Cooler Sketch

My last sketch for this Hunt is the "cooler" I use for ice cream when I pick up groceries.  It used to be for my lunch and drinks when we traveled for plein air painting or just running around.

For Scavenger Hunt from Life https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-196-jul-31-aug-12.9181/

Number 10 cooler - in the Canson Mixed Media large sketchbook.  About half a page with a Micron02 and watercolors.

The cooler is not that wonky, it is just my perspective.  I sketched on the porch.  Slightly warm but it was about 730 a.m. so not bad.  The last I looked it was 100º in the car about noon.  Gene had PT and then we got a Chef's Salad at the Roadhouse Bastrop.  (We have a new Texas Roadhouse here, not be confused with that.  We haven't been yet.)  The salad is huge so we share with a side of fries and a blueberry milkshake that we also share.  Nice lunch.

Gene and Joanna walked by the lakes the other day, well, Joanna pushes Gene in the wheelchair.  He is still unable to walk unassisted and not on the bumpy trail for sure.  Gene brought me a flower.  It was so tiny and cute.  Turns out it is a Texas Frogfruit.  https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/plant-library/texas-frogfruit/ 

 

Sketchbook Cover Sketch

An item on the Hunt was "sketchbook cover".  I like this new Marker sketchbook.  It is black with The Starry Night by Van Gogh on the cover.  I haven't done more marker sketches.  Should get with it.  Well, I should get with all my art.  Life has still been in the way.  Getting better though.

Today I sketched at my desk in the Conda Sketch Pad, full size pages, so this is about half a page.  Number 6 sketchbook cover - Marker sketchbook with a Micron 03

For Scavenger Hunt 195  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-195-july-19-31.9155/

My niece sent me a few things Barbara (my sister that recently passed) wanted me to have.  Some of the Christmas cactus that belonged to my Grandma Jennie.  The main plant has to be 100 years old, wow.  It is in a galvanized tub.  Beautiful and blooms red blooms.  I hope this one survives.  

I have another plant that is from the same main plant.  I had it in Lubbock back in 1980.  I took a piece with me to Peru, it did well.  Joanna had my plant and gave a cutting to her friend Kathy who took it to Oregon.  My plant burned in the fire.  Kathy gave me a cutting a few years ago and it did not survive so she recently gave me another cutting.  Seems to be doing well.  It is the more "traveled" cactus from the main plant.  Fun and interesting.

My sister also sent a couple of cameras that belonged to Mom.  The old Brownie took such good photos as the negatives/film were so large.  She had to put tape around it to keep the light out when she changed film.  I love the cameras and Larry will have them as he is the photographer.

Gene is slowly getting his strength back.  We are alone tonight for the first time in ages as David went home.  Different!

 

Person Outdoors

I sketched on the porch this morning.  Where else?  It is pretty nice with the fan on although we expect 100 degrees this evening.  Not fun, but at least we don't have to be working or running around in the heat.  

For Scavenger Hunt 195  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-195-july-19-31.9155/

Number 2 found outdoors - mower and landscape 
Number 3 person - mower driver
In the FIXSMITH sketch book, with a Micron 03 and watercolors.

Number 4 hand and Number 5 writing or painting tool - Micron 03 and watercolor

The mower was chopping down the wildflowers.  Not sure if it is too early.  Have the flowers all seeded out?  We haven't had too many flowers this year and maybe the early mowing is the reason.  It was also a dry spring and early summer.  Still dry in our area after flooding in other parts of Texas.

Full Sketch

Sketching took place today at PT for Gene.  I forgot my watercolors and brushes but did remember the sketchbook.  It was pretty nice outside but I didn't feel up to the wind and stayed inside.

For Scavenger Hunt from Life 190  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-190-may-9-22.9023

Number 1 full - a cup full of plastic flowers.  At first I thought they were real.  I picked them up to change the angle and realized they were silk/plastic, it was so lightweight.  the tag on the cup read, "You are the Berry Best".  A gift to the receptionist.  Fun.

