Art Workshop

Yes I have been at yet another art workshop and it was SOOOOoooo well worth my time and effort.  We (my art buddies) and I, had the opportunity to attend a Daniel Keys workshop and I LOVE his work, so it was, YES!  He is young, so very young and talented.  I'm on a mission in my lifetime to own one of his paintings and a Jeffrey T Larson (I have 3 of his prints).  

We drove to Oklahoma City, six of us in three cars.  Three cars to accommodate all of our painting supplies and a little bit of clothing!  When he sat down at the easel I was a bit star-struck as he is big, really BIG in the art world and I was about to learn from him.  

He begins his demo...  

Each of the four mornings we sat and watched as he created.  It is an amazing time to see art appear on his canvas. 

From 9:30 to 12:30 we watched in awe and knew we would be up next to try and be as creative as he was. 

Stunning, absolutely stunning, and it would be up for sale, if your name was drawn out of the cup to purchase.  I wanted SOooooo bad but alas my name was not drawn. 

Our turn...

It is a little scary to know that as you apply paint, he is watching, others are watching, the pressure is truly on. 

My attempt at our set up.  

I was paired with a lady from OKC, Peggy, a sweet older lady.  We drew numbers from a cup to find our station in the room and most shared a set up.  Peggy set this still life up.  I was not fond of the purple corn husk.   I struggled a bit and he actually asked me if I have done the "color charts" which I replied, "YES!" I was a tad offended because color I can do and know.  RATS!

Day 2 and 3 was pumpkins and dry corn.  It's one of his favorites to paint. 

The lessons begin again. 

Amazing how he can make that stuff appear.  

Our turn.  This time I got to set up the still life and see the purple husk, I used it.  He loved the set up and what I created pleased me.  

I think I warmed it up a bit from what was there. 

Two days spent on this one and I'm not through, according to Daniel.  He wants me to do some more with the table which I hope to do today.  I hope I don't mess it up.

We were exhausted as creating is mentally exhausting.  The first night the six of us went to Macaroni Grill for a bit of bubbly (for me) and food then it was to bed to be fresh and ready.  The second evening was a treat at one of the ladies lovely homes that was filled to bursting with art from all kinds of people, including Daniel.  There was almost too much but she was very proud of everything and her house was beautiful.  The third evening four of our group found a wonderful authentic Chinese restaurant that we came back to the following night.  That last night we were so tired but we had wonderful food, lots of laughs with friends and the best time.  These four ladies (including me) are heading on a Mediterranean cruise next year, with hubbies in tow to take photographs to paint!

Finally, day four came and it was roses on the easel.  I paint flowers but not quite like his and I was wanting to learn.  Roses are probably the hardest flower to paint.  He makes it look easy, NOT!

Wow, wow, wow and we had to try THAT!

Our turn... 

Man, I struggled and struggled and in fact wiped it off a couple of times.  It was frustrating but I think I finally got it but of course he found the flaws but I like it! 

Day four, Friday afternoon 4:30 and we were packing up to head home to Tulsa in the pouring rain.  I guess we could have stayed but I knew the rain was about to end.  Not to worry too much about hydroplaning as we were at a standstill for half of the trip home from construction and a jack-knifed semi.  Nearly 3 hours later and we pulled up.  I was starved and tired and I had paint brain.  In fact most of my dreams for several nights are of painting and mixing paint.  It's over and I want to continue.  We were lucky enough to get him to commit to come to Tulsa in June and my friend Linda has already filled his class, and I AM ONE OF THEM, so I will get to continue to learn. 

Ommmmm, Ommmmm, Ommmmmm

Sorry I have been missing but my life is just the same old thing and not much has been happening.  Work, watch Snicklefritz, eat, sleep, paint, read....the same old stuff. 

