tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92089904457902112662024-03-18T07:37:50.990-07:00Helen's Art StudioMusings of an artist who enjoys playing with several different media. Currently my focus is collage but every now and then I go to something different. My aim is to post once a week. Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.comBlogger581125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-13087371158381313072024-03-16T09:15:00.000-07:002024-03-16T09:15:19.765-07:00Changing Direction<p> I'm still doing the #the100dayproject but I've changed it up a bit. Since this was to be a learning experience, experimenting with different media and techniques I decided to work in a sketchbook instead of doing a painting every day. The painting a day meant a lot of good paper wasted. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItZvYFAuM8cpO71s6xWPP4dZWACwH9yCZOyKCNb2tAvT6drsgc5XJ9UyubS3RyZ-XtQkyzV5kL2PLKW8ePnbWLZzkejKFWSWOmnsoExoWxeCKMwSHurxbHbJUZUifnNUpXackZHN_SeXcX_jD5zYv8qonDaT6Miqk9DtIGQeCgJ_FCKN0T0p8DuxFCIBh/s3668/sketchbook%20daffodils.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3668" data-original-width="2751" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItZvYFAuM8cpO71s6xWPP4dZWACwH9yCZOyKCNb2tAvT6drsgc5XJ9UyubS3RyZ-XtQkyzV5kL2PLKW8ePnbWLZzkejKFWSWOmnsoExoWxeCKMwSHurxbHbJUZUifnNUpXackZHN_SeXcX_jD5zYv8qonDaT6Miqk9DtIGQeCgJ_FCKN0T0p8DuxFCIBh/s320/sketchbook%20daffodils.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's spring and my daffodils will soon be blossoming so I decided to try some different views working from a photograph. These are not intended to be a design, just trying out different views of the flower and also thinking of ways to put them together in a design which will also first be tried in the sketchbook. I don't think the full on view will make the cut but the others have promise. We shall see when I finish them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few others were done before I decided on the sketchbook. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2fraCY62fzD4lWhIs2f8N5_FEKu6uF0p5Psh1IoVKzedkvJGhNwHHZrGgAMzSE95r98-GkUIxqW1VOkoGgN6kSShsI49tR8E4rxr14UwasqcRbsTCDGh3w7gejb8v1LHP4YyaGA138on30O5ajbXyjPg7SKJAc1oW4n73bvpGQB6W1gLAmRR5MdBV9y0/s5130/Day%2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5130" data-original-width="3465" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2fraCY62fzD4lWhIs2f8N5_FEKu6uF0p5Psh1IoVKzedkvJGhNwHHZrGgAMzSE95r98-GkUIxqW1VOkoGgN6kSShsI49tR8E4rxr14UwasqcRbsTCDGh3w7gejb8v1LHP4YyaGA138on30O5ajbXyjPg7SKJAc1oW4n73bvpGQB6W1gLAmRR5MdBV9y0/s320/Day%2020.jpg" width="216" /></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw0bjDq08qQ-vGGeDqm19vmu_2fCa-PWdi23hR301AsLz3Z8qRQBzkAuHSr4Cj1q5Rh_PBEvUmbAM47MdgAUrwFhsIaVWxt2VkVYXxZxuuDyaohZFgqRHcpca_UK4ZXKHlTCzuIf2djelF_Iwj_N7O1gkdXZweAKf32BcGiOHimgxBis61_3wplaeice0/s2876/day%2021%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="2876" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw0bjDq08qQ-vGGeDqm19vmu_2fCa-PWdi23hR301AsLz3Z8qRQBzkAuHSr4Cj1q5Rh_PBEvUmbAM47MdgAUrwFhsIaVWxt2VkVYXxZxuuDyaohZFgqRHcpca_UK4ZXKHlTCzuIf2djelF_Iwj_N7O1gkdXZweAKf32BcGiOHimgxBis61_3wplaeice0/s320/day%2021%20(2).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliccuadPVyZnJfj_RNjtWik9os3yXnZgcjdAcakFEhSQzoUzGQvlU4CE9fxmdlQ7BKvXa-EhR2pLRzelrqK14pjyt_WTu_Y-JpC6s9CYcwZ9_LkmI9AVVTI-qhjYWNiTKg51Lpjr6hqfTMeJOx3CXbAOntqhhOgSEcOA_aj2Tfli2zgBvmedcaFXVOaUF/s2863/Day%2019.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2863" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliccuadPVyZnJfj_RNjtWik9os3yXnZgcjdAcakFEhSQzoUzGQvlU4CE9fxmdlQ7BKvXa-EhR2pLRzelrqK14pjyt_WTu_Y-JpC6s9CYcwZ9_LkmI9AVVTI-qhjYWNiTKg51Lpjr6hqfTMeJOx3CXbAOntqhhOgSEcOA_aj2Tfli2zgBvmedcaFXVOaUF/s320/Day%2019.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFiFTav635IHw2OfRQ3zY-er2Qy6Rcnf0TQHQYq20I0-N4PX5BFbElwnM6tWy56uoJNOE9ZIdvBTK6w0fKJvR9noSufy9Bdqzf8yP4YdQfNLI4G4YRsPmBNAINUqoieWb6WjR50BLYx_l5FXHqiH6-R7BeWIrqkU7juP77vy0NwE67ew24oQw2PXiZQ5l/s2868/Day%2023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1906" data-original-width="2868" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFiFTav635IHw2OfRQ3zY-er2Qy6Rcnf0TQHQYq20I0-N4PX5BFbElwnM6tWy56uoJNOE9ZIdvBTK6w0fKJvR9noSufy9Bdqzf8yP4YdQfNLI4G4YRsPmBNAINUqoieWb6WjR50BLYx_l5FXHqiH6-R7BeWIrqkU7juP77vy0NwE67ew24oQw2PXiZQ5l/s320/Day%2023.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAM7Uwh4x1ZjeA1PCSnjvZibsxD8tXxj5h3E-c1LOkE0W3Ju6umtO9PlfPXJthPKpU67kVA_j5dXJvC7SphFUAOV_RLtEeDNWt_ueQ1eyNlAUB0PkjLgq_0W2YhGKXSN_tebYrqCirVt76cLoQW-TpFaloWSTzOrSY4hiLvvtEPd-s4A2etpzMCOsn_CK/s2400/day%2024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAM7Uwh4x1ZjeA1PCSnjvZibsxD8tXxj5h3E-c1LOkE0W3Ju6umtO9PlfPXJthPKpU67kVA_j5dXJvC7SphFUAOV_RLtEeDNWt_ueQ1eyNlAUB0PkjLgq_0W2YhGKXSN_tebYrqCirVt76cLoQW-TpFaloWSTzOrSY4hiLvvtEPd-s4A2etpzMCOsn_CK/s320/day%2024.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sketchbook I'm working in is one I made using all watercolor paper for the pages so it works for this project. It's not the best paper but that simply tells me that if it's decent on this paper it will be better on good watercolor paper.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-18328360495599922372024-03-04T06:37:00.000-08:002024-03-04T06:37:59.237-08:00Already on Day 16 of #thehundreddayproject.<p>And I’ve been good
about doing a small painting every day but --- I’m feeling like I need to
change things up a bit. The small
paintings have been more like sketches and they are great fun to do so I’ll be
doing more of them. Here are a couple of
them --</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZhDLCvjOu0qb8EjceFoH2AQHP-PFBVvaP9Pq2A5760uqONRHgKy8XD8prmIcUD56g63zLRr5F5WKh_5ovxJF4H1p4R6Kcpznivz96BBj3joPM-Cchvp56y2EFUwjOdrC0SIce9zZZsPxNAhe_m8y0YdEWcti5s5vpsCW9MdwG5ZdDL40QrdHN5IE6uR8/s1589/Day%2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1589" data-original-width="1191" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZhDLCvjOu0qb8EjceFoH2AQHP-PFBVvaP9Pq2A5760uqONRHgKy8XD8prmIcUD56g63zLRr5F5WKh_5ovxJF4H1p4R6Kcpznivz96BBj3joPM-Cchvp56y2EFUwjOdrC0SIce9zZZsPxNAhe_m8y0YdEWcti5s5vpsCW9MdwG5ZdDL40QrdHN5IE6uR8/w150-h200/Day%2010.jpg" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f8APth8lHc1cDdn9_6MsLEkUWczsKLcvaphNt4zlPImSHzXmsNqziPCxXIXgsQfkQjA2xAb_YP3IxBJuR9j4wbBTneFS8cDoiGyJMvxB2AR4nXLduweGVrYOoqfVqawiCTidU6ZhrVaiG9EKe6VX1BqCNjVmQBui3T7v_qmngfiuDRpCi_Z639AaJJbD/s3031/day%2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3031" data-original-width="2800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f8APth8lHc1cDdn9_6MsLEkUWczsKLcvaphNt4zlPImSHzXmsNqziPCxXIXgsQfkQjA2xAb_YP3IxBJuR9j4wbBTneFS8cDoiGyJMvxB2AR4nXLduweGVrYOoqfVqawiCTidU6ZhrVaiG9EKe6VX1BqCNjVmQBui3T7v_qmngfiuDRpCi_Z639AaJJbD/w185-h200/day%2011.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’ve also done a couple non-representational pieces – collage
and painted --<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEzC1Adf3TLgfC9Gu6BIeIrSxHan6xQ4oLySIEAqOKMULiNim8Qa-71i-MfCEhCrs1uDgY2msaKNZUOdFjjRUui1xWw2ZjRpYxpX1J-pt0IC9dF62B6MtxCm3B6UPeKDs9nBacpuNUOk2eLzfTgeJ11JYthBNaDUzP34nTaYzW2DtBrs3ZdPRXWzcPZFu/s2871/100%20day%201%204.5x5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2584" data-original-width="2871" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEzC1Adf3TLgfC9Gu6BIeIrSxHan6xQ4oLySIEAqOKMULiNim8Qa-71i-MfCEhCrs1uDgY2msaKNZUOdFjjRUui1xWw2ZjRpYxpX1J-pt0IC9dF62B6MtxCm3B6UPeKDs9nBacpuNUOk2eLzfTgeJ11JYthBNaDUzP34nTaYzW2DtBrs3ZdPRXWzcPZFu/w200-h180/100%20day%201%204.5x5.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b style="font-size: 16pt;"> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bKsGX_HUM4MQf_85VmfvD4k-XrZpOpy0uZN7ImA0E6lzair1RB_ZBw_NgHt1ONOqtevo84bqCGgRQ70abbL6TpQMSaQZTCat3mXDr8P82haioTvWoJgwo4QZ8Z6rKy4XMR4iTkBlJlK4X-HVuDhwx6s_62IKZxJtS2bDibIjqxGhYpZ7YrXroBBtM9dQ/s754/Day%203.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bKsGX_HUM4MQf_85VmfvD4k-XrZpOpy0uZN7ImA0E6lzair1RB_ZBw_NgHt1ONOqtevo84bqCGgRQ70abbL6TpQMSaQZTCat3mXDr8P82haioTvWoJgwo4QZ8Z6rKy4XMR4iTkBlJlK4X-HVuDhwx6s_62IKZxJtS2bDibIjqxGhYpZ7YrXroBBtM9dQ/w159-h200/Day%203.jpeg" width="159" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="text-align: left;">And yesterday while working on one of the Art Tribe
collaborative pieces I played a bit with paper and fabric which lead me to my
stash of fabric scraps and today I think I’ll do a stitched collage. I know I
want to do more of the florals.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Some turned
out well, some not so good.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Practice –</span></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEM8R2eLOPPuqNnqyx-koKVXhzbSZNLYceDPMf4J8vbWKXLerrjguqCYPlIbz3f8sdZ4aeCAqlVJwYi37fkxeIUotJu-dlY0_v92YrjohW6_pJs9R_BrnnBrHDn73gdpr0M1eOnJOKWqC3GT7ZO6Y-6czZTSKedHBbwsGpVeX_q-xgQlTx82I4sLclOji/s2191/day%2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2191" data-original-width="2093" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEM8R2eLOPPuqNnqyx-koKVXhzbSZNLYceDPMf4J8vbWKXLerrjguqCYPlIbz3f8sdZ4aeCAqlVJwYi37fkxeIUotJu-dlY0_v92YrjohW6_pJs9R_BrnnBrHDn73gdpr0M1eOnJOKWqC3GT7ZO6Y-6czZTSKedHBbwsGpVeX_q-xgQlTx82I4sLclOji/w191-h200/day%2013.jpg" width="191" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-jdi6JdHaHr_ItZuG833VnUGdOBnRUFYqDjee8yWlDT-aEXArp_eOXFUHE5PUnf2dts99B_bIROaozZmHzWy-ny1uqZ-UA-8VIz4kWsbG0tU_wCI3-QS_aJrhIBlQTyr_q30rxsFgXawdg1lI3j9fhlfzj938J-fDrblV81IS6LwIZSJ8xkCn36KqGDZ/s3944/day%2012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3944" data-original-width="2718" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-jdi6JdHaHr_ItZuG833VnUGdOBnRUFYqDjee8yWlDT-aEXArp_eOXFUHE5PUnf2dts99B_bIROaozZmHzWy-ny1uqZ-UA-8VIz4kWsbG0tU_wCI3-QS_aJrhIBlQTyr_q30rxsFgXawdg1lI3j9fhlfzj938J-fDrblV81IS6LwIZSJ8xkCn36KqGDZ/w138-h200/day%2012.jpeg" width="138" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">But there are other things I want to do as well. Last week I saw a video Roben-Marie Smith did
making a small journal using an old book.
