Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ceramic Camel

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scan0152 I miss doing weekly art for the blog! There’s a lot going on now but I’ll be able to get back on schedule in July. The story behind this ceramic camel is that I saw it at Sally’s–that thrift store across from the Red Hen bakery–and I REALLY wanted it but it was $25 and I’m trying to not spend frivolously and also trying to not add to my already bursting-at-the-seams house. So I resisted. Told Rich about it and he was glad that I restrained myself. The next day I drove to NY to pick up Spence and Tuyen and when we got back, the camel was sitting on the porch like she was home where she belonged. Rich had a note on it saying it was an early birthday present. How sweet is that? Nice camel. NICE HUSBAND!

Little Queemer

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scan0147This little queen creamer is one of the more interesting ones I have from my Aunt Madeline’s collection. Says Japan on the bottom. Looks like an Alice in Wonderland character, right? Though I’ve never actually read that book.

The question is where have I been all these weeks? Certainly not in artist mode, which bothers me no end, but I’ve been busy fretting about my house which overwhelms me. Well, you can imagine. Fretting about trying to get it in shape for family guests due to the upcoming wedding. Yes, now you see the problem. All this stuff. Yikes. I think I need a professional organizer. Or a dumpster. Ok, I’m going to go fill a box or two for the ReStore right now.

Pale Silk Dress

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dressI came across a lovely phrase, “sky like a pale silk dress,” in a poem called Happiness by Barbara Crooker. It reminded me of this colored pencil drawing of a party dress. Just wanted to share some-thing pretty after having that scowling carved head posted for so long. Spring is finally showing her soft, green face so we can look forward to porches with incense and wind chimes,  and flower gardens with hummingbirds. And my son’s wedding this summer…sweet!

Carved Tribal Dude

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scan0142Here’s THIS guy. I wanted to draw something less painstakingly detailed, and in a loosey-goosey style for a change. This was a quick sketch in marker on card stock printer paper. Then I made a copy to work on with watercolors, because the printer ink isn’t waterproof and I wanted it to be a bit runny. When I was done I printed a copy on the tinted Canson paper just to see how that would look, and I like it (see below). But I thought I’d go with the white background since I’ve been using that tinted paper a lot lately. This wood carving is 12 inches tall and heavy. Most likely he’s African. Or possibly Caribbean.

To change the subject for a sec’ — last month, March 9th to be exact, was the one-year anniversary of my first blog post! I only thought of it about a week or two ago and looked it up. I think this will be my 73rd post. That went fast. It’s been such a lot of fun. Thanks for being along for the ride. Here is the image on the tinted paper.

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Vintage Greek Doll

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scan0140Well, I know this isn’t the Arabian harem doll I promised, but the thing is, when I dug out the boxes of dolls from the attic, the harem doll I found wasn’t the one I remembered. Turns out my memory is a sly, slippery thing. I believe I was remembering the lovely face of this Greek doll and the blue satin harem pants of the other. And so I created a new doll in my mind which does not exist. Unless there are more dolls still to be found in my attic, which is entirely plausible given the state of the attic. Anyway, the harem doll is kind of weird in that it looks like a generic baby doll which they painted eye makeup on and dressed in a harem costume. I’m not inspired to draw it. This Greek doll, on the other hand, is very womanly and so interesting. I just love her face. And all that rick-rack trim! All those knife pleats! The pom-pom boots! So much detail. I used colored pencils but I’m not wild about the grainy texture–the skirt doesn’t look as intensely black as it really is. Maybe I’ll try it again in a different medium. In a few years.

Thai Dancer Dolls

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scan0139I love this pair in their glittering costumes and extravagant headdresses. Found them in a thrift store for next to nothing. They fit right in on the shelf with the gilt paper fan, carved goddess head and the camels. I think one is supposed to be a guy–hence the pants– but they used the exact same feminine doll heads for both. Although mine aren’t exact. I like the shiny fabric and hot pink lips and nails. They are 15 inches tall and actually their hats are taller and pointier but I ran out of room. I should unpack the Arabian harem doll from my childhood collection, she is equally beautiful and exotic and might enjoy the company. This was fun to draw…kind of meditative with all the lines and dots. I used a gel ink pen, watercolor, colored pencils, a gold metallic pen and a white pen on Canson tinted paper.

Baby Bird Candles

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scan0136        Well, I’ve been itching to get back to drawing my second-hand treasures so last night I drew these guys. You may recall my blog post Wax Figures from December 4th, which began a category called “candles I just can’t burn.” These charming little wax birds fall in that category, too. So plump and cute. Tuyen found them in a free pile from a yard sale and knew I would like them. Each bird is about the size of my fist and made of solid black wax. I used a black gel pen and a black water-soluble colored pencil (gone over with a paintbrush dipped in water) on Canson tinted paper. Hmm, let’s see…perhaps something colorful, next?

Netting Mask

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rich's card 017“…blocking my view” I ran out of space and had to finish on the back of the card. Well I was in a rush and didn’t plan that out so well. Anyhow it’s The Mister’s birthday today, hence the card. He doesn’t like to celebrate them any more for some reason. Something about there being no semblance of youth left. Doesn’t want cake cause he’s dieting. Hey, I’M the party pooper in this duo, not him. I’ve had dibs on that title for years. And anyway, he’s the one with the handsome, youthful face. All his siblings are like that–look like movie stars. So I have no sympathy in the lost youth department. We should all look that good. Happy birthday, Honey.

Veiled Hat–Bee Bonnet

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scan0133I was trying to think of how to include guys in the veiled hat series. Eureka… bee-keeper’s netted hats. I just wish I had added a few bees on the plain hat. That would have been perfect. So unlike me to not overdo a good thing. But I’ve already sent the card. Guess I’ve been too distracted by our bathroom renovation. Pretty much every room is trashed. How do people renovate a whole house? Good gosh, the mess from one puny bathroom is tremendous. Well, it will be nice when it’s finished and much improved. Sam used to say that showering in there reminded him of summer camp. Which is pretty insulting if you saw the camp he’s referring to. VERY ‘bugs and splintered wood’ rustic. Our bathroom was not THAT bad. Hmph. Kids.

Lemon and Russian Collage

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Fat RussianGiven the recent Olympics in Russia, I thought it would be a good time to showcase this Russian with his mad leprechaun hat and big padded coat. I love this guy. The old photo was found in a Smithsonian magazine–pages of images that they had never published. I think from the late 1800s, but at any rate it said he was a carriage driver and back then it was a sign of prosperity to be fat so they would wear heavily padded coats to look bigger. My friend Anne said, “He’s a real vodka and potatoes kind of guy.” Yessiree. I’m pretty sure he would have shared my affinity for jelly doughnuts, too. The background image is from a decor magazine–I just loved the Black Lemon painting by Donald Sultan ( http://www.donaldsultanstudio.com )–such a striking image and one I never would have thought of making. People are so interesting, the things they come up with. This is a simple collage card, just the two pieces glued together. It reminds me of that Sesame Street song,”One of these things is not like the other…” But I like their similar sepia colors and…oh, I don’t know…the two large things together? I guess I like their randomness. Makes me smile. I hope you are smiling too.