Nasturtiums from Sarah's garden

We had friends for dinner this weekend and after a 4 mile chilly walk along the bay we settled in for a delicious meal and lively conversation. Sarah brought some of the last of the tomatoes, green beans and herbs from their garden along with this sweet nasturtium bouquet. I had to work fast because when I finally got around to getting out the paints, the petals were starting to wilt. Thanks Sarah.

I think I "sketchercised"

Yesterday my energy was quite low, so instead of pounding my body into the ground with a run to the bridge, I headed out on a fast walk with Sophie. A walk with her is never quite as fast as I would like because she is very busy being a dog—we stop a lot. I do, however, manage to tug her along so we can get our heart rates up. At the last minute, I decided to jam my small Moleskine watercolor sketchbook, a pen, bijou box and a waterbrush in the pocket of my fleece. Not at all confident that after all the effort to get it all in the pockets, I would actually sketch. However, I saw a granite bench overlooking the bay so after agonizing about stopping and quite a bit of tugging, I finally got the sketchbook out of my pocket and did a quick sketch of a tanker across the bay while Sophie watched. We then walked home and I told Sophie I think we just "sketchercised". 

The wrong place at the wrong time

A few days ago, at the last minute, I decided to go out for a run instead of going to the the gym. It was a beautiful day so I thought a nice run along the water to the bridge and back would be the perfect solution to my stress...

As I came up over the knoll, I saw movement in front of me and as I got closer I realized it was a woodchuck wandering blindly along the running path throwing its head from side to side. As I looked closer, I could see this woodchuck had his head stuck into a Mason jar. My first thought was, "oh my god, this poor creature and I have got to help him".

So, I grabbed the jar, which was plastic, and started to pull thinking it would pop right off. I pulled and pulled, but it wouldn't budge. I actually lifted the woodchuck off the ground (see illustration above) as I continued to try to pry this jar off his head. I shook him up and down a bit, but still, it wouldn't budge. Other people were running, biking and walking past me as I was trying to free this poor woodchuck from his "Mason jar hell". Clearly no one else was going to help me. I was on my own...
I then thought I could twist the jar off his head (see above). So, I grabbed the jar, turned to the right, then to the left, but again, I could not get this jar off his head. It was stuck!!! With tears in my eyes, I finally had to say "I have tried my hardest, but I can't help you".  Reluctantly I left him and ran home. Jerry tried to make me feel better by saying he would find a way to get it off, "like Winnie the Pooh", I said?  I know, I know, but I wanted to believe he would find a way.

I told all my friends about this incident and some said "you could have been scratched or bitten". Bitten? I don't think so...hello, he had a jar on his head! Then others said "like Winnie the Pooh?" and all I could say was "well, sort of"...

Such a sad little story that I don't even know why I sketched and posted it. I wish I had gone to the gym.

EDM #241—view from my kitchen window

A quick sketch before heading out for a day of being "landlord girl". Our 5th floor kitchen window looks over the roof tops in Portland's "Old Port". There is usually a mama seagull perched on the chimney on the hotel next door. She stands watching and protecting her babies who sit on the roof behind her. I have watched them run along the roof after her flapping their wings learning to fly. One tumbled off the roof and for several days walked around the square and our parking lot. I kept hoping that it would figure out how to get airborne...soon.

It takes a cupcake

Cupcakes were the latest challenge from Karin Jurik's Different Strokes from Different Folks. Not having used oils in quite a while, I finally managed to squeeze paint onto the palette for the painting of OP and Martha (below). I hate to waste paint so I always move what I can to a fresh palette and and try to put it to good use. This seemed like a good challenge for leftover paint.

Walking to the "Beach Club" in Northeast Harbor

This weekend we are on our way "downeast" to visit our friends, OP and Martha, on Mount Desert Island. Their renovated turn of the century "cottage" sits on a ridge that over looks Northeast Harbor on the left and Southwest Harbor on the right. A mile up the road is Acadia National Park with miles of old carriage trails for biking, hiking and walking. There is usually a boat ride to Little Cranberry Island for a dinner on Isleford Dock and a walk to the "Beach Club" for lunch. It's just so Northeast!

Around town

Since arriving home from bootcamp at Disney, I've had a hard time getting back into drawing, painting and blogging. Seems like the last weeks of summer have been spent outdoors enjoying these last wonderful days of summer. I drag an old sketchbook around and manage a few contour drawings a day along with my "daily dog draw", but that's about it.

My good friend, Elizabeth.

Sadie with baby Quintin and her brother Zeke.
Jerry and I having an outdoor lunch at the Front Room after a long walk along the waterfront and around Portland. He works from his iphone and I draw. 

A perfect evening for outside dining at one of our favorite sushi restaurants. Jerry on the iphone emailing with Indonesia, me sketching the other patrons, a plate of the most delicious sushi and hot sake. 

