Almost the end of May

Eeks, this month really seemed to fly by. I headed out this morning determined to see if I could plop myself down on the new picnic tables at Hand Hollow – and after acquiring the required coffee etc, that’s what I did. I tried †ø keep it simple. Maybe minimalism should be the byword for next month?

Visit with Mom this afternoon to get a look at her front steps construction start and have a little visit. Came home and did this because I scored another red onion and took a big handful of peppers to try adding them to the next pickling brew. Don’t know if people don’t like hot peppers but there were a lot of them in the community free frig asking to be taken home and used.

Almost the end of May

Trying to put in what’s there

In an effort to add the rhododendron as a dark contrast I did this tonight. Too wet to finish and some tree shape problems but not horrible.

I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love, and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety, or fear try to call me, they will keep getting a busy signal–and soon they’ll forget my number. — Edith Armstrong

Trying to put in what’s there

Sunday Evening Paint

Well, it was an oddish Sunday at home. Even had a nap thrown in for good measure. Maybe it was the heat. Whatevs. Too dark to paint outside when I finally saw the last hummingbird off. So far still only one feeding at a time, even if there are two feeders. One chases the other away.

Sunday Evening Paint

Sunday, after dinner

The light is gone. I may have overdone on pasta. I went out on the porch to catch the last hummingbirds, listen to birds and visit with the plants. Now that they’re in their summer homes, sometimes they look like they’re visiting each other.

Yesterday I did a late evening paint inside of an imaginary scene and yet it looks like several places where you could stop to look at the changing light.

Sunday, after dinner

How far can it go?

I wanted to make the upper portion darker and more blue to suggest the window behind the flowers. That was mostly a negative painting exercise. I also used some shadow colors to suggest a few leaf edges and some depth to the foliage. I am pretty pleased with it. Plus I got practice in letting it really dry and not rushing it!

Here’s how it began:

How far can it go?

Spontaneous Watercolor Class Part Three

I’ll have to go back and watch part two again because in part three, it seemed doing wet on dry was quite different – and it worked great to make funky little edges and shapes. The continuing theme is to look at the little pieces in all orientations to see if anything pops out as useable. Quite an interesting process.

Spontaneous Watercolor Class Part Three

Saturday in the Yard

Quiet Saturday with an early start and errand. The flies (and if I have to be truthful – inchworms) are out in full force so it takes some doing to sit outside and paint in the yard but I managed to do this.

Saturday in the Yard

TGIF – Flowers

Had a nice outing with Mom to Becker’s in town for some hanging baskets and bedding plants. It was hotter than we thought but we made it home with no one wilting!

Here’s one of the coleus I got.

And here’s the star of the show, a hanging basket that we liked so much we each got one.

TGIF – Flowers

Thursday – Time for Something Different

Got a good sleep-in this morning after getting up around seven to take meds. I was awakened by the itch! Went to my local diner after filling the car with gas and my wallet with money. There I had a fun time doing a little free-advice phone support. It was a nice reminder that I haven’t forgotten everything I know or how to figure out where I need to be to fix the problem without the “customer” knowing I am looking for it!

Was content just to rest awhile inside when I got home. Am finishing another series on YouTube – had some slow spots but one of the better ones. Then I thought – why break the painting streak? Maybe something fun, quick and different. So here you go: two fun, quick and different paintings.

Anything that works gives [others and yourself] a reason to push you in the direction of the thing that works. You can spend your life imitating yourself. …how am I going to be that person that wrote this thing four or five years ago who I just don’t associate myself with anymore … it takes some pretty big acts of courage to be like “I’m not going to do anything like what I did last time” — Damian Kulash, lead singer OK Go

Thursday – Time for Something Different

Wednesday, All Day

I wanted to stick at home today because this morning I started new medicine and wondered how it would kick in. That was the right move but this afternoon was so nice I had to sit outside awhile so I did and I painted my yard tableau. (nice word, eh? Tableau?) Here’s a couple in-progress photos and a final scanned version.

My advice to you all – stay out of the poison ivy!

Wednesday, All Day