Fortunes

8" x 10" double journal page, water color paints, Pigma pen, rubber stamps, collage papers. August 3, 2013.

I used watercolor paints to paint the fortune cookie before I ate it, and a red wash in the background. I added outline details with Pigma pen. I collaged a lot of my collection of fortune cookies around it, with a red chopstick paper wrapper. A business card from China Buffet, is in the top right corner. I used several rubber stamps, one of "Wisdom," the other "Hope" in Chinese characters. And a square stamp with Chinese characters, which I have no idea what it says.

Puget Sound

5" x 8" gray toned paper, watercolor paints. August 3, 2013

I painted this on gray paper, it is very monochromatic, so it was a challenge to get the subtle contrast and color changes. I kept adding more and more pigment in layers to get the darker colors, and I am surprised the white paint showed up so well. When I used the white, it just looked like wet paper, no white, until it dried. I did not paint the sky at all, the gray fit the mood, and lots of times, that is the color of the overcast sky. I used a magazine photo for inspiration.

Byron Portrait

5.5" x 7" gray toned paper, charcoal and white charcoal, loose page. May 26, 2013.

I drew this at my friend's wedding, at Camp Lane, Florence, Oregon. The tow headed Byron was sitting on the picnic table bench watching the volleyball game. He did not sit still for long! I had to finish the clothing without him. I have not been drawing for the last two months as my hands hurt, and my right hand has been getting numb, I think I pinched a nerve in my elbow. Only time will heal.

New Faces

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. April 30, 2013. Trying to draw caricatures of the new people we are meeting playing darts, so we can remember their names. Quick sketches, I'll add more, as we go more often.

Ball Caps

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. April 30, 2013. A set of four ball caps, hanging above a window in the new tavern we have been going to, to play darts. Oregon Beavers and Ducks hats.

Stewart Park Map

5" x 7" page and a half, drawing pad, pencil, colored pencil. April 30, 2013. They have posted new signs with mileage around the park trail, so we wanted a reference. We like to walk from the train to the butterfly garden, and the loop down by the river by the band shell. We also walk from the cafe at the golf course to the butterfly garden or to the duck pond, our friend works at the cafe, and we get sodas or breakfast while visiting with her. The river loop is .36 miles, the largest loop returning along the freeway is 2.64 miles, and cutting thru the VA Hospital grounds is 2.35 miles. We usually only do about a half mile, but Charlie is walking much better since his surgery.

Condiments II

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil, colored pencils, Pigma pen. April 28, 2013. We went up to Glide Oregon and had breakfast on the deck of the Idllyde Restaurant, the assortment of condiments, was different with a scalloped bowl of jam and butter, and a teal sugar bowl.