The Last Winter Poppies

Poppies

Watercolor in Handmade Paper Journal

This is the last entree in the last signature of my handmade paper journal. I have been working in this journal all winter and enjoyed this wonderful paper and how it takes the ink from my Lami pen and watercolor. Now all that is left to do is to finish stitching and adding it to the other signatures in my journal. Then it will be closed and placed on the book shelf with all the other journals only to be looked at (probably) when my children go through my things for the garage sale when I am moved into that old folks home or after I die. That sound a little too honest for the light of day but I am afraid it is the truth. How many of you artists out there in Virtual Blogland, that make journals, actually share your drawings with real live people?

ROSES AND POPPIES

Roses and Poppies

Watercolor on Paper

I worked in my garden for a few hours mostly chopping back the undergrowth. It has been a week since I have been able to weed and they have taken over. I am always so surprised to see how fast things change. I usually spend a little time in my garden everyday but with the other things that are going on I have neglected the weeds and they have taken advantage. After filling my compost piles to the brim I came across this collection of mingled roses and poppies and that was it. I stopped to paint and take a break. The poppies are almost gone. I love my poppies. People ask me, 'What is my favorite flower?’ I always say the one that is blooming of course.

Laguna Lake, Fullerton

Laguna Lake

Graphite on paper

Walking journal

Pasadena Street

Pasadena Street

Ink on handmade paper Journal

Night Drawing

Night Drawing

Ink on handmade paper Journal

I happened to find this scene that begged drawing.  I have looked at the way the street lights stand out at night and wondered about sketching them.  I worked on this until my pen ran out of ink.  I couldn't really see it that night and looked at it this morning.  I like the way it has only taken up some of the page.  I may work on it more but for now I like the way it looks.

Restaurant and Bakery

Restaurant and Bakery

Ink on handmade paper Journal

I had the opportunity to wait for a friend in this delightful place full of goodies for the eyes and the scences.  I never mind waiting if I have a sketch book with me.  In fact I have been known to feel a little disappointed when they show up on time.

Fullerton Arboretum

Tree at the Fullerton Arboretum

Ink on handmade paper Journal

I started this April 17 during the Fullerton Arboretum's Green Scene weekend.  I  had an opportunity to go back and finish it last Friday.

Just another parking lot

Parking lot

Ink on handmade paper Journal

It seems like I spend a lot of time sitting looking at parking lots. I think the real situation is that there seems to be parking lots everywhere, at least where I live. When I am painting my trees and trails it’s because I am looking the other way or simply leaving out the cars and people and putting in only the trees.

Salad Bar

Salad Bar

Ink on handmade paper Journal

One of my favaorite places to eat are the places that have salad bars.  I am a slow eater and when I sketch and eat I get even slower.  If I can get to the restaurant just after the huge lunch crowd I can sit and chew and chew and sketch and sketch until the dinner crowd comes and I need to give up my table.  Pluse I like to keep an eye on the dishes so when they come out fresh from the kitchen.

Garden Journal

Garden Journal

Ink on  handmade paper

I don't usually write in my journal but I thought I might just this once.  I won't again.  Here is what it says if you can't read it from the picture.

I can’t believe it is already 12:00. I have been working in the garden since 8 and I am ready for a rest. I have had a Towhee with me all morning but now I am not finding one bird to sketch. This is one of my new plants from the Green Scene. It’s a pink/salmon geranium. It’s name is Belinda.

Washington Navel Orange

Washington Navel Orange
Ink on handmade paper Journal


I love my little orange tree. I planted it when the children were little (they are in their 40's now) so that we could have fresh squeezed orange juice for breakfast. Well of course they are not around very often now but I still am enjoying my fresh squeezed orange juice every morning. I have 21 oranges left for this season. I only use the fallen ones so that they last longer and of course get sweeter. I have pruned it smaller now, only 6 feet high so I can take care of the tree without getting on a latter. I cut my apple back this year for the same reason. The apples will take care of my fruit needs till well after fall and of course all the veggies are coming along fine. I have already been eating tomatoes while I have been weeding.

Coffee Shop Parking

Coffee Shop Parking Lot

Ink on handmade paper Journal

I sketched this over a month ago now and am finally getting around to posting the things that have not been posted since my computer problems.  I always find the parking lots interesting with all the cars and all the people that must go here and there and of course grab their cup of coffee for the road.

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach

Watercolor on Arch paper

I got to go to one of my favorite places - the beach. It turned out to be a beautiful day with some clouds, cool breezy fresh air and of course the color and movement of the water. I wish I could have spent hours but a stolen 30 minutes was all I could manage. Painting a quick sketch is a great way to spend a mental health moment. I feel so blessed to have paints in my car, an ability to use my art tools, a location that is so healing and the ability to post without too much trouble. I say that tentatively because I am still on my old computer.

Painted Dish

Painted Dish

Glaze on ceramic

I tried something new and painted with glaze on a ceramic dish last week. It was fun and different. What do you think?  It is micro and oven safe.  I think I need a service for four.

Channel Islands Exhibit at the Fullerton Arboretum

Channel Island Exhibit

Fullerton Arboretum

Ink in handmade paper Journal

A few weeks ago my garden/art buddy and I went to the Fullerton Arboretum to see where the Orange County Geranium Society booth will be for the Green Scene You can find it at this link: http://calstate.fullerton.edu/news/Inside/2009/arboretum-green-scene.html. I will be working the booth on Saturday so come and visit. We will be selling pelargoniums (commonly known as geraniums) varieties such as Zonal, Scented-leaved, Ivy-leaved and Regals. I will be sketching like last year so if you are going to visit don’t stand in one place for to long or you will be in my next week’s posting.  This time I am not going to forget my camera.

Riverside Garden Tour

Riverside Garden Tour

Ink on handmade paper journal

Computer ........ Can't afford them and live without them.

Well I had another computer hospitalization but she is back now and fully loaded so tomorrow I will be back at posting and try to post the sketches and paintings I have been working on for the last 2 weeks.

Walking in the Fog

Spring is here and for California that means fog. I walked out the door and went right back in for my camera. Foggy walks are my favorite,

First I found this clover blossom. When I use my macro lens I have to wait to see what I captured when I get back to the computer. All of these pictures can be enlarged and I tried to make them as large as possible.

This is a Dandelion.  Enlarge this one to see all the little droplets.  Very Cool!

This one I gave a little boost with Photoshop.

IRIS

Iris

Graphite on Journal

I have been working in my garden getting ready for the growing season. I have pruned for weeks now and still have not finished and the weeds are everywhere. I really don't mind weeding it just is never ending. I consider my yardening activity just like go to my local gym. I work in the garden for a few hours a day normally but during this part of the year the time is much more because there is so much prep in veggie gardening and getting those roses and fruit trees under control. My sketch for today is the sketch I work on when I just need to sit for a while to rest, hydrate and enjoy the wonderfully fertile soil that is now visible because I have pulled all those weeds out.

Brea Hills

Brea Hills

Graphite on journal

The snow is still visible from the trail that Ivy and I enjoy and so I took the time today to sketch the view. I notice the view is changing because a housing development has claimed the crest of one of these slopes. If they would have just dropped the houses down below the top of the hill there would still have been a view and would not have ruined the visual impact of these hills. Ah money, that's what its all about. If a community sets its standards around money I find esthetics suffers.