Onward

Well, here are the last three challenges for the month of May. I have gotten the feeling that I've bored viewers and almost bored myself. Bigger steps in my artistic journey might be more interesting. Yet, there is a sense of accomplishment. Will I feel lost tomorrow? Who knows?

Thoughts are turning toward the World Cup soccer games in South Africa. We have a son who is a BIG fan and will be attending the first two weeks of the games. All teams start in a group and will play each of the other three teams. USA has England as our first game and that is going to be very tough. Although there is lots to see, as outside the stadiums fans from different countries gather and it is celebration time all day long, I'm happy to be home and watch from my comfy sofa.

 

This trunk was in my grandma's scary basement until I used it to pack my stuff for college. Today it sits in our living room holding the old family photos.

The chair ( I drew the seat to long) was made by my grandfather who worked in the furniture department of a now closed furniture store that made the desks and chairs for the California state legislature. Furniture that is still in use today. This is a big chair because he was tall. I did not know him as he died before I was born, but I keep this as family history. A sense of belonging-a connection with the past..

This is was fun because it is part of my fabric stash. Hey, a quilter has to have a lot of material for the next project. Trust me, I know people who make my two sets of shelves look like a beginners collection. 

Thanks for checking in!

A gift and challenges

First, I'd like you to look at Yevgenia Watts blog Watercolored Hands. She did a portrait of me which I consider a treasured gift. A while back, without knowing her,  I had given Yevgenia an Over the Top award because I so admired her art. At some point she mentioned that she would be in Sacramento and we were able to meet for a short visit. She is so talented. To me, meeting internet friends is another bonus of joining EDM. If anyone else is in this part of the world, let me know.

Here are four challenge with only three more to draw for this month.

A glass and anything I wanted to draw, which was my violet which is blooming again.

 This book is a little tricky to understand. The cover is a quilt block, Quilter's Fan, which is chipboard covered with hand dyed fabric. It opens from from both sides. Insides are pages created by five other artists. This was a round robin project. I chose the subject, Threads, and the layout. Each person added pages that was their interpretation of the topic.

Today I went to my figure drawing session and since I can draw anything I want for the 28th challenge, this is my submission.

Have a pleasant Memorial Weekend. There is finally sunshine here is Northern California. We will enjoy Every Day.

 

Challenges 22, 23 and 24

Oh my, the month is rapidly coming to a close. Will the habit of drawing everyday be instilled in me?

This baby sock was what I found while visiting in Ohio. My daughter in law is going through boxes of baby clothes as she prepares for the twins. Such tiny little pieces of clothing!

Funny, I can sure tell the difference in my drawings when I'm in my own space.

Today I am supposed to draw anything I want. Now there is a challenge!

May Mandala

Before I continue with the challenges, I'd like to share my mandala for the month of May.

For this piece,  I decided to use colored pencils. I have been doing these for more than two years. I try to do one a month, but sometimes I skip a month. Is there a time keeper? Just me.

The circle is 7" and the paper size is 10". I chose this limitation because a friend gave me a portfolio and I wanted the mandalas to uniformly fit. No magical or mystical reason.

Challenges 19, 20, and 21

Continuing the challenge of drawing each day in May, I'm posting  the 19, 20 and 21st drawings. Being 2,000 miles from my home, therefore out of my comfort zone, pushed me and taught me more. Isn't having a portable medium supposed to make it all easier?

Something I've made is a stuffed toy. The dog is a baby gift for a special child, Kiera, who has CP. The color is red because her dad's favorite soccer team is an English team,  Arsenal.

The golf club is from my son's (the FATHER of my grandchild) bag.

The golfer son collects old records (you know, the music on vinyl). He pulled an old Guy Lombardo album off his shelf. Apparently, drawing a straight line was a tough challenge after a day of watching a two year old. Gee, we are all on the downward side of this challenge, only10 more pictures to post

Challenges 16, 17 and 18

Time is just a little bit tight as I'm flying to see our precious grandchild tomorrow. However, I was determined to get today's challenge finish and to post the last three. Here we go.

