"Snowy Branches I & II"

These two ATCs were done for my exchange that I was working on. They were each done with different triad colors. I used a photo I had taken when we had snow recently and the bushes outside still had a light icy coating of snow on them.

On this last day of the year I wish everyone everywhere a safe, peaceful, healthy and happy New Year!!! Here's to a wonderful 2009!

100 Things!

With 2009 quickly approaching I thought it was time to do something different. I saw this list on Jeanne Grant's blog and thought it was interesting. She gives credit to several other people who have done the list on their blogs. I have highlighted those things that I've already done.

1. Started your own blog. (Yes!)
2. Slept under the stars. (in Greece and Spain in my younger days)
3. Played in a band. (no musical talent)
4. Visited Hawaii. (much too long ago)
5. Watched a meteor shower. (It was great!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland. (a few times)
8. Climbed a mountain. (part of one in Switzerland)
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. (Heavens, no!)
11. Bungee jumped. (Heavens, no!)
12. Visited Paris. (I was there long enough to have lunch between train rides, and hope to go back for a real visit.)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. (from the safety of my car)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15 . Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning. (possibly)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. (twice)
18. Grown your own vegetables. (in container pots)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. (not yet)
20. Slept on an overnight train. (many times when I toured Europe with my sister and friends in college, but we slept in seats, not a sleeping compartment.)
21 . Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked. (The most memorable time was from Switzerland to Italy through the mountains.)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill.
24. Built a snow fort. (more like an igloo)
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice. (our gondolier even sang for us)
29. Seen a total eclipse. (while visiting California)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. (MANY times!)
31. Hit a home run. (not very athletic)
32. Been on a cruise. (to Nassau & Bermuda)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. (Sadly not yet.)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community. (Lancaster, PA)
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (content)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. (visited Tuscany, but not Pisa)
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David. (Yes!)
41. Sung karaoke. (once with 2 other people)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach at moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. (thankfully, no)
47. Had your portrait painted. (self-portrait several times and someone did a cartoon of me)
48. Gone deep sea fishing. (only fished from a rowboat not far from shore)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person. (Awesome!)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (Snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business. (sold silk scarves and jewelry I made at craft shows)
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma. (frequently)
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check. (many years ago)
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (I had a doll for a long time, but I think it is gone now.)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar. (didn't like it)
72. Pieced a quilt. (a very small one)
73. Stood in Times Square. (many times)
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone. (fractured my finger the summer after 1st grade)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (It wasn't really speeding. We were on the beach in Daytona, Florida.)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. (from the North Rim)
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (several times)
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. (dressed in a Chinese costume for an international dinner)
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. (Do lobsters count?)
88. Had chickenpox. (I think.)
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury. (twice - once we were sequestered overnight)
91. Met someone famous. (Donald Southerland, Michael Feinstein, and the actress who plays Erica Kane on the soap opera.)
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one. (too many)
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee. (Ouch!)
100. Read an entire book in one day. (several times)

Carolina Lowlands

This was the final painting I did on my recent trip. We spent the last few days over Thanksgiving with my brother & his family in Myrtle Beach. The last day we drove about a half hour north to meet a relative for lunch. I believe we were just over the North Carolina border when we found a park where you could walk out a bit over the marshes. We had a little time to spare so I pulled out my supplies. I did this standing up, balancing my paints and small 4 x 6 pad of paper. All was fine until the rain started and I had to get out of the rain. I finished it under the shelter of a gazebo.

Autumn II & Autumn III

These are ATCs done for the "Anything Goes" exchange on WetCanvas. I collected a variety of gourds, pinecones, etc to use as subjects in these tiny works that have been sent to people participating in the exchange.

On the way home from Key West we stopped in St. Augustine, FL. One painting was done of the beach in front of our hotel. The other is Flagler College which is a gorgeous piece of architecture! It was huge and I could only capture a small part of it in one sitting.

More Key West Scenes

Here are two more paintings of our Key West Courtyard. The last painting I tried to do with a waterbrush filled with brown ink and water. I wasn't happy with the way the color was working...there wasn't enough of a variation in the tone, so I didn't try that again. I'm happy with the way it looks, it just wasn't what I was going for.

Key West Water Scenes

These 3 paintings were done of the same area in Key West off Mallory Square. The one with the houses is Sunset Key which I promised myself we would visit on our next trip down. It is such a great spot and the water color is just wonderful.

Key West Residents

I found a tropical garden in Key West that is home to some very colorful birds that were rescued from assorted places. They were fun to sketch and paint, even though they moved around so much and weren't very cooperative. I was amazed by the amount of talking they did. Unfortunately the garden is in danger of having to close and I don't know were these colorful residents will end up if it does.

Key West Atmosphere

These little paintings were done over two days. I started with the sketch of the singer, Michael McLoud, who was playing at Schooner's Wharf in Key West. I added the sketch of the people on the far, top left that same day. The page looked too empty, so we went back for drinks another day and I did the other sketches of people sitting at the tables listening to the music.

Key West Street Scenes

Here are a few more paintings done of places along the streets in Key West. I love that they actually have lime green buildings! The 2nd painting I did while sitting outside the laundromat early in the morning...otherwise there would have been lots of traffic on that street.

Houses & Courtyard Views

These were also done in Key West. The first two are lovely houses I passed on the streets and was able to find seating to paint them. The 3rd and 4th are additional views of the courtyard at The Duval House.

Key West Courtyard Paintings

These were painted in the courtyard of the Key West inn we were staying at. There were so many tropical plants and trees, and a different view from any direction. I usually painted a new scene every morning while having a champagne breakfast in the courtyard with my husband. Sometimes I was able to capture some of the other people staying there too.

Islamorada Paintings

Here are two of my paintings done on my trip to the Florida Keys. The were done in Islamorada, a very laid-back relaxing place. These were done at the resort we stayed at before heading south to Key West. "Cabana Cafe" was done in watercolor and "Relaxation" was done in ink and watercolor.