I sketched in the new Ohuhu smaller sketchbook with an Ohuhu .7 pen.  I added the watercolor at home.

Mother's Day was nice.  Joanna, Jennie and Brandon came out to visit.  Joanna brought pizza for all .  Crazy, as we all had different pizzas.  Jennie and Brandon brought chocolate covered strawberries. Larry was working out of town and of course David and bunch are in Kentucky.

 

We played a round of Telefunken (a progressive rummy game I learned in Bolivia) and had some mocktail margaritas, by Top Hat in Austin.  (very unimpressive, made with kombucha and lots of other stuff)  They have caffeine in the tea.  Next time I will try making regular margaritas our way and use non alcoholic wine in place of tequila.  

Joanna brought another surprise.  She gave me a bluebonnet cup which was special on its own.  The real surprise is that it was made by Lou and Toby Baggett in Oklahoma.  Lou is Bag Blog here in comments and her blog, link in sidebar and you can find them on Instagram and Facebook or whatever it is now.    So unexpected!  I love it.

 

Another Tree

I am behind on my sketching so decided to sketch this tree yet another time.  I wonder how many sketches of it I have - with leaves or without and in a group or alone.  There are two trees close together and I thought I would do both so left room for the other.  I got tired of making leaf marks so this is what you get.  We also have to go to Austin again to the eye doctor.  We went Tuesday to Gene's oncologist.  Makes for long days and the traffic is getting so bad.  

 For Scavenger Hunt from Life 186 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-186-mar-22-apr-3.8844/

Number 1 tree - From the porch in the large Canson Mixed Media sketchbook with Micron 03

 

There aren't many bluebonnets this year but Jennie took photos of the grand-dogs in a little clump at the end of the back porch.  Gray doggie is Chewie and the black one is Reese.

 

 

Zippered Memories Sketch

An item on Hunt 184 was zipper or other closure.  I was at PT waiting for Gene so decided to sketch my art bag.  It has both a zipper and velcro on a side pocket.  So many memories.  It is from the Cumbres-Toltec Railroad between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonio, Colorado.  We rode it several times in the Parlor Car with bonus gifts like the bag.

Number 4, zipper or other closure - art bag in my new Ohuhu Mix Media sketchbook 8.5 x 5.5 inches.  In ink and watercolor.

We saw our first bluebonnets on Saturday.  We went to Brandon's birthday lunch and when we got back he found this bluebonnet growing in the crack in the sidewalk.  How had I not seen it?  I was even planning to spray something to kill the grass and weeds growing in the crack.  Hmmm.

After that we saw a little bunch by the mailbox and one by the driveway gate to the enclosed yard.

We are having a small amount of rain so maybe we will get a few more wildflowers.  They are very scarce this year.

Marker Sketching

I got a new sketchbook from Jennie and Brandon.  It is a Marker sketchbook with propylene pages so the marker ink does not soak through the paper.  Very nice and smooth.  I decided to break it in today.

For Scavenger Hunt from Life 184 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-184-feb-26-mar-10.8748/

Number 3 wagon or something with wheels - the firetruck and a Jeep in the Marker Sketchbook with Pentel markers.

You can't blend markers so the colors are what you have.  I thought about it tonight and I could hatch with straight lines close together and get a lighter blue for the sky.  I didn't take time for that today. 

It was respite day and I headed out to vote and then meet my friend, Susan, for lunch.  We met at Cedar's Coppice.  I hadn't been there.  It is a very nice coffee/sandwich place with tables and also couches and easy chairs.  (Gluten free bread)  They have items for sale and books to read or buy.  We stayed a couple of hours plus.   The sandwiches and other snacks were very good, I highly recommend it.  Beer and wine as well.  https://cedarsmill.wixsite.com/my-site-1 Beautiful to sketch next time!  We should have gone a couple of doors down to see the sculpture gallery, too.  I didn't think about it, we could have visited and looked! 

I parked across Chestnut facing the fire station again.  An item on the Hunt was "wagon or something with wheels".  The firetruck and Jeep qualified.  I sketched in the car (mobile studio) with the windows down.  It was warm but breezy so very comfortable.  I sketched before lunch and finished it after lunch.