Halloween is upon us and thankfully I will be tucked safe in my bed watching TV with my porch light off.  Actually, we usually don't get any treater's which is just fine with me.  I do NOT want candy in my house.  I think The Hubby has a dance to go to and I might possibly go with him and sit in the corner and read, not dance, but I will NOT dress up.  Hated it when I was a child and still do.  

Since Halloween is here that means next up is the Thanksgiving thing.  I have got to get the family email out for our bash.  I do the turkey and dressing and everyone else brings the sides.  Works great for me.  Thanksgiving is The Hubby's favorite holiday.  I don't know if it's family, turkey or because it is hunting season but he loves it.  Christmas is my time and I love it for the decorations and parties and hubbub that goes on with it.  It's even better with a little one to share the awe of Christmas.  There is nothing more magical than Santa and toys and the look in their eyes on Christmas morning.  LOVE IT!  

All this holiday stuff being said it also means I have to deal with my sister and I'm NOT a fan with her or her family right now, except for the nephew.  That boy is an absolute jewel.  He hugs my dad, tells him he loves him and when you call for him to help he is Johnny-on-the-spot.  The kid has a moral code, knows right from wrong.  I'm not sure where he got it considering his sister but I suspect he has seen her path and has decided to go the opposite way.  Yeah for him.  

Sister, well let me tell you the latest on her.  She had her hip replaced in July but is still on temporary disability from work but now has applied for social security disability.  She says she is now diabetic, sleep apnea, has emphysema and arthritis in her lower back and of course the heart thing which she had FIXED!  That has been her whole excuse her whole life is the heart but it was fixed!  Since she is home playing on her computer, sleeping and watching TV I asked her if she could possibly go by and help Daddy with his medicare thing (she works in the insurance industry).  Her reply was "I thought sister-in-law was going to do that.  I don't know much about it." Really, SIL has her own worries with her father and IT'S NOT HER RESPONSIBILITY!!!!!  Good grief, one little thing to help and no she can't.  

Okay, off my soapbox and breathe...

Ommmm, Ommmmm, OmmmmmmMMMMmmmmmMMMMMMM.....

First Home-Memories

Going through some old photos the other day on my computer and saw these.  Took me back, waaaay back to our very first house.  Mind you we are now in our 4th home and nearly 40 years of marriage.  This sweet little cottage was 900 square feet of joy.  We were married for nearly one year when an old friend called to tell us that the little old man who lived here, first and only owner, had passed away.  Mr. Penrose was his name and The Hubby used to mow the guys yard.  It was all original and old but to us it was a mansion and we loved it.  At the time my grandfather was in real estate and helped us to negotiate and put us in touch with a banker for a loan.  The house actually went through probate as he was alone with no will.  I think we had to bid on it, but with Granddaddy's help we got it.  A mere $15,000 and the thing was ours.  We were scared to go into debt being only 20 years old and married one year but we wanted our money to go to something permanent instead of throwing it away on rent (even though we loved our apartment.)

See, original drapes, floors, paint...all old but we soon were able to afford to redecorate.  Here we are all dressed up for our dear friends wedding, Mark and Cathy!

A VERY young me in a tiny bathroom.

When we remodeled my favorite color was chocolate brown.  I even had a chocolate brown 1969 Chevy Malibu.  LOVED IT!  So our colors, which were very popular at that time were browns.  YUCK!

It was great fun to buy brand new furniture.  We worked, scrimped and saved to buy new carpet, drapes, and furniture to go in our new home.  We loved it.

We also spent 10 happy years there with many family functions.  This one was for my parents 25th wedding anniversary.  They went on to celebrate 51 years before momma was gone.  Now, in January we celebrate 40!

Don't you love the wallpaper.  I was crazy to go with that but it was pretty, at the time.

Not only did our family begin here with two beautiful girls but we had numerous kitties here.  This sweet little guy was Bilbo Baggins!  His momma was a feral cat who abandoned him in a mud puddle during a torrential rain storm.  We rescued him before he drowned.  He wasn't even weaned and used to suckle my t-shirts until we had our first daughter.  Finally he weaned himself from his adopted mother, me.

