A few weeks ago we flew down to Florida to spend an extended weekend with good friends. I caught this beautiful dusk out the plane window on the way down. I love the powerful clouds against the modern shapes of buildings and planes. A quick sketch of what might make a good painting one day.
This is my hundred forty-sixth daily drawing. Thank you for joining in with my observations of daily life.
Each Sunday, a wonderful gentleman brings bunches of flowers to our church, there for the taking, and we are all encouraged to bring some home. There is always a variety. I bring them home sometimes, the fresh cut flowers are a nice counterpoint to the gray of winter here in New England. Yesterday we brought home a bunch of beautiful, deep magenta asters. I chose to draw the without their color, loving the interesting petal shapes and the negative space they create, which I painted in the complements of the magenta. Can you imagine the magenta in the white space? Remember, as a kid, doing that exercise where you stared without blinking at a brightly colored image for a minute without blinking. Then, you shifted your gaze to a white surface and the color's complements show. I tried with this drawing from the computer screen and it didn't work... will try with the original drawing and see if I can get the illusion to work.
This is my hundred forty-fifth daily drawing. Thank you for looking.
This morning, my home church held its annual meeting during which the congregation voted to become an Open and Affirming community. It was an important vote, held after a lengthy investigation and exploration and discussion about what it would mean for our church. The church voted unanimously, to "make a public covenant of welcome into their full life and
ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and
gender expressions." These flowers sat on the altar, and a visiting choir soloist sang "It is Well with My Soul".. just a beautiful day on so many levels.
This is my hundred forty-fourth daily drawing. Thank you for your continued interest.
We have a number of tall pines in front of our yard next to the street. Our electric company has done a great job over the past few years inspecting trees for their health, then asking if they can take down any that have aged out. These trees are beautiful waving in the wind during our variable New England weather. Years ago, during a heavy snow storm or wind, we would inevitable loose power, sometimes for several days. That has not happened (pause to knock on wood) for the last few years, even during snowpalooza of 2015 when we got a record breaking eleven feet of snow.) The difference in number of power outages is due to the expert work of these electric company crews who trim back trees, take down trees, and keep our power lines relatively unencumbered. This past week, they came to remove a few trees from our front yard. It is precision work. One lane of traffic still gets by, with police presence, while these large pines, with 2 foot diameters, came down in pieces. This tree man on the ground, worked with his partner up in the bucket, with a rope and a winch. The rope was applied to a piece of the tree above, the winch tightened, and the branch sawed off. They all landed in the narrow space of half the narrow road. Impressive. When the larger pieces fell, I could feel the house shake. So could our cats, who found this process unnerving.
This is my hundred forty-third daily drawing. Thank you for taking the time to look at my observations of daily life.
I had an interesting day today... lengthy coffee catch up with a friend, then a coffee shop and grading quizzes/lunch with my husband, then off to exchange something in a shop which resulted in a long chat with the owner and a friend, followed by a trip to the Apple store to get my phone battery replaced, suprisingly well-handled and organized... a 1.5 hour wait, which I spent in another coffee shop grading a few more quizzes. I bumped into some students there, so exuberant and excited to see a teacher out of context. They were a nice reminder why I love my job. I did this drawing in the second coffee shop. It is my hundred forty-second. Thank you for looking.
Yesterday we had a breath of spring with 70 degree temperatures... today, snow and sleet and back into the 30's. It IS New England. I love the feeling of the air on my face, whether warm and sunny or cool with a breeze, even the crispness of freezing temperatures. Here is a drawing of people walking on a local beach at low tide during the spring.
This is my hundred forty-first daily drawing. Thank you for looking.
I love my vacation. I'm seeing friends, getting a lot of things taken care of around the house, grading a giant bag of work before next week, listening to my favorite radio, reading, drawing, enjoying the week. While taking care of some paperwork today, I looked up and saw the sun making this interesting pattern on the wall from a front window. I sketched it in in pen, used gray markers for the values, then added some watercolor pencil and pastel to finish. The drawing is mostly successful, but interestingly, the trees through the window look like they are glued on as an afterthought. I need to resolve an issue with the temperature and values in that space, but I left it for now because the illusion is so interesting to me.
This is my hundred fortieth daily drawing.... very interesting journey so far. Thank you for looking.