Dalvero Academy workshop 1

Several days ago I returned from Orlando Florida at a 10 day reportage illustration workshop offered by Veronica Lawlor and Margaret Hurst of Davero Academy. Aptly named "drawing bootcamp", we would spend eight to ten hours a day drawing on site at the Disney parks. The weather was hot and humid with everything from drizzle to torrential downpours, but none of that stopped us from drawing...not even the dark of night. Reportage illustration allows you to experience, engage and record the moment through your drawing. The ten days with these amazing teachers and talented students touched and tested me physically, intellectually and emotionally. Wow, what an experience!

Drawing the African performers at Animal Kingdom as they drummed and danced.

Ronnie encouraged me to add more marks to my drawings and used Picasso and Van Gogh as examples to study. I began to see the value of lines and texture and began to add more to my drawings. Above you can see my thumbnail to the left before I proceeded with my drawings of moving dancers, fast drumming hands and my interpretation of family and the tree of life.

We would be required to draw at least one or two parades a day depending on the park. You have about 10 minutes to capture the essence of what is going by very quickly with little room between spectators. Above is just one of many parades I drew over the course of ten days. This one was at Animal Kingdom where just before it started the skies opened up. I managed to get out of the rain, found and shared a table with a woman who was sound asleep using her handbag as a pillow. She became part of my drawing along with all the animal floats that came by.

After drawing the "celebrate the dream" parade at Magic Kingdom the rain chased us under cover. I was on Liberty street at the Magic Kingdom so I slipped into the Hall of Presidents to wait out the rain. I quickly and quietly sketched the presidents while I dried off a bit. Still raining, I had to get to the evening critique. We would be at the park until after another parade and the fireworks and it was going to be a long night. With the rain still coming down I succumbed to buying a Mary Poppins umbrella complete with a ruffled edge and the possibility that I could fly?

In the evenings back at the hotel, I would try to read before falling asleep, but with my mind spinning from the day's events, I found it impossible to focus on the words on the page. So I gave up reading along with my usual early morning exercise. Life was just different and was going to be for these 10 days. I started the above drawing of the Tree of Life and it became very relaxing and soothing to just draw lines from my imagination while catching up on what was going on in the real world by watching CNN and of course the real news on the Daily Show and the Colbert Report.

Dalvero Academy workshop 2

Drawing the Taiko drummers in Japan at Epcot one evening.

Throughout the 10 days I would draw faces of the tourists and many of the characters at the parks as they passed by. The woman at the bottom right asked me to draw her and then took a picture of me holding the drawing. I figured when at Disney...

Sitting against a building on the shady side of the street to avoid the midday heat as much as possible, I sketched Sunset Blvd at MGM. I would look up and could spot others from the group dotted along the street bent over their work. This was a quick sketch because soon I would have to wrap it up get in position for another parade.

I positioned myself at the curb under a tree for some shade waiting for the parade to pass by with only the usual 10 minutes to capture what I saw. But instead of continuing through the streets and passing us by, this one came down Hollywood Blvd and stopped. I was basically at the feet of the Toy Story float watching and drawing giant toy blocks and Mr. Potato Head as they jumped around at my feet and then the parade receded back the way they came. What a mess, but that's what I saw...even my foot in the lower right!

This final drawing at Animal Kingdom is quite large for me at 28"x 12". I found a shaded spot just out of the way of the foot of the thousands of people visiting Disney. Across from the Prayer Tree I spent the major part of the day drawing a panorama of people moving through the park as they walked from the Asia to Africa. It was a challenge for me to do something this large, but I enjoyed the process of watching and recording what I saw. Then I was off to get ready for one last parade...

After 10 days of reportage drawing with Dalvero Academy I can honestly say I am quite exhausted and it has taken me days to get up the energy to scan and post. However, it was truly an amazing experience and I will take what I have learned forward in my life as an artist and a now a reportage sketcher. Plus, Disney World ROCKS!

Cruising the Penobscot Bay

Our sail started with a little set back of very serious engine trouble. We spent the first night on the mooring in Rockland Harbor.

Our friend Ben sings the blues.

While the engine got repaired, we decide to take the ferry to Monhegan Island for the day. A sunny warm day of hiking, enjoying the spectacular views and wandering through galleries.

Lunch at the waters edge looking from Monhegan to Manana Island.

Finally underway we spent our first night at the Barred Islands. The fog had settled in that day and the subtle colors were wonderful to paint.

Cruising the Penobscot Bay

After heeling through the Eggemoggin Reach, we spent the night anchored at Coot and Camp islands.

I painted the sunset as we sat in the cockpit drinking "wine in a box", listening to Ben sing and planning where we might head the next day.

Sailing through the Deer Island Thorofare to North Haven.

