Day 1088 A recap

Thought you might like to see the order of the sketchbook so far. Still at least one more sketch to paint which will go here in the order. Painted on Kilimanjaro with Ted Nuttalls Transparent colors or Charles Reid Palette. Pen Lamy Safari loaded with Noodler Black. 

Seemed like and especially good idea to me 

Since the upstairs AC was dripping water thru the ceiling  and it’s turned off. 

So I “slept” on the den sofa 

But mostly tossed and turned 

Getting just a few hours of sleep. 

AC fixed. Nap time now. Enjoy. Margaret xoxoxox worn out. 

Day 1087 Sweetwater Fly Fishing Camp


The Cabin sits on the Thompson River one of the best wild  trout rivers in North Carolina and it’s one of the few places there is access to it.  The property is surrounded by Nantahala National Forrest so the only access to the Thompson at the fish camp. 

The rhidodendrons were in full bloom last week as was the wild flower meadow. Gorgeous setting.  The shed is a picnic shed with adirondack chairs and a fire pit over looking the river. 

Ttyl Margaret heading home today xoxoxo I mean we have to watch GOT tonite right?! 

Day 1086 Cornucopia in Cashiers

Our favorite place to eat  Cornucopia in Cashiers. A great big open air barn of a restaurant. Even when you eat inside it’s like eating outside. They do have a large section of umbrellas to eat under too. 

It’s open year round. They roll large clear plastic sheeting down to keep the cold air out. It used to be BYOB so check before you go. Good food. Great service. Kid friendly. 

Painted with Ted Nuttalls transparent palette. 

Henry’s big birthday party today. Art with 20 something five year olds. 

Margaret already exhausted in Decatur. Xoxoxo

Day 1084 – Cashiers Fourth of July Extravaganza

Finally happy with one of the paintings. About time. I got out my #2 Isabey mop to loosen up and I think it worked. 

Always does because it’s impossible to be exact with a mop. 


These spreads are long. About 6×15 so they are time consuming to paint. 

Painted with Ted Nuttall Palette of transparent colors. Bytw don’t people know they are suppose to wear red white and blue on the fourth. What’s with all the grey shirts!? 

Thanks for stopping by. Margaret with three more to paint from this trip. Xoxoxo

Day 183 Sweetwater Fly Fishing Camp page 

The title page is done. Not to sure about that rainbow trout but that seems par for every page I am doing lately. Lol. 


Earlier this week. How many more pages to paint?! Two or three. 

I don’t know if I said but this is a copy of a sketch I did for their guest book. Only that one is just in black and white. 

Bytw the water was painted with my #2 Isabey mop. Drawing with my Lamy Safari on Kilimanjaro cold press #140 paper.  

Back to sneezing. 

Margaret xoxoxo 

Day 1082 Watercolor 

Never turns out the way you think it should. I think it is Charles Reid that says it’s part you but at least 50% it’s doing what it wants to do.  

The Cashiers Fireworks Extravaganza. That and played from about 5 till midnight with fireworks in between. A fun nite and they only ask for a donation. What a deal!!  

Of course it would help if you could find the picture of the scene before you start painting. My phone aeeemd to have eaten this when I was painting it yesterday. Eeekk. And of course now that I am done I have found it. Oh well. 


I will say the camera tends to darken the shadows so who cares?! 


On to the next page right?! Painted with Ted Nuttalls transparent palette. 


I did draw this at the Extravaganza. Just my grandkids would have wanted to help me paint it. They would have been covered in paint with no access to clean up. 

Day 1081- Still feeling like I 

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 1074 Dog Days?!

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

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!!!

Margaret who has a dog and a mill to paint. Oh and a couple of cars and some rubber duckies. Thanks for stopping by.  Xoxoxoxo 

Day 1069 Mary Alice Munroe


Went to a great book talk at AB Browns today by Mary Alice Monroe for her newest book in her Beach House series the quintessential summer beach book based on Isle of Palms near Charleston. 

Though I have read some of the books with the turtles in them has no idea they are really to educate us about her latest passion. I tend to read the story for the story not to find hidden meanings. 

That said I always enjoy them. 

The latest book is about pelican rescue her latest passion. The raptor center even named a pelican that she rescued after her Mary Ann so I decided to draw Mary Ann to fill up the page. 


The notes are just things that she said about her passions pelicans shorebirds. 

She’s also an excellent palmetto bug stomper. One was running around the room the talk was held in. It’s a skill u acquire when you got to SC Low country beaches. I won’t tell you how I know. 

The lunch was excellent. HEirloom tomato soup.  

Shrimp and grits and a peach cheese cake for desert. 

Ttyl. Off to Atlanta!  Thanks for stopping by!! Margaret xoxoxoxo