Each summer we spend a couple of weeks on Monhegan Island, Maine. It is small, and breathtakingly beautiful, twelve miles out into the Atlantic. There are no cars for visitors on the island, just a fistful of pickup trucks that arrive at the dock numerous times a day to meet incoming ferries. The dock is a spot of comings and goings, of exhuberant welcomes and warm goodbyes. One of my favorite spots.
This is my hundred thirty-ninth daily drawing. Again, thank you for your interest and your ideas.
I love this view into the Boston Public Garden from Arlington Street. George Washington sits astride his horse, and the Garden unfolds behind him. Walking out of the Garden from this gate puts you on Arlington Street with the gracious Commonwealth Avenue green space receding in front of you. Thank you Frederick Law Olmsted!
This is my hundred thirty-eighth daily drawing. Thank you for your attention.
Another scene that caught my eye in Boston. Driving along Arlington Street with the Public Garden on the left, there is a great view down Arlington past the Arlington Street church toward the Park Plaza. This was in the afternoon. The sun is low in the west, which is to the right of the picture space, illuminating the flying flag. I could study the light in the city all day.
This is my one hundred thirty-seventh daily drawing. Thanks for looking, as always.
First day of vacation was great; a little reading with coffee this morning, a luxury. Then off to the gym, then into Boston for an afternoon with my daughter.. lunch and the art store, and lots of time to catch up. Back home in time for a little more reading and a quick nap, with Fred, the cat, tucked in. Ahhhh.
This is my hundred thirty-sixth daily drawing. Thank you for your continued interest.
I'm on my February vacation, and thinking of spring. Going to spend time with friends and taking care of a long list of things I need to do. Some flowers to start the vacation seem right. It's been so busy at school. My math students chugging through some algebra, my art project students are painting the flats for the school play so there is a lot going on... seems like just moving from activity to activity without space to take a breath. Planning on breathing this week.
Any day walking through Boston provides contrast of new against old in the skyline. Perhaps Trinity Church and the Hancock Tower provide the best example. Here's a quick sketch of the area. I like the juxtaposition of spires and towers against glass, and will explore it some more.
Thanks for looking. This is my hundred thirty-fourth daily drawing. I enjoy your thoughts.
Tonight we had a small Ash Wednesday service at my husband's church, then headed over to the local pub for some dinner... very cozy, great food and a chance to draw while we hung out. I added some yellow behind the bottles to mimic the light from above on the shelves.
Thanks for looking at my hundred thirty-third daily drawing. I added a photo below of the drawing in
process.
Charles Street in Boston has so many lovely facades. This is Deluca's Market, open since 1905, great produce, sandwiches, old-time feel, and wonderful window along this beautiful street.
This is my hundred thirty-second daily drawing. I appreciate you're looking.
I love the sun filtering through this stand of Maine pine trees. There are so many colors, purples and blues among the green and warmer greens. It is a beautiful and peaceful spot; special to me as it is part of a dear friend's property. This is my hundred thirty-second daily drawing. Thank you for your thoughts.
We were in Florida for a few days recently. How lovely to be outside in the air, starting with our first night, walking the streets of St. Petersburg, eating outside at a great burrito bar. We walked past Ruby's Elixir, with terrific live music blasting from its open facade. It was a terrific night for people watching, feeling the cool night air, and enjoying the people-watching... a great change from winter in Massachusetts in January.
This is my hundred thirty-first daily drawing. Thanks for looking.
A few years ago, my daughter and I took a school trip to France. She was enthralled with the chandeliers on our trip. As a result, I have photos of a number of opulent lighting fixtures from our trip. This is a chandelier hanging in one of Versailles multitude of rooms. I loved its crystals, sparkling in front of the window. Every inch of each room in this palace is decorated, dripping with detail and beauty. A feast.
When we arrived in Paris, we met our local guide for the days we were there. I will always remember her elegant appearance and her first statement to our busload of tourists. "Bonjour. My name is Helene avec un "H"". It sounded like, "Bonjour, my name is Elaine avec un haiche". She was terrific. She is pictured here below.
This is my hundred thirtieth daily drawing. As always, thank you for looking.