She used the cover, cut it up into three small journals. I’m a collector of old stuff – I have old
books and as I moved from my laptop into the studio there on a shelf was an old
book cover ready to do something with. I
did –</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbt_TaaE_FCTYmwhVMty2Ys8NwiN5vi4vKVkLBHyHoKUmrMaScBPgtvKG90_3Oh2Wk8rOZ7MHrtE9Xw_tNTUT-a5hHmXnT0cw8HvpvUSwqDBPTMWUUzZP7vc-yqHHkZfoosQgE7vETFEzbOR7U7zITR_U-1MnODJSzAMFP0iz8XiBuKVuostwvJjbA2On/s3606/two%20journals%20from%20one%20book.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="3606" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbt_TaaE_FCTYmwhVMty2Ys8NwiN5vi4vKVkLBHyHoKUmrMaScBPgtvKG90_3Oh2Wk8rOZ7MHrtE9Xw_tNTUT-a5hHmXnT0cw8HvpvUSwqDBPTMWUUzZP7vc-yqHHkZfoosQgE7vETFEzbOR7U7zITR_U-1MnODJSzAMFP0iz8XiBuKVuostwvJjbA2On/w200-h147/two%20journals%20from%20one%20book.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I didn’t consider this part of my 100 Day Project but I have
a drawer full of similar journals that I’ve made to be used as Art Journals
that never got used as such. I'm not a bookmaker but I enjoy making books. This is one that's been in the drawer for a couple years. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp_wuoxGsCuNYr6lA9iLrP8R4psy65dvNIaiL3rzMEc9eRgK6uigbIg1OPlRz9RGSkURY3BSOm35NlU8xFC1NzWOMsSgUCVnIqUAY1pOqtLHU_zdxRi9-4rdGMXc9ysfsufuCftV-elgqpBRQ5rtP_5gg13Et6fRxd2f-snXCJtNFzm8Ta_iO7qcweLep/s1338/art%20journal%20talouse.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="1237" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp_wuoxGsCuNYr6lA9iLrP8R4psy65dvNIaiL3rzMEc9eRgK6uigbIg1OPlRz9RGSkURY3BSOm35NlU8xFC1NzWOMsSgUCVnIqUAY1pOqtLHU_zdxRi9-4rdGMXc9ysfsufuCftV-elgqpBRQ5rtP_5gg13Et6fRxd2f-snXCJtNFzm8Ta_iO7qcweLep/w185-h200/art%20journal%20talouse.jpeg" width="185" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think I'm going to add Art Journaling to my project. And stitching. For a long time I've done a quick graphite sketch every morning, something that took 5 minutes or less. For this project I want to do something everyday, something that takes a little more time and effort that gets my creative juices flowing. So my theme has changed -- but not too much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /> <o:p></o:p></p></div><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-26155863298105679072024-02-14T12:48:00.000-08:002024-02-14T12:48:08.311-08:00I'm going to do the 100 Day Project again<p> I'<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">m changing the way I do the 100 Day Project this year. I can’t believe it’s the middle of February already and almost time for the Project to start. Yes, I still do a a quick sketch every day but that isn't what I think the 100 Day Project is about, at least not for me.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2bHUmrJ8DZH5mX-o7KM5sKLs5rE-1k9qhwbAoCmdrKdgkOkd3GY6MNv8Tweby_nEcZH4ylMS1bG01WYTEtjpzZrtZJJ7p8C6YRDKkTj84j5xXW8rUD6ZDJQ7sz6UsQ-dSG12VBqQQMVAy0E7EMcS2UthDpBdXyrwm_xjCiX_OToutbnFahdmRPmUUzTs/s3845/Feb%2014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2563" data-original-width="3845" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2bHUmrJ8DZH5mX-o7KM5sKLs5rE-1k9qhwbAoCmdrKdgkOkd3GY6MNv8Tweby_nEcZH4ylMS1bG01WYTEtjpzZrtZJJ7p8C6YRDKkTj84j5xXW8rUD6ZDJQ7sz6UsQ-dSG12VBqQQMVAy0E7EMcS2UthDpBdXyrwm_xjCiX_OToutbnFahdmRPmUUzTs/s320/Feb%2014.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what I want to do this year. In the past I’ve done repeats of the same thing, flowers but a different one every day, collages but a different one every day – you get the picture. It’s hard to stick to past 60 or 70 days. I'm easily bored.</span><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">One of my objectives is to get in a habit so you can keep doing it and maybe have some good pieces of art when I'm done. If I can’t stick to it past 60 or 70 the habit hasn’t formed. I do make some sort of art every day but I’m not consistent, sometimes I work on a couple paintings, sometimes I sketch, sometimes I draw, sometimes I just dust in the studio. This year I am going to try something different, complete a small painting every day. And work on doing it without overthinking.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">Yes, a painting every day but not always the same medium, substrate or subject and not always the same size – just small, anywhere from 4x4 to 10x10 and anything in between. Some of them will be watercolor because I’ve been getting back to that, some will be collage and/or mixed media because I enjoy doing them. And if I can make the 100 days I will continue working toward a years worth of small paintings. Some may even be worth showing at the gallery. We shall see.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">I plan to post what I’ve done on Instagram and here on the blog. What I haven’t decided is if I will post daily or weekly. I’m leaning towards daily Instagram and weekly blog post. It’s too easy to slide if I don’t post somewhere daily, I know me.</span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">That’s it for now, I’m off to prepare some supports for my project. It starts February 18. Stay tuned.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-71912149318219804602024-01-28T12:16:00.000-08:002024-01-28T12:16:20.148-08:00Wow! It's Almost February<p> Time keeps moving faster all the time. But I'm trying not to waste it. I'm still doing my morning quick sketches and I've vowed to do more with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/uskwestmichigan/events/" target="_blank">Urban Sketchers West Michigan</a>. It usually gathers on Wednesday afternoons which doesn't work for me; however, it does do other days and this past week was one of those times. We met in Rockford at Herman's Boy. Fun place and lots to sketch. This is mine --</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_gyAA9_Rd92xr4-fz1KVf2xybXAFLrE3oU0snkWLKW0pruPoYHhD5V_H96_b1c5lJF0rcc-YLGClmPtI3ce-LgE1TcLyooZNzsbMvjL_XfXEG1rrJ-wyUbSmRXmnWNBpLxspIpYVFsaaGvMkyYFoj7QKsv7l-zFZ57iOBzIShrfu496mAewx_RWLxNSt/s3826/Jan%2026%20Rockford.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3826" data-original-width="2556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_gyAA9_Rd92xr4-fz1KVf2xybXAFLrE3oU0snkWLKW0pruPoYHhD5V_H96_b1c5lJF0rcc-YLGClmPtI3ce-LgE1TcLyooZNzsbMvjL_XfXEG1rrJ-wyUbSmRXmnWNBpLxspIpYVFsaaGvMkyYFoj7QKsv7l-zFZ57iOBzIShrfu496mAewx_RWLxNSt/s320/Jan%2026%20Rockford.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's going to be back to Wednesday but it will be in Spring Lake and I can leave anytime. Wednesday afternoons my grandson is here and yes, he is old enough to be by himself but I like being here when he is. There are also weekend gatherings which I can usually get to. I hope to do more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another major happening here in my studio. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgwS6z7YLUZ9qWnQJ_F5cpPo0FkxD58gPwtMt4Smd8sEA4onrIA3eqmTjXLhdXREx6cC82UZitz3t9f8fiKniq_DIZTE_AyRVPf2z_yXw2jAyW0R9IBsMhj4ODGb4ZUyEOHDbSp_2eVmmtAsQKzB-Rk107vbNHzT2C7XZ8_XwPhqzufkI7b8rZa9WtXkt/s3780/clear%20table.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3780" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgwS6z7YLUZ9qWnQJ_F5cpPo0FkxD58gPwtMt4Smd8sEA4onrIA3eqmTjXLhdXREx6cC82UZitz3t9f8fiKniq_DIZTE_AyRVPf2z_yXw2jAyW0R9IBsMhj4ODGb4ZUyEOHDbSp_2eVmmtAsQKzB-Rk107vbNHzT2C7XZ8_XwPhqzufkI7b8rZa9WtXkt/s320/clear%20table.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This table may never be this clear again! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The overhead light in the studio went out just before the pandemic lockdown. I got new bulbs and put them in but it still wasn't working properly. Eventually I gave up but the pandemic meant no electricians available. And after the pandemic they were all too busy to spend time on this little job. I have some Ott Lights so I've placed those around and I have track lighting on one wall so I could work, just not at night. Recently we've had a few more electrical issues for reasons I don't need to go into. Finally, an electrician is coming and my dear husband bought me a new overhead fixture -- guaranteed for 45 years. I plan on living awhile longer but not 45 years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So why is the table so clear you ask -- it doesn't move and the light is right above it. Standing on the table is how one gets to it. And once the light is in I think a new coat of paint is in order. And I've had room to spread out for another project that can easily move when the electrician arrives. I'm so looking forward to being able to pop in here at night and do a few things.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-1804020204707285392024-01-13T09:29:00.000-08:002024-01-13T09:29:48.272-08:00New Year and a Renewed Practice<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9gsiheSR7UEReBM_FvmNTO_d3B2X5Oc-nQf505qQAhxdCAyEYFoIHophsVGf9QT-kwCfQUP5qK_9jVuBwine5TAOEDZawGHJ445T9MVb7n-3tYGs4CQ70G67Fl_oOetFQQ6SdDJcKsk9u-XnCyTJW4JYxGnRO-BzuyVhPU5Md_cQjUQ4EV7Da4Btpu__/s1500/Jan%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9gsiheSR7UEReBM_FvmNTO_d3B2X5Oc-nQf505qQAhxdCAyEYFoIHophsVGf9QT-kwCfQUP5qK_9jVuBwine5TAOEDZawGHJ445T9MVb7n-3tYGs4CQ70G67Fl_oOetFQQ6SdDJcKsk9u-XnCyTJW4JYxGnRO-BzuyVhPU5Md_cQjUQ4EV7Da4Btpu__/s320/Jan%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">It's been awhile since I did quick morning sketches regularly. I'm trying to do better in 2024. I started Jan 3 and so far so good. It helps that I have some fun twigs from my friend Ann Trowbridge.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqvbrrEP5bUwrc7KlcAb_e8ksRyDaH5fICvBbtbRI_Nn2d8N8pFd9AzJrn1mzr5G0gTA_fIx4HtHfE_YRnvtQJL3KEjEWAsK_oe1iE1FmMjOviva-HfsCUgLvpfnLp_lePN8k_laXm0tl5WcpLQ4GEv8U4SkA-ML-b7WcDNMKIIBwZQtlFH-3pefO5Du7/s1493/jan%208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1493" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqvbrrEP5bUwrc7KlcAb_e8ksRyDaH5fICvBbtbRI_Nn2d8N8pFd9AzJrn1mzr5G0gTA_fIx4HtHfE_YRnvtQJL3KEjEWAsK_oe1iE1FmMjOviva-HfsCUgLvpfnLp_lePN8k_laXm0tl5WcpLQ4GEv8U4SkA-ML-b7WcDNMKIIBwZQtlFH-3pefO5Du7/s320/jan%208.jpg" width="320" /></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ7-KXcXjnTeo3VrsBVJac0-APLdq5bN-Twp302L51l9ead1qQoTXupvShQ23Xgsx2yOKN9zrPZR8s61bI8u0_a4JePm9wSYL3uSXdAiuy4jnZlXd9TQgtk7dbXF85yh6Cw10DoV3M0zJbuAhuG6j5hhHZ5WkGEa0szQESamzttlCI4XUIX1-uFu-iTCj/s2448/Jan%2010.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ7-KXcXjnTeo3VrsBVJac0-APLdq5bN-Twp302L51l9ead1qQoTXupvShQ23Xgsx2yOKN9zrPZR8s61bI8u0_a4JePm9wSYL3uSXdAiuy4jnZlXd9TQgtk7dbXF85yh6Cw10DoV3M0zJbuAhuG6j5hhHZ5WkGEa0szQESamzttlCI4XUIX1-uFu-iTCj/s320/Jan%2010.