The days are getting longer, but it is still very much winter here in Maine. When I started this painting it was not snowing and then as the flakes began, I decided to try to add the snow. White acrylic paint seemed my best option. I guess that makes it fake snow! Now I have to scratch off the white acrylic splatters that are all over my desk, computer and black fleece jacket.
The front page, and continued on the back page, of the Portland Press Herald was quite a long story about allowing people to have chickens in their backyards. I don't know why it made me chuckle to think this was the lead story. Ducky (shown above), a Golden Comet hen, lives in a backyard in the suburbs of Portland. She actually had two color photos including a close-up. I don't know why I think this is so funny...I couldn't resist a quick sketch of Ducky watching her eggs along with gluing in the headlines. Using the newspaper was inspired by Dee Farnsworth's wonderful weather sketchbooks which are absolutely beautiful and not as ridiculous like this crazy post. I'm still chuckling...
A view from our deck over the rooftops in the Old Port in Portland Maine. A balmy 38° but snow is on the way for Thursday—6" to 12"...
We had a brief thaw here yesterday as the temperature rose to 45°. Dirty frozen ice and snow turned into gray puddles of slushy water as we walked up towards City Hall. I try to keep Sophie as clean and dry as possible, but she is happy to jump into a pile of snow, role around, shake it off and look for more. She has turned into an dingy "urban mutt".
It's a balmy 45° today and the sun is shining. Still using this rough watercolor paper for my daily sketching. I keep grabbing from the little stack I have trimmed down to sketchbook size that is sitting at the corner of my table. Maybe it's convenient, maybe it's the challenge or maybe...I like it...
I spent years buying paper, paints and all sorts of drawing materials. Intending to draw or paint, only to never even crack open the package. It wasn't until I read "The Creative License" that I started this new life of daily sketching. I am determined not to waste all the papers that I have accumulated over the years. I know nothing about watercolor paper and here I am with a block of 140 lb rough paper. Why did I buy this? I have no idea, but it makes me mad to think I did—ugh. It is a difficult surface for this trained graphic designer to use, but It is good enough for practice. The rest of my rough paper practices are in the building's dumpster.
Quick watercolor sketch from a photo of a warm 85° day in Bali. I remember following this young dude wandering along the beach path with his board, waving and chatting it up with the locals. It was 13° here in Portland when I finally wandered back into my studio, feeling a little better and wanting to get back to sketching again.
My blog was born a year ago on February 4, 2008. It was a cold day last winter that I finally went onto blogger and posted my first sketch after months of watching all you creative "EDMers" from afar. I wanted to celebrate by eating, drinking and sketching a cupcake and champagne, but I was still down with whatever is still ailing me. So from the couch, I managed to sketch this self portrait of my anniversary celebration complete with lots of mint tea, comfy clothes and Sophie. It's not that good, as I don't feel so good, but I wanted to recognize that "I did it". I love being part of this creative community and want to thank everyone who has visited over this past year—Terima kasih.
A quick pencil sketch of my brother who is four years younger than I am. I still see him as that little kid with a "butch haircut" (yes, it was the early sixties) sleeping with all his toy trucks piled on his bed. So here he is, last summer at our family reunion in Maine. We were both having a Monster drink (a weird family habit) before a walk along the waterfront in Portland. Happy Birthday, James.
I'm still laying low with the same thing that has been ailing me for several days. Sketched while sitting on the couch, in front of the fire with mint tea and my dog. I had no energy to even decide what more to paint and the light was changing because the sun was going away. So off it went to the scanner. Oh boy, more snow...
This is Sophie who is clearly, the cutest dog on the planet. She is my best pal and makes me laugh, everyday. When she is really happy, back from a walk or showing off for guests, she grabs one of her many toys, gives it a good hard shake and then runs around the dining room table hoping that someone is running after her. It is amazing how many adults will do this.
It was snowing the other night so I was sitting by the fire sketching Soph. As you can imagine, being the cutest dog on the planet (see above), I have pages and pages of sketches of this dog, most of which I don't post—thank god. As usual her toys were strewn around the room and I started to look closely at what she has done to them in a short time.
This Meercat (I actually have no idea what this is) is not much of a stuffed toy anymore. The squeeker is long gone and so is most of the stuffing. 
This snowman came home with her after we returned from Bali. The eyes are gone now and the hat will be the next to go. She works hard on that nose but it isn't budging.
The chicken is also a new addition. It's squeeker is still intact but makes no noise. There is not much more to say about it, but she loves it and sometimes I find it in my bed...
