Category: Art

Day 33 Never

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Eat a large chocolate bar. It will keep you up most of the night. But oh was it good.

I took another photo of The Farm using my Ott light to light it up. Much more accurate photo. Can’t wait til Saturday for the next class.

Drawing with Koosje. A corner of the living room really my den.

Lamy Stillman and Birn Alpha.

We drew masks with Danny at noon. Now we have to pick one out and make a paper bag mask.

I had to write down what I thought they were saying. That was fun. Can you find the Covid monster?! Lamy Safari Stillman and Birn Alpha. Only five spreads left but I got a new one from Amazon. Hurrah.

Sweet Ilaina. Missing my painting peeps.

Digging around for my 140 # rough press Fabriano I found this. Always liked it. Still have the photo to finish it. Full sheet on Waterman cold press I think.

Got some decent pics of the Downy that hit the window this am. So pretty.

Not sure what he is but cute. A sparrow?! Where’s the bird book?!

Loves this female cardinal on the thistle feeder. Adoreable.

Distancing in SC

Margaret ready for bed despite my excellent afternoon nap while watching Mary Berry at Highclere Castle on YouTube. Zzzz

Xoxoxox😘

Margaret xoxoxo

Day 32 An online class

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15×22″ rough press 300 lb Fabriano

Painted this today in an online class with Vlad Yesilesev. Vlad is Russian from Moscow and has the most fabulous accent. The man is so knowledgeable with an MFA in art. Paints as fast as lightning. He taught everything from how to do a value sketch then draw it to the actual painting of it. Can’t wait for Saturday.

Will take another on Saturday. A lot of fun once the people in class figured out how to work zoom. Quite reasonable at $19. I was going to take his class at Olmsted Pleine Air in Atlanta next week but that’s not happening. This is far cheaper. Course no individual attention because he can’t see us painting but heck who cares.

We did a value sketch and painted from it not the photo.

The photo

First wash. I think mine was a little dark.

Trees coming along. ALOT of dry brushing.

Grass added. And the shadow in the road.

Oh my buildings painted. He just whizzes along. Next time doing a quarter sheet- that’s 10×15″.

His painting. Sooo much better than mine.

Getting done. Has too much fun painting the tree with my Vlad saber brush. Way too much. Should have stopped earlier.

Then I blurred it out and thought why not add some spring green leaves popping out. U do it with one of the Escoda perlas held sideways. There was a lot of dry brushing in this painting. Most of it. Lol.

Next time I will have the drawing down a head of time and I will find my 140 # rough Fabriano. Hmm maybe order some 90# rough which is what Vlad uses for these demos.

And I drew Zoe earlier during sbsdrawingparty with Danny on YouTube at noon. It was draw something from nature after a chat with Tommy Kane- a fascinating man. Zoe’s neck is too long because she got annoyed, turned her back on me, and went to sleep.

Lamy Safari Stillman and Birn Alpha.

I need to paint the background but Vlad wore me out. Three hours of painting as fast as I could.

Oh and I cooked dinner. Japanese’s sweet potato sushi salad with sticky rice and nori.

Margaret ready for bed. Xoxoxoxo

Day hmm 32

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Left one is prismacolor pencils. Did him because I really didn’t like the Lamy Safari version on right. Same guy!!🤔🤔🤔😵

Here he is. An Aussie mug shot.

So I played with the one on right some more. Now I actually him better and think he looks more like the original. Maybe I will work on Mr Leftie some more.

Last nite was crazy. 60 mph winds whipping for hours. 40 tornadoes reported in Ga and more on SC. None hit here as far as I know hit that wind kept me up howling all nite. About five I could hear the big oak near my bedroom CREAK!! I have never heard it do that in the 20 yr I have lived here. Scared me so I went downstairs and slept on the sofa at the other end of the house. Woke up about nine. NO power. So Zoe and I sat in the back porch enjoying the gorgeous morning. I have finally gotten rid of most of the pollen.

Power back so it was time to draw with Danny.

Since I couldn’t draw with Koosje I did it later today. Some old half dead flowers that I need to pitch.

Glad this crazy day is done. A beautiful soft sunset.

I am up early in the morning for the grocery store. Margaret who is tired.

Day 31

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Something fun for Easter. Hope yours was Hoppy. I do enjoy doing these little tiny snapshots.

Did u find Zoe and the Easter candy?! Lamy Ef Noodlers eelskin Ink.

This am.

Finally got pics of the Downy on the suet. Was afraid he would fly away if dived for my camera so I used my iPhone.

Margaret who cooked all afternoon again. Not sure why. Pork chops oven brown rice cauliflower and coconut cream pie. Yummm Xoxoxox

Day 30 Recipes

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These are always fun to do but the squares got really wonky on me today. I decided I would only draw things I could see on the coffee table. Yes it’s quite the mess. But I do like these little snap shots.

Started writing down recipes. Still have two more to do but got sidetracked talking to mom for TWO hours. She said her arm got tired. Both arms. Well she is 94!! 🤔🤔

Did I post this yesterday?! It’s time people it’s time. Hmm oh wait it’s always time right now isn’t it?!