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and I have some of my own branches and pinecones</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORMiKX3hCdL0PQjHzPXPOChZXtE9-Ptp6v851c5U0iE_tMbGOoAEuaW3a2l8HwRE_EqZHJD0inLu0v0bN_HCBDJl9ZxYSMRHCNxphQXqWYXFJv9Fb9uuLIt5n73eJWs4ttMuJ6pOVnDM68RRyyEXl8Z3vm_0Ud_PoACvwbFZFtmM8K_ChB6f2Ks6hkCSj/s2840/Jan%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2840" data-original-width="2840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORMiKX3hCdL0PQjHzPXPOChZXtE9-Ptp6v851c5U0iE_tMbGOoAEuaW3a2l8HwRE_EqZHJD0inLu0v0bN_HCBDJl9ZxYSMRHCNxphQXqWYXFJv9Fb9uuLIt5n73eJWs4ttMuJ6pOVnDM68RRyyEXl8Z3vm_0Ud_PoACvwbFZFtmM8K_ChB6f2Ks6hkCSj/s320/Jan%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vcEiv-lwA-EMOpXDT2IrIUki0goNQ8NLxMXb0KVN4OHN6dVu092IB-NXE8VhUV91poMVa_XTpreig4ekT_QZ9ebISH0H4evm7zhUm8h8AKEUq6DEdIIyhRynLL9pGPWHm4TDC3PahLxap8nvFA3KmSHQW4xsK3kc_-CTR4RdwdzpeixrMdCB0DyEqZKs/s3210/Jan%209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3210" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vcEiv-lwA-EMOpXDT2IrIUki0goNQ8NLxMXb0KVN4OHN6dVu092IB-NXE8VhUV91poMVa_XTpreig4ekT_QZ9ebISH0H4evm7zhUm8h8AKEUq6DEdIIyhRynLL9pGPWHm4TDC3PahLxap8nvFA3KmSHQW4xsK3kc_-CTR4RdwdzpeixrMdCB0DyEqZKs/s320/Jan%209.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5wUOGHNLkwFi99YG7FezmGbqXdas6Ulm3e1R3MMAGoL-uFK4Hil5WIieW5wzXLTnfB2mjGL-oUkEyiC7PBSUAhoEWRQWmeu2LYOiUPb5kEdShCzRLEsED8Q2LEbE5Zbb6Ck1MDZs6JWsm-Z6uStMQV4OUBEwPQxSawnGbxvJByJHbqswuZ82_7NBW-96/s3126/jan%206.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3126" data-original-width="2899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5wUOGHNLkwFi99YG7FezmGbqXdas6Ulm3e1R3MMAGoL-uFK4Hil5WIieW5wzXLTnfB2mjGL-oUkEyiC7PBSUAhoEWRQWmeu2LYOiUPb5kEdShCzRLEsED8Q2LEbE5Zbb6Ck1MDZs6JWsm-Z6uStMQV4OUBEwPQxSawnGbxvJByJHbqswuZ82_7NBW-96/s320/jan%206.jpeg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm still working on improving my brushstrokes in watercolor. I saw a video of a unicorn and had to try it. It would have helped if I knew horses better but not too bad considering. It's just going in the trash but what fun it was to try. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBf0_hlYExetWpRb3V3Km7Bjq17felKBo945cA2k-6Z2xN4yZn8eQKe99UAVxb3uu0pUa49-TUSPDRVPIWd4TGAQponY0QCnAbMSSg1NnTDmJlu_aB-ASRcr3JDSZ1_rs9Q791PqQ6dZUhxhWAbNQUdUJU3IwmA8tFHXFFQ2isw83zymKUclol-mCBF4h/s3169/unicorn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3169" data-original-width="2535" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBf0_hlYExetWpRb3V3Km7Bjq17felKBo945cA2k-6Z2xN4yZn8eQKe99UAVxb3uu0pUa49-TUSPDRVPIWd4TGAQponY0QCnAbMSSg1NnTDmJlu_aB-ASRcr3JDSZ1_rs9Q791PqQ6dZUhxhWAbNQUdUJU3IwmA8tFHXFFQ2isw83zymKUclol-mCBF4h/s320/unicorn.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-2197879526815991092024-01-02T12:57:00.000-08:002024-01-02T12:57:31.936-08:00Happy New Year!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWQBjbC4aRcz6hpf3cOFZT4vx_eefk1SGfwft_Jf79QM_zTY3ESMj3bPOOgiwWul0kpXyYI8G9Y10-i3qx3p8vTtMhwn8YeLopl2_CpH6Ir6-aCYWpO4tCVTYJD14rQUVduKfkiZ4nMX0MgerH-hGn2Rl2uh3qyhYKccb24AEc-8wRGcNdEKifKznZ0Vm/s3740/cherubs%20done.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="3740" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWQBjbC4aRcz6hpf3cOFZT4vx_eefk1SGfwft_Jf79QM_zTY3ESMj3bPOOgiwWul0kpXyYI8G9Y10-i3qx3p8vTtMhwn8YeLopl2_CpH6Ir6-aCYWpO4tCVTYJD14rQUVduKfkiZ4nMX0MgerH-hGn2Rl2uh3qyhYKccb24AEc-8wRGcNdEKifKznZ0Vm/s320/cherubs%20done.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This little piece done in a sketchbook and clutter free work surfaces is how I started the new year. Another sketch done this morning with Tuesday Painters but I haven't taken a photo of that yet; I will post it on my website sometime this month. I also delivered 4 pieces to the Gallery for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 3.75px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 3.75px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Evolution VIII</span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 3.75px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> which opens Friday, January 6, for a First Friday Reception 5:30 to 7:30PM. Several of the gallery artists are showing work that is a little different than what you normally see them do. For me it's watercolors and in a different way than what I was doing back when watercolor was my primary medium. Back then my work was a series of masks and pours, the only brush work was putting the masking fluid on before pouring the paint. Now I'm actually using a brush and washes for my watercolors. Here is one of the pieces in the show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VS19jNbc9lBW4aNnkeLhDlKzZwfpw3LaKaHcT453gBaOmSbQki1UERMHwcJA2bm2IKYVcNKhm8qfHQpUo-fv7DB-39x5ih4_wex-sPJosuG-LRxgV-7UtFKBXdkZuluL6dAU9cYfFge9bxbMwc6OqLX_VJvAn8001yLeAB6n3KB2OfuGlb3RXQiiNxum/s3303/rock%2020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2526" data-original-width="3303" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VS19jNbc9lBW4aNnkeLhDlKzZwfpw3LaKaHcT453gBaOmSbQki1UERMHwcJA2bm2IKYVcNKhm8qfHQpUo-fv7DB-39x5ih4_wex-sPJosuG-LRxgV-7UtFKBXdkZuluL6dAU9cYfFge9bxbMwc6OqLX_VJvAn8001yLeAB6n3KB2OfuGlb3RXQiiNxum/s320/rock%2020.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see the difference between brushwork and poured in my last post. The doves were poured, only the darkest darks where showing when I finished painting, the rest was covered in masking fluid which had to be removed to reveal what I got. On the other hand the poinsettia is brushwork, I could see what I was getting every step of the way. I hope you can make it to the exhibit, it's fun seeing what new things the artists are working on and you can do some comparisons. What you normally see from each of us is still there on our walls at the gallery.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p><br /> </p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-15013247979066214182023-12-23T10:49:00.000-08:002023-12-23T10:49:46.906-08:00Wishing Everyone A Joyfilled Season<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpbxALcbATg3at2Rgyok80tqewwJWBTJdiob5Z_akhhneLcMcF44NLz4z_RBFhQYj5mLK4LdJG0wWKR-S_8NXg4VtBHqVMDOfHexaEfbStWpBPjXdd9xfKrzqVl77WcBMsBIpHu-38DowoAdPJ5e3PEG-YhAh-yQwhOYlVVEeUizOMyf3NDxDbTSIVcTD/s1825/two%20turtle%20doves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1825" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpbxALcbATg3at2Rgyok80tqewwJWBTJdiob5Z_akhhneLcMcF44NLz4z_RBFhQYj5mLK4LdJG0wWKR-S_8NXg4VtBHqVMDOfHexaEfbStWpBPjXdd9xfKrzqVl77WcBMsBIpHu-38DowoAdPJ5e3PEG-YhAh-yQwhOYlVVEeUizOMyf3NDxDbTSIVcTD/s320/two%20turtle%20doves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><b>I wish you all a happy winter, a joyous holiday and a super 2024.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I have to get back to my sorting and purging as the end of 2023 is fast approaching. I have surfaces clear, not I need to tackle shelves and the floor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm also working on goals and my word for 2024. As I look at goals for this year I did okay, not outstanding but okay. I'll tweek those a bit before I'm firm on them and, as in years past, I adjust quarterly. The word is a different story. That stays with me all year. In 2024 I have highlighted two of the many on the list of possibles. The two are FOCUS and BELIEVE. Focus is a biggy, I am so easily distracted it's a wonder I get anything accomplished. Believe is another one -- I need to learn to kick the critic out of the studio and believe in my own instincts. When the critic gets in everything stops -- I have a hard time moving forward. Does anyone else have that issue?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think I'll put the words in big letters in an easy to see spot on my two work surfaces. I have manged to get more stones done and will be putting some in the Gallery Uptown January exhibit. And I've really had fun with the poinsettias. Here's another one...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN2SHueGfpy1wbRVMiW93hkd456vC_-_nlonpGPVotUlXAClKwXxjnz6dbfafx1j7tEpEu1XG__P827bWryQuI0_3qwFH8R3jZTfQ1CrEqga8BvGxmH-et5d80AU0NL-Czqz8D_t1-yMOvZE-atXB18WkhFZp5q2ZP4zsr1SDhl5EAu9X9FA_Gm7P2_rT/s3747/poinsettia%20finish%20for%20card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2676" data-original-width="3747" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN2SHueGfpy1wbRVMiW93hkd456vC_-_nlonpGPVotUlXAClKwXxjnz6dbfafx1j7tEpEu1XG__P827bWryQuI0_3qwFH8R3jZTfQ1CrEqga8BvGxmH-et5d80AU0NL-Czqz8D_t1-yMOvZE-atXB18WkhFZp5q2ZP4zsr1SDhl5EAu9X9FA_Gm7P2_rT/s320/poinsettia%20finish%20for%20card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now it's time to get back to work, I'll be back next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-87349370613418688602023-12-09T09:13:00.000-08:002023-12-09T09:13:55.496-08:00The Best Layed Plans...<p> I started December with a plan to do a small painting and clear a section of clutter every day. Well, it's day 9 and I have 2 done and one partially done.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbnxXE_DKhcma1n4Qs9n7moeq0W-8wXbjIDwfJGOPB-7eXxhYSknxOxvMNrxTyJMy0RCNV4o8RhyphenhyphenHnPfGXnf6ZzsvOZ5n_gXyfa2YDCbCBbmfRwl0LCnOMlhGNDdlRU0yrvr7T66DvevvgsPUGpcnu4Cazpn126m8EJOxCz42wf9Hi_SSLZwS_HP79BTX/s2231/Dec%204.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1854" data-original-width="2231" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbnxXE_DKhcma1n4Qs9n7moeq0W-8wXbjIDwfJGOPB-7eXxhYSknxOxvMNrxTyJMy0RCNV4o8RhyphenhyphenHnPfGXnf6ZzsvOZ5n_gXyfa2YDCbCBbmfRwl0LCnOMlhGNDdlRU0yrvr7T66DvevvgsPUGpcnu4Cazpn126m8EJOxCz42wf9Hi_SSLZwS_HP79BTX/s320/Dec%204.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0WeIsNRvkNfbSiKd9s14IhnzQdRsFkqRjhCtXRubdgDWk7PRUXZPj8UeY-UKZmOsZRwax6ld1gmUlgYg793Phg6ytulplLb3sJ6tsbh7a_Rf_KdLJG5maBD3qU5dEStPjGqhiSNrGhGeGgN_x5HmfpDSsgle_S039Z8i8WH-O6qQ5NUsVNyBKTWrgT_U/s3036/Dec%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="2955" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0WeIsNRvkNfbSiKd9s14IhnzQdRsFkqRjhCtXRubdgDWk7PRUXZPj8UeY-UKZmOsZRwax6ld1gmUlgYg793Phg6ytulplLb3sJ6tsbh7a_Rf_KdLJG5maBD3qU5dEStPjGqhiSNrGhGeGgN_x5HmfpDSsgle_S039Z8i8WH-O6qQ5NUsVNyBKTWrgT_U/s320/Dec%201.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjik8yXXuci31W2ScbU7r9_VsEUyq2XXYJLoRbyECcdppjmJIM0IZ-2D_VWLtXXMcxK0p_agPa2AY4jNWTkR2Ufq1M2lcT1L6yJh-lD_DJed36JZdA6vxeuRFCkcOJzcPxZpQ9TD2JrXhBM2Z5zyryo8SaKcabmOegX20GA62Okh-m3q5UvB2D5F8_11NMt/s3242/Dec%205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3242" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjik8yXXuci31W2ScbU7r9_VsEUyq2XXYJLoRbyECcdppjmJIM0IZ-2D_VWLtXXMcxK0p_agPa2AY4jNWTkR2Ufq1M2lcT1L6yJh-lD_DJed36JZdA6vxeuRFCkcOJzcPxZpQ9TD2JrXhBM2Z5zyryo8SaKcabmOegX20GA62Okh-m3q5UvB2D5F8_11NMt/s320/Dec%205.