Watercolor Lily

I needed a little something to go into a thank-you note so I got out the watercolors.  The fist one was a nice flower, but the stem didn't look like it was placed right.  If there had been enough paper, I could have added some more flowers and it would have been ok, but as it sits, I didn't care for it.

So I tried again.  This time it was just ugly.  I started too small and enlarging it just made the proportions awkward.  Oh well.






Finally, on the third try, I did one that I'm pleased with.  I put it on Facebook and got lots of "likes" and comments.

 

Art and Wine at the Griffin School

Linda and I had a fun evening at the Griffin School.  Although my painting doesn't look too much like the Georgia O'keefe one that it was modeled after, I probably had more fun doing mine than she did hers.

There were 10 of us in the class and every canvass looked pretty different when we left.  It was a good evening.  Thoughts of day to day problems went away.  Just me and the bottles of acrylic and the bottle of wine and wondering how a mauve background became burnt orange.  Thank goodness.

Sweet Little Landscape

I bought this sweet little landscape at a "living estate sale" last weekend.  It's about 4"x5", oil on masonite.  It's signed "Olva".

It reminds me of my grandfather's farm, near San Antonio.  I can remember his barn full of corn, his chickens, the pond, and the smokehouse.  I loved his homemade sausage.  And my grandmother's cookies and bread pudding, and everything else she cooked.   Those were sweet days.

I'm hoping that I am creating some memories for my grandchildren too, which is why we play Candyland and go to the wading pool and play Jenga and do the Hokie Pokie. 

Today is a good day to build memories.

Candyland

Last night Martha and the children came over for dinner.  I bought KFC chicken and kept it warm in the electric skillet.  I assembled some brocolli, rice and cheese.  I heated some brown beans.  And had mint chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer.  We had a nice dinner, the tried to compromise on a game to play.  Jack wanted to play poker.  Natalie likes SORRY.  I wanted to play Solar Quest.  Martha suggested dominoes.  Brady opted for Monopoly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I broke the tie by choosing the least common denominator - Candyland.    It started slow but after a while it got to be quite fun.  Sometimes the most simple things can be the best.

Red-Orange Flower

This is the rat-tail cactus in my front flower bed.  It is a prolific bloomer and requires very little attention.  To reproduce it, just break off a (very prickly) arm and throw it on top of some dirt.

Below is one of my little quilts that I've sent in to the Art for Alzheimer's Initiative (AAQI.org).  It will be sold to raise money for research.  It's tiny, only about 8 x 10 inches.   But sweet.

Texas Spring Oil Painting - Week Five

 It's just temporarily in the frame, as it isn't quite finished.  The flowers need work, I want more rocks beside the stream, and the white frothy ripples need to be added.  But I'm pretty pleased, overall.  This photo is not too good.  When I finish, I'll do better.

I got the frame with a Groupon at Jerry's Artarama.  Their prices are good to begin with, and with a Groupon, they're terrific.  They've had two this spring already, so I'm going to keep my eye out for additional ones.

 I bought a picture at an estate sale last Sunday, by Olva Hollowell, a local artist and teacher who is apparently moving.  The scene is from Padre Island, a place I love to visit.  It was a real steal, $45 for frame and all!

I also bought this tiny little landscape, about 4x5, painted on some kind of board.  I thought it was real sweet and have it on a stand by my TV.

I love estate sales!