me and my shadow

Sophie is a 14 lb Bichon Frise mix who thinks she is a big dog. Unafraid of most dogs, it can be a little embarrassing as I smile and make excuses for my fierce little white dog. However, this mighty little dog is desperately afraid of storm drains and refuses to budge unless we cross the street to make a wide circle around them. She then looks back and gives me that "there is possibly something creepy lurking under that drain cover" face. Actually, I have to agree with her.

"Sunny Saturday"

Sunny and cold, as Sophie and I made the first foot prints in the new snow on the road down by the water . We were the only ones out this early, but who could blame them, it was 20°. I could have easily stayed inside wrapped in the warmth of my home, but the sun rising over the fresh snowy landscape pulled me to take the walk. Funny, because I am so over all this snow...

For the first time, with these watercolor pencils, I used 140lb watercolor paper instead of my usual sketch book. It was cold pressed and rougher than I would have liked. However, I liked the way the paper took the washes, but didn't like that it wasn't part of my sketch journal. That must be some crazy "sketch phopia/anxiety/fear" that I have to deal with—oh no, not another!

seasonal confusion

Another storm was forming when we walked to the beach. The result was a thick blanket of wet snow. The only proof that it is actually spring are the daffodils I bought on the way home. 

afternoon walk to Crescent Beach

Crescent Beach is a few miles from my home. We could drive, but we walk. I am always amazed at how beautiful it is all year long. Walking the length of the beach we observe the constantly changing landscape, collect things and jump the three streams that run to the sea. Frustrated when they are running too wide and fast, we manage to find what seems to be the best way across. Many times I will walk the rest of the way home with a wet sneaker.

sunrise walk

Sunny, calm and warm? How crazy is it when you think 32° is warm? I was actually able to stop and watch the colors change as the sun rose higher in the sky. Second attempt at watercolor pencils. 

sunrise over Broad Cove

I found a tin of "never been used" watercolor pencils in a box in the garage the other day. So, before I give them to the kids across the street or put them in the garage sale pile, I thought I would try them on today's sunrise landscape sketch. Not as easy as I thought, in fact, rather frustrating, but I am not giving up yet...

say cheese

The camera I use everyday is a Canon Power Shot and not very interesting to draw. This Polaroid Land Camera has been with me for years. I was in college when this camera was first introduced. Yep, that's me and I was studying, in what year was that?

clear and cold and crows

21° this morning, when Sophie and I took our early morning walk along the water. The rising sun casts an orange glow on the bleak March landscape. In Maine, April is considered a winter month...

clear and cold

Most of the snow is gone, so Sophie and I can now walk on the little dirt road along the rocks. We skated across the icy spots. Cold March winds making it too cold for anything but seagulls and crows. 

Easter

Another darn good excuse to eat chocolate.

the first day of spring

I grew up in northern California and when I think of spring, I think of warm days, dark rich soil, green rolling hills dotted with oak trees and poppies, flowering fruit trees and the yellow fields of mustard blooming. Spring is very different here in Maine, but beautiful in its own brownish, grayish way...

the wild bunch

Tuesday night is painting group and after an hour at the gym and a two hour walk to the beach, today, the thought of setting up oil paints just seemed unfathomable. So I stood behind the painters and sketched the bunch of radishes that they were painting. I am amazed I got this done because I was just going to hang around and chat.

city view

The view of the buildings across the street from the deck at Jerry's home in Portland's Old Port. Not warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the view of the city and the harbor, but the giant pile of snow has melted.

all gone

A quick oil sketch of another empty tube of white oil paint. I squeezed every bit of paint out of this one. I am amazed at how much white paint I go through...

a walk and a challenge

Sophie and I took our morning walk to the end of the street as the sun was coming up over the cove. The sun is higher in the sky, the temperature is above freezing and the snow banks are starting to receed. I added the EDM lemon challenge to the journal page. 

It is going to snow again, tomorrow...

"lettuce head"

If I could, I would eat a salad or vegetables at every meal—even breakfast. My friend Jerry, who likes variety in his diet, is traveling on business in Asia for three weeks. So, I have crawled into my comfort zone as a "lettuce head". 

I think the drawing could use some more line work, color and shadows and I may go back into it with colored pencils, but right now, I'm moving on...

"beverage evolution"

The word evolution means, the gradual development of something into a more complex or better form. This was today's evolution of beverages. There was also the four cups of green tea, but they are just in a plain white mug and not as pretty as these containers.

little green apples

I managed to get the oil paints today and did this quick study of green apples in a green bowl. I'm not sure which pet stepped on the painting after I photographed it, but there were a couple of green paw prints on the floor leading from the painting. It's like that here...

contrasts

At this time of year I am always amazed at the contrast between the gray pastel landscape outside and the bright intense colors I enjoy surrounding myself with in my home...

march madness

With spring still two weeks away and snow still blanketing the landscape, the first week in March was a rather gray, gloomy week, except for the Pink Tulip Project. This project helps create gardens to raise awareness and funds for women's cancer research. 50 tulip gardens will bloom this May across the state of Maine. I was honored to be asked to help produce the newsletter. The rest of my week was life as usual...

animal self image

Do you think these horizontal stripes make me look fat?

sew what?

I don't sew much anymore, but when I do, I notice the dozens of stitches on my machine and I use two. I remember the Singer Featherweight that I learned to sew on. It was a simple hard working machine with forward and reverse. My mom made my graduation dress from 8th grade on that little machine. Can you guess the year?

my name is Ellen

Tonight I went to the Pedigree site to donate money to their Adoption Drive. I read about Ellen, a sweet little Terrior mix who is being treated for heartworm and waiting to be adopted. After I cried, I sketched her. It was my attempt to honor her and all dogs.

holy cow

I was trying to do the EDM challenge # 65 draw a nose, but I ended up with the whole face.

EDM challenge: draw your mug or cup

My bedside table gets very crowded so my cup of tea usually ends up on the stack of books that is taking up most of the room. I kind of overworked the watercolors on paper that really couldn't handle too much water. I have only read one of the books in the stack and that, of course, is "The Creative License" which was very inspirational for me as an artist. I may never get to the rest...

morning nap

Saturday morning and I was awakened very early by hungry cats jumping on the bed. We are having another "snow event" as they call them now. I did this quick sketch of Sophie sleeping on one of the coffee table chairs while drinking tea and watching the snow pile up. This is the first time I used watercolor in my little moleskine.