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem was the clutter clearing. I had a pile of art journals and writing journals and, of course, I had to go through them to see what I had done. Among the written ones I was reminded of something I had done with a Jane LaFazio class and I immediately had to look to see if I still had that class on my computer. I did so I decided I had to make another one -- a Christmas one. This is one that I put on the back of a denim vest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXez4-8dns4IJtLihE_2q_oWS-5o72mm14nKcMn8BFBwUslfmJmMROxArhgxhUN2gMWy_xYM8umSN9xocMh4cXdIV0gBD1bKGEeKBGQO1_-ZBjREuEhKQSZCQeu9sdwg0xorUhvNpYrQNhl317_wkO07sVmZfrNICKFtlXqWmitoV0yYYUQnh8u4FHdd5S/s2064/LaFazio%20circle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2064" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXez4-8dns4IJtLihE_2q_oWS-5o72mm14nKcMn8BFBwUslfmJmMROxArhgxhUN2gMWy_xYM8umSN9xocMh4cXdIV0gBD1bKGEeKBGQO1_-ZBjREuEhKQSZCQeu9sdwg0xorUhvNpYrQNhl317_wkO07sVmZfrNICKFtlXqWmitoV0yYYUQnh8u4FHdd5S/s320/LaFazio%20circle.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They're fun to make and I have lots of red and green fabric. Since I didn't make a new table runner this year I'm making one of these for the center of our kitchen table. The process is addictive so I may make a few of them. Perhaps they'll become another table runner, the first one I made many years ago has seen better days. I've since made them in a variety of styles and sized. I enjoy putting the parts together and then in the evening while watching TV I add embroidery and other embellishments. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So sewing a patch every day has replaced the daily painting but the clutter clearing continues. As long as something else I find doesn't distract me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-89665983418252658792023-11-18T12:23:00.000-08:002023-11-18T12:23:59.419-08:00The Jam Jar That Started It All<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently I've been doing a quick morning sketch of some of the many items I have in various places around the house, things that are memories. Some used often, some out where I can see them and some in other places, not always visable but always there. I came across this one as I was looking for something to sketch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEmUJcfTWrf9-fRXVwp_bpqiUEwmWasvuH8YPhEunNSAD42jpG3QQhtv08DKxQHTJo6U3MPxlPRPnHeKVmR8fYSBhfzfLPb6HqrLTk01LtZDOVSsoG2M90McJTNzLEga7Pj5BKGgLS9PWiTAIpnfwEtf5b0Lt-lOBV8LizJRJL2SV1VIhNi5Rrn5eAFKn/s1572/mothers%20jam%20jar%20the%20real%20one.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="1429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEmUJcfTWrf9-fRXVwp_bpqiUEwmWasvuH8YPhEunNSAD42jpG3QQhtv08DKxQHTJo6U3MPxlPRPnHeKVmR8fYSBhfzfLPb6HqrLTk01LtZDOVSsoG2M90McJTNzLEga7Pj5BKGgLS9PWiTAIpnfwEtf5b0Lt-lOBV8LizJRJL2SV1VIhNi5Rrn5eAFKn/s320/mothers%20jam%20jar%20the%20real%20one.jpeg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This little china jam jar is what started me on this journey as an artist. It was a gift from my mother one Christmas when I was a young bride. My mother was a very talented designer and fashion was her passion. I knew she could also draw but it definitely wasn't her strong suit. When I asked her where she found this adorable little jam jar she said "I painted it." She had been taking lessons and this was one of her first pieces. My mother was always supportive of any craft I wanted to do but she did not support the idea of me as an artist. I always felt I didn't have real talent because of the many ways she discouraged me. I know now the reasons but that's another story. For now -- the Jam Jar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In my mind I immediately thought -- if you can do this I can do this and I set about finding someone in the area where I lived who taught china painting. I found Joan Potere. Joan has since died; however, she is the teacher who really started this whole wonderful adventure in art. We became fast friends and often talked of wanting to learn oil painting because we wanted real art on our walls and budgets were tight. While she wasn't a young bride, she did have a big family so money was tight for both of us. This is one of the dinner plates from the set of six different floral place settings I did with Joan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSwuiDf3LyWwS20F1SHH8BAmQS8iXQYtv-edmpfw_CGdl_FTAJgT8MUhEnigcft0Y_6HQeWgCPLu1He7hHRz7G9z2vQYW0ZDKptgvIB9R1U78RWoAMKunMHJPZkqV-QU-OZuc4wQCbvmEbFpm-N7usYg2bWdH87GtCqjy3rkoEDNL2xL1Q2j0U2tGhibK/s3344/violets%20dinner%20plate.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2926" data-original-width="3344" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSwuiDf3LyWwS20F1SHH8BAmQS8iXQYtv-edmpfw_CGdl_FTAJgT8MUhEnigcft0Y_6HQeWgCPLu1He7hHRz7G9z2vQYW0ZDKptgvIB9R1U78RWoAMKunMHJPZkqV-QU-OZuc4wQCbvmEbFpm-N7usYg2bWdH87GtCqjy3rkoEDNL2xL1Q2j0U2tGhibK/s320/violets%20dinner%20plate.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another of her students was taking classes from a wonderful oil painting artist and teacher, Marion Zooner. That student, Margaret, brought in a couple of the paintings she had done in Marion's class. After she left Joan said to me, "if she can do that, we can do that." We tried to get into Marion's class but it was full. We talked Margaret into teaching us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We studied with Margaret for a couple of years. I still have some of the paintings I did in her class. Joan had a son going off to college and her own health wasn't good so she stopped. I had moved back to Flint to go back to school and the drive got old so I quit. But neither of us quit painting. Hard to believe that was over 60 years ago. Some days it feels like I still have no clue what I'm doing when I come into the studio. Other days it seems I've gone back to the beginning. This poinsettia is one I recently did and I am reminded of china painting with Joan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAoZKahGmfUVRiYRiN8wBDSq0GSZTQ4oeUmD2GR0PFMrASkkZF38KISH6JbOOoGxQLIaWT8CXAHH9oXe5TUuxQiWImZUb5l_Lw4SJtiw8gwBPtnE9ezae7nRm7YZbU7mOHwrYG2R8FS4FmzQYgGYe4TBlVP9dN5pFym6NomGygpOUMny3GYiLDOvpUzQx/s4032/poinsettia%202023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAoZKahGmfUVRiYRiN8wBDSq0GSZTQ4oeUmD2GR0PFMrASkkZF38KISH6JbOOoGxQLIaWT8CXAHH9oXe5TUuxQiWImZUb5l_Lw4SJtiw8gwBPtnE9ezae7nRm7YZbU7mOHwrYG2R8FS4FmzQYgGYe4TBlVP9dN5pFym6NomGygpOUMny3GYiLDOvpUzQx/s320/poinsettia%202023.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wishing you all a Happy Thankgiving </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-69872409988856319332023-10-28T08:48:00.000-07:002023-10-28T08:48:56.990-07:00Thinking Halloween<p> My Tuesday Painters group went to the Coffee Factory in Muskegon two weeks in a row. It has <span style="font-family: times;">a plethora of Halloween decorations which were fun to do. This was done this week....</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tawVEwFxPfGprGh9pysKgFkFuwTv-ZkD4qMH2vKHEtxwTkZoPI4N7WUheVcfHOm8jEqSC2JDm5xUlszWCF4emQq9qMprbS8TAoQxwxlv7U7M2RV3pDvLqKep2M7PT_1EG2HzWs86Gdx8vb-qBY5bpu4yGjUXQyrLCr9GuEr_mh5szIH9uYsUPW14sRGW/s2717/Coffee%20Factory%2010%2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2717" data-original-width="2717" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tawVEwFxPfGprGh9pysKgFkFuwTv-ZkD4qMH2vKHEtxwTkZoPI4N7WUheVcfHOm8jEqSC2JDm5xUlszWCF4emQq9qMprbS8TAoQxwxlv7U7M2RV3pDvLqKep2M7PT_1EG2HzWs86Gdx8vb-qBY5bpu4yGjUXQyrLCr9GuEr_mh5szIH9uYsUPW14sRGW/s320/Coffee%20Factory%2010%2024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week I tried skeletons, they are harder than I thought they would be so I moved on to a real life person. He was reading his phone so he sat still long enough for me to get a decent sketch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipViAEKOsGBL0Yj-cYeTziMqBo3fOoNLx57ruTsuCFoX9hjrN14tann4iFNmhUweNy_o0jJDlmqfD1h0Ta5-Tmczv4pM6zi7QVgIl8zuxStqB8YB3t86_VBYwJj_873AJo7icoeb_xAGixvcfO0YkHwlm7WIidYjeyjdTnMfqzg0JaydSkjKJmdEf_f3c9/s3590/skeletens%20at%20coffee%20factory.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3590" data-original-width="2486" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipViAEKOsGBL0Yj-cYeTziMqBo3fOoNLx57ruTsuCFoX9hjrN14tann4iFNmhUweNy_o0jJDlmqfD1h0Ta5-Tmczv4pM6zi7QVgIl8zuxStqB8YB3t86_VBYwJj_873AJo7icoeb_xAGixvcfO0YkHwlm7WIidYjeyjdTnMfqzg0JaydSkjKJmdEf_f3c9/s320/skeletens%20at%20coffee%20factory.jpeg" width="222" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPH39uMH4DOjISKugXBomIevLYDz4sm3jBK9pf4B9K49Owzqo6SX_7TOOwWi7OTgNqDheUrMKsXTldlEzMbhKVymPq595-6gDWLtutWVe7e8mDnGVaAfYr6R6wAHSShcFkjzpIgBXkoYHRZ4owQNFiUnxscK1J6_OpDCUlHFDm2PNdo5lKtNxdga7vI7K/s4026/another%20Coffee%20Factory.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4026" data-original-width="2714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPH39uMH4DOjISKugXBomIevLYDz4sm3jBK9pf4B9K49Owzqo6SX_7TOOwWi7OTgNqDheUrMKsXTldlEzMbhKVymPq595-6gDWLtutWVe7e8mDnGVaAfYr6R6wAHSShcFkjzpIgBXkoYHRZ4owQNFiUnxscK1J6_OpDCUlHFDm2PNdo5lKtNxdga7vI7K/s320/another%20Coffee%20Factory.jpeg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now it's time to think about Christmas. I've been working on poinsettias and snow scenes. I'll post a couple of those next week.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-67609021586255837272023-10-21T08:40:00.000-07:002023-10-21T08:40:09.396-07:00Some New Directions<p> As we get older it's harder to part with things -- not because things are important as "things" but because they represent a life -- mine. This week I started doing a morning drawing and today I decided to add one of the "things" that I can't part with. The pear was done a couple days ago.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Xn_p5sMbu3ilSXxMcUuuo7FzXeIqQA6TFLmJgVychkjVCVn2mQ2ITg4TCQUcEBwmvkSbD-T3W1zsQukZLc7Op2jo58_yWqhDn7NUwQU3ZAIriEkjbSg95a2bHcljXqZHUsqryJsfyzJ37bJG9BYNQP1Z7-EnQSIDBnptBibxPtVle1I8u7nsqHvyATej/s3870/drawings%2010%2019%20and%2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3870" data-original-width="2580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Xn_p5sMbu3ilSXxMcUuuo7FzXeIqQA6TFLmJgVychkjVCVn2mQ2ITg4TCQUcEBwmvkSbD-T3W1zsQukZLc7Op2jo58_yWqhDn7NUwQU3ZAIriEkjbSg95a2bHcljXqZHUsqryJsfyzJ37bJG9BYNQP1Z7-EnQSIDBnptBibxPtVle1I8u7nsqHvyATej/s320/drawings%2010%2019%20and%2021.