After he passed we added McAlester (the yellow and white) and Frodo, who The Hubby found beside a dumpster at a Quik-Trip, skin and bones.  He disappeared one day and never saw him again.

A couple of the ferals we fed off and on.  I called the calico, Pirate.  Can't remember the black and white ones name.  

Not What I Thought This Would Be

 Good Friday Morning!

This will be  ramble as it has been awhile since I have shared.  Just going to spill....WAIT........


OH MY GOSH....It is 7:09 a.m. and I am sitting at my office desk.  I started writing this post at home and The Hubby came into my sanctuary room to let me know that "he forgot" to tell me last night that one of our guys needed panel schedules for a job that had an inspection today.  Our guy, Ben, is leaving the office to get to the jobsite by 7 each morning!!!!!  That means I HAD to be at the office and typing before 7.  Thanks a lot The Hubby.  So I rushed into the bedroom, threw clothes on, tossed hair into a ponytail, or Snicklefritz calls it,  a "Pony-Pony", wash face, brush teeth and flew out the door.  I also had an 8 am appointment with the yard people (it got rescheduled at 7:30 this morning) and then to the grocery store before I get Snicklefritz for the weekend.  I did NOT want to drag her through the store with me.  I'm having some hip-hip-flexor issues that make walking almost impossible sometimes.  The thought of just walking through the store makes me wince.  I am TERRIFIED that it's my hip and a hip replacement is what I'm might be looking at.  Vowed to not have that done after all that Daddy has gone through.

I started water aerobics last week and not sure if they are helping or hindering right now because of the hip...we'll see.

I have been at least painting up a storm lately.  One of my "fans" sent me this picture of her bird wall, the paintings I have painted, she has purchased....WOW!  How very exciting to see my art hanging and being loved.

Been working on these little jewels this week...

What's cool is that the cars have spurred an old friend to contact me to commission a car photo for her husband!  SCORE!

"Robbie's Ride" 9x12 oil on canvas panel

"Three Stooges"  11x14 oil on canvas 

SOLD

"Rob's Work Truck 1976" 9x12 oil on canvas panel

On My Reading List

Thought I would share a couple of books/authors that I have been reading lately.  This morning I had to spend about 30 minutes finishing a book that I just could not finish last night as the Sandman interrupted.  If you have not found the author Kristen Hannah I suggest you find her and soon.  Man she is good.  I started her latest, The Nightingale and kind of took my time getting into it but this weekend at about 43% through I could not put it down.  It's about the French Resistance basically and the women involved in helping during WWII.  Oh, absolutely heartbreaking and beautifully written.  I also recommend her book Winter Garden.  That one stayed with me for a long time as will this recent book.  A fantastic author.  

Another fav of mine is Elin Hilderbrand who wrote A Summer Affair which I loved.  I love the beach books and hers are much more than beach books.

So some of my favorite authors:

Stuart Woods - Chiefs and Palindrome (the early stuff, FANTASTIC)
Kristen Hannah
Elin Hilderbrand
Mary Kay Andrews
Julie Hyzy
Tatiana de Rosnay
Greg Iles
Chris Bohjalin
Harlan Coben

There, that should get you started!

Monday Ramblin's

Good morning one and all.  It is a glorious morning and has been since 5 am.  I really am getting tired of the usual and would like NOT to get up that early.  Even the weekends aren't much better as I am rudely being jostled out of wonderful dreams by my bladder.  Plus little Clayton is of course wanting his breakfast at 5 am.  It's hard to nod back off then as the sun beckons me to GET UP!  This morning though it was dark, dark, dark.  

