Monday, June 10, 2013

Arting around the May Pole

MRI Waiting Room, Gouache and Black China Marker on Arches, 18x12
Remember those May Pole dances?  Going in circles and weaving in and out--that's what I did during May.  I decided I must finish something so, on Thursday, I used gouache and a china marker, and painted this quickly from a photo taken in a waiting room during January (I accompanied a friend).  I don't know who this is but I liked the newspaper and the cap.  I sneaked a photo with my iPad and used it as a guide; I don't think anyone will recognize him (unless the foot cast is an identifier).
Rose drawing, on back of envelope
On May 8, I cut the first rose from the front yard and drew it on the back of an envelope.  I liked it so..
Rose with Paul's Ashtray , colorsoft pencils on pastel board, 10x8
I began drawing it with colorsoft pencils, after I found my hand-embroidered napkins--no roses so I went with violets.  I stood to look at the arrangement; then sat to draw--exercise.  Unable to decide what to do with the background I took a photo of the drawing and...
Rose with Planets Aligned, iPad painting
played around on the iPad.  I have five different versions now but have never finished the colorsoft drawing! 
Snake by my front step, photo
Then there was the snake...      There is a crack in my walkway beside my front step.  I haven't had it repaired because the skinks (blue-tailed lizards) live down there, and I like watching them.  Maybe I should say they lived down there.  My dog Willie had been sniffing the hole; then my husband asked, "Is that a lizard?"  "Well, no."  I put Willie in the house, sent my husband inside, and I sat on the porch for quite a while waiting with my camera.   

Snake Departing, photo
Later, my neighbor called to say she had seen a snake in her house.  Willie and I (SnakeBusters) visited but didn't find anything--it was only a black snake and I'm sure he's long gone. 
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20 comments:

  1. The man in the cast doesn't look to concerned about it all. I'm glad to hear it wasn't you sitting with the cast on!
    Your rose has travelled from envelope to ipad in a most delightful way. I can almost smell its rosy scent.
    That snake reminds me of the rattlers we had in Vernon when we lived in the dry Okanagan desert. Here we just have sweet little garter snakes.
    Have a good week arting around in SOVA.

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    1. Thanks Carole. I think I enjoy playing with drawings too much; on the other hand--why not? Black snakes are okay but they speed up the heart rate.

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  2. wow--that snake! That's definitely something I would call "bloggable"! The waiting dude is great--such clear color! I enjoyed the transforming rose. All have their own personality!

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    1. Hi Celeste. The rose drawing makes me want to put my arms up and zoom around the room pretending to be an airplane--one of those memories of childhood. So I did.

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  3. Wonderful sketch of the man in the doc's waiting room, Hallie. I just love it! And the ink on envelope version of the rose is my favorite!

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    1. Thanks CrimsonLeaves. Nothing beats ink on white paper--fast and always at hand.

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  4. Hi Hallie--Great post. That's a "Bass Pro" hat. He forgot to put the drain plug in before he launched the boat. He broke his foot in the ensuing frenzy while the boat sank. I'm really liking those paintings on the wall behind him especially the one on the right. That ipad app really is coming in handy. The dark background dramatizes things. All the best.

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    1. Hi William. You made me look--at the photo. I zoomed in and it's actually a Harley Davidson cap. Your story's better. I'm glad you like the background paintings; I thought I'd done a decent job squiggling with the china marker. It's supposed to represent the textured wall covering found in every waiting room :).

      I love my iPad painting apps but it's hard to call something finished when there are so many options to try.

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  5. Your drawing room work is awesome , and that rose really inspired you, specially love the last one . I think you should take an extra look before walking on that front step !!

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    1. Thank you Jane. For about a week, I looked before stepping off the porch (and considered wearing boots). Snakes are part of the neighborhood but we usually don't see many--this is my fourth sighting in 14 years.

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    1. You've been playing Wheel of Fortune, haven't you, SamArtDog?

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  7. What a phenomenal photo of that snake! Wow Hallie! I'm amazed with your true love of all animals. With our cats- snakes don't have too much of a chance around here.

    Your waiting room painting is superb. He looks like so many people I know. What else is there to do in a waiting room, but read and wait. (Apparently, the artists are observing and planning for future works.)

    Your rose is splendid in all it's constellations. The ashtray is meaningful. I'll have to think on that one awhile too.

    I'm glad you 'finished' and posted- I've been looking for your posts but missed it in my blogger. So glad I saw the one from today!
    If you ever decide to do email updates- I'm signing up. (That was an obvious hint. Oh well.)

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    1. Thank you PAMO. The ashtray is not really a big mystery. Once I cleared all the papers off the table, I looked around the room and selected the astray my neighbor uses--simple copper shape with a touch of enamel.

      I added the gadget for following by email. I'm glad you asked--I thought I had done that already. Evidently, I added the wrong gadget several years ago; something called "subscribe"--not sure what that means.

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  8. This first painting is awesome! Very well done and I like the intensity the black marker gave it :) Love the versions of the rose, too - my favorite being the rose with planets aligned (clever!). Sorry about the skinks, I hope the snake did not make a meal of them all :(

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    1. Thanks Rhonda. The planets were aligned the night I was playin around on the iPad. I had planned to go outside and look up but, when I looked out the window, I saw swarms of gnats--I stayed inside.

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  9. Thank you for the email subscribe! YES!!!

    Well then the ashtray reminded me of ashes and roses remind me of death. Ashes to ashes sort of thing.... I recognize the ashtray- we had those in my childhood home.

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    1. Hi PAMO. Sorry about those reminders--I thought it was a really cool ashtray when I spotted it in the hospital thrift shop in MD where I volunteered. The smell of mixed bouquets reminds me of funerals--a single flower is okay.

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  10. Ain't it great to sneak up on folks, take their picture, and paint them?! Yeah!! Very nicely done. I also really like the versions of the flower in the vase - especially the iPad version. As for the snake, I love it when they visit my house! Great photos. My wife - she feels differently. Go figure.

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    1. Hi Dan. I wish I could sit and actually people like you do. So far, I've just sneaked a few photos--then I don't aim for a likeness. There are some great poses in waiting rooms.

      I think snakes belong here--just not so close to my front porch.

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