How humiliating!!!

Daily Sketches 2015—“Snowing…AGAIN”

After I got groomed yesterday mom got fixated on getting me doggy snow boots after she noticed me hopping around on three legs on the frozen/salted ground. I made it as difficult as possible for her to get them on me, but in the end she and the salesperson…and the treats prevailed. I stood my ground, frozen in place until she tugged at the leash and I managed an undignified “prancing, goose step, kick out walk" out the front door…so embarrassing...

Daily Sketches —2015 “It's Over”

I survived “Winter Storm Juno” with the 24 hours of hurricane force blowing sideways snow. They say we got 24 inches, but what about the 10 foot snow drifts that are blocking my front door and my car. Maybe it will melt…

Let the shoveling begin.

"The calm before the storm"

Daily Sketches—2015 "The calm before the storm”

I have been back in Maine for less than a week and so far we have had a 4” snow storm, below zero temperatures and now a blizzard called “Juno” with hurricane force winds and 1-3 feet of snow. I came back way to soon!!!

After all the media reports yesterday, I was sure we were all going to die so Sophie and I went for a walk to Scratch for a cup of coffee, a bagel and a dog treat...before all hell brakes loose...

January 24—"Snowbound"

"Daily Sketches—2015"
"Home is where the heart is"...and the chew toys... 
Snowbound has me attacking my taxes and Sophie her beloved duck. Sophie is small and mighty and determined to rip the stuffing out of her toys so I buy the unstuffed variety. 
This year I decided when a dog appeared in one of my daily drawings I would donate a small gift to a shelter. I realized at the end of the day that I had forgotten to do that when I posted my sketch of Sophie yesterday. 
Today a small gift to Best Friends Animal Society. 
http://bestfriends.org/
https://www.facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety…

"Daily Sketches—2015" Travel day and first day back home in Maine

I am in awe of anyone who can sketch at an airport or "are you kidding" on the plane. With good intention, I always lug a sketch kit with me, along with too many other things including my dog. Usually I get lost in a Jack Reacher or Myron Bolitar novel. This time I managed a quick sketch of a glass of wine and pretzels (my food for the day) before I read. I arrived home to dark, cold and wintery Maine, an empty refrigerator and fell into bed. 
When I awakened this morning, I was starving and it was a chilly °23....brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

For 12 years I have awakened with this face staring at me with that "time to go out" look. Feeling very frisky after a good night's sleep buried in the down comforter, Sophie, my little 13 lb rescue Bichon mix will try to take down some of the biggest dogs in the hood. It's embarrassing...

Every Day Matters #14—Draw what you see in the morning when you get up.

Daily Sketches 2015—EDM prompt #15 Draw a tree

"Daily Sketches—2015"
Arizona sunset last night from the back yard. It is hard to keep up with daily drawings with all that is going on with my mom and her new home. I do manage to get something on paper most days, but much of the time they are rushed and just terrible. At these times I take a moment and knit. We are all in this project together as we knit dog blankets for charity with all the leftover yarn from years and generations of family knitting. Knit one, purl two, breathe and then I will sketch.

Every Day Matters—#15 Draw a tree or trees

The creature in the front yard

Daily Sketches 2015—“The creature in the front yard”

The Arizona sunrises and sunsets are colorful and dramatic over the unusual and sculptural vegetation of the desert landscape. Prickly, thorny, and seemingly unfriendly like this very large scary cactus that seems to have fallen over and growing sideways. Unfortunately its "creature-like" presence dominates our front yard. Possible solution is move it and park its butt up against the neighbors side yard…or it’s OUT!

Daily Sketches 2015—Mom's hands

“Daily Sketches—2015”
These are my mom’s gnarly old hands complete with her big gold rings and holiday glitter nail polish. These hands cooked a lot of meals, did a lot of dishes, and raised three kids while keeping the the same house clean for 58 years. At 89 they now pretty much just hold a kindle or a book. When the manicurist was guaranteeing the glittery nail polish would stay on for three weeks, she gave him the "I don’t believe you face" and asked “even when I do dishes?” at which time I had to remind her that she didn’t do dishes anymore...