I've been a bit on the ill side for the past couple of weeks as The Hubby decided to share his cold with me.  Great, just great!  Yesterday though I think it has morphed into a sinus infection but not a bad one.  This has kept me from visiting Daddy as I do not want to make him sick.  I'm sure he is telling everyone I don't come and visit at all.  Since he fell and broke his hand I have to write his checks and pay his bills for him and I'm sure there are some to pay.  Hopefully this week I will get there.  

Yesterday I had The Hubby's family over to celebrate the sister-in-law's birthday, B's birthday, Snicklefritz's upcoming birthday and my mother-in-law's 88th birthday.  The plan was to make spaghetti but as I am puny and obligated to this shindig I opted for Oliver Garden takeout!  SCORE!  It was perfect with leftovers for lunch this week.  Clean up was easy and I was in bed early to get the rest I need to beat this crap in my head.  

My mind today is with my friend though.  One of my painting friends Linda and her husband James.  James' parents lived in Louisiana and were in horrible health shape so they moved them here to be close instead of driving to Louisiana every single weekend to deal with stuff.  They installed them in a wonderful retirement place but it was soon evident that his father was not on the good side in his mind.  They had him evaluated and sure enough, Alzheimer's. The evaluation process was a problem as it was at a different facility which did not treat him right (I smell a HUGE lawsuit) and now he is back in the assisted living but the poor guy sees things and is terrified and combative.  So this requires that James and Linda, at least one of them has to stay there 24/7 as they can calm him.  They are waiting for him to be placed in a more expert care facility to move him to.  It is so very sad and exhausting for them and I fear for their health now.  What do you do in a situation like that.  This past year and a half has been hell for them both and I hope they can be strong and hang in there.  Breaks my heart.  Alzheimer's is a horrid and evil disease.

Art Stuff

Just a bit of art stuff...

This is sweet Vera, B's 17 year old kitty.  She got Vera when she got out of college from a rescue group, Street Cats.  Vera is the sweetest cat and is having a lot of senior health issues now.  B2 took this photo while she had a brief time outside which she loves.  I love the photo and wanted to paint it.

"Vera"

 

Also did this a couple of weeks ago.  It's in San Miguel, Mexico.  Photo is by a friend that has a house there.  I loved it and wanted to paint and she said "YES."

See the map......next year we will cruise the boot (follow the yellow line) with friends.  Can't wait to get more photos to paint. 

A Granny In Awe

 That granddaughter, oh that granddaughter, I don't see her for a few days and I miss her terribly.  She is such a joy in our lives and I love her dearly.  

We got to play paint toenails last week.

Last week when I was watching her The Hubby wanted to take her out to lunch at this new cafe close to the shop called the Freeway Cafe.  The walls have shelves and shelves full of model cars and she and her granddad LOVE cars.  She plays with cars all the time and loves to buy them for her.  She was awed.  She had this HUGE plate of spaghetti which was pretty much left uneaten.  Mostly she ate my salad and one of the gigantic rolls they served. 

Later that afternoon B took her to visit Daddy (her GreatPaPa) and his cat Susie.  He was excited to see her and bought a special box of Fruit Loops (Brahams brand) to share with her and ice cream. 

Wednesday at the office she was so quiet after lunch that I thought we might get a nap but alas that was not to happen.  Right after her lunch she started looking at some of her books and spent an hour going through this story book, turning each page and studying them.   Monday we read several stories out of the book.  She loves to be read too.

Then she got this coloring book that has special markers and spent a good amount of time coloring in the lines.  Amazing for a nearly 3 year old to have that kind of focus.  We painted a bit too on Monday and she was amazingly focused on each and every stroke she make on her tiny canvas.  She will be wonderful in school. 

Birthday Girl

 No, I'm not the birthday girl...it's my oldest B...

Today she is 36 years old.  I can't believe that I am that old or that she is that old.  Not that 36 is old or 59 for that matter but time certainly flies.  Just seems like yesterday she was a baby.  This girl has truly amazed me in her life path and I could not be more proud of her.  I love her to the moon and back.