I hope I can do the same for you.

See you soon….

Rabbit Skins???

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Fortunately we don’t have to boil “rabbit skins” any longer to be able to have Gesso. However this artist brings up a couple of points that are worth listening to.  For me, this looks like a lot of work, however it depends on the type of art you are painting, and how particular you need to be.

Take a peek, see what she has to say, and maybe she will speak to you, it can’t hurt!

Happy Gessoing!