 For those not familiar with sewing tools, this cutter is the tool that replaces scissors for cutting fabric. You place it against a thick ruler and quickly slice off a piece of material. Yeah!

My boys, now both in their 30's, played the recorder in grammar school. It was required. Mom's hang onto things. I was happy to have a musical instrument to draw.

This is the view from my studio. It's fun seeing what others get to look at each day. We certainly do all have different perspectives! Now, I just need to figure out how to draw something I've made that I can take on the airplane.

Challenges 13, 14, and 15

Almost didn't make my self imposed deadline of one drawing each day in May. Today we had a luncheon at our house for our friend Esther, who is celebrating her 96th birthday! I mean, how many people even know a 96 year old. She is active, lives alone, mentally sharp and has school teacher handwriting. I can only hope to be doing as well should I make it to that age. So, finishing the leaves challenge was forcing this tired body to set priorities and chose to do the drawing for today. Obviously I managed. 

 The suggested drawing number 13 was obviously (I hope) a phone.

Number 14 was to draw what you see when you get up. This is the view from my bed. We have a two story house, so we see the tops of trees. 

Tonight's piece was to be of a leaf, leaves or trees. I chose my new coleus. Interesting leaves is this plants gift. Now I'm ready to unwind.

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Challenges 10, 11, 12

For those who may be new to this blog, I am participating in a challenge to draw each day in May, from a list complied by the group called Every Day Matters. The pictures push me to sharpen my drawing skills.

OK, all drawings are not going to be "right on". I do have long fingers, but these are a bit creepy.

Here I was to draw my glasses which do not have frames. To get both sides even is still my challenge.

Dinner tonight was homemade pizza (no cheese).

On to the next challenges. Sometimes I tend to make the project too hard. Yet, I am learning how to use the tools that have been in my studio for years. That is a good thing!

Challenges 7, 8 and 9

I'm continuing my challenge of drawing the the Every Day Matters list for each day during May.

I was able to really settle into project #7. I can tell the difference when I get into the zone.

Someone may have been expecting diamonds, but not for me. This is a pin that expresses "dream".

I was a tad afraid of this challenge. Wait, isn't that idea. To challenge ourselves.

Challenges 4, 5, and 6

Continuing with the challenge of a drawing a day for the month of May.

Yes, this is a ceramic mug. OK, no handle, but designed to hold pencils, pens, etc.

Challenge #5 is my bed. I really wasn't floating as I drew that, but I guess that I just wanted a different perspective.

This is a ceramic dog that used to sit on the coffee table when I was a little kid. Probably worth nothing financially, but it reminds me of growing up in Mill Valley, CA. Memories are priceless.

Quilts and zentangles

 

23" x 25"

Recently I decided to follow the guidelines in a book, Kaleidoscope Quilts, by Paula Nadelstern. This is my first attempt. Paula does outstanding detailed work that makes my pieces seem every so humble.There are actually only four fabrics with bead work added. But I wanted to show you the quilting in the background.

First, it was very brave of me to use contrasting thread. I chose a varigated blue shiny thread. Then, I got into the zentangle mode and created shapes that, in the end, look like pebbles. This technique is called freemotion quilting where the quilt is moved as the needle is going up and down.. I am not restricted to straight lines. Basically, I was as free as if I had picked up a pen. This process made me realize that quilters have been doing zentangles for a long time-before the name became popular. Art expressed in a different form.

EMD Challenges 1, 2 and 3

OK, I'm saying it out loud. I am joining in the EDM challenge to draw from the EDM list, numbers 1-30, each day in May. Apparently, once you have committed yourself so that others hear your words, it's harder to back down. A continuous line drawing was very freeing. I plan to do more. Little by little this wonderful group of artists at Everyday Matters keeps encouraging me to push beyond my comfort zone. Thank you!