Margaret Xoxoxox

Day 28

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Amazing how busy you can stay doing nothing important. I got up before 8 to draw with Koosje on Instagram but couldn’t find her soooo I drew this:

The corner of the den and out the den window.

Then who popped up on my phone Koosje sooo I drew this.

Part of the shelf in the den. Kinda fun and lots easier than the first one.

So I was ready for Danny at noon in between a little cleaning sheet washing dog chasing cat feeding and you know important things. NOT. He wasn’t on til 1. What?! Then I found Mary Berry she of the British Baking Show fame. Who knew she’s been well known in England for years and years. So I watched one while waiting for Danny. She’s so charming. So utterly British.

And darned if we weren’t drawing a plant with Danny. Too lazy to find a new plant I drew the white amaryllis again. Hohum is the way I feel about this version.

What next?! Watched Mary Berry while waiting for sheets to dry and walked. A lot. In front of the tv.

And I thought this recipe sounded tasty. I do love a good Eggs Benedict. So of course I wrote it down and illustrated it.

Out my window this evening. Sun came out. Oh yeah. Meant I had to fill the pool since there we got zero of the predicted rain.

Margaret about ready for bed. Zero face masks made. Maybe tomorrow?! Xoxoxox

Day 27

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I actually got up in time to do the sbsdrawingparty with Koosje this am at 8. Usually I am thinking about getting up.

Draw the room with a plant in the foreground. Colored pencils. I used Watercolor pencils because I was too lazy to get up and find my colored pencils at 7:55. Enough just to show up. They are now found and sharpened aka ready.

I just happened to have a great white amaryllis that I needed to bring in off the porch. What a treat to see it going crazy again around Easter. This is its third year blowing for Easter.

Anyway a fun technique to use. See you there in the am?!

Finally got this one done sorta more or less.

Danny’s class bombed out so that’s it for today. Think maybe I should have left this black and white. Oh well. Now it’s just a photo of black and white.

social distancing on the river.

Like this guy I am tired. Always a hoot laying around subbing on the porch rail.

Hmm bedtime. Maybe I will get up early again tomorrow.

Margaret xoxo

Day 26

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And I thought it was Day 27 hmmm

This am with Koosje. Draw your shoes up close. I actually painted this but no photo and I hate to disturb Zoe whose snoozing in my lap. Micro Uniball Lamy Safari stillman and birn Alpha.

She’s had an exhausting day today. Went for a ride around. No human contact don’t worry.

And colored pencils with Danny at noon. I drew my Nikon. Waiting for a sunny afternoon to take some bird photos. Had to wash the sliding windows too.

Used three or four pencils. Blue orange yellow and red. No five. Purple too. Fun technique. Wild coloring.

And this was waiting for me in the mail box. Woohoo. Bought my pirate queen Comtesse Chloe Le Chat: Corsair Extrodinaire from Juliana Coles who posted them on Facebook. Love the words too. “In Times like this the Heroine takes her place. Batten the hatches. Fly the Colors!! ” perfect for the pandemic.

And look at all the swag that came with it. I might love her – the cat and Juliana. 🤗 Chloe is now in quarantine airing out for a few days but I can admire her every time I walk by her on the kitchen counter near the hall door.

Woohoo.

Margaret watching Maine cabin masters. Batten the hatches!! Fly the colors!!xoxoxo

Day 25

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Madly drawing today and doing a few must does. Sketchbookskool live drawing party. I drew at 8 am on Instagram and then noon on YouTube. Lamy Safari which makes a thick rich line a Lamy Vista which makes a thinner scratchy line. Noodlers eelskin Ink. Watercolor pencils. Stillman and Birn Alpha which is almost half full already. What?! Record time. Then I made several face masks. I may have that figured out finally. Only 60 left to make. Eeekk. I took a friends pattern and adapted her back to my front leaving an opening to so the filter could be removed when the mask is washed. And it also let me add a slot on each side to feed the T-shirt yarn ties thru. Here’s this afternoons sewing. Eight done. Hurrah.

Dawn in the river.

Love the early am light on my porch chandelier.

Margaret tucked up in bed but I didn’t forget to post. Yeah. Xoxox Please stay home and stay safe!!

Day 24

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Could be a new thing.

Watching cooking shows and writing down the recipes on the shows. Then I just seemed to need to illustrate them.

I have done ten pages of these in the last two days and they are getting more complicated.

Hmmm.

Terrible drawing of Joanna Gaines. My daughter in-law loves Joanna Gaines so I thought she would like her recipes.

She’s starting a network and a cooking show. Hmmm the Gaines empire expands. She did not give most measurements except for the crepes so you have to buy her cookbook to see the amounts.🥴

Think this one has too much business but I quite like the shrimps. The recipe itself sounds delicious. I intend to give it a whirl when I assemble the ingredients

Next time no coloring the ingredients to highlight them.

And these are just fun to draw. Not too much of a challenge to draw a two inch box is it. just draw a little portion of objects nearby. I obviously need a tidy up.

Watercolor pencils Lamy Safari and Vista Noodlers eelskin Ink Stillman and birn Alpha

Another gorgeous spring day on the river.

Virtual hugs Margaret xoxoxo