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p>Here is a photo of it in real life sitting on top of our Hoosier Cabinet. It was dropped and broken by someone, either a child or a cleaning person, but it was put back together and most of the mistakes are on the back. It was my grandmother's, given to her by Uncle John. He was experimenting with crystal glazes and this one was a reject. I think of both of them when I look at it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWzws2rqFlNXxv8K-0xGsF8y_86AhXlg5u5wxBevdGpdjYESqyZ5dIasxgD_R1YLlMhJg8xsGVDgRU5K8uYnCgS1WNPEkS-ha6DoOt8TOsh4cShbKwHyP3VZbwEsmFG-QpTbsFtPLa-Ld5tgT1EKjWE37x27fI6HM6gTZZt7FkqDFiGNZdqaCCXmpEBFR/s2837/Uncle%20Johns%20crackle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2837" data-original-width="1045" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWzws2rqFlNXxv8K-0xGsF8y_86AhXlg5u5wxBevdGpdjYESqyZ5dIasxgD_R1YLlMhJg8xsGVDgRU5K8uYnCgS1WNPEkS-ha6DoOt8TOsh4cShbKwHyP3VZbwEsmFG-QpTbsFtPLa-Ld5tgT1EKjWE37x27fI6HM6gTZZt7FkqDFiGNZdqaCCXmpEBFR/s320/Uncle%20Johns%20crackle.jpg" width="118" /></a></div><br /><p>He did perfect the glaze and according to a book about him, his recipes are at the DIA. I've seen current artists who say they developed the glaze and I'm not doubting them. But it isn't new. As I said, this was my grandmothers, she died in 1958, that's when I got it.</p><p>Recently I've been working on brushstrokes and have been watching Jean Haines videos. She's the one who got me started on the stones which I can't seem to stop doing but that aside. Another video showed up that caught my attention,<a href="https://shirleytrevena.com/gallery/" target="_blank"> Shirley Trevena</a>. She does very interesting still lifes. I'm not thinking mine will look like hers but I think adding some of my "things" may work in one or two. The brushwork practice has been good so it's time to think about some serious painting.</p><p>Meanwhile I still have a few mixed media and collage works in process. That will be another post.</p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-3357274137077946502023-09-16T09:19:00.000-07:002023-09-16T09:19:05.257-07:00Still Playing With Stones<p></p><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm beginning to think about Christmas. This little guy may become a gift tag.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYliIj-uUykfpX2RZl8dUGWkJRsWWup1hl5HZOJmQFOldL77ZOH0RxTFuDBrWLcAontKd2yyZa_DE-VoN8mjMUKMw4cveQUKs3jvridpw8EGt9X3LpGaSjd4HVkSz3SMfxxHDs8V7RS-fhL2bBtdJQUe7DPmSdmad4hNcgB_yFtTqkfNuMi-uuxYloZhz2/s3000/gnomb%20tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1710" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYliIj-uUykfpX2RZl8dUGWkJRsWWup1hl5HZOJmQFOldL77ZOH0RxTFuDBrWLcAontKd2yyZa_DE-VoN8mjMUKMw4cveQUKs3jvridpw8EGt9X3LpGaSjd4HVkSz3SMfxxHDs8V7RS-fhL2bBtdJQUe7DPmSdmad4hNcgB_yFtTqkfNuMi-uuxYloZhz2/s320/gnomb%20tag.jpg" width="182" /></a></div><p><br /></p>I've also been thinking about a Christmas card. I lost several addresses when a not so good technician moved things to my new laptop so some may not get one. I've found a new technician but that's another story and it's too late for the mailing lists.<p></p><p>Since I'm moving back into watercolors I want to try something different -- perhaps a poinsettia, we'll see. Meanwhile I'm enjoying playing with washes and rocks. Yesterday's wash turned out to be a disaster. However, I saw a couple rocks in the mess so I started playing. There's still a ways to go and it may end up being okay after all. What do you think, is there any hope?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlgdCKHLqBIHvXeRRHNbdNiMMP5vy6WdBXVobQNWUs89oO8gy1BHCt53aocIHi19IkqIMe__XadUwMRpRJDu6Zxx3JlZcToCZDT5G20pDq7H9z84elSIYncvopChNzwj7MeXvFLJf6j33FYMiS-nDAgSDZrpVEZl7KKUQbiUJI6vlhln7CA2D-KNLPa1c/s2787/rock%208%20wip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="2787" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlgdCKHLqBIHvXeRRHNbdNiMMP5vy6WdBXVobQNWUs89oO8gy1BHCt53aocIHi19IkqIMe__XadUwMRpRJDu6Zxx3JlZcToCZDT5G20pDq7H9z84elSIYncvopChNzwj7MeXvFLJf6j33FYMiS-nDAgSDZrpVEZl7KKUQbiUJI6vlhln7CA2D-KNLPa1c/s320/rock%208%20wip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile I'm beginning to search for poinsettia images. If you have any would you share?</div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-90180339287002881022023-09-08T07:16:00.000-07:002023-09-08T07:16:08.470-07:00I'm Liking Watercolors Again<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zXXFuG-CWZTm9ItKCOV9FFI7Jadrr_T1om8r-Xt55gDchaAdWjpzlh7sGxymwNm7IKxBdh4aa1gl3HFM5TIp7gd1ljOoeH4I0bRnggX1VAivPquGAHg-pCwBMZNWKiBkdgxp3lMwomCgVi3OJW9haXkx0X26CKdn3wWig4oonHuO_cpQuB4tSp8PHtxz/s6075/rock%20meditations%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4253" data-original-width="6075" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zXXFuG-CWZTm9ItKCOV9FFI7Jadrr_T1om8r-Xt55gDchaAdWjpzlh7sGxymwNm7IKxBdh4aa1gl3HFM5TIp7gd1ljOoeH4I0bRnggX1VAivPquGAHg-pCwBMZNWKiBkdgxp3lMwomCgVi3OJW9haXkx0X26CKdn3wWig4oonHuO_cpQuB4tSp8PHtxz/s320/rock%20meditations%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>August in the time for my annual art retreat in Traverse City and for the past several years I've done acrylics and collage or a combination of both. This year I decided to downsize my supplies and just take watercolors. <p></p><p>I took along my ipad because I had seen a demonstration on watercolor abstracts that looked interesting and wanted to have a better look. I didn't find it but did come across an interesting demonstration on healing stones by Jean Haines and decided to give it a try. </p><p>Why? I'm not sure but as I write this I'm thinking about the first time I swam in Lake Huron. There were so many stones on the shore that we had to walk out on sandbags to get to an area that was just sand. A childhood memory that always makes me smile. I've seen the shore of Lake Huron several times since that day in Jeddo and every time the stones were a reminder. I expected to see the same thing when I moved over to the Lake Michigan side of the state, not a stone in site but the water was still delightful. Not so good for swimming but great fun to play in the waves.</p><p>The painting above was my first try at her technique though I didn't really follow it. The next one I did watch what and followed direction, or at least tried. I didn't particularly like the result but found doing the stones very meditative so I kept at it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC_ciAdY23mK5adW-QZ7AhQVRjV7hQZgDrCFxzq0w-qNQk-_mxamUIYRNZ4PjJWvjCublNxaW6uKDjA3XvkWn2Cv1kSZow9sVKINo-EVxDymjhHDINOKIEV15V0Wm2NPY6Q0a2r7gLbDWCvF8_loR8Gr5fvQ_WXwBQ3ACqfvYfy741dgzX5eWaAMnOSTs/s2334/rock%20meditations%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="2334" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC_ciAdY23mK5adW-QZ7AhQVRjV7hQZgDrCFxzq0w-qNQk-_mxamUIYRNZ4PjJWvjCublNxaW6uKDjA3XvkWn2Cv1kSZow9sVKINo-EVxDymjhHDINOKIEV15V0Wm2NPY6Q0a2r7gLbDWCvF8_loR8Gr5fvQ_WXwBQ3ACqfvYfy741dgzX5eWaAMnOSTs/s320/rock%20meditations%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I like the third piece a bit better...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsb7omiirKhtx7ruDCBNGeCfEz8IZ6NMEtFQFUxtEAVktnr6PkTpIe0K6BnuymgXm4IEDMOT4rx7w3qHxCurp_vUhkWdXqc07pSAMswOExzuGl9opJVqz29wP-OIeZGoTtGx1vZcKJeuwYhpCl789UjY1i05thO-qZY-XbxK0YkfnwvaOGffQa_Et2eig/s2054/rock%20meditations%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="2054" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsb7omiirKhtx7ruDCBNGeCfEz8IZ6NMEtFQFUxtEAVktnr6PkTpIe0K6BnuymgXm4IEDMOT4rx7w3qHxCurp_vUhkWdXqc07pSAMswOExzuGl9opJVqz29wP-OIeZGoTtGx1vZcKJeuwYhpCl789UjY1i05thO-qZY-XbxK0YkfnwvaOGffQa_Et2eig/s320/rock%20meditations%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I really liked the meditative part so I moved on to 4 and 5...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_xtaVAucHKAW2Ge26aOWjiJMShInmfr9_EzWddJkFxl-f0NyaYBqqj3RJXPfppxPrrXRO1-R8hQQpXdkpPZzM1hKbiH5JqGaD--8fHTV9leJiRW3VtslcFL_aO5JchGh0hMloX5OJpAMut5MNj001BrnGvgzp7EDlFKZewtU0Ng5ml3U-oOs4zEZKXQU/s1537/rock%20meditations%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_xtaVAucHKAW2Ge26aOWjiJMShInmfr9_EzWddJkFxl-f0NyaYBqqj3RJXPfppxPrrXRO1-R8hQQpXdkpPZzM1hKbiH5JqGaD--8fHTV9leJiRW3VtslcFL_aO5JchGh0hMloX5OJpAMut5MNj001BrnGvgzp7EDlFKZewtU0Ng5ml3U-oOs4zEZKXQU/s320/rock%20meditations%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MlfNZa__s_hwHhcQ4lyM5mD6jJoD0iuZVfdVoneMyKXgTZNT1lw4MfZo69gVpnpYGslha6Zv0OrEQY211KK1hS8tCiCIu9hia5wS9o7uqNOGaeiGPxgbL_sIYkPE6ZtpwtX9gMugU_YJOcdaNafg6GI3H3maI9jZ4YuhNFGK5Ta80nEtMNxjiTz9rndQ/s2338/rock%20meditations%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="2338" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MlfNZa__s_hwHhcQ4lyM5mD6jJoD0iuZVfdVoneMyKXgTZNT1lw4MfZo69gVpnpYGslha6Zv0OrEQY211KK1hS8tCiCIu9hia5wS9o7uqNOGaeiGPxgbL_sIYkPE6ZtpwtX9gMugU_YJOcdaNafg6GI3H3maI9jZ4YuhNFGK5Ta80nEtMNxjiTz9rndQ/s320/rock%20meditations%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>And by number 6 I began thinking doing a bit every morning would be a good way to start the day before moving on to more serious paintings. These stone pieces have become a way for me to do some experimenting with more of my watercolor colors and texture techniques. Texture is another love. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVfY4Jbo226GskUcy1ku197YlHGnijlY3Ig0HdKkhfezXiv031MYMu9EnIGECovFc3p2WJukCz9SBr3_lcYnUBKUzlJyem_ZorWAo5XR8Po39woN3oxTgVndWWPlLcV3Q6DcHHumy1HDix_htD98_RJkwGeyRPI8WW_QyM1NDzF_TaIJiqErEA_WuokgC/s4032/rock%20meditations%206%20wip%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVfY4Jbo226GskUcy1ku197YlHGnijlY3Ig0HdKkhfezXiv031MYMu9EnIGECovFc3p2WJukCz9SBr3_lcYnUBKUzlJyem_ZorWAo5XR8Po39woN3oxTgVndWWPlLcV3Q6DcHHumy1HDix_htD98_RJkwGeyRPI8WW_QyM1NDzF_TaIJiqErEA_WuokgC/s320/rock%20meditations%206%20wip%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>This one is almost done but I keep seeing more stones. I may end up overworking so I'd best quit while I'm ahead. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-48094761859793346992023-07-30T08:47:00.000-07:002023-07-30T08:47:17.914-07:00A New Beginning<p> My muse apparently is still on vacation. I have starts all over the studio, this one being the most recent. I start but inspiration either leaves or I'm not sure where to go next -- or I fear messing it up.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizugm9t7ocKL9NCC_n3AYW6Bjmydmbrue8UPKkOTKXpJwJxnaAklcfPWhyjLiFIufFBt23YY1wFYZfWmKpl36-rU9OfnR0YlHC1RlZtOeKSiiCJsUFUF8YtmAV8YlfoquM-SB-YHtSMgUmWlOBi9LI5UcmTxHpU10bryGXNOIBarSNirsJDhFhSLFhm9UN/s4032/landscape%20start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizugm9t7ocKL9NCC_n3AYW6Bjmydmbrue8UPKkOTKXpJwJxnaAklcfPWhyjLiFIufFBt23YY1wFYZfWmKpl36-rU9OfnR0YlHC1RlZtOeKSiiCJsUFUF8YtmAV8YlfoquM-SB-YHtSMgUmWlOBi9LI5UcmTxHpU10bryGXNOIBarSNirsJDhFhSLFhm9UN/w240-h237/landscape%20start.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But a better thing to do I think, is to look at it and wonder why I started this way. I don't have an image in mind other than watercolor landscape but looking at this I see beach as though I'm seeing the landscape from out in the water. That makes sense to me. I do love being on the water but sitting on shore looking out at water works for me too. I may just leave this one as it is or it could become more abstract. