Day 1081- Still feeling like I

July 10, 2017July 9, 2017Leave a comment

Can’t paint. And am thinking I don’t like the pencil. Turns into a grey mess that has to be erased. My son and his family at our Fourth of July picnic in Cashiers in the Green.

We were thrilled to find our favorite popsicle for sale on the Green. It’s an Atlanta based company started by a friend of my sons and his wife that went to law school with them and the popsicle are delicious. My favorite is raspberry lime and only 45 calories.

Ttyl Margaret xoxoxo home from Sapphire and worn out. But the laundrys done and I bought some groceries.

Day 1080 A Mountain Sketchbook

July 9, 2017July 9, 2017Leave a comment

My pencil adventures continue.

Been working on a sketchbook of our time in Sapphire.

Eventually I hope to fill it with sketches from our time spent there. I know I will be adding the eclipse next month and wild flowers to it.

The view from the Cabin front porch. The Thompson River and the picnic shed.

Alot of painting to do still.

One of our favorite restaurants Cornucopia in Cashiers.

Fourth of July on the Green in Cashiers.

The crowd on the green.

Our picnic on the green and our favorite popsicle vendor.

Kids watching videos in the morning.
And the wild flowers from the meadow.

Maybe it will be a Christmas present. Maybe I will keep it. We shall see.

Ttyl laundry to do groceries to be bought dog hair to vacuum and paintings to be finished. Stay tuned!!

Margaret xoxoxoxo

Day 1079 Last day in the mountains

July 8, 2017Leave a comment

Another sketchbook half full and lots of paintings to finish of Brevard, Sapphire, Sweetwater Fly Fishing Camp, and Cashiers NC truly one of the most beautiful spots in this country if not the world.

One thing that’s predictable about cabin time is the kids will be watching a video in the morning while the adults laze around with hot morning beverages. You will find that the kids are not still at all but continually wiggling around as they watch. Eeekkk. Til I drew these I thought they were still but no they were flipping flopping occasionally poking each other eating cereal.

Ttyl I need a nap after loading up and driving home. Xoxoxo Margaret

Day 1078 There are days you can’t paint

July 8, 2017July 7, 2017Leave a comment

And today was one. I guess you have to practice painting bouquets a la Charles Reid. Right now I am blaming the cold press Kilimanjaro this is painted on in my sketchbook but it could also be the 69% humidity.

May give it another go tomorrow. The wild flowers are so pretty here. All the flowers in this painting grow in the field in front of my sons cabin in Sapphire.

The field starts off with buttercups, lupin, and wild iris in the spring.

Summer flowers galore all over the property.

Day lilies and hosta.

Banks of rhodendrons and lace cap hydrangeas surround the valley and river the cabin sits by right now.

The flowers run along Thompson River a trout river, the swimming hole and waterfall – one of six on the property.

Next to bloom the Joe Pye weed!!

Top it off with a high around 80. A piece of heaven.
Plenty of flowers to practice on. Even if I have to do it at home.

Ttyl Margaret gone fishing! Xoxoxoxo

Day 1077 A few more Cars

July 5, 2017July 9, 2017Leave a comment

Luckily I drew so many so I can post them while I am out of town.

Maybe I will find some more cars to draw?!!

Margaret xoxoxo

Day 1076 – Mermaid Duckies

July 4, 2017July 2, 2017Leave a comment

A whole bag full. Each one in mermaid finery with long tresses adorned with starfish and scallops shell tops. Part of the fun for Livias birthday next month- the theme will be water fun.

If you need some rubber mermaid duckies Oriental Trading Company will be glad to send you some.

A Happy Fourth to you. Margaret xoxoxo hopefully enjoying cooler mountain weather

Day 1075 -Cars again

July 3, 2017Leave a comment

Happy Fourth of July holidays!!

Looking for something to draw the other day to complete a spread of cars and I thought Henry has lots of them. Could I find any so I could choose them.

Nope just two. The woody was much more interesting to draw than the yellow one but Henry loved that I drew them and wrote a story about his cars.
Ttyl Margaret off to Sapphire Valley in The North Carolina mountains for the holidays. Xoxoxo

Day 1074 Dog Days?!

July 2, 2017July 2, 2017Leave a comment

My kids pit bull Briard mix Lucy Dog. Just the sweetest dog but a pain to paint. She’s a tawny brindle. So how do you paint that.

I think I tried every color I have I. The. Brown range burnt umber, Quin Sienna and Quin gold and piemonite. None worked well. Too dark to red too gold. All worked for small areas. I finally used quin Sienna w a bit of burnt umber. Ultramarine for the darks with the burnt umber.

Cerulean for greys mixed with Quin Sienna and Andrews turquoise with some Quin Sienna for the throw.

Mr Clean erasers were my friend to lift highlights lost.

The sketch done with a 6B pencil.

Ttyl. Thanks for stopping by. Margaret xoxoxo

Day 1073 Its Saturday

July 1, 2017Leave a comment

Sweet Emily! 18×24″ What happens when you use a two inch flat brush on Bristol!!

Charles reid watercolor hand held palette which put my hand to sleep. #allaprima #nude #lifemodel #watercolor #aquarelle #aquarellepainting #pencil #pencildrawing #lostedges #emily

1″&2″ Cheap Joes Golden Fleece Flat brush and #10 Da Vinci and that’s it.

Tip: curling thinner paper. To get it to lie flat, paint it w water on the back and it will flatten out.

First break 40 min.

Painted on strathmore Bristol 100# which is like hot press paper but cheaper.

Wash of DS Quin coral and yellow ochre w some cerulean and burnt sienna. Background, hair, drapes burnt umber ultramarine

Drapes Aurelion, Winsor Yellow, Quin Gold w burnt umber ultramarine darks

4B and 6B pencils

The crowd was thin today. So not many paintings. A lot of people on vacation but I do love to paint Emily!!

Drew Murphys acrylic. The quips were flying between us. One of the things we paint for. I told him his was a little grey this time. Usually they are bright and vivid.

Fred the dentist. Oops he left early.

Als lovely huge oil. Amazing what he gets done in two hours. This is four by 3 FEET!

Rachel who’s only been painting anyear or so but she draws at every meeting. Drawing practice gets the job done! You WILL improve. Like anything else you want to do well you have to practice. ALOT!!!