Time change

I woke up just before 8am, and a short time later turned on my computer.  Something didn't seem right with the time, so I checked all my clocks and the last word was the cell phone, which matched the computer.    I did a search for "is this the weekend of the time change" and found out that yes, we picked up an hour overnight.  I stayed up and decided to go to the gym early this morning.  I had an appointment with the chiropractor, and instead of rushing  I had lots of time to get ready!   I wonder how many more years they are going to keep up this farce of switching back and forth, especially when so many studies have shown that much productivity is lost for two weeks after the change, as well as physical maladies caused by losing or adding an hour.    For at least the first few weeks I will try to get up earlier in keeping with what seems normal, but sooner or later I'll be staying in bed until close to 8 am!

I had no idea this was the weekend to "fall back" - guess with no newspaper and no TV, I'm living on the far side of the planet!

I found a photo of the Ireland farmhouse and started painting the sky; when that dries I'll add in the clouds, hillside, and figure out where to put the house.  I started to sketch it last night and had out my ruler, pencils, and eraser.  For some reason I found a Youtube video about painting windows and since I lave a few windows to paint, decided to see what it had to say.  It said very emphatically to "leaver your ruler out of it".   Don't measure anything; just paint it as your mind sees it.  Well that makes me feel a little better, so if my final offering is a bit run-down looking you will know I just sat down to paint it - not make it technically correct.

I've been looking for photos I know should be on my computer and what I found shocked me.  I am told I'm using a version of the Mac operating system that doesn't support the photos I'm trying to obtain.  So a yet-newer version of the O.S. will bring me back the old stuff???  It doesn't make sense to me.   I used to be a little smug about how wonderful the Mac was compared to all the complaints I heard about Windows, but now I think they must all be crap!   And it's strictly for the phone users.   I wanted to see if I could retrieve any photos from my big iMac, but I've moved it with the creation of my "studio" and the outlet on the wall doesn't take the plug with the extra prong.  I will either find an extension cord or a power strip with a longer cord, or if all else fails I can carry my iMac and set it on the living room coffee table.  Oh wait, that table is covered with 5 x 7 paintings, plus two large family photos that need to be hung!  Will I ever get my act together?

Yahoo!  the Bob Ross catalog I requested came in the mail today.  I'm just looking, you understand, to see what they might have.

On a final note, I shouldn't admit it but I always have a big glass of water near me to sip on.  The glass was sitting on the side shelf of my art table this afternoon, right next to the big cup of water I use to clean the paint brushes.  Fortunately I didn't dip in the drinking water, nor did I sip on the cleaning water, but I learned a lesson!  From now on my drinking water will reside on the computer desk across the room.

Short Sunday Post

Although  I often try to keep my posts short, most readers of this blog realize I have a hard time knowing when to "shut up"!  I love words and never tire of writing them, speaking them, and reading them.  But I'm determined to make this a short one.

Thanks to everyone who reads my blog and especially to those who comment.  I love reading your comments, and am very humbled by your reactions to my efforts.  You make blogging (and painting) worthwhile.

I made a quick trip to Michael's after my stint at the gym, and bought a bottle of gesso.  I've covered several blank canvasses with it, and I hope to see a difference when painting on the primed canvas.  I've read contradictory web sites with one saying one coat is sufficient, while another recommends at least two coats.  It's kind of a boring job so I'll just go with one coat!  I've done two new 8-1/2 x 12's, and three 5 x 7's.  I've also covered one of each size that had already been painted on but were too unsatisfactory to keep.  

Actually, the smaller canvas was put to good use after I decided I couldn't salvage the painting.  I've used all the blank spaces to try out various brush strokes, colors of paint being mixed, etc.  The time had come though where I had no blank canvas left.  I used the gesso on both canvases and will have to do a second coat to adequately cover up what was painted over.

I want to paint the house in Ireland that I lived in during the years 2000 to when I returned in April of 2004.  I had planned to stay a few more years, but 9/11 changed everything and I felt the need to be back in my own country.  I've found several photos of the house but not the exact one I'm looking for; if and when I find it I will post it on the blog so you can see what I'm working on, "before" and "after".

Have a good week ahead.

6 Paintings Finished

At least they are as finished as I'm going to get them.  I'm a little disappointed in the squash but I think the actual painting looks better than the photo; I'm not really happy with the painting either.   I'm going to have to change my signature to something that flows a little easier.   I used a very thin paint and a tiny brush, and it still comes out looking clunky.  Oh well, I'll post a photo of the squash because I know most of you won't be more critical than I am myself!    (Click to enlarge)

Now to hang them in the kitchen.  They will be high enough to prevent critical examination, at least from me.

