Seasonal Sketches

Niece Mary is in Albuquerque, but we are sketching "together".  She picked the "something you like to wear" yesterday so I picked for today and chose "seasonal".

Gene and I were going out so I figured I would see something for Christmas.  We were in the doctors office (check on Gene, OK)  We had to wait longer than expected so I did two sketches.

Number 4 seasonal - poinsettia and gift bags
Number 5 round - trees in the waiting room

These are on coasters and done with a Pilot ball point pen.

For Scavenger Hunt 612  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21701632

Come hunt with us!

Aftermath .... Sketches

I just wanted to say "Aftermath ... "  Sounds dramatic and like something happened.  Well, not much.  It is quiet around here.  Mary went to Albuquerque and the kiddos (adult kids) were out for Thanksgiving and now pretty darned quiet.

I sketched for Scavenger Hunt 612.  Joe in Florida is the host and came up with another thinking man's list.  Words like Right, Left, New, Old, etc., where you can pick the item to sketch.  A lazy man's list has things like Living Room Chair or Under the Kitchen Sink.  No choice except to find the item.  Sometimes I appreciate the lazy list.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21701632

I sketched in the big book with a Prismacolor 01 and colored pencils for Number 1, left - my left hand and Number 2, something I collect.  After the big fire in 2011 we said we would have no more collections and saving stuff.  Our house is full and running over.  Most of the collections are by default.  I chose to sketch a CD.  We usually buy a CD when we go to music to support the artists so now we have a large collection of CDs. 

So, Number 1, left and Number 2, something I collect.

Number 3, something you like to wear - this old shirt is many years old but I love it and wear it often.  It is comfortable and looks decent.  It is sort of a paisley in blue and gray over the black, with black collar and cuffs.  An Izod polo shirt which I probably bought for golf.  In many of the family photos I have on this shirt.   It is showing some wear this year.  Sigh....

Mary and I decided to sketch the same item today, long distance.  I'm anxious to see what she likes to wear.  She picked the item from the list.

There is a bit of aftermath after all.  I mentioned in the previous post that I had purchased a Dragon Fruit for Thanksgiving.  It was fun.  None of us had ever eaten any.  It was about the size of a large avocado.  You cut it in half and the inside is whitish pink with black seeds.  You scoop out the fruit and slice it up like a kiwi.  It sort of tastes like a mild kiwi.  I forgot to take a photo of the half and half but here is a photo of some of the salad.  The salad was super so guess the Dragon Fruit will be a new Thanksgiving tradition, thanks to Ai in Thailand.  It is a bit pricey at $5.98 for daily consumption.

Our new Thanksgiving salad with Dragon Fruit and Kiwi added this year.  We had strawberries, blueberries, apple, pineapple, pear, red grapes and little oranges, clementines.  We put in juice from a lemon and lime to keep the apple pretty.  Whipped real cream optional.   We decided not to put in the bananas so the leftovers would look better.  So bananas on the side.

Whipped Cream for Fruit Salad or Dessert

1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Whip the cream until peaks form, add the vanilla and then the sugar slowly.  The sugar keeps the whipped cream all whipped up so it doesn't melt or turn back to just cream.  So much better than Cool Whip, don't you know.  Yummy! 

Dragon Fruit and Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  So much to be thankful for.  I appreciate all of you that read my blog and keep in touch.  You are great!

For Scavenger Hunt 611 http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1473564

Number 6, something you like to eat - well, don't know for sure.  Never had Dragon Fruit.  I bought and sketched it in honor of Ai, in Thailand.  It should be more pink.  I sketched it in the big book with Prismacolor 05 and colored pencil.  We will have the fruit tomorrow in the fruit salad or separate to try it.  Supposed to be something like Kiwi but white with black seeds.  Hmmm.

Oops, forgot to post this one.
Number 5, Outside - the little shed next door, calling it Fishing Shack.  Done with pastels, 10 x 8 inches on Pastelbord.  I like it except the pine tree on the left looks like it is growing out of the other tree.  I will fix it, it should be behind the shed to allow for some of the shadow.  Or, you know me, I will probably wipe it off and do something else on the Pastelbord.

Again, Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Especially the troops, first responders and folks that have to work tomorrow! (Today by the time you read this.)

Hunting Bright Sketch

Mary and I have been doing some of the same items for the Scavenger Hunts.  It is fun to see the same items from a different perspective and style.  For Scavenger Hunt 610
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1473256

 Number 8, Bright - My sketch of Mary's mask with Prismacolor and colored pencil.

 Mary did the mask with her colored ink pens.

Hunt 611 started yesterday.  We sketched out on the porch.  Today is cloudy and wet with a bit of rain and cooler/cold, too.  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1473564

Number 1 open and Number 2 closed - a small tin of mints from the Big 12 Baseball tournament.
Number 3 large and Number 4 small - two of the antique irons on the porch, they might be steel because they aren't rusting away like the others.  The small one should be smaller in comparison to the large one.  It was for a child or toy.

 The sunset last night was calm in color but beautiful.

This morning no sun but rich color as it is cloudy and wet.  Wetness always makes colors richer for painting.  You might think of stones in a creek.  Out of the water they are the base colors and under water are darker and shiny looking.

Speaking of painting..... I need to straighten my studio and finish unpacking my tote!  No room to paint.

Southwest Watercolor & Mistletoe Jam

For the Southwest Western November Challenge on wetcanvas I chose Sheila's photo of a prairie rain shower.  I was in a rainy mood I guess as I chose a similar photo for the Pan Pastel class the other day.

Sheila's Rain about 9 x 12 inches

I used a piece of watercolor paper given to me by Mary Curtis one of the pastel artists from the Austin Pastel Society.  This is a good memory as Mary passed away a couple of years ago.  It is good paper, but I'm not sure what kind it is as it was in big sheets and I cut this one for Mary, my niece,  and and I to use.

The blending and washes work so much better on good paper.  That is always a good thing.  It makes for better finishes on paintings of any kind to use the best equipment that you can afford.  Practice results are better and learning is easier.

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Keep December 7 open for music in Austin.  It is time for the Mistletoe Jam hosted by Bird and Street. http://www.byrdandstreet.com/   This is the 10th Annual Jam and will be at Threadgill's North from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Info and ticket information on Partnerships for Children Page:
https://partnershipsforchildren.org/mistletoe-jam/

If you can't make it, you can always donate.  It is a fun event, hope to see you there!