The Texas Longhorn baseball team played Houston Christian this evening and won 16-3 with the ten run rule.  They are 12 wins and 0 losses to start the year.  It has been a while since that has happened.  Hook 'em Horns!

The sketchbook has a hard cover and the pages are about 7 x 8 inches.

Something new to practice -- sketching with markers.

Roof Vehicle Sketch

Gene had a dentist appointment today.  We went on the right day!  I sketched out the window for the Hunt.  It was another beautiful day.  The crown took about 1.5 hours.  Amazing.  Start to finish: prepare and measure, make tooth, bake it, put the tooth in permanently.

 For Scavenger Hunt 182 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-182-feb-2-feb-14.8680/

Number 5 roof - the Bastrop City Hall Building and Number 6 vehicle - a white panel truck.  It must be the dog catcher which now is called animal control I imagine.

I sketched in the small Canson sketchbook with plain paper and an Ohuhu  0.2 pen. 

 Our sunset tonight.  

Sketching Plants and Remembering Pastel Techniques

Today was sketch day during Gene's PT.  It was cold this morning but warmed up to about 55º by 11:15 am or so when I was sketching.  I did sit in the car for comfort.  The cacti is by the entrance to the shopping area.  I hadn't really noticed them before.  The intersection is pretty busy turning off the frontage road to the mall.  Today there was no traffic.  The plants are well tended and look  very nice.

For Scavenger Hunt from Life 180  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-180-jan-9-21.8614/

The sketch is in the Ohuhu Mixed media sketchbook sketched with an Ohuhu .03 pen and watercolors.

In the class with Enid Wood we were talking about developing texture with pastels.  I remembered the class I had with Tom Christopher in Arkansas.  I went with my art buddy Lou Baggett.  She, Toby, Gene and I shared a house for the workshop.  We had a great time and learned a lot.  David and Lisa came too for the visiting part.  (You can put Tom Christopher in the search box at the top of my home page and see about the workshop and his techniques.

I did this painting using his stumbling technique to build texture.  I like it and his use of color.  Good memories.  

Twilight Pines

16 x 20 inches

Pasteboard

While looking for a good link to Tom, I rediscovered the videos on the website of the New Mexico Pastel Society.  They have a large collection of videos by some of my favorite artists that have given demos there.  They include demos by Enid Wood, Tom Christopher, Natasha Isenhour, Karen Margulis, Desmond O'Hagan, Michael Chesley Johnson, Doug Dawson and more that I haven't seen in person.  You should check it out and I will do the same.  I might discover some new favorites.

https://www.pastelsnm.com/videos

I laughed today.  The "kids" and I still do Wordle, Wurdle and other word puzzles.  Today the 6 letter word in one of them was sketch.  You get 6 tries to get the word.  On my 5th try I had the S and the T in the right position and had the E in the wrong position.  I stared at it for the longest time and tried so many ideas in my head and on the iPad.  When I saw it,  I couldn't believe that word hadn't come to mind after seeing and talking about it every day for the Hunts and just sketching.  Crazy.  Maybe that is why I like puzzles.  

Kazoo or Not Sketch

I put Kazoo on the list for Scavenger Hunt from Life 179  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-179-dec-28-jan-9-2026.8583/

I do not have a Kazoo so substituted these whistle/flutes from Bolivia or Peru.  They went through the fire so have lost their colorful designs.  You can still see a bit of the white and a darker siena color in places.  They have blackish marks as well.

Number 4 kazoo - not a kazoo.  This is in the large Canson Mixed Media sketchbook with a Micron 02 pen.  The dark shadows on the paper is because I took a photo and the wrinkles have shadows.  Actually not bad on the flutes as it looks like the burned places.  