Gone sailing

We are heading off for a week of sailing on the Penobscot Bay. We went last year at this same time and had rain and fog 6 out of 8 day os sailing. It was also quite cool so there were times when I was wearing my down parka while sitting on the deck sketching islands in the fog. We haven't had a stellar summer, but next week looks to be a good one...

When Sophie is happy she can dance

...and I will sit and come when I'm supposed to...most of the time.

Well, it seems I'm in luck because of Section 2.2 of the Bylaws of the Condominium Association which states that only the Board of Directors can manage and enforce condo rules. It just so happens, that mom and I live in the largest unit on the top floor with my good friend Jerry, who is a member of the board and happens to be the majority owner in the building. So for now, I am safe—whew! But lately, I have been reprimanded when barking at the mean neighbor. Mom even swatted my behind this morning—OUCH!

When I heard the news, I stood on my hind legs and flapped my front paws up and down. You see, I am part Bichon Frise and we can do that. It works especially well when I do it in a store because they will usually give me a treat.

I'm off to take a nap...

Busted

We live in downtown Portland on the top floor of a building with nine condos. Our neighbor across the hall has written to the condo association citing Sophie as being a "vicious menace". When he lectured me on the street in front of the building about the condo rules and vicious dogs, all 13 lbs of Sophie was standing on her hind legs smiling at him and trying to get him to notice her. He didn't, so now she barks at him...a little.

She just got a haircut the other day. I dropped off a cute white shaggy dog and I picked up a dog that looks like a she is in her underwear. I think she may be taking her bad hair days out on our neighbor...a little.

Of course, if she goes, I go!

DSFDF challenge—Man resting on metal chair

I started working on the recent Different Strokes from Different Folks challenge from Karin Jurick, in between an apartment renovation and an illustration job. Jumping from one task to another, there were times when I would totally ignore "The Man" as I began to call him. I would come back and find the paint would be dry on both the painting and the palette. I would then have to start over and rework and it was getting frustrating. I finally had to stop the madness and say "I'm done" because it was taking too much time and I was running out of time! He looks younger than the man in the photograph, but who doesn't like that!

CSN in concert

At the last minute we decided to go to the Crosby, Stills and Nash a few blocks up from where we live. I had not seen them since 1997 and it was as wonderful as it was 12 years ago. Not surprising, the audience (and the performers) had gray hair and clearly have been fans since Woodstock, like me. We were in the second section back from the stage and the lights were dim, so I was sketching by stage-lights.

"I almost cut my hair"

"I've been around the world"

"It appears to be a long time"

Stephan stills on the electric guitar.

"Stop, hey what's that sound, everyone look what going down"

Thank you and "Carry On" Crosby, Stills and Nash

A weekend in Northeast Harbor

Friday—drive to Northeast—Sunny.

Saturday—FOGGY ALL DAY.

Sunday—drive back to Portland—Sunny.

We stayed at a friend's summer home on top of a hill overlooking Northeast Harbor on the left and Southwest Harbor on the right on beautiful Mt Desert Island. The fog rolled in on Friday night as I started to sketch while we grilled fish and sipped Prosecco.

Having breakfast in their wonderful country kitchen before starting out to enjoy a day in the fog.

Back home resting from a busy weekend.

For Sale—"Virtual Open House"—Dining room

Suzanne Cabrera launched a "virtual open house" challenge to draw our living space or favorite moment in our home. Like her, I have a love of mid-century modern homes and furniture design. A few years ago, I renovated my first ranch style home complete with George Nelson Bubble lamp over the dining room table. When the house sold, the light went with the new owners. Some crazy rule about things that are attached...

I then bought a 1958 beat up old ranch (what a dump) and renovated it using Joseph Eichler and Cliff May as my inspiration for the open-floor plan redesign which included triangular and trapezoid shaped windows and an addition that wrapped around an inclosed courtyard. I bought a Nelson Bench and clock, an Eames chair and a Nogucchi lamp. I even found an old beat-up Eames plywood coffee table from a yard sale that I refinished.

Today, my beautiful renovated ranch is rented and will be for sale, because I live in Indonesia so much of the time. Unfortunately, the wonderful furniture is all in storage except for that 5' Nogucchi lamp that I have managed to wedge into the corner of my tiny studio room.

Going out...again

This seems to be what one does when one lives in the heart of a city. I usually manage to find a small space at a table for my sketchbook and paints, though like last night it can be a little crowded. It was hard to find space with four of us at a small table, wine and water glasses, focaccia bread and tapas. So amongst the chaos, I did this small sketch while holding my sketch book while I ate, drank and chatted. Serious multitasking!

Getting to know my garden

I own an old Victorian house that was built in 1890. It sits along a street of old victorians with panoramic views of Portland, Maine. It is a two unit house and we are renovating the downstairs. This renovation is taking time away from any drawing or painting because I am at either at Lowes looking at lighting and paint colors or online investigating cabinets. I did this quick sketch of the sweet little garden at the end of the driveway, while waiting for the plumber.