Next I worked on the one I tried to paint from a photo taken in Alaska.  Here is a copy of the photo, in case you've forgotten what  it looked like.  I should never have tried it in the first place, but the reflection in the water blew me away by it's beauty and effect on the scene.

I soon knew the scene was too dark and suggested that I make autumn the season so I could add some color to the trees.  That suggestion was nixed, and my effort went from bad to worse.  I eventually set it aside and went to work on the items from my fridge - easier to paint if not as esthetically pleasing.

Well, I decided I would try to at least modify the Bob Ross method for painting trees (it can't be done).  Then I thought I would add a bit of color - just a little gold and red to the "trees" - there is no defined tree in my entire picture.  It's gone from bad to worse, but it is so bad I actually like it and it makes me smile.  I guess it's the bit of color I dabbed in there.  Nothing on either side of the river looks like a tree, so I don't think I will even try to add some tree trunks.  All I have to do now is to decide whether or not to try the reflection, and if I do, which brush should I use.   Get ready for a laugh!

Don't the "trees" look like they have Christmas lights on them?   I have the feeling that one of these days I'm going to try painting in oils, as I understand there are new products that may be safer and easier to clean up.    Can't do it for a while yet.  (Bob Ross reflections in the water don't work in acrylics either).

I could hear a little voice in my ear this morning that sounded like my dentist's voice, urging me to go to the gym.  I did and enjoyed the walk!  Now I need to begin doing some minor exercises here at home such as lifting some light weights, etc.

Looking at what I've painted so far, I realize that I have a long way to go with mixing colors.  I guess it's a matter of practice, trial and error, and I am still in the "error" stage.

I bet a lot of readers wish I would take a trip and get off the painting kick!  I don't blame you

 

Blogger troubles

I have had so much trouble with Blogger, and when I thought I had it solved I did a test post, not thinking it would show up as well.  I've sent feedback to Google and they wrote and asked me a bunch of questions that are very difficult to answer.  When you are jumping through hoops to write a coherent blog, edit the errors in it, and publish it, you can't recall step by step what goes wrong.  Your whole damn Blogger program is wrong, Google!  

Thanks to everyone for their positive comments on my efforts to be Grandma Moses!  (Just kidding, I'm only trying to be myself and let out the hidden artist into the light of day.)  I have 5 out of 6 small canvases ready to hang and have bought tape strips to hang them.  But first I need to get on a little stepladder to wash that part of the wall where I want to hang them in case there is any oily residue from cooking.   I should be ok because I'll be leaning into the countertop/sink, so not much danger of falling.  I hate to even say that :~)

After walking at the gym this morning I made a quick trip to Michael's to buy gesso.  It is expensive and I think my tube of white paint would cover a lot of canvases for a lot less money.  I'm sure the gesso is better, but for now I'll just wing it.  I think that was the first time I ever left Michael's without buying anything.

After a short time of not going to the gym, my dentist mentioned how important it is for me to get exercise.  He really read me the riot act, in his usual kind way though.  He is right and I have just become lazy about going.  So this morning I drove over and remembered they are repaving the parking lot so much of it is roped off.  When I began walking on the treadmill, someone on a machine to the rear of me had a very squeaky machine.  Instead of going to one that didn't squeak they continued the entire half hour I was there!  It is a huge room, full of just about every kind of walking, running, and pedaling machine there is, and very few people using them; I'm sure he (or she) could have found a quieter one.

Today and tomorrow we are having sunny days that just top the 70 degree mark.  All the new green weeds glisten in the beautiful sunlight.  One of the residents a few streets over is having artificial turf laid in his side and back yards.  They started working on it yesterday and it looks like they are finishing up the side today.  I wonder what it would cost to have it done.  The large piece of artificial grass is not cheap, nor is the heavy black plastic that would need to be laid underneath it.  I need a lot of things done to my house and yard, but it looks like every spare dollar I can get my hands on will go for dental work.  No fair!

