Tornados and Covid

This is a weird morning with tornado sirens first thing.  We're all okay but a squall line with potential for tornados went through and the peace and quiet of a soft rain was interrupted. 

I'm here, just not much to say or not in a place to get the words out.  Things are just clicking along with the kids, grandkids, retirement, just life.  I've hardly had time to paint what with just not being in the studio for various reasons.  This past week we had Min a couple of days and night because Mighty Max was in the hospital with Covid.  The middle of the night I believe Monday his momma took him to the hospital while Nick stayed home with Min, then he brought her to me.  He went to the hospital to relieve Af so she could go home and rest, she had Covid too.  Min and Nick were negative but we think Min had it first, just not a bad case.  Max only had to be in overnight after they gave him some steroids and did an echo on his heart to make sure all was well.  He was and is good, and now home.  He's still a bit croupy but much much better and all are negative.  

He sucks his blanket like a pacifier.

All is right in their world now. 

I did get a bit of painting done with mostly watercolors with Min and at the studio to finish up an oil I started a couple of weeks ago. 

Workshop Time Yet Again

Well, hello all.  Here it is May 20 and I haven't posted since April.  It's been pretty busy with a lot of work at the office (can't WAIT till we retire).  We will celebrate 40 years in business this September.  I can't believe that as the years seem to have flown by.  It's been fun, a headache, and an experience for sure.  I wouldn't trade any part of our life being self-employed for all the tea in China!  

The past week I've been at yet another workshop in Arkansas.  This was billed as a portrait workshop but started off as still life.  Linda and I were a bit confused but I think he just needed to see what he had to work with as far as students.  I usually go into these workshops very antsy and unsure of what I can do.  I can't seem to get started and end up frustrated by the end, but this time, WOW!  I don't know if he was just blowing smoke, but by the end of the first day of drawing and painting these globes and drapes, I felt like the golden child.  He was constantly taking my effort to the front of the room or telling the other students to come look at what I had done.  He seemed very impressed by my drawing capabilities.

 

At one point I put a stroke as he was standing behind me and he scared me to death as he said "FANTASTIC", then quickly grabbed the painting again to show the class my "perfect" stroke.  He said my drawing was STELLAR and that at the end should be framed!  Wow, usually the workshop stuff ends up painted over and in essence trash.  

I won't deny that by the end of the day I had a big head.  It felt really good.

Day 2 and we finally were on to actual people but quickly realized the portrait workshop was a figure workshop.  I was okay with that but I know Linda really wanted the portrait side, to learn how he gets the beautiful skin tones in his portraits, as I did too.  But, I got some practice I needed in figures. 

So Rebecca was first up.  I HATED that damn hat but it is what it is and again he kept coming around and praising my drawing.  Usually I'm not open to criticism and my responses send the instructor on to other people but I decided, with a lot of encouragement from Linda, to be different in this workshop.  I even let him put strokes on the canvas, which I DON'T like.  But, he really put very few and again my drawing was trotted out to the front of the class for praise.  It was getting a bit embarrassing, but exciting.

I HATE THAT HAT!

Day 3 and sweet Nick came to sit for us.  I loved his hair but we were yet again painting red or a shade of red.  Reds are hard to get because if you touch white it can turn pink so quickly.  

The praise was again dolled out and I was beginning to think people may hate me but it really helped me feel as "I can do it!"  He really liked how I did the pants on Nick. 

This is where I really NEEDED the portrait side of the class for skin colors and facial features.  He said my colors were fine but boy did I struggle getting them.  

Day 4 and Rebecca was back and so was the damn red tones.  She was a beast modeling for us.  She sat and sat and sat.

The drawing was a bit tougher but he liked it. 

Finally, paint, and I ended up really liking this painting and where it was going.  Of all the days this is probably my favorite.   

I don't know if I will keep any of these paintings or just paint over them but it was a great exercise and I can't wait to do a real painting of someone I know.  I feel that my drawing skills are really stepping up and that gives me a boost of confidence.  

Hopefully I won't be away so long but seems that life is just so busy lately I don't have a second to share here.  My blogaversery, 13 years is quickly approaching in June.  Can't believe I've been sharing here for that long.  So onward to the day.  Have a great day and stay safe in Tornado Alley as the weather is a beast today.

Stormy Weather (and More)

Wow, last night was a storming all over Green Country.  Yes we have needed the rain but Mother Nature has gone a bit overboard to play catch-up this spring.  There were some tornado touchdowns around in the Broken Arrow area and so the first thing I did this morning was text my brother and call my daddy to make sure all were okay and they were.  It was scary with the tornado sirens going off all over last night as I lay in bed but I knew by watching the weather that it was south of us.  I watched to make sure those I love were okay though.  It's funny that I used to tease that if I were ever in a tornado they would probably find me on the toilet.  That is because that is usually where I stayed as my stomach would be a mess.  Now, I barely flicker with the tummy thing.  I guess I've gotten over my fears of it and let's face it, what can you do but hide in the storm shelter or closet or bathroom until it is done.  It is what it is.  Makes my tummy a much happier thing.  We still have rain in the forecast all week long with it even past the Memorial Day weekend (rats).  I'm kind of ready for SUMMER!  

Good news on this surgery girl is I am SOOOoooo much better.  The band-aid thingies on my five holes on the tummy have all fallen off and you can't hardly see where two of the holes were.  One of them is a tad red and itchy but I go to the doctor tomorrow for my two week post-op check up.  The inside systems seem to finally be back on track (yeah) also.  Four more weeks to heal and then back to total normal!  I even spent time at the office Thursday and Friday (a small nap Friday upstairs).  This weekend I really feel great.  I've been painting and yesterday spent 5 hours sitting at my easel!  I have a couple of commission works to do.  

This is sweet Sophie.

Yesterday, she started to appear on the canvas.  It was truly inspiration of the eyes that made her just visit me. 

Now I have to wait for the under layers to dry a bit and add lots of white fluff as she is all about being a fluffy girl. 

This one from photos by my friend Michelle.  She saw my other egret and had several she had taken and wanted me to paint.  There were a couple I liked but this one was so much brighter but the grass was so much on the face that you couldn't see the fish in it's beak.  So I combined them, plus the background was not that great so had to create it.  

Not sure I like yet but I am moving on.  I will add the grass but not so much on the face.

Heart Breaking

This early Monday morning I'm watching the horrible news about the tornado destruction in Joplin and my heart is just broken. It is just the most shocking thing to see on the television and what's even scarier is that the storms are not over. We have a couple more days of possible devastation.  These are just some of the pictures flooding the net of the destruction.  As I write this the death toll is 89 and probably will climb.  Two fire stations, destroyed; high school, destroyed; hospital, mostly destroyed, totally evacuated...

I can't seem to take my eyes off of the images flooding the airwaves.  Tis the season in the middle U.S. for this stuff but you can never, never get used to it.