Spent a few minutes outside today in my busy day, face turned to the sun. I can feel spring hidden in there... which means summer can't be far behind. Thinking of the summer with this drawing of the busy harbor.. only months away.
This is my hundred twenty-ninth daily drawing. Thank you for looking. As always, I appreciate your comments.
I love Boston. I love its buildings and shadows and pedestrians, and the constant visual feast as I walk its streets. This is my hundred twenty-eighth daily drawing. I am enjoying the day-to-day discipline, and your support and reactions. Thank you.
We spent a few days in Sarasota, FL with friends over the weekend. I had a chance to see the manatees at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. Mote's manatees, Hugh and Buffett are both in their 30's. They were born in captivity, and will remain in captivity as they have no skills for living in the wild. They are so graceful... and peaceful. Here are a few sketches of the two of them.
This is my hundred twenty-seventh daily drawing. Thank you for your feedback.
We spent a few days in Sarasota FL over the weekend. I loved spending so much time outside! That's a big change from winter here south of Boston... dark early, cold, feels like it was especially gray this winter. We ate lunch outside at Walt's Fish Restaurant and Market, then bought some triple tail for dinner. What a treat!! I loved the vibrant fish market.
This is my hundred twenty-sixth daily drawing. Thank you for exploring with me.
We flew back from Sarasota (actually Tampa) this afternoon after a few lovely days in the warmth with friends. I did a quick sketch in the airport including some of the people in the gate waiting area. I liked the layers of passengers waiting.. or rushing off for their Chick-Fil-A, which turned out to be a very popular choice. I have never eaten there, nor do I have any plans, but I watched family after family head over in that direction. In fact, once we began boarding we had Chick-Fil-A drama because a woman came scurrying back with a bag of food to find that her family had boarded the plan without her, but carrying her purse and boarding pass. I hid the Chick-Fil-A in my drawing. Those who know the logo will find it.
This is my hundred twenty-fifth daily drawing. Thanks for looking.
Our friends in Florida have a lovely collection of orchids collected on their lanai. The orchids seems to love their environment, sheltered from direct sun and predators, each plant so different from the others. Some have roots that hang in the air, observing moisture from the air and an occasional light watering. The leaves are so varied, and blooms as well. There are a lot of stems showing promise, and some with small buds. The flowers are beautiful. Colors can be subtle, or more vivid. I enjoyed sitting among the flowers examining their individual characteristics. This is my hundred twenty-fourth daily drawing. Thanks for observing the world through my eyes.
How nice to arrive at our friends' lovely home in Sarasota FL for a few days. Their home is graceful and lovely, very open, with a lanai out back that shelters a saltwater pool. Our friends have a collection of orchids, which are so interesting and varied in their shapes and sizes. I did a few drawings inside the lanai.
I loved our time there, we were outside for biking, swimming, eating, walking.. a very welcome change from January here in Massachusetts.
This is my hundred twenty-third daily drawing. Thank you for your continued interest.
Back in the fall, we made plans to travel down to Sarasota FLA to watch the Superbowl with friends who just moved down there. We're looking forward to spending a few days in the temperate Florida climate. We love the winter here, but the days are short, and we don't spend a lot of time outside. Florida will be a welcome change. My hundred twenty-second drawing is a quick sketch at Gate C36 for JetBlue while we wait to board. I liked the contrast in size between the waiting passengers inside, and our plane outside the windows. I drew the sketch in the airport, and added a little shade and color later.
This is my hundred twenty-second daily drawing. Thank you for your continued interest.
There is a lovely
home down the street from us, with these two rockers on the side porch. One rocker is much more simple design than the other. One is carved oak. The other is more of a classic country porch rocker. The two rockers were sitting side by side, with their fronts reaching out to the sun, and I did a drawing of them. They are very inviting, a sweet conversation nook on the porch.
This is my hundred twenty-first daily drawing. Thank you for continuing to follow my drawing adventure.
As I walk along Monhegan's west side, I love looking through the wildflowers to a few of my favorite houses out to Manana. The view shifts every few feet, always fascinating; the light, the air, near and far greens; perhaps why it is one of my favorite places. My hundred twentieth drawing is one of those views, across a field of Queen Anne's lace.
Thank you for looking. I am so appreciative of the interest in my drawing explorations.
