Category: Decatur

It’s Saturday

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15×22″ coldpress fluid paper

Was having a terrible time drawing Ilaina this am so I turned the paper over and painted her without a drawing. This painting took about an hour.

Here she is after about 40 minutes sooo wet. The paper just rippled. Thank goodness I found a hair dryer under the bathroom sink so I could dry her.

She may get some tweaking or maybe not. Right now thinking her ear needs to be cleaned up with a Mr Clean. It should be similar in color to the rest of her face. and those silly little pieces of hair. I had to play with my Cheap Joes Scroogys loose goose just once.

Colors used alizarin cad orange cad red for skin tones. Alizarin shadows with cobalt mineral violet and Cheap Joes Andrew turquoise. Hair burnt sienna and ultramarine.

Fred’s mondigliani. Told him he should finish it.

Drews acrylic. I made her look younger. I think he made her look older. He’s using a new brand of acrylic paint. Old Williamsburg. Their oil is suppose to be THE best oil.

Only two more people came. Did get photos of theirs.

Sometimes

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I like to illustrate my class notes with sketches of people in the class so that I remember them later.

This sweet couple from Indiana Mary and Jerry were so much fun. Jerry loved to tell jokes and Mary well she was terrific. They had only been married five years so we called them our newly weds.

Lamy Ef Noodlers eelskin Black Ink handprint Art journal

I finished that hat despite the bum finger. Usually more done shaped but this time just glad I got it done.

Margaret busy with her Christmas shopping. Xoxoxo

One must

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Remember to try to post when one can. At Bees Knees in augusta full of their delicious avocado chop chop heading to the Nutcracker in a few minutes. Let the holidays commence.

A sketch I did of Jerry Nadler during the hearings. I would have posted yesterday but I tried to cut my finger off with my new Costco extra sharp knives. The guys at Costco said I need a steel glove. They could be right. First two times were knicks. This one could have taken my left index finger off.

Today I did zero but try not to hit my finger while I knitted a hat for my newest grandson. Not easy to knit when one index finger is out of commission.

Back to Jerry N. I couldn’t listen to the next guy. Made me ill so I left. Maybe I will draw more of them later?! I did think the Constitutional lawyers were quite interesting but some of those congressmen- well I couldn’t care less if I ever saw some of them again anywhere.

Margaret nursing her finger. Xoxox

Out the Window

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Oddly the gorgeous leaves disappeared almost over night after I drew this. A storm blew thru Decatur and then a stiff breeze. The leaves flew like snow in the air. Temps dropped rapidly.

We went from a gorgeous fall day to freezing cold 30s in less than 24 hours.

It was snowing in Chattanooga!!

Handprint journal watercolor pencils and a blue univalve pen because I didn’t want to get black ink on my daughter in laws new off white pottery barn sectional. 🤪🤪🤪

Margaret home again missing her grandkids. Xoxoxox

A Few heroes

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Finally upgraded for more storage. Been driving me crazy since July so for my birthday I but the bullet. One reluctant hero and one who was much more interested in truth telling.

These are about 6×8″ in a Stillman and Birn Alpha because it lies flat when it’s open. . Thinking about prints or a book. So far I have drawn 29 of these and only six left to do. Why you ask. Because I don’t ever want to forget.

Watercolor and inktense pencils.

In the process I have found more artists like me that draw the hearings. This is my fifth hearing- drew the Comey, Sessions, Cohen and Kavanaugh hearings. Making a record for the future. What makes them good models is their tendency to look in the same seats and look in the same direction for a good bit of time helping facilitate the drawing. Try it. You might enjoy it.

Ok the other sketch artists on twitter :

R my friend and compatriot Ruth with whom I have drawn many times – Britpeach on Instagram

Xander Berkeley on Twitter and actor and an artist. He was actually in the Walking Dead and Longmire. Going to have to check him out on Netflix’s.

And Dave Choate also on Twitter.

I even was messaged by a woman whose mother drew the Watergate Hearings.

Margaret off to another birthday dinner with family. Hugs xoxoxox

It’s Saturday

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Well Kinda sorta.

