My Obligatory Rooster

I rarely spend 3 day holiday weekends at home, but that's what I did last weekend, and it was lovely.  I spent quite a bit of time at my art desk, although I don't have a lot to show for it.  I'm making myself try and get better at watercolor, doing some exercises and practicing some things. This is not easy for me, I'm not patient with myself and want to immediately just be good at what I'm trying and have something to show for it (who doesn't, right?) 

I did do one finished page in my little watercolor sketchbook - I figured it was about time I painted a rooster - doesn't everyone have to do one sooner or later?

Live in the work of your own making...

I was just playing in one of my art journals, and had the masochistic idea to create a portrait with oil pastels after the rest of the page was already done.  I don't highly recommend doing this over a dark background like this, especially on a highly textured page, but I persevered.  Her hair is done with an Inktense pencil, I didn't have it in me to try doing that with oil pastels also.  She looks highly skeptical of something, to me.

The quote says "live in the work of your own making, not that of others" -  from Robert Genn who I get words of wisdom from in his weekly artist newletter e-mails.  It had struck me as very wise...

Lake Tahoe

 

 

For those of you desperately trying to find a lake in this little watercolor, rest assured that I'm not under the illusion that one is there - I'm just throwing this in before we get to the good stuff.  I bought a watercolor book by John Lovett and this is the first exercise I've tried. I didn't have much hope for it along the way, but it kind of came together at the end.

 

Now, as promised, Lake Tahoe.  We bought a Groupon for a cruise of the lake - last year, half price, promptly forgot about it and almost let it expire.  We only live about an hour and a half away, but we just don't go there enough - a conclusion that we always come to on the occasions that we DO go.  It's truly a beautiful lake - the only one I've ever personally seen that can compete is Lake Como (breathtaking even if it weren't in Italy).

 

 

From the observation area overlooking Emerald Bay

 

 

 

 Mario in our hard-won spot on the top deck  

 The water is so amazingly clear

 

Someone's summer home in Emerald Bay from back in the day

 

Flower Girl

Not much to show for my weekend, art-wise anyway, but I did finish my WIP from last week.  I decided to give her flowers (obviously completely made up ones - don't be asking me for their Latin genus or anything!) on her head instead of hair - it seemed like more fun, and a good way to play with watercolors. There's white writing that can hardly be seen on this image along both sides of her face and neck that just says "Blossom" repeatedly.  I can see looking at it that she needs another green leaf somewhere - it's so screamingly obvious to me now that you'll have to excuse me while I go fix her!

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