The sunset from last night.  We haven't had clouds so the sunsets haven't been much.  Today is very cloudy, but no rain expected.  Dang.  And we won't have a good sunset either.  :-(

Bourbon Sketch

I put bourbon on the Scavenger Hunt list for the letter B in my alphabetical list.  We usually have Jack Daniels here which is not a true bourbon, it is whiskey.  I did find this fine bottle of Four Roses which I think was a present for Gene from Brandon.  Pretty bottle and evidently good to drink!

Number 3 bourbon - in the large Canson Mixed Media sketchbook with Micron 02

For Scavenger Hunt 179 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-179-dec-28-jan-9-2026.8583/

And a photo of same at my footstool desk.

I need a new chair but have been unable to find in my few searches for a replacement.  I like sitting up with my feet on a stool.  Recliners lean too far back to suit me.  I found one in Smithville that would probably work but with a recliner I loose my footstool table.  Hmm.  I will keep looking.  I need to go to Austin for that.  I found some online but I can't sit on it to try it out.  There was a pretty chair with stool at the store in Smithville, but was very uncomfortable.  

There is no rush.  This chair is from after the fire, so about 14 years old.  Another few months won't make a big difference.  

We are back in summertime or late fall  for a few days.  We will have hair cut day for Gene I think before it gets cold again.  

Doodad Sketch

I sketched on my iPad with the App, Brushes.  I wanted color but was not interested in bringing watercolors to the living room and we were watching TV.  So my footstool was table.  Not sure why I used my fingers and didn't use the pencil for the lines.  Just my sketching mind so not very even lines.

Number 1 doodad - a thing Gene got for Christmas from Joanna.  Seems to have been made on a 3D Printer.  It can be pushed into a few shapes but does not come apart.  Sort of like a Rubic's cube in that way.  Pretty colors!

Here is a couple of photos.

We are having a couple of days of winter.  High today was 45º and expect the same tomorrow.  The wind blew hard and made the "feel like" temp in the 20s.  Brrr.  Happy it is only for a couple of days.  We should be back in the 70s for the weekend.  Crazy.

It was a good day for the leftover posole.  That is a soup made of the hominy that has been cured with lime, pork, red chile and spices of oregano and garlic.  We added beans and more chile.  I ate mine with saltines and Gene had flour tortillas.  Sooo good in cold weather.  Some folks add grated radishes on top and a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime.

 

Heart Potato - What?

Scavenger Hunt 178 is almost over.  I am hosting so decided I should get in one more sketch to have a few done for the 12 days.  I have been very absent from sketching.  You may have noticed!!

Jennie decided she wanted a regular "Sunday" breakfast yesterday.  So she pulled out the new 5 pound bag of potatoes to get some out to peel.  This heart shaped potato was in the bag for "Christmas".  Pretty cool.  Jennie did not peel it.  We did have a great breakfast with all the leftovers and sausage and potatoes added.  Tamales and enchiladas are so good for breakfast with added eggs on top.

For Scavenger Hunt 178 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-178-dec-16-dec-28.8557/

Number ? apple - subbed the potato
Number ? red - the napkin holder and place mat
The sketch was done on my new hand me down iPad from Jennie.  I get the second latest things when she gets the latest.  Well, she probably splits them between the family that need an upgrade.  Larry and I both have Apple watches now which we wouldn't have otherwise.  

And here is the actual potato.  Pretty nifty.

We had great Christmas fun and now it is very, very quiet here.  Hope you are having a good time as well.

Sketching Around Town

My day out today.  It was about 60 degrees so comfortable in the mobile studio and then in Anita's restaurant.  A bit cool outside in the breeze.

I remembered to sketch a mailbox on the way home.  I scanned it first so numbered it that way.  

For Scavenger Hunt from Life 177  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-177-04-16-december-2025.8534/

Number 3 mailbox - in the small Canson travel sketchbook with plain paper.   I sketched these before as I recall the bucket under the one mailbox.  And I did.  They were a bit different in 2022.

 I forgot to make some black only one white one today and something else different, oh well.

Number 4 car side view mirror and Number 5 parked bicycles in front of a "junk" shop. This is in the Ohuhu Mix Media sketchbook with Ohuhu .2 pen and watercolors.

