Persistance in Beautiful Surroundings

Flossy and I have been enjoying exploring our new studio 'hood on the north shore of Lake Union during our lunchtime walks.  Yesterday we found a tiny park right across the street with some really beautiful views.  Have a wander with us:

Yes, that is the Space Needle, center right.

The Freeway bridge arches overhead (kinda noisy in a white-noise way).

The University bridge is the view to the east.

Indoors, progress was made - I began working on prototype models for some books I have in mind after being inspired by the 'Word Play' book arts exhibit over at the UW which we visited late Wednesday afternoon.

About 4 inches high x 22 inches, folded Arches cover with watercolor, graphite and pigma pen.

I ended up with something completely different than I was heading for, but the process was delightful, and it was only intended as a draft anyway.

This is a detail of the inside.  The text is a memory of driving in the dark.

Later, I had a painting session that started out horrible and ended up flying happily along.  I am still getting my sea legs after my long time away from the brushes.  The struggle with my mind telling me 'oh, you can't really paint' is best overcome by just keeping on pushing the paint around until something starts to emerge.

detail, acrylic on paper

'Buoy Bag' (about 9"x6")

Wishing you a good weekend.  Persist at what ever it is that makes you smile!

Belatedly, royGbiv

The third Thursday came and went, as did most of the busy weekend.  I am sitting down to the computer to do more than check email (and read my horoscope) for the first time in days.  Happily, I was able to put in three full days painting in the new studio, which was heaven after all these many months.  I will give you a little look at my progress there, but first, I give you GREEN, for the April Roy G. Biv challenge, brought to us by the talented Julie and Jennifer.

Walking along Ballard Avenue a couple of weeks ago, the flower store had a stunning display of lime green birdcages.  I felt the '60s had returned!

Some sweet graffiti on a nearby garden wall in my neighborhood.

At the Locks this afternoon, I spotted this swath of vivid green algae.

A delicate green indeed on these new leaves along the Elliot Bay trail.

All the focus on green seems to have followed me into my painting efforts this week.  These are all acrylic, graphite and collage on paper, each about 6x9 inches I guess.

 Nobody is finished yet, but they are feeling complete to me.

Nobody has for-sure titles yet, either.

Gosh, it feels good to have muscled through the uncertainty of the first few hours, just to move paint again and not think about anything but the relationship of color to shape to line.

Hope your Easter was a happy one!

'Hat/Cap' DC

The loverly Fairy friend Tammie Lee of the blog Beauty Flows was the proposer of this week's Drawing Challenge, one of my favorite pieces of clothing apparel: hats!

 

I have always been a hat wearer, ever since I was a toddler.  Probably came by it honestly, as a love handed down from my Dad's Dad who we called 'Pop'.  He had quite a collection, and wore them all - from fez to pork pie, top hat to bowler, cowboy, straw boater and everything in between.

 

Easter is less than a week away, with its Easter Bonnets.

'That's Some Hat!' pencil and watercolor in 5x7 moleskine sketchbook

I traveled home to Seattle this afternoon and sketched the cap beside me as we waited for deicing operations.  (It was snowing in Denver).

 

It is great to be back on the west coast, ready to start at the new studio later in the week.

Head over to Tammie's for a closet full of hats and caps by many creative friends.  See you there!

Nest DC

The bare and barely leafed deciduous trees of early spring here in Denver provided good views of the subject of this week's drawing challenge.

The days have been cool and changeable here, breezy and showery.  We have been hard at work getting my parents ready for a big move later this year.  It has been good weather for hauling boxes.

 

'Spring Nest' pigma pen and watercolor in 5x7 moleskine sketchbook

Many more wonderful artists are feathering nests over at the beautiful blog of Ariane.  Fly on over for a peek.  I am about to alight there myself!

Upper 10

At last, we have moved in!  The new studio is ours!

Flossy was all sorts of help, of course.

She is a good little decorator, and knows all about 'Fang' Shui.

 

To the right is the free dresser I discovered half a block from our house yesterday.  Daughter and her pals helped me get it into my truck.  On Saturday, I got a couple of excellent work tables (see center and left) and two upholstered stools at a shop going out of business, and hauled them away for practically nothing.

One of the work tables even has a drawer.  

Flossy suggests that it would be a fine place to store dog treats.

I am going to Denver in the morning for a few days, and have a lot to look forward to when I come back!  

What are you grateful for this week?