Red Tape

Composition Journal

A while back I mentioned that I was co-leading an art journaling class for the summer. The basis for the journals were composition notebooks.  I really liked working with these!  We have wrapped up our meetings, and had lots of fun learning and sharing amoung the group's members.  Here are a few final pics from my journal, in addition to the earlier ones I posted here.

These are a couple cover samples:

           

And a few more pages:

This last page was practice from an online class I took with Martha Lever called Calligra-Fun through Creative Workshops. 

 

 

 

Summer Guest

We have a friend staying with us for the summer.  He lives in the stone wall. 

I caught him sunning today.

Last week, he left his skin outside his door.  Guess he got tired of lugging it around.  He is a LOT longer than I thought he was! 

....till later

 

Stencil Work

Perhaps it was the rare sunshine and I could get out to spray paint.  Maybe it was the creative juices were flowing today.  But most likely, it is the excitement of going to the Shepard Fairey exhibit at the ICA in Boston this week. Can't wait!  Anyway, I have been busy cutting and testing stencils.  Below are some of the results.

                                        

                        

And here are some spraying results using the last stencil, above.

                       

                       

       ......more later

Need a Smile?

Remember your love of crayolas?  You are gonna LOVE this video.

I first came across Kristin Andreassen as part of a terrific old time group of girls called Uncle Earl who have some great harmony.  They refer to themselves as the g'Earls!   Check out some of their recordings on their website...I love Take These Chains and many others. 

Kristin did the Crayola tune as part of a contest for kids' songs, in which she won the category.  This is a recent video remake of her singing it.  There are other clips on the website, of her singing it candidly  with kids that come up to join her on stage.  Very cute.

What was your favorite color crayola?

....until later

In Pursuit of Portraits

Here's what I am up to this week.  I am taking an online class with Pam Carriker, In Pursuit of Portraits.  This is a stretch for me because facial features are hard to replicate!  We are doing generic faces first, so they don't have to look like anyone in particular.  Plus you get familiar with shapes and placement so it doesn't look like an alien, but a real person! Here are a couple attempts..first a face, and then a page of practicing on idividual elements of the face-eyes, noses, mouths. 

 This poor girl's hair!!

 

 As Pam says...practice, practice, practice.

....until later

A Country of Destiny

Everytime I think of all the places on this earth I could have been born, I am overwhelmingly thankful that I am an American.  In these days, many of us forget to drop to our knees and thank God for the divine guidance He gave our founding fathers.  To all my fellow citizens...........

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AMERICA!

Newport Flower Show

My daughter, Erin, had given me tickets for the Newport (RI) Flower Show, on Mother's Day.  Sunday, we went down to the event and it was more than I expected!  I took MANY pictures, and here are a few.  These appear in the order that we saw them.

 This was one of 10 beach bikes on the front lawn, each with their basket done as a floral display

 There was a focus on the Monarch butterfly-from eggs to metamorphasis.  Two  tents full of them!

 Approaching the mansion-Rosecliff- inside which the main flower show was displayed.

 

 Spectacular large urn with floral arrangement in front of the mansion.  A busy photo-op spot!

 

 Probably not an 'official' floral entry, but gorgeous rose trellis on the grounds!

 

 The mixed florals in this bouquet were simply a work of art.  In front of that portrait....stunning.

 Erin's favorite...a shaped topiary.  Very cleverly sculpted giraffe, complete with horns.

 

 On the back veranda were multitudes of single stem flowers....every variety you could imagine!

 View from veranda out over the lawn and on to the ocean.  Can you say BEEEYOOOTEEFUL?!  Tents are the many crafter/vendors that had things to sell.  What would the day be without a Del's Lemonade, in Rhode Island?!

 On our way out, we spotted this lovely planter and Erin made a nice finishing touch for it! Can you tell that she is the BEST daughter?!

Catching glimpses of the other mansions along the Cliff Walk, the beautiful Ocean Drive and generally inviting town of Newport made this a great day.  Having Erin to share it with....priceless.

......until later