Guilty Pleasure

Good China II (WIP)

5 x 5" colored pencil drawing

Recently, I have decided that I watch too much TV and have given up watching all but about 3 shows a week. Most of what's on is drivel and I'd rather read anyway, but I've heard there are a couple of very good shows out there. I found one.

In the last few months, I have read several books about King Henry VIII and his many wives. Never before had I ever taken an interest in history, but with this, I am smitten. Can't get enough of the stuff. Here's the list of books I've read, so far: The Constant Princess and The Boleyn Inheritance both by Phillippa Gregory, The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII by David Starkey (this one was a tome, but full of detail).

So imagine my excitement when I discovered a new series on Showtime called "The Tudors" (Tudor is the family name of Henry VIII; I know because I read it in one of those books!). The show is delicious: very well written, full of interesting characters, plot twists, beautiful scenery and costumes and an extremenly handsome leading man. (Even though my husband likes the Ann Boleyn actress.) Oh, and it's loaded with sex. This is not a show for children. At all.

My grandmother once told me that we were distantly related in some way to the royal family. But, if you take a look at their family tree, you'll see how intermarried and utterly confusing it is. Yikes. I guess that's one way to explain me and some other members of my family!

To Burnish or Not to Burnish

I kept looking at "Good China I" and decided I wasn't really happy with it. Too dull; the china wasn't shiny or luminescent enough. So, I took the plunge and decided to burnish this little piece with a bristle brush, no solvent or other pencils, just a short, hog bristle paint brush. It's finally where I want it to be.

Good China I

5 x 5" colored pencil on

Art Board

I am offering this piece for $50. E-mail if you are interested.

Just Like Magic!

Good China I

WIP

5 x 5" colored pencil

Tuesday evening my we had a scary spring storm with much lightening and so, of course, my computer got a zing or a zap or scared. Nevertheless (I love that word!), I woke on Wed morning with my trusty computer off but beeping at me in most annoying way. Panic. When my computer is down I have the same uncontrollable feelings I have when my car doesn't work: I cry. Then I call someone.

I called our "computer guy", Michael, who listened to the sad, sad beeping and somberly said, "It doesn't sound good." His diagnosis was a blown motherboard (which means you are SOL). He had me reboot, unplug and replug, wiggle some wires and still no go. So, I cried and called my husband, Lee. (Just like I do when the car breaks down.) He assured me all would be fine. Michael promised to come take a look on Thursday.

Now, my new outlook on life is to find the silver lining in all the clouds that come my way (see the post from Monday), and I soon realized that a day or two without a computer could be a delicious excuse to do nothing but make art. It was. I started a rather large piece which I hope to show you soon.

But the best part of the story is that my superhero husband, Lee, woke up early on Thursday and rebooted, unplugged and replugged and wiggled some wires and got my computer back up and working. He does the same thing with the cars. I think I'll keep him around.

Reality Check

"Good China" - WIP 2

(still working on it!)

5 x 5" colored pencil drawing

Yesterday, I had an appointment with the doctor for one thing and came out of his office with news about something totally different. More alarming. My blood pressure is way too high. Now, I need to let you know that I'm in pretty good shape (ran my first marathon last October) and am not large (wear a size 6) and eat a healthy diet (does chocolate count?), so this is a hereditary thing. However, I am determined to do anything and everything I need to do to get it down. Salt is now only a memory. And I may take up yoga. This is all good.

But, more than anything, I am now determined to have a better outlook on my life. No, it's not always great, but it's pretty darn good. I have so much and a lot to be thankful for. I am a very lucky girl (and I plan to call myself a girl until I die!) and know that having the ability and the opportunity to make art every day is a huge blessing that not many people in this world get to experience! (There, my BP just dropped 5 points.)

Little Miss Muffett

This week has been oh, so busy with paperwork, billpaying, chaperoning a million third graders to the zoo, doing physical therapy with Buddy (he loves that), and continually reminding all my kids that Sunday is Mother's Day, that I have not spent as much time in my studio as I would've liked. (And believe me, I would rather have been in my studio than at the zoo; but am hoping for some points in heaven.)

The fact that I had left my studio vacant for several days was made horrifyingly clear when, as I began to work on a new project, I had a small but very fierce spider stand his ground and threaten territory he obviously thought of as his. But it was my drawing table and he and I had to compromise. I gave him the easel and I took back the drawing table. We may have to trade if I decide to paint soon.

"Good China" (WIP)

colored pencil on art board

5 x 5"