Dentist and photos of painting efforts

I saw the dentist this morning and learned that he needs to pull the last two lower molars I have.  They are adjacent to one another and I decided I may as well have them pulled at the same time and get it over with.  Lord only knows what I will eat, as I'm now down to about 117+ pounds, and without solid food I'll waste away pretty quickly.  I will get out the juicer and probably make much more green juice while I'm healing.  I haven't been making as much as I did because the cost of the ingredients is constantly rising.  I can do without meat and eat mostly fish if I have to.  He thinks it will take approx. 6 wks to heal enough for a partial denture.  I think the dentist in NY who did the upper partial only waited 2 or 3 weeks, but maybe the uppers heal faster,  As long as they leave my front teeth as they are, and I still look like me, then I will try not to complain.

The meatloaf was good last night, as was the meatloaf sandwich I had today at lunch.  When it's gone I won't ever eat meatloaf again and will probably avoid beef for all but rare occasions.  It just doesn't agree with me, and I had a difficult time getting to sleep last night.

I came back home from the dentist and worked on some of the paintings.  I have four of them signed and ready to hang (out of 6).    Had trouble with the signatures until I realized that Bob Ross uses enough thinner to make the paint very watery when signing his paintings.  I will have to add more water in the future.  I have grouped the four ready-to-hang photos, but wonder if I should redo the signatures.  It would be a pain to remove them from the picture and then add them again.  I'd probably have to cover the entire background.  I know I have a long way to go, but when I'm enjoying it so much it doesn't matter to me whether or not my efforts are kindergartner-ish!

Click to enlarge.

Here are the peppers plus the way I've painted them.  I just can't get the shine on them and am about to give up on it.  I may take it with me to my last class two weeks from now.

My effort:  It needs another coat of paint on the top part - supposed to be a shade of ivory but I'm not there yet.

How they are supposed to look:  I'm really unhappy with the way I've painted the yellow one, and it is so beautiful I had to try.

I have also started work on the redo of my river in Alaska, and so far so good.  I'm doing it so much differently now, and will keep the colors lighter than before.  I'm also going to paint it how I want to do it, and not worry about getting every little feature from the photograph.  It may turn out to be too bland, but I will do my best.  One thing in the photo that I probably will have trouble recreating are the beautiful reflections of the trees on either side of the river.  It would be so much easier in oils and doing it the way I've seen Bob Ross do it in so many paintings, but maybe I can figure out a way to compensate.  I think I can paint some passable trees without having to do each individual leaf.  I'm excited about trying it.

It's chilly in my house and after lunch I climbed into bed with my fleece jacket still on.  I had a lovely nap and could have stayed in bed the rest of the day!  I woke up craving ice cream or anything sweet.

A crazy afternoon

Since Keira's birthday is tomorrow I decided to take her and Arianna out for ice cream this afternoon.  Ara drove to meet us at Baskin Robbins and brought Autumn along too.  Alyssa had soccer practice so she wasn't able to join us.

The younger girls are a bit more difficult to keep occupied than the older ones, and it was nice having Ara along to give me strength and courage.  Autumn is a real plus as well.  Actually, the younger ones were pretty well behaved, but I could tell when it was time to get moving.  I enjoyed my ice cream and wish I could go there at least once a week!

I'm not really hungry after having a large scoop of ice cream, but decided to heat up the 2nd meatloaf I still have in the fridge.  One or two slices of meatloaf along with a couple of the cheese biscuits should tide me over until morning.

I spent the morning painting, and need to go over a couple of things that need sprucing up.  I'm not too unhappy with my efforts so far.

I think I will go to bed early tonight (I got to bed early just about every night) and wish I could get up earlier in the morning.  I think the fact that the sun doesn't show up until at least 8 am has me reluctant to climb out of bed.  That, plus the fact that it is cold outside the warm covers!

Until tomorrow -

The morning with Ara

Jeannie took the girls trick or treating over in Joe's neighborhood last night, and Ara spent the night there.  I think she and Joe raised a few toasts to her return!  I asked if she would like to go to Costco with me around noon, and Joe dropped her off on the way to taking his girls to school.  We spent the morning catching up on her trip back, her future hopes, art painting, and just about everything.  I later drove her back to Jeannie & Donald's and visited with them for a little while before coming home for a nap.  Jeanne is working from home for her 1st two days back.  She looks very tired from the trip and I'm so glad they made it safely.   They both remarked on how little traffic they encountered the entire trip!

I'm going to keep this post short.  I ate way too much at dinner - the mini crabcakes were delicious, and the cheddar biscuits the same.  I also had some veggies left over from last night that i threw on my plateI  I feel very content right now although I'd feel a little lighter if I hadn't eaten so much!