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully my muse will return and help me find my way with this and a few others that are in the works. Meanwhile I continue to do a quick morning sketch and sort more supplies that can go away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On another note -- The Art Tribe exhibit at the Gallery Uptown came down yesterday. I posted my piece in the exhibit last week. I'm still lamenting the lost piece. I truly like it so much better than the rushed piece that ended up in the exhibit. Here's how it looked before the last two worked on it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtAuk1oz3U0vMV2_6xZM-bB1VnfPlnOEWu5f0jqVH-ydPMf_jlAkduE8AEc48LE-Sw8PpU4e7kgRz6bJBz9sQ0AgxwBWv-ydsiPFwNOlcbdRQbG-2ssNmvwwTKph90_MDmjZMPRR9Cr18kz0GZYgLPaC7Z3O0hvuWmeIDYKah_rVFSTTgpzVOwzAVnkfG/s1600/my%20lost%20collaborative.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtAuk1oz3U0vMV2_6xZM-bB1VnfPlnOEWu5f0jqVH-ydPMf_jlAkduE8AEc48LE-Sw8PpU4e7kgRz6bJBz9sQ0AgxwBWv-ydsiPFwNOlcbdRQbG-2ssNmvwwTKph90_MDmjZMPRR9Cr18kz0GZYgLPaC7Z3O0hvuWmeIDYKah_rVFSTTgpzVOwzAVnkfG/s320/my%20lost%20collaborative.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What's so wonderful about this is that it truly represents everyone taking time to think about where they were going to go with it and I can see them in what they did. That and it has the work on one of the Tribe who was unable to work on my replacement piece because of health issues. I do hope this turns up eventually but at least I have this photo. I may have to print it on a tee shirt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-29969526692381736162023-07-15T08:04:00.000-07:002023-07-15T08:04:16.844-07:00The Art Tribe Exhibit Is Open<p>Finally, it's up and a very interesting show at the Gallery Uptown. Seven of us did collaborative pieces for the show. This is mine...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx-JvzbSq2AY8alcyHNkZL-Wm7cx9-r5wTFxWVMiH57hE_VHx0tWCnfEBZrp8LvJHfRbHDXSTUIj2JAT2_RamEQTRcrksdoE5un4cpumV6DvRCR4nhpK5MRXP7jJNd3879om0gfaQOA3O7Vke6TJqmY1sgbEEkBlswuUbi4HE70xrK_ZRy6_9nkAdWy73/s2175/my%20collaborative%20piece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="2175" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx-JvzbSq2AY8alcyHNkZL-Wm7cx9-r5wTFxWVMiH57hE_VHx0tWCnfEBZrp8LvJHfRbHDXSTUIj2JAT2_RamEQTRcrksdoE5un4cpumV6DvRCR4nhpK5MRXP7jJNd3879om0gfaQOA3O7Vke6TJqmY1sgbEEkBlswuUbi4HE70xrK_ZRy6_9nkAdWy73/s320/my%20collaborative%20piece.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each of us started one and then it went around to the rest of the tribe, Margaret Benefiel, Carol Cousineau, Bette DelVecchio, Barb Fugazzotto, Sandy Meyer and Annie Morgan. Each piece is different and interesting. Putting the last minute touches on the opening kept me busy which is why I haven't posted in a couple weeks. It was worth the time it took. If you are able, go see it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I still managed to do my 100 flowers, not in 100 days but I got them done. The last bunch were done in my morning journal. Here are a few of those --</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6CEV2_ItwzG438eii_ucJM3z4qb8Kyv6EuVsC8u6hRRBp0erGcbtThFs7gfnDuym4JSoDd4xvCCh-Fh_aappKP5Te0_-A5_YaR3QPHZR5Wd6lXW9AIwQv1QzeMgKG8xTAVovOvnVXB6h_23bAEu0puvGS55pGaZZkQer7XCzPl-bREN7s0JLdeU5ARwV/s1500/Day%2086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6CEV2_ItwzG438eii_ucJM3z4qb8Kyv6EuVsC8u6hRRBp0erGcbtThFs7gfnDuym4JSoDd4xvCCh-Fh_aappKP5Te0_-A5_YaR3QPHZR5Wd6lXW9AIwQv1QzeMgKG8xTAVovOvnVXB6h_23bAEu0puvGS55pGaZZkQer7XCzPl-bREN7s0JLdeU5ARwV/s320/Day%2086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWPwXgLWAzoTnXdDpFickcEGCGoUI0faA7Ud-Kw5bYuV4Bf-MPwtQf6BIus-DWUivN9o7vn0LzKI3wFJjUFrj66Q4mtBKaLzAn6nclmlUxm4bkH-BvUEoHs-WQPMaxFk-MGlTdkBtjsjX7LeronQcHBUqrjx0loP7jO-h-d-3mOQ1M2idishsqgKxX4yP/s1500/Day%2092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWPwXgLWAzoTnXdDpFickcEGCGoUI0faA7Ud-Kw5bYuV4Bf-MPwtQf6BIus-DWUivN9o7vn0LzKI3wFJjUFrj66Q4mtBKaLzAn6nclmlUxm4bkH-BvUEoHs-WQPMaxFk-MGlTdkBtjsjX7LeronQcHBUqrjx0loP7jO-h-d-3mOQ1M2idishsqgKxX4yP/s320/Day%2092.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtdLsWJnEK1GjePZxQ4tFC0ptHKOj9hgmk-7WGq98zxPfw5LyQic2e0JtDBXruCL4USGkNZZgavrwj_ecstnoN_sbMnb7HkFMz1yaS1pUVRryhwQPhvaT_ESXN9YmcsX6aIVCaD8gbSRD8ZzzHgSVI5jH-GP5QuKLTsxDt_-YB_7Fk_H56ZYdAN5rtsbZ/s2481/Day%20100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2481" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtdLsWJnEK1GjePZxQ4tFC0ptHKOj9hgmk-7WGq98zxPfw5LyQic2e0JtDBXruCL4USGkNZZgavrwj_ecstnoN_sbMnb7HkFMz1yaS1pUVRryhwQPhvaT_ESXN9YmcsX6aIVCaD8gbSRD8ZzzHgSVI5jH-GP5QuKLTsxDt_-YB_7Fk_H56ZYdAN5rtsbZ/s320/Day%20100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNlOb5oyyQOwqKHGZ_qLUFtxf2UG0pE6opY0j4nBIcyua4g2-TpSazvnvSI2658ltl5yHS74NSwNyrQAwxvQ_T4-wI-HH6yrro_U5GMMU8rp69mVUZyVItypwZvTO6ogvqJNODoWDIne62neXWWTVfBHjoQp8DTtzSL6IzUoyNuPo7FuEuShY6pPNoeCe/s2851/Day%2098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="2851" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNlOb5oyyQOwqKHGZ_qLUFtxf2UG0pE6opY0j4nBIcyua4g2-TpSazvnvSI2658ltl5yHS74NSwNyrQAwxvQ_T4-wI-HH6yrro_U5GMMU8rp69mVUZyVItypwZvTO6ogvqJNODoWDIne62neXWWTVfBHjoQp8DTtzSL6IzUoyNuPo7FuEuShY6pPNoeCe/s320/Day%2098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And yesterday I met my dear friend Terry in Portland where we meet to sketch and catch up with what's going on in our lives. She lives on the other side of the state. This is the sketch I did, love the flowers, the stone wall -- not so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eU3UVTKK3VJDAviocYnqSL4wp4atps3M0nehnABz_Hq7eKPXmBq1Rb4nDjJjt3nGaQgTcJVK7gWSoWcmh4JjJxhGaJepAQ6BL2KKAw4T7lQ5nGYaiBtGpfiudWMoHKLCiFmLY6wng3Qg-zldqaFbz_eC4-zkafraXyQ5u0LL0Ecg-Ip93tjLM6aY8Mvr/s2731/portland%20july%2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1933" data-original-width="2731" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eU3UVTKK3VJDAviocYnqSL4wp4atps3M0nehnABz_Hq7eKPXmBq1Rb4nDjJjt3nGaQgTcJVK7gWSoWcmh4JjJxhGaJepAQ6BL2KKAw4T7lQ5nGYaiBtGpfiudWMoHKLCiFmLY6wng3Qg-zldqaFbz_eC4-zkafraXyQ5u0LL0Ecg-Ip93tjLM6aY8Mvr/s320/portland%20july%2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now looking forward to another of my friend Karen's Remission Picnics. I'm not sure what number this is but I'm guessing at least 20.</div><br />Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-12009794189612621862023-06-17T08:51:00.005-07:002023-06-17T08:51:45.044-07:00Reviving An Old Practice And More Poppies<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURh1gUYCh3IV-RyIRsZ6rueWN93vpkKi4YNU0bd1ViOzj7RnINi3I37iVtJK4LtMhe4gIB9-cw6tt_CELJfr0Ynr5ZqJvkyMgqSQh4Ubdcsw1pz2N2oogtiPY-KCi-rZb0Z50dvz_ksYnRAbDD9kywi4gMEB1uNYfeNMH1nxPGfyh_hM1oBWRi0Fdyg/s2726/Day%2081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2130" data-original-width="2726" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURh1gUYCh3IV-RyIRsZ6rueWN93vpkKi4YNU0bd1ViOzj7RnINi3I37iVtJK4LtMhe4gIB9-cw6tt_CELJfr0Ynr5ZqJvkyMgqSQh4Ubdcsw1pz2N2oogtiPY-KCi-rZb0Z50dvz_ksYnRAbDD9kywi4gMEB1uNYfeNMH1nxPGfyh_hM1oBWRi0Fdyg/s320/Day%2081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With warmer weather and some flowers, I revived an old practice of doing a quick watercolor and ink sketch on top of my morning journaling. Here are a couple more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_8DX8_BMdFy3_nkKwRC4aYiL3dXb5ge2lolczSIYSC-tHSvvprSN-HEiPxGeTBUfkVBJ3BhHFMvUPjOHULodZM0emkNswxs3WX9AjyH83aqPfFju6_g8cvkeQoiLvac_ZZo7kEMGPav15iFy8XtN9rSZTz0vlfdRztsNzSA6ItNU_6j5MTuK2Y2AfQ/s1500/Day%2080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1500" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_8DX8_BMdFy3_nkKwRC4aYiL3dXb5ge2lolczSIYSC-tHSvvprSN-HEiPxGeTBUfkVBJ3BhHFMvUPjOHULodZM0emkNswxs3WX9AjyH83aqPfFju6_g8cvkeQoiLvac_ZZo7kEMGPav15iFy8XtN9rSZTz0vlfdRztsNzSA6ItNU_6j5MTuK2Y2AfQ/s320/Day%2080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1lWhe0oJNvME984YgkAHIjJczqmILk16Cz5PYmsvm93CNHv7oOMUSooCtXYhlJIBUkv2Cbf1ACWneWpD7W-5QbNYoyqhaqncAMUz4cHxVul8Zg9gvBFMeYk4snYYQRoOltO3dYEDZC7i1eA_96oBW-dsAAK-qKkeXL8Sw2VRVLDaDRlnM59N0CVHow/s1500/Day%2079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1lWhe0oJNvME984YgkAHIjJczqmILk16Cz5PYmsvm93CNHv7oOMUSooCtXYhlJIBUkv2Cbf1ACWneWpD7W-5QbNYoyqhaqncAMUz4cHxVul8Zg9gvBFMeYk4snYYQRoOltO3dYEDZC7i1eA_96oBW-dsAAK-qKkeXL8Sw2VRVLDaDRlnM59N0CVHow/s320/Day%2079.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another sketch -- poppies. My Tuesday Painters group went to Fennville to sketch the Poppy Field this week. What a beautiful site and a loving tribute to the son of the people who own the field. His grave is in the cemetery next to the field. Here is my sketch and an image of the field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsUiQqJY6T04p1l7L55Dbu4cQ5hBsvEnUpUhgKXeE3W7Enx5pTelPVHO8Rw4foo18cSkxpDupl6FgAi-M-LhYFHFkZGg4M34sABpy5nw_cz3R33pJbpiGNMIB6hr8VKu2tUkMLce0mXpnHtixEi46jQFvanF2YKjGgjMM0otfNXAQzIYhJbOAW0Gn7A/s2400/poppies%20at%20Fennville%20sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsUiQqJY6T04p1l7L55Dbu4cQ5hBsvEnUpUhgKXeE3W7Enx5pTelPVHO8Rw4foo18cSkxpDupl6FgAi-M-LhYFHFkZGg4M34sABpy5nw_cz3R33pJbpiGNMIB6hr8VKu2tUkMLce0mXpnHtixEi46jQFvanF2YKjGgjMM0otfNXAQzIYhJbOAW0Gn7A/s320/poppies%20at%20Fennville%20sketch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKBzkiQ6kW2adHmqb0hxiLFM0i2owgxWYFhZ2SjiYEyYYQdI1b7uvppLDbVcN-aqNCf8Vux6W4vv5EDY-wCEaiXfbRmBztyk8puqYDRb9Ob5uioSpFLfrmO5E2r8SkH8tvyZ5vyRBShMxhKLIVwzQA2OBCiIL2fOdIdZ6GRSUs7DJyiyaCzdXFZlq7g/s3633/fennville%20poppy%20field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2838" data-original-width="3633" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKBzkiQ6kW2adHmqb0hxiLFM0i2owgxWYFhZ2SjiYEyYYQdI1b7uvppLDbVcN-aqNCf8Vux6W4vv5EDY-wCEaiXfbRmBztyk8puqYDRb9Ob5uioSpFLfrmO5E2r8SkH8tvyZ5vyRBShMxhKLIVwzQA2OBCiIL2fOdIdZ6GRSUs7DJyiyaCzdXFZlq7g/s320/fennville%20poppy%20field.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I'm off to a gathering of Art Tribe members to talk about our upcoming exhibit at the Gallery Uptown in July. More on that in another post.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-19804211975752204312023-05-27T09:07:00.000-07:002023-05-27T09:07:48.395-07:00Weeding<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9_qhs1m997Kzst-3HfNiMSgmCJQTQW8f7s0RGk1QtrnQcLX4eeblbwg9ePDlU6ID3IDG7FFnI44mFQadRhNSkwHVXs78brFLYHUjVedb2NjY5nXZb_slGyrsehrO1QTCnKhET7Drlsjyr5jPW4fjj900q94NbYSc2g4mdmmJ4l6F5odPZWQvbNZ0yw/s586/poppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9_qhs1m997Kzst-3HfNiMSgmCJQTQW8f7s0RGk1QtrnQcLX4eeblbwg9ePDlU6ID3IDG7FFnI44mFQadRhNSkwHVXs78brFLYHUjVedb2NjY5nXZb_slGyrsehrO1QTCnKhET7Drlsjyr5jPW4fjj900q94NbYSc2g4mdmmJ4l6F5odPZWQvbNZ0yw/s320/poppies.