Lover of Horses (Philip) - DC

When I was a kid, I was a lover of horses. 

Day and night, they filled my mind.

I wanted a horse of my own more than anything.

On the playground, we pretended. In every game, every play: horses!

 Buckskin, Palomino, Pinto, Paint.

Using jump ropes as reigns, we rode wild and free - 

one girl a horse and one girl a rider, across the grass we ran.

For this week's Drawing Challenge, Stefanie presented us with Philip - or fillip.  I found myself remembering girlhood days on the outskirts of Denver, a very horsey place at the time.  I chose to make a little practice 'X' book on the man's name version of our theme: Phillip, meaning 'lover of horses'.  I am so looking forward to getting over to Stefanie's place to see how other Challengers have addressed this intriguing double-topic.  

I am riding over there now, won't you join me?

Details: Fiberactions

Fiberactions Challenge, Color Challenge 9:  Use at least three colors of food in your kitchen
Proposed by Kathy Sperino
Reveal Date ~ May 15, 2013 

A couple years ago I was invited to join an on-line fiber artists group and have enjoyed participating in our bi-monthly challenges.  This time the exercise involved using colors of food as our palette.

I wrote a list and dragged out the scrap bag looking for celery, avocado, pimento, green pepper, red pepper, and lemon.

Then I came across a 'failed' monoprint done on a piece of hand-dyed cotton back in February or March.  The pale overlay of zinc white acrylic reminded me of skim milk.  The image seemed to hold possibilities I hadn't seen when I first pulled the print.

 

 

  Soon I had my scraps assembled using curved piecing techniques, and got ready to machine quilt layered up on two pieces of felt. 

 

'Foggy' 16.75"x11"

The edges are bound with zigzag stitches over rat tail cording. As I finished the piece, I realized that the palette ended up reminding me far more of moldy food colors than the fresh vegetables originally intended!

Over at the Fiberactions Blog today you can see how the other members dealt with this challenge.

Drawing Challenge: Smell

I have heard that of the five senses, our sense of smell is the most evocative of memory.   Who has not experienced being swept back in time on a memory aroma?  Here are some of my most favorite scents in no particular order, and illustrations of two.  

 

 

Burning leaves

Oil paint and turpentine

Morning coffee

Cottonwood trees

A certain dirt road near Helena Montana, July 1985

Inside of an old trunk

Our woods in spring

Wood smoke

Baking bread

Thunderstorm

My Sailor’s skin

  

Our hostess for this olfactory Drawing Challenge is Barbara.  Hope you will be lured by the excellent artistic aroma interpretations emanating from her always amazing blog.

Daily Drawing

A little share of pages from my daily drawing sketchbook, which is an 8"x6" Stillman and Birn 'Gamma'.  

Enjoy!

'Unravel' - pigma pen

'Flowering Tree' - pigma pen and prismacolor pencils

'Angry Angels' - pigma brush pen and inktense pencils

 (I remain grateful to Lynne for introducing me to this excellent type of sketchbook). 

Burlesque - DC Dances On

The morning walk is a non-negotiable part of my day for many reasons, not the least of which is the quality thinking time it provides.  My mind rambles freely between conversation with my Higher Power and thoughts about the day ahead.  Sometimes I am even blessed with the inner-silence that comes when I am fully present in the beauty of the moment.  And sometimes inspiration for an art project pops into consciousness, as happened yesterday in response to this week's Drawing Challenge, Burlesque.  I couldn't wait to get to the studio!

Black Arches Cover

The 'right' type of blade for cutting paper

'Yes' Paste - the best stuff for gluing paper to paper

silver gel pen created the fish-net stockings

 I am sure by now you have figured out where this was leading:

 

'Hootchie Kootchie': A Burlesque flag book - 4" x 4.25"

Lots more Burlesque is going on over at Tania's extraordinary contrarian blog.  Have a look and perhaps a laugh with us!

A Report From Flossy

I have been in an end-of-the-winter funk.

The snow-baths are gone, replaced by endless cold rainy days.

Life seemed very dull indeed.

THEN: on a recent Saturday,

 the sun broke through and my People decided we would have a dinner picnic!  I was thrilled!

We went Out the Road to one of my favorite streams, where Dad could try a few casts for some fish.

Actually, fishing is sort of boring.  But there are some interesting accoutrements.

Dad opened a tiny jar of very interesting smelling stuff: salmon eggs.

I was fascinated, and couldn't resist a closer examination!

OOOPS!

The jar fell down the bank and Mother said it was time for me to come back to our camp for my dinner.

We had everything we needed, including my Dog Food, but Mother had forgotten to bring my Bowl.

So, she made me a plate from a piece of bark!  How pleasantly rustic.

I hope you and your families are able to get out and enjoy the season.

(I recommend the salmon eggs)!

DC # 100 - Dance

 Hurry, hurry!  

We don't want to be late - for the DANCE!

pencil in 6x4 studio sketchbook

'Dancing Mermaid' - pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 8x6 gamma

Thank you, Patrice, for giving a celebratory theme to the 100th Drawing Challenge.  Talented artists are kicking up their heels this week over at her always-stimulating blog.  Waltz on over and join the dance!