Marionberry Cobbler & Ducks Butts

This journal entry waxes from laughter to growth spurts.

The page on the left is dedicated to my new Business Coach. We met very serendipitously, she walking by my Ashland Art Studio where I was working, where we then struck up a conversation. Ultimately, she offered a free consultation and we agreed to meet. Since she was new in the area, I knew one thing I had to introduce her to: the Marionberry Cobbler at the Standing Stone Brewery (http://www.standingstonebrewing.com/)!! Not only are they one of the greenest companies in the area but their Marionberry Cobbler is to die for. I swear, it's the must do on my birthday every year!!! So we had our consultation and a very animated, fun conversation. The relationship has grown and we've not only spurred me onto bigger things business-wise (that I'd never have invented myself) but has morphed into a friendship in it's developing stages. A couple of months later, I was perusing thru my DayTimer and found these two pages stuck together with a gooey, purplish stuff with particulates in it. WHAT in the world is this stuff? Examining the page I realized it was on the page I'd taken notes from my meeting with Anne and was, of course, marionberry cobbler! Naturally, in between giggles, I had to install it into my journal page with Anne's portrait!

Adjacent to Anne is a tale from my hubby's travels, literally and figuratively. For a couple months now Roland had talked about taking a camping trip just he and Cody, our Golden Retriever. Finally he charted his agenda and location ~~ and the boys took off for a near week of solitude and exploration.

His first stop was just east of Redding, but the campgrounds were stark and winds were disconcerting. Next he tried in Redding and spent the next few days there befriending the local ducks. When he decided to travel home and was just unloading one of our friends dropped by and that's the image I replicated here. The lil' clipping of the duck's butts is from a sweet card Ro left me which said, "I'd follow you anywhere, the view from behind is great ... " which was especially endearing to me (who has had a "rear view image" issue all my life). Needless to say, I was pleased to have my boys home . . . but we both grew from being apart.

And that's a good thing . . .

Birthday Portrait

I'm especially pleased with this small entry into my journal. For my husband's birthday, it's always a challenge to invent or surprise him - he's just TOO aware. So, this year I'd plotted dinner reservations at a nearby, yes, only about 7 blocks from our doorway. Now I knew he knew I knew, (whew!) that he badly wanted to eat there. So how in the world can I make this a surprise him?

Days before, he was talking to his sister and was bragging about the one time I'd blindfolded him to drive him over 2 hours over mountains, to a surprise weekend at lodging on the California Coast. Ah-HAH!!! The ole blindfold trick! So that is exactly what I did and blindfolded, I drove him in a huge circuitous route, finally ending at the Carriage House at the Nunan Estate. They have exquisite food, by the way, here in Jacksonville, Oregon!!

Anyway, to remember that fun evening I did a small sketch in my journal and - poof - one of those "muse" magical moments - it turned out exact, quick and charming! Here's the beginning watercolor sketch and the finished project. Also, I'll share the full spread where this lil' fits onto the page.

Love to hear your feedback - as always. See, sometimes that lil' quick piece turns out to channel the perfect energy! Again and again, I understand why I love journaling.

Obama as Our New President

This is my second stab at an Obama portrait (see 6/14/08). This one was to honor our new President. So I chose an image of him in a moment that epitomized, to me, his character. Once I got started, I realized the child could be a challenge (well, not that Obama wasn't), with his big bald head. Even once I painted it, the round object seemed to project forward, as you see in this First Stage. But I've learned to tell myself, "Just keep painting and see how it all rounds out once it nears completion." So I continued.

After laying down Aureolin Yellow, it warms up and brings to life human body parts, over all but my highlight areas of Obama's face, I begin to layer in other warm colors. I know some of the pinks and intense Quinacridone Burnt Orange look VERY garish, but I need to remember, when I layer over with darker, shadow colors, that brightness will vanish and merely whisper thru as glowing color. That's the beauty of transparent watercolors (bless you Quinacridones! Did you know they originated from car paints?). I continue to layer in darker shadows mixed from my Thalo Blue and Brown Madder, in some receding areas the mix was Carmine and Thalo Blue.

It took me alot of time dealing with the detail areas, his eyes, mouth, and neck. Layer after delicate layer, working to keep him 'glowing' yet needing to get darker. His hair has various values and differing colors too - sparse some places, dense others. His expression of joyful surprise was part of what captivated me and finally, I felt like I captured it! Background was more to bring him out and I chose optimistic colors that don't necessarily recede. I'm still pondering the baby's head size. Some days it looks proportional, others, I want to paint it darker. Then I realized this isn't going on the White House wall and I could just let it be. Love to hear any of your opinions, feedback and/or suggestions.

In the end, the painting made me smile and it reflected how I felt on Inauguration Day - joyful, optimistic and hopeful. And that was enough. The moral - don't be afraid to attempt difficult images, we can only learn by painting them. Happy creating!