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Gardening has reminded me to be ruthless. Weeds must be pulled for the other plants to live."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #23a5bd; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Open Sans";"><span>Julie Fei-Fan Balzer</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;">And weeding reminds me that it's necessary to part with some things in the studio that haven't been used in years.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;"> I keep telling myself that I will get around to that one of these days but it's time to get realistic, I'm going to have to live to be a 120 to finish the things I want to finish let alone all of the things I may do one of these days. And much of that extra stuff is in the way of getting anything done. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;">Clutter in closets, clutter in the garage, clutter in the junk drawer -- well those are pretty well sorted and kept clear here but not my studio so a lot of stuff is going away to give me room to work on something I want to work on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Myriad Pro, Ariel, sans-serif;">Which brought me the poppies above, I did the drawing over a year ago I think. Finally last week I added some paint and this morning a bit of gesso for texture. I have no idea where the piece is going but so far I'm liking it. This is the first floral I've tried using acrylics. I once did watercolor florals but that was a long time ago. And since I've recently been trying non-representational mixed media and now am experimenting with a more representational mixed media piece, why not try watercolor non-representational? Well it started that way but ended up becoming a landscape and I kind of like it.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Myriad Pro, Ariel, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYymZE7QKqoJYmYy-zTfniP4KbsjSqWBHgYWRJer7SHEkXdd3o06dfg-ZYWYejgt5rdZnvZlkYMWvmS9pdLe6YNQmcdE-I0NUjVqYlXn8OnXevG4J9Bb6UPSvlbzropd7UkSQkr6IfZQ67bPvO8R7AIJwRNUmADGhXaNXqvgygiBO3-Lej3Gpeo7eZ0w/s640/landscape%201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="640" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYymZE7QKqoJYmYy-zTfniP4KbsjSqWBHgYWRJer7SHEkXdd3o06dfg-ZYWYejgt5rdZnvZlkYMWvmS9pdLe6YNQmcdE-I0NUjVqYlXn8OnXevG4J9Bb6UPSvlbzropd7UkSQkr6IfZQ67bPvO8R7AIJwRNUmADGhXaNXqvgygiBO3-Lej3Gpeo7eZ0w/s320/landscape%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So why not try the same watercolor spatter paint method and flowers. I like that too though I don't think I'd like them larger, these are about 5 x7".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4IIRHZYeUFc_gCJA89KBs-Zflw0yACaAIBnRIU0WRn-KvYfL666BcxSQeVjNRY9cK_YXmjqtyl-nGOUqFgQ0iFsYsrTkcKyAiLIoaM0t_gzGDyWmJSIaXp9fTYC6OlSKPnClRQhkw9XhrATKxq1-MaDrYW_ddEZ-WzAeQfP8Ja4uzAIb8YoW9nPhtA/s2004/Day%2054%20just%20the%20floral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="2004" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4IIRHZYeUFc_gCJA89KBs-Zflw0yACaAIBnRIU0WRn-KvYfL666BcxSQeVjNRY9cK_YXmjqtyl-nGOUqFgQ0iFsYsrTkcKyAiLIoaM0t_gzGDyWmJSIaXp9fTYC6OlSKPnClRQhkw9XhrATKxq1-MaDrYW_ddEZ-WzAeQfP8Ja4uzAIb8YoW9nPhtA/s320/Day%2054%20just%20the%20floral.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both of these were fun to play with. The poppies have been fun too -- so far. I'm going slow with that one because I don't want to mess it up. Then again, why not -- I can always sand it back and start over. That is part of what I like about working on wood. And I may do more experimenting with non-representational watercolors. Stay tuned.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Myriad Pro, Ariel, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Myriad Pro, Ariel, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Myriad Pro, Ariel, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Myriad Pro", Ariel, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-68294713489828358162023-05-13T11:31:00.000-07:002023-05-13T11:31:04.456-07:00Diversity Is Part Of Making Art<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Diversity is a good thing and it
certainly exists in my work.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My recent journey
back in to watercolor while still playing with acrylics is an example.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLg7Kz1sHLFTTYUfAoG6SvHN3cDjj2NarOibs35lK_8WTMwrt_ssekC_kBmO3QnUfJd38PKajV29d6qMGGnw6vYPxXasGsu4vJKRKqE_z8_7ap7WjtxtN98RyN_iD9fBToliJbdjUu-CGh8pDk6OYxbvR06h6rYxmGmKZJLRT19RAwHr63DSr0P3Gyw/s640/Day%2046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="640" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLg7Kz1sHLFTTYUfAoG6SvHN3cDjj2NarOibs35lK_8WTMwrt_ssekC_kBmO3QnUfJd38PKajV29d6qMGGnw6vYPxXasGsu4vJKRKqE_z8_7ap7WjtxtN98RyN_iD9fBToliJbdjUu-CGh8pDk6OYxbvR06h6rYxmGmKZJLRT19RAwHr63DSr0P3Gyw/s320/Day%2046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That makes me think of my Art Tribe, a
very diverse group and two of them more diverse than others, Anne Morgan and
Barbara Fugazzotto,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sent a list questions
because I wanted to introduce them to you all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since one of Barbara Fugazzotto’s many talents is writing I’m just going
to let her tell you about herself. But first an example of her work. You can see the variety on her website <o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://fugazzotto.art/">Fugazzotto Art Works</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEOZm1NywjH1pV4W0xav-jQgelh3wzdFZ1-hXhhtwmTROCw_nbxK68T6apV7Vjut5jBKJFdNOJ5rrcWx4UCN94PrxWEWSBLu2-UHlOveI896HAP76xdC74AtZY1XHy1rEIo57w8sZruc3Y8UlLE-MvEVM9nd6zxYhY2_ezD2tuIPc358TvXPl9UW1sQ/s619/barb%20mask%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEOZm1NywjH1pV4W0xav-jQgelh3wzdFZ1-hXhhtwmTROCw_nbxK68T6apV7Vjut5jBKJFdNOJ5rrcWx4UCN94PrxWEWSBLu2-UHlOveI896HAP76xdC74AtZY1XHy1rEIo57w8sZruc3Y8UlLE-MvEVM9nd6zxYhY2_ezD2tuIPc358TvXPl9UW1sQ/s320/barb%20mask%202.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And now, here's Barb --<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I've always considered
"home" to be where I am currently living. I've lived in Florida
for 30 years and currently I am in my new Home. I was born in Michigan
and have lived in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York State. My college
and career were in Michigan. My roots extend into these former homes and
into my family heritage of Sicily and northern Europe. I wonder if my
mixed media approach to creating is somehow related to my many
roots extending in different directions during my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Early in my childhood,
my mother taught me a variety of hand crafts--crochet, embroidery, and
most important, sewing. Since about 5 years old (she estimated, when she
gave me needle and thread and fabric scraps) sewing is still a
favorite activity in my art life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She didn't
"teach" me to cook, but I must have learned how by watching
her and enjoying her delicious meals--made with love of family for the
family. Cooking for me is still enjoyable and I approach it as a creative
process with an eye for beautiful presentation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My father's humble
Sicilian immigrant heritage has made me appreciate a spirit of adventure,
the "can do" spirit, and making something out of nothing, so to
speak. All of these qualities relate to being an artist. His rise to
PhD status in public health inspired my drive and achievement in school,
and interest in science. But the vivid enduring image of
him--"peasant in his garden" continues to touch my heart and connects
me with my family heritage here and in Sicily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have always
enjoyed art and craft activities--My biology diagram of the frog
dissection was in technicolor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I didn't think of
myself as an ARTIST. My father's influence "encouraged" me
towards a "substantial career--art is a good hobby". Ironically
I became an art teacher.... while looking for something more substantial. After
25 years, teaching was my substantial career. So I have always thought of
myself as a teacher and an artist. Now, after retirement, I believe I am
an artist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of the famous artists,
I've always loved Van Gogh for his use of color and vivacious brush strokes
patterning his canvas. My dear Aunt Louise, a career art teacher, had Van
Gogh prints in her house. When I visited her, I visited Van Gogh
too. Vermeer's "Girl with the Pearl Earring" was there too, and
nearby, fresh iris from the garden. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I really love Matisse’s
use of pattern and color too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My favorite artist--one
I know personally and admire is Margaret Benefiel. Her use of color is
always so surprising and delightful. Pattern dances around her whimsical
figures, furniture, and flowers. Pure joy in every way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am energized by the
question:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What will the result be
if:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I use this medium<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
One this surface<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Using this technique?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having been a junior
high art teacher, my art experience, skills, and interests were
varied. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching and doing drawing, painting,
pottery, textile processes and all the variations and combinations I could
offer students.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's that big
question:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why not paint on fabric,
then cut it up and stitch on it and then make it a vessel on a wire
armature? The possibilities are infinite. Combining various
processes and media are similar to those earth building processes of nature and
cultural history.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In my travels around the
world, I gained broad first hand exposure to the arts and crafts of many
cultures. Some of those traditions and techniques have influenced my
studio work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My early childhood
family trips Out West brought me face-to-face with dramatic landscapes of
mountain cliffs, mesas, and canyons, and earth colors I had never seen before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At 10 years old, I
couldn't believe my eyes! Rusty orange cliffs and lavender dirt!
