"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~ Pablo Picasso

My Lunchtime Sketch and Cezanne!

  






Today's lunchtime sketch in the park
 - watercolor pencil and watercolor -




What strikes me and incredibly pleases me about this sketch is that it reminds me (just a little) of Cezanne's watercolors. See Cezanne's "Trees Leaning Over Rocks"

During my first watercolor class in college, I did a watercolor of some dogwood blooms from a photo. The teacher looked at it, and started smiling and shouting to me, "It's a Cezanne! It's a Cezanne!!"  Well at the time I had no idea what she was talking about.  I was 19 years old, fresh out of high school, and had never heard of Cezanne.  Since then I have studied him in depth and my interest in his work and life, particularly in his watercolors, has never waned.  

Hey, maybe that's an idea! - I think I will do some paintings after his style and several posts on this Master artist, without a doubt my favorite.

Autumn

Today's journal page in my Hand-book Journal.
Autumn - spiced chai, leaves, golds, and siennas, the last of the zinnias...

Making and Filling Journals - Quietly, but Busily

I know it seems I've been very quiet lately, but although I'm not blogging much, I am quietly and busily creating journals - from scratch...This is so much fun that:

I can't seem to stop!...making, creating covers, and filling journals.  Here's the cover to my newest one.

The blue is Folk Art Metallic paint - lucscious! I've collaged watercolor dyed coffee filters, fabric, and painted papers, then unified it with the paint.  Later I  plan to add some text - either quotes, stamps...I'm not sure yet...





Tonight I collaged and painted the back cover.
















I've been doing a lot of writting in the current journal that I'm working on filling.  I write, paint over, write some more, sketch, make notes - everything goes in this journal now.  My made-from-scratch journal. Very fulfilling.

And here is a page where I just felt like playing around with watercolor and a brush.

The paper is just some old bond paper that I found in the closet, but it holds up very well to all my "abuse".  I am having fun !

Practically Perfect Labor Day Weekend

Hillsville, VA hosts the southeast's largest flea market each Labor Day Weekend. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it, having not been in a few years. The weather was perfect - clear blue skies, no humidity, highs in the 70's. I went Saturday and Sunday with my daughter, who happens to be my favorite person to hang out with.


Found this happy, very"me" pitcher at the Labor Day flea market and picked these zinnias from my garden to complement it.



One of my goals today was to complete the covers of my handmade journal. I collaged a copy of one of my paintings along with painted fabric and paper from prior play sessions and the definition of the word "live" (zoom in for details).



And I purchased the two stools at the flea market for $5 each, which prompted me to rearrange my corner studio once again. You can see other pictures of its continuing metamorphosis in prior posts.

The Finished Piece!

Thank you to all who commented and made suggestions on what to do in the upper left corner.
I have solved it. I am so pleased with the way this turned out!!!!! I feel like doing a little dance among these brilliantly colored flowers! Doesn't this look happy! Happy Labor Day Weekend! - (for my fellow-Americans at any rate) :-)

Painting #10 in 100

This is a fun piece I did with markers, watercolor and gouache.
The top left corner bothers me, I just haven't decided what to add yet. maybe just a darker shade of blue...
I thought about adding a butterfly, but I'm afraid it will stand out too much and detract from the flowers.
What do you think?