Work Continues

I have really been enjoying this drawing. Finding more meaning as I work through this.

City of Angels

The day I drew this I did not have a kneaded eraser, and so I found it difficult to work the delicate areas. I decided to put it aside until I arrived home. There is a quality about this piece that has made me decide not to fuss with it any further. I find that our City of Angels appears to have a Greek or Roman appearance. Almost as if there are ruins off in the distance.

Ready and Waiting

It was a rainy day, so Lori was generous enough to open up her studio to us. Coffee was on, cookies were brought by Louisa, a still life was set up. I was however, attracted to the other side of the studio, towards the light. Love the graphic play on the easels, and I can still hear the music Lori put on to draw by.
Thank you Lori for your warm hospitality.

Wet Canvas - WDT

8x10" Charcoal on Rives

Anita, posted this for the WetCanvas Weekly Drawing Thread. When I needed a break from my studio work, I spent an hour on this one.

Warning!

Is there any where that we don't have to watch our back?
Warning !
When you delete a blog, the url for it becomes available and anyone else can grab it. Apparently some spammer types look for these url's becoming available (automated??) because these blogs have already been indexed and garnered page rank from google. Makes their work easier. They will then grab that url and stick up a quick spam blog for credit cards, porn, what have you.

So if your url at blogspot is PERSONAL to you, and if someone else putting up porn or something at it would offend you then don't delete the blog, delete just the posts and keep the url.

Goals

Knowing my goal has been one of the greatest gifts given to me this past year. It has been a tough year for many reasons, and yet I always have my future in view. I can see it. So I search for ways to guide me closer, and keep my focus. Sometimes focus can be so difficult when LIFE gets in the way.
I found a gem today from a preview of a book called: Eat That Frog!

So I thought I would share these with you. Just in case you are making plans to move mountains in 2007. We all have read self help books. Been there, done that. It is sometimes good to be reminded once again.

Here's how to make it happen:

1. One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not be done at all.
2. Write your goal down.
3. Set a deadline on your goal
4. Make a list of everything you can think of that you are going to have to do to achieve your goal.
5. Organize the list into a plan.
6. Take action on your plan immediately.
7. Resolve to do something every single day that moves you toward your major goal. Never miss a day.

As in my case, there just may be smaller goals within the larger picture.
So make a list of 10 goals as if they have happened.
Choose one that would have the greatest impact on your life.
Write it on a separate sheet of paper and follow the above....

Come back and share your goal with me. We can encourage each other.

The Sanctuary

This week I was out drawing with Lori, and she took me to "The Retreat". After seeing many places worth remembering, we settled on a grove of olive trees. Beyond was a dry field bathed in sun. A family of deer came searching for a snack, and they were not bothered by our being there. We both had a few moments of solitude and came away filled with gratitude for our gifts.

Boxes - WIP

Started a fresh one today.
Thinking about memories lately, and have considered how many are stored in boxes, and rarely taken off of the shelf. Wish now I could grab them all and relive them. Certainly took those memories for granted. What memories matter most to you?

Completion

15x22 charcoal


15x22 charcoal


6x6 oil

Inspiration

EDGAR DEGAS (1834-1917)
“A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, some fantasy.
When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people.”


ROBERT HENRI (1865-1929)
"Pretend you are dancing or singing a picture.
A worker or painter should enjoy his work, else the observer will not enjoy it. It is not good to wear lace that was a drudgery to someone to make. The lace, as well as the picture, should be made in joy.
His works are full of the beauty of his enthusiastic interest in life.
All real works of art look as though they were done in joy."