Sketchbook pages

Continuing my Lines and Grids journal, I've added the pages shown above and below. Trust me, I use grids for the text. I'm not one of those calligraphers who can lettered without some guide lines! I just keep saying to myself, "This is my journal, I put put what I want in it". Ahhh, what freedom (OK, there is some restriction, but not much).

May you find a moment to pause and refresh.

Fabric painting

I did it! Thanks to the encouragement of Shirley I completed these two pieces. First, I ran upstairs to pull out the box of fabric paints that I had not opened. Then I found the bleached muslin that I had bought for this purpose. After the fabric was painted and the "sandwich" made (front, batting and backing), I used the sewing machine, set on free-motion, to stitch this figure. What fun! Who knows there this will lead?

New Season for Figure Drawing

Although faint, here is a drawing from my Friday morning figure drawing session. Believe that this was a 20 minute pose. The arm is a bit long, but I'm pleased with my progress from the sessions last Spring. The piece on a 24 x 18" paper. That is huge for me. One attendee, who I believe has taught art, is encouraging me to go bigger so that the figure goes off the page. Then, if I have a smaller area such as the hand, I'll be able to actually have a chance to do some detail.
Each Friday for 3 hours we get a model. We do several 2 minute poses, a couple for five minutes, followed by 20 minute time periods. The last pose may be 40 minutes.

A Special Gift

Sometimes you just get it right. I love this quilt and so did my 2 1/2 year old grandson, my chief critic for this piece. The fabric came with these adorable cats. I added the border and quilted it. Oliver immediately knew to put it on his bed. It makes nap time even easier.

These cats have attitude!

Non dominate hand portraits

Several members of the EDM group are practicing drawing portraits with their non dominate hand. I had to give it a try. Think that it slows you down so think before you draw. Hey, that is a good idea for me!