EDM #9 - Organized Chaos....my studio desk and work area. I think I could use a few more baskets of 'fodder', and mugs of pencils/markers.

I took the opportunity to visit the "Becoming Van Gogh" exhibit at the Denver Art Museum this week. It was incredible.  The exhibit, as one would expect from the title, featured his work in a time line progression from black and white drawings and sketches to his mastery of color and brush stroke.  Truly, any reproduction in print or in books, does not do his art justice.  The colors - so alive! The texture - so rich! The strokes - so passionate!  I am still relishing the joy of the visit 2 days later.

EDM#38–Draw at a Museum

A visit to Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in honor of my father in law, father, husband and all those who serve and have served in the US Military.  THANK YOU for keeping our freedom protected.

I am certainly blessed to be living in Colorado. December 1st and 70 degrees - clear blue sky and little or no wind. Perfect day to start and almost finish Christmas shopping. While eating lunch on the back deck, I saw a falcon in the neighbor's tree. He blended in so well with the tree branches, that I only noticed him when he turned his head this way and that; scoping out the yard for something to eat. The zoom lens on my camera was not sufficient to capture his image. I viewed him through binoculars and quickly drug out the hugh "Birds of Prey" book we happen to have and identified him as a Prairie Falcon. An awesome treat for a beautiful day.

Back at it?

Finding the need to be back at blogging, simply because I want to particpate in some sharing of my art/drawing journey. This is almost like journaling, but more public. Hope to be more dedicated to posting and sharing. Yikes, it's been a year since I posted last, make that a year and a half! 2012 has been a year that I have decided to be more physically active. To that end, a Fit Bit pedometer is a great motivator. I wear it clipped to my bra and it measures the steps I take, the flights of stairs that I climb, calories I burn. It has a cute little flower to indicate how active I've been. The more leaves and the longer the stalk, the more active I've been. There is an online community where I've partnered with several Fit Bit folks and we encourage and challenge each other.

Vaildation

I flew to North Carolina this past month for vacation. Whenever I am going to fly somewhere, my mind prepares for the worst, i.e., plane crash. I am not afraid to fly, I just start getting my house in order, in case I don't make it home. I call my sister and visit for hours, just in case I don't make it back. I make sure the bathroom is clean! How bizarre is that? I would hope my sons would be so overcome with grief they wouldn't notice that the bathtub wasn't clean. And really, do they even notice when I am alive? I hope not!

The weekend before we left, I cleaned my 'studio' aka Quilt Room. As I sifted through the piles, I wondered how my sons would react to the half (or less) finished projects, the scraps, the minute pieces of ribbon, fabric, paper, and all of the "ephemara" I collect. Would they appreciate it's value, or enjoy one last "Make fun of Mom" moment together? I tried to throw some of it out so they would not have to deal with it, but it didn't happen. It is organized now, banded and clipped together in neat boxes, piles, shelves, floor, etc.

We went to North Carolina so I could join an old college friend in a Jane LaFazio Sketch and Watercolor class in person. We stayed at my friend's Dad's house in Hendersonville (she is from New Jersey). Her mom had passed away about 4 years ago. Her mom, Barbara, was what I consider a "REAL" artist. Her paintings had been exhibited, hung in galleries and were absolutely fabulous. After the class, we were inspired to keep the shared creative process going. In doing so, we rummaged through what was left of her Mom's supplies. What a treasure! Here were stacks of half (or less) finished projects, the scraps, the minute pieces of ribbon, fabric, paper, and all of the "ephemara" she had collected. As well as her experements in color and techniques. We incorporated some of it into our art work.

It was a wonderful validation of Barbara's, her daugher's and my work and creative process. It was very powerful. Her artwork is in this "recycled circle" from the Jane LaFazio class we did not take, but wished we had!!

Now, I imagine my sons and daugher-in-laws and grandchildren exclaiming in delight "Look what I found" when they go through my Quilt Room.

Playing with Aidan

My grandson spent the weekend with us this weekend. We had so much fun! We went to Chatfield Reservoir and he rode his bike on the trails and played on the shoreline; tossing rocks and sticks into the water. We also spent some time playing with watercolors. He created this wonderful page of color. I can't wait to add something to it; perhaps somethings we did together this weekend? Today, we went to the Pirate exhibit at the museum. Argh, matey!