Number 6 potted plant on a pot on the back of a booth.  Number 7 mug in dramatic light - I substituted a glass and salsa.  Also in the Ohuhu Mix Media sketchbook with Ohuhu .2 pin and watercolors.

It was an adventure.  I got to Anita's and ordered my lunch.  The young waitress brought my Margarita and the salsa and chips.  I immediately tasted it as she walked away and then hit something and dumped the whole glassful in the chips and salsa and all over the table and floor.  Whew!  Somehow I didn't get any on me.  They moved me to a clean table and it took two of them to clean up the mess.  I had a puffy taco again and guacamole and sketched for at least an hour.  It was quiet and peaceful in there.

 

The white Christmas cactus has one open bloom and about 4 more tiny ones.  You never know how they will bloom or if they will bloom.  The red one is still too young, maybe next year.

 

Eyeglasses in Ballpoint

I decided I better get with it and sketch something else for the Hunt.  It is almost over and I host the next one.  

 For Scavenger Hunt from Life 177 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-177-04-16-december-2025.8534/

Number 2 eyeglasses - in the small Canson sketchbook with plain paper.  You can see some spots of Sharpie that bled through from the previous sketch in the book.  Sketched with a Pentel RSVP ballpoint pen.

We have a bit of fall color now that it is winter.  Foggy this morning.

 

Fast Moving Sketch

I was on the porch and wanted to sketch the clouds in color so got the handy iPad.  The clouds were zooming by.  I used the app, Brushes, and my fingers.  Probably took about 20 minutes.

This is a time lapse of the clouds when I went on the porch.

I knew I had to be fast for sketching.

 

For Scavenger Hunt 175 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-175-november-10-22.8451/

Number 1 moves fast - clouds on my iPad.  It didn't look as purple on my iPad.  Hmm.

 

Clouds when I started the sketch.

Clouds when I finished....

Just a short sketch.  Clouds are amazing to watch and try to catch in a painting or sketch.
 

Not a Mannequin Sketch

I forgot to post my sketch from Friday.  I sketched at PT for Gene in the Canson travel sketchbook with an Ohuhu .5 pen as I recall.  The worker/therapists were dressed as Minions in bright yellow caps with bulky sweatshirts or jackets.  Fun.  My sketch of the worker does not look like the person I was sketching.  Not on purpose. I sketched in the Canson travel sketchbook with an Ohuhu .5 as I recall.

For Scavenger Hunt 174

https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-174-oct-29-nov-10.8417

Number 3 mannequin - substitute person at the counter.  Bonus of the Minion.

We have finally had some clouds which provide more beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

This sunrise was Halloween morning.

We received a gift from our niece, Delphine.  She made us some dishcloths.  (For me actually as Gene doesn't do dishes) They are so nice, thick and made of cotton yarn.  Thanks for a thoughtful surprise.

 

Unexpected Sketches

There is always something unexpected in our world.  Gene thought he broke a tooth and it looked bad.  The Spring Street Dentists took us right in.  We left the house at 10:30 am and were back at 1:30 p.m.  He had lost a filling.  They made and put in a crown in that time.  Painless and finished!  Such a great place.  Everyone smiling and seem happy to be at work there.  It is a beautiful refurbished building.  I've sketched the stained glass windows that are so nice.  

For Scavenger Hunt 172 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-172-oct-05-oct-17.8314/

Number 3 This did not fit any one item in the Hunt so I said it was a conglomeration of substitutions and associations.  In the Ohuhu sketchbook, pages size 10 x 7.6 inches, with Ohuhu pens and watercolors.  It is a sketch out the window of the office.

The scene....

I also did a small 2 inch sketch of Gene's lovely dental technician

Number 4 - vine tendrills, subbed hair.  Same sketchbook and pens.

Our weather was great today.  We had the doors open until we left.  Love it when we can do that.  We had clouds for a beautiful sunrise.  We haven't had clouds for weeks.  Beautiful clouds when we came home as well.  Maybe we will get a little rain on the weekend.

 

 

Home Sunrise