Face #821 And Pineapple Madness Days

True to my plans to sneak in some painting over the weekend, I was able to add another face to my count here. Painting of a day dreamer. Or is it a painting by a day dreamer (laughing)? My head has been in the clouds a lot lately...must be summer.

 I have fabrics from many designs I once made, for sale at a site called Spoonflower. It isn't something I give a whole lot of my attention to anymore, and after a while I find I have effortlessly accumulated enough commissions to get a free yard of fabric. But I did notice when I curiously had a bunch of sales for one design recently (below).

 It made me think of some other pineapple designs I did, as well as an ink drawing I did and still have...

Yes...I think the summer is upon us! Until next time, take care!

Faces In Charcoal, #817-#820

These last four faces I've rendered were done so in charcoal on cheap drawing paper while I was "watching" television one night. Sometimes I listen more than watch the tv when there's nothing on but repeats of shows, as was the case here. I did a pastel painting one afternoon, too, (not shown here), but I tossed it. I don't know what bothered me more: the painting, itself; or the amount of dust this one particular brand of pastel was producing. In any event, sometimes that's the way the pastel crumbles. I am going to try to sneak in some painting again before Monday. But my brother who I have not seen since Christmas is going to be in town. Then there's all the other usual stuff in life that needs attending to (groan). I think there's a painting in there somewhere, though!

I had a pie shipped to my Dad for Father's Day from this pie shop in California. He loves apple pie. In years past I had deliveries to him from Edible Arrangements, but I thought I'd try something different this year. To all the fathers out there, I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Until next time, take care!

Around The House

While trying to coax my Rheumatoid Arthritis into remission through nutrition, I have had many unexpected benefits. Weight loss, for one. But my energy is through the roof and without the arthritis pain to slow me down; I have returned to making home improvements. After all, this home is still relatively new to me after only about 18 months. I won't bore you with all the details about cleaning, moving furniture around and the like. The part that has been more fun, has been in all the shopping for knick knacks to decorate. All these pics below are items from thrift shops, Home Goods, and Kirklands...I have had a ball shopping for them!

This big conch shell was a thrift store find. I love it stacked on top of these Parisian themed boxes my mother gave me for Christmas from Home Goods!

 These next two framed pics were also from a thrift store. Even without the art in them, I would've grabbed them up because I liked the frames.

 The three finials are from Kirklands, while the big sea horse is from Home Goods, and the large finial is from another thrift shop.

 Last but not least. I couldn't resist this 5 piece acrylic water pitcher/glass set with the sea horses. I love the color, and it was only 13 bucks at Home Goods. This was the last set they had in the store, so into the cart it went quickly!

 I have noticed that some newer artists make a strong association between blogging and their art. But I was an artist long before I ever had a blog, so the notion that the two are somehow so deeply interchangeable is lost to me to a larger degree. Many successful artists don't blog at all. But even more to a point I want to share, is that artists who have been at it for a long time have managed to do so because they attend to the other matters in their lives without the pressure that their art will be gone when they want to get back to it...tend to be more secure about their work because the many years of experience of having gone through ups and downs. I know for me, personally, that while this may not be a time where I'm banging out a whole lot of work, that I'll get back to it. I know for me, that not only would I not have lost anything, but gained a nice newness around my home, and regained my health, not to mention helping to see to it that my son is prepared when he goes out of town for his third year of college. And those are not small gains!

Until next time, take care! And thanks for visiting!

New Mermaid Drawing, Face #816

Just a quick post on a Monday. I can't get over how busy I have been, and how it seems to take me forever to get back to this blog. In any event, I did do a drawing in pastel pencil to share on 18" by 24" Canson.  I started out thinking it would be a piece done in color, but once I started it detoured into a more involved drawing. I can already visualize it surrounded in a frame of sea shells.

Can you believe it's already June?!!! Until next time, take care!