More Pansies

I just finished these pansy watercolors. There are two more ready to paint - maybe I'll get one started today. While at Auntie's Bookstore before First Night this year, I discovered a lovely book of pansy photos on sale. I couldn't pass it up and not only did the pansy photos help with the winter blahs, it has been a wonderful resource for the paintings I've been doing.

I took a break from pansies to do a gift for my now 4 year old granddaughter's birthday - a personal little collage just for her(she loved it).

Here are two watercolors for the pansy series that I have begun. I so desperately need spring so I can get out there and play in the dirt. Until then, I'm putting my mind (and artwork) into flowers.

Before and After

Before & After

As promised, I'm working on pansies. Last post I showed two pictures in progress. Visiting with a friend, the question came up about how you know when you're finished with a work. So... here are the before and afters. Sometimes I really enjoy the beginning and wonder if it isn't enough. What do you think?

These pictures are cropped out of the larger drawing.

Sweethearts

I have been in a pansy frame of mind lately and am working on a couple of pansy drawings in colored pencil. Up here in the Inland Northwest, it's probably two months from tulips and three months from pansies... so I'm having a springtime frame of mind as I work. Next I'll do them in watercolor. I think I'll do a whole series of pansies. Then maybe I'll have to do some tulips and roses and anything to do with the end of winter and the beginning of gardening! I'm sharing two drawings, but they are both in process.

Valentine's Day is nearly here. My school district has a four day weekend so there is plenty of time to dedicate to lovin' your Valentines.
Today a delightful preview of spring flowers arrived to invite me to be a Valentine. I couldn't say no! And I invited him to be my Valentine by decorating a box and filling it with mixed nuts and chocolates. I hope he'll consent to being Mine.

Another Birthday

So... my birthday has come and gone and I'm another year older. On Sunday one of my sons and my daughter and assorted family members came to visit, play games, eat, and just be together. They even came down early from a Schweitzer Mountain weekend to spend time with me. I was pleased. Because she was unable to attend the Sunday gathering, I met with my daughter-in-law for lunch the next day, my actual birthday. My son, her husband, is in Afghanistan. I brought my youngest granddaughter, age 3, home with me to spend the night.

We had great adventures. Having her around helped me forget that I was another year older - and reminded me that I'm not getting any younger. Keeping up with little ones wears a grandma out!

Natalie loves to look at pictures so I showed her my blog which included the face painting. Of course she wanted to have her face painted... She was too cute not to share- enjoy the photos. Don't grandchildren just make your heart swell with love?
My granddaughter is 3 years old and a delightful child who loves princesses and dressing up pretty. She is beyond cute!

Of course, my other grandchildren are also above average, handsome & beautiful, smart, talented, and wonderful. Three of them are close to the same age (8-10) and when I have them together they often make me laugh until I cry. I am so blessed. My oldest grandchild (big sister to Natalie, the princess) is 18 and a freshman at University of Idaho. She is knock 'em dead beautiful with a dynamic future ahead of her. I am very proud. I love them all so very much.

A New Year

Christmas was wonderful and so was ending the old year to embrace the new. I did the First Night face painting again- this year the Shriner ladies were the bulk of the painters, I think I was the only one who wasn't. We then walked over to the Bank of America lobby to "check buttons" for Six Foot Swing, a lovely group with a following of excellent dancers. The group had an acoustic bass, a washboard & bells, clarinet, keyboard and a lovely woman with deep sexy voice and a plunging neckline. Not only was the music pleasing, the dancing was delightful to watch. There were young dancers (20 somethings) and older dancers (50 and 60 somethings) and all ages in between. Clearly the younger dancers were into competitive dance -their moves were inventive, high energy, fun! There was another couple (from the 50 somethings)who had clearly spent some time dancing. He led her smoothly around the floor with power and varying moves that made it the epitome of partner dancing. Beautiful. I wish I had taken pictures. Sorry. Well, I did take a few of the faces I painted, some of which I've shared on this blog.

I hope your New Year has had a pleasant beginning.

First Night Spokane

A couple of years ago I volunteered to do face painting at First Night. I can tell you, it was fun. There was a gigantic dragon made of balloons, all kinds of interesting crafts, performances. What a wonderful energy. I meant to do it last year but the road conditions were too dangerous for the distance I had to travel so I had to miss it. The good news is that I'll be face painting again this year. Browsing the First Night site, I ran across the pictures from that night so if you're curious about the event, you might enjoy checking out this link: http://www.firstnightspokane.org/index.php?page_id=19&icat=5

If you have children, it's a great way to share the New Years Eve celebration with them. Here are a couple of pictures I took from that night.