Every Day Matters—#10 draw a hand or hands.

Daily Sketches 2015—"Arty/Sketchy Chaos"

“Daily Sketches—2015”
For now, I am spread out all over the dining room table at my family’s new home in Arizona. Glass top and all I have pens, brushes, pencils, wads of wet paper towels, my palette, a jar of water and various plastic zip bags filled with stuff. No one seems to mind or notice all the water and paint spots on the glass…yet. Then they will be glad to see me and my chaotic "arty/sketchy” mess head back to frozen Maine.

Every Day Matters—#9 draw a bit of organized chaos
#sketch #art-supplies

"Crackin Cocotini"

"Daily Sketches 2015”—Crackin Cocotini
This started out being a simple "Every Day Matters #7—Draw a bottle from my kitchen" and ended up taking three days with all that is going on helping to set up a new home for our mom.

At the end of the day my beautiful niece, Paige, makes this wonderful cocktail for her and her mom with their favorite "Three Olives Coconut Vodka" and a fresh lime from the garden. I have been watching this ritual for several weeks and we finally gave it a name and I sketched it.

I hope you enjoy a "Crackin Cocotini"

"Get Crackin"

                                         "Daily sketches"—My parents Jim and Jackie Lawson
We lost my dad just before Christmas, so our solar system has gone a little dark. He died peaceful at 88. My mom is still with us and really doing quite well at 89, though she thinks she looks more like 82... 
She would rather sit in a chair in the sun or on a couch with her Kindle, but we make her get up and out to stay vital and healthy. She is told over and over by us and her doctors to keep moving, so when she is reluctant to do just that, we love to tell her what my dad always told us kids—"GET CRACKIN" 

"Daily Sketches—2015"

I started this year with a daily sketch routine hoping not to find my sketch books laying unopened waiting for me to pry one open and do what I unequivically love to do—sketch the world around me.  

Using the Every Day Matters prompts I am hoping to keep a drawing habit as close to daily as possible…hopefully... 

EDM #5—Draw my bed—much of the time my longtime best friend Sophie is burrowed into the pillows on my bed. 

EDM #6—Draw your favorite well-loved objects—I have a Staedtler pigment liner, Kuretake brush pen, mechanical pencil and a kneaded eraser on my workroom table, coffee table and next to my bed along with in a plastic bag in my handbag, my car and my totebag/ or back pack. My favorite go to sketch tools. 

Dogs— Every year I donate to a shelter dog organization. This year when a dog appears in one of my daily drawings I will donate a small gift to that shelter. Two dogs in this daily post is a gift to Best Friends Animal Society. 

http://bestfriends.org

https://www.facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety?ref=profile

Also starting ResQwalk.com/App for my daily Sophie walks.

Desert landscapes

The talented Donna Campbell McMenamin challenged me to a "5 Day Art Challenge"—3 drawings a day for 5 days and to challenge 5 other artists to do the same. "Ai-yai-yai" I can barely do 1 a day let alone 3!!! Here are 3 quick drawings of the Arizona desert around me and my one and only day of this crazy challenge. Sorry, Donna, I am breaking the chain...my bad...

Every Day Matters—#4 draw my mug

Every morning I drink a steaming cup of "Bullet Matcha Green Tea". Super high in antioxidants that are great for fighting free radicals, anti-aging, immunity and overall health. Add MTC oil (a super concentrated coconut oil) for instant energy and I am set for the day...so I think...
"Every day Matters—#4 Draw your mug"

Every Day Matters—#3 draw a bag

I am still in Arizona with my family where every morning it is 32°—seriously. I hope it warms up and I can ditch my down vest before I head back to Maine in a few weeks...
"Every Day Matters"—#3 Draw a bag.

Every Day Matters—#2 draw a lamp

Sketching again today around all that is going on because..."Every Day Matters"...
"#2 Draw a lamp".
I have several of these beautiful salt lamps around my house. They are very good because of the negative ion thing, but I really just love the light they give off.

Happy 2015—Every Day Matters

So busy with family and holiday fun that there was just no time to draw. 
Here's to a Happy Sketching New Year 2015...
"Every Day Matters—#1 Draw a shoe"