45 min sketch of Macy 15×22″ cold press fluid paper looking like an outtake from an Egon Schiele nude exhibit. His nudes were always stick thin with long bodies.

Is she finished??! No!!! She was 45 min late and I had to get back to Augusta for a hair cut. One MUST not miss your hair appointments ever!!

Hopefully I will get around to finishing her tomorrow in between drawing the eight talking heads testifying this week. 😳😳😳

Margaret trying to resist the urge to binge the crown and then there’s also Night manager by John LeCarre that I finally found on amazon. Ps. I did see the Good Liar with Helen Mirren and Ian McKellan. Hard to go wrong with that combo. Interesting and a twist. Love a twist. Xoxoxox

The ladies of the Hearings

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Ms Val Demings – Fl I think. Such a gorgeous lady.

Ms Jackie Speiers Ca I might need another go round with Ms Jackie. Her face is too wide. It’s really longer and narrower but still a fun sketch.

Ms. Stefanik – NY – I did these ladies because they seem to consistently question the witnesses. There are a few more but at five minutes each tough to catch them. Maybe Monday or Wed or?!

Incidentally the sketch the hearings group is growing. A friend in Aiken has decided to give it a try too. Not seen hers yet but she’s a great painter. Join the fun. Maybe we need a Facebook group?!

Margaret tired after a very busy day watching old old episodes of MASH still just as funny as they ever were. Xoxoxox

Win some and lose some

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A sketch of Fealing Lin that I did in my handprint sketchbook in Boone last month.

A month ago already. 😪 I do LOVE Boone classes at Cheap Joes and hanging out with Mike Alan and Fealing. That equals a great week.

The painting. It could use a few more darks but quitting for now. After all it is in my sketchbook.

Today I decided to work on this train wreck painting of my dear granddaughter Livie.

I had tried to lift it out when I screwed it up with too much green but that’s easier said that done when it’s hot press.

All I can say is EEKKKK.

TOO dark. And all those odd shaped drips are where the paper is absorbing paint due to the loss of its surface when I was lifting.

As Fealing says I blame the paper for a bad painting. Cant possibly be moi!!

In this process I also lost the drawing. Can’t see it at all.

Good news is there’s another side of the paper Fabriano 300 # hot press. I can have a do over or just go with a new pic of her with better lighting aka shadows and highlights.

Margaret who just took Zoe on a long walk and is hot and tired. I thought we were getting the arctic chill this weekend but it’s almost 70 outside. 😳 Xoxoxox

A Few More Chicks

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From Boone NC. really they are Key West parking lot chicks from the Wildlife Rescue.

Class tomorrow at Cheap Joes.

140# Fabriano rough press

Trying to decide whether or not to crop the fourth hen/rooster on the right. He she looks odd as in stuffed into the page. And it’s neither a rooster or a hen. Hmmm. Think I like it with just the three better but the blue feet on the left one GOTS to go.

Class w the delightful Fealing Lin tomorrow. She’s across the hall from me.

Margaret glad to be in the cool rainy weather of Boone NC. I think I remember rain. Xoxoxox

Day 2130 Arepa Mia

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The hot new spot in Atlanta. One Decatur loved to Avondale Estates. Hmm where is the other?? Sweet Auburn Market don’t you love that name??! Features Venezuelan Street food. A great backstory on how the chef started her restaurant and yes she’s from Venezuela.

Food is very similar to Mexican food except the corn tacos are fried and similar in shape to pita bread stuffed to overflowing with yumminess.

Funky like a lot of good Atlanta area Hispanic restaurants. A nice spot to chill for lunch on a 100 degree sweat dripping day. You can also eat out side if you are brave.

Tip: I made some of the people too tall in the foreground so decided to shade in the dark windows of this old building with my pen. I also knew it would make the smaller figures pop out when I did this. Then I smeared the still damp ink with a tiny bit of water on my finger tip.

Interestingly enough u can still do this long after u have drawn it without drinking. Still will smear but doesn’t appear to lift when I watercolor it which I will sooner or later. The darker/heavier the ink the darker the smear will be of course.

Lamy Ef Noodler Brown Stillman and Birn Beta

Margaret who wants to try something else now that she has a Guayeanesa arepa literally under her belt.

Xoxoxox