Indiana was flat, and dirt was brown. The amazing landscapes and primeval
processes were home to ancient cultures whose ruins added to the mystery and
wonder. All of this had a profound and lasting influence on my art.
In the studio, intuitive decisions about lines, shapes, and colors
have come from that vast subconscious resource of travel in the West
and elsewhere in the world. My media are layered, scrubbed, and
overpainted just as sedimentary rocks were layered and eroded by ancient
oceans, and scoured into fantastic shapes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wherever I traveled, the
weavers, potters, fabric dyers, painters and other artisans and artists
fascinated me. Their techniques, patterns, and color choices are
additional influences. Throughout the ages and around the world, a
procession of ancients have expressed the infinite possibilities for design ,
shapes, forms, colors, and patterns to embellish their everyday lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe my
artistic spirit is linked with those ancients and present day artists,
traveling this journey of creativity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other areas of life that
art influences -- my home and myself. I am reminded of Aunt Louise again.
She had a beautiful collection of Majolica pottery on display. The
name, the colors and the designs of those pieces were totally
captivating . On a buffet, she arranged what I have come to
know as a still life. <br />
A vase of fresh flowers--iris, forsythia, pussy willows depending on the
season; a silk scarf carefully draped around a charming and
beautiful figurine. I stood there studying those compositions and
enjoying the beauty of it all and the concept of beautifying her home.
I love doing that too. And I try to have a put together look
with my own clothing, and accessories--hand crafted and
collectibles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Looking at photos of my
early work, I saw some really good ideas there that could be re-visited, but
with more finesse, and polish, and an updated style of
presentation. Using found objects and collected stuff, I realize the
importance of "MAKING IT MY OWN". Weaving on a bicycle wheel
has to be taken way beyond the wheel and the yarn. The elements have to
give up their identities to blend and become a unique (disguised?)
identity. This is a concept I try to keep in mind always.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not doing extensive
world travel anymore, but I treasure those decades of experiences. They
are still a resource I draw upon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here in Florida, I have
some connections with artists and art groups. Some friendships are slowly
developing, but for now these are opportunities for showing my
work, and meeting the artists and gallery people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My ART TRIBE in
West Michigan is my long standing group for enduring friendships, sharing art
ideas and current life events. We've combined our creativity in
group shows at the Gallery Uptown in Grand Haven. For more than 40
years, this group has supported, encouraged, and enjoyed the artistic life of
each of us. Even across the miles, I feel that I am part of this Tribe, and
benefit from that inclusion.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 202.65pt;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And like Barb, we all
feel that we benefit from the connections that make up our Tribe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-36725041225602469742023-04-29T11:09:00.001-07:002023-04-29T11:09:52.818-07:00Having Fun With Flowers<p> I've been playing with just splashing paint on a small piece of watercolor paper to do a flower as I continue with my #The100DayProject.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhDYrGanGmVwS--BXm6NLAyLcc4T1uYadUQBR8jN02k6Dq0GMAaukF75SoAz03o3qS_9Kj4GL6zBCLQAnW22E4T8CxJVLLC9TdMiIz9PTiZl7I_33JAFaVpt_6yK2GX2orLzh7I0tNcyJgSvHkBvKApFMSzxl90aWkBOaqxllsdOxAvOj3mjU4xmyCQ/s640/Days%2041,%2042,%2043,%2044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="640" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhDYrGanGmVwS--BXm6NLAyLcc4T1uYadUQBR8jN02k6Dq0GMAaukF75SoAz03o3qS_9Kj4GL6zBCLQAnW22E4T8CxJVLLC9TdMiIz9PTiZl7I_33JAFaVpt_6yK2GX2orLzh7I0tNcyJgSvHkBvKApFMSzxl90aWkBOaqxllsdOxAvOj3mjU4xmyCQ/s320/Days%2041,%2042,%2043,%2044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm also experimenting with a variety of brushes. I like all of them, some more than others but it's great fun. Here are a few more,..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMyqN5lRQIQ0y_DOckekx8NcbaQnGSuIinmP67w-bGhmbZq_JegQroTiXTRQSRVTIQQdu5qBA3gYiXxN0-nJE8OpyqQORCecEWTmbqS_D3kpfTmQv7vJaAvdKr55xMfEbBE48J4_rQYABnCRu2MJPcGLHmpU9otdZZ2s6VRWSVvXEPxncZLXS0ZlbNw/s640/Day%2046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="640" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMyqN5lRQIQ0y_DOckekx8NcbaQnGSuIinmP67w-bGhmbZq_JegQroTiXTRQSRVTIQQdu5qBA3gYiXxN0-nJE8OpyqQORCecEWTmbqS_D3kpfTmQv7vJaAvdKr55xMfEbBE48J4_rQYABnCRu2MJPcGLHmpU9otdZZ2s6VRWSVvXEPxncZLXS0ZlbNw/s320/Day%2046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn0lOWCron3PR-ZuORpb0NLGIGoeY9XVu5TBwrt5-D6j9vIO7zan6jEZfS6fydTiD7SvW_N0HqjDzsywRBdBk9461QHuvoOAcYfCDgFp07C4hmQ7R6PSKgKMWBpbycH0kO4MTeEiX0T92iODpmM-rgkqtRPgJTTU0bT7ZEayloUAE24JkujWFAlA1dQ/s640/Day%2045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="547" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn0lOWCron3PR-ZuORpb0NLGIGoeY9XVu5TBwrt5-D6j9vIO7zan6jEZfS6fydTiD7SvW_N0HqjDzsywRBdBk9461QHuvoOAcYfCDgFp07C4hmQ7R6PSKgKMWBpbycH0kO4MTeEiX0T92iODpmM-rgkqtRPgJTTU0bT7ZEayloUAE24JkujWFAlA1dQ/s320/Day%2045.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpxntyj_Ap5YlGDHNyW2GFApeydKNhKrYoO-aVXhdBYHkWlNSFfqMw5O8nCSBVC4mPJ7cAY0IIyx6Rhm0H8jTMYbEapKKy4gZCRonPniDXB38K0vd4ImNOX6pRO6uDyDeSbahMTqoZH34iLOAVzL-3cqWRjphZGM-An4_qtnJHh3Nj2JVgHYsAfRcYg/s529/Day%2044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpxntyj_Ap5YlGDHNyW2GFApeydKNhKrYoO-aVXhdBYHkWlNSFfqMw5O8nCSBVC4mPJ7cAY0IIyx6Rhm0H8jTMYbEapKKy4gZCRonPniDXB38K0vd4ImNOX6pRO6uDyDeSbahMTqoZH34iLOAVzL-3cqWRjphZGM-An4_qtnJHh3Nj2JVgHYsAfRcYg/s320/Day%2044.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc9sl7dZF5kz4saDxqgNDe8aovBscFZ-85aWerjJt1vfLlCRP5nkEmADxukYfrhzz7jB6GxZKd6y0pvjAn1qdZEhVhbyUPDgMDIclfvbFpIHnBox3fGALoWHW2DloUcAHOxR-mw2MmH2nsaZ5kBvGW_GSqzMCk1vOJRkiN0xbxA3d5c5XvJ36BUNqxg/s640/Day%2043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc9sl7dZF5kz4saDxqgNDe8aovBscFZ-85aWerjJt1vfLlCRP5nkEmADxukYfrhzz7jB6GxZKd6y0pvjAn1qdZEhVhbyUPDgMDIclfvbFpIHnBox3fGALoWHW2DloUcAHOxR-mw2MmH2nsaZ5kBvGW_GSqzMCk1vOJRkiN0xbxA3d5c5XvJ36BUNqxg/s320/Day%2043.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVnXD-ivIe1yuE2soQ_USwDca4UxjcGDugSeyBATkjnttCecpBxF-X_6_aGhd3za8B1tqkahE7-HKQ68fw5A79pSDu3eAb0EE37zlMeiKuuWFrdMUgHajHFhRTvW7ok9w0YWPKT3PtVwE-hDsDPtZdxAjlSGI0o-ziClRCMPCbPZsgGocYRFcK4l0Kw/s638/Day%2042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVnXD-ivIe1yuE2soQ_USwDca4UxjcGDugSeyBATkjnttCecpBxF-X_6_aGhd3za8B1tqkahE7-HKQ68fw5A79pSDu3eAb0EE37zlMeiKuuWFrdMUgHajHFhRTvW7ok9w0YWPKT3PtVwE-hDsDPtZdxAjlSGI0o-ziClRCMPCbPZsgGocYRFcK4l0Kw/s320/Day%2042.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCKGuaQdCNgX7227j0F7IAxzHrHew_1PnCSE5wnlTMhMJK-BIn7-kGEI0hQpbOvNGQuUsFK66HhBxW1U-04UGcC7ixghZNjdGoXST4scgzcS4SRWPz1B_91njDMrGC2cX2QoCNo5jKhp8zMmQgt7tqbH91PMsurcERvF_B7eZWJ6WZbLYuT3-4PYHRw/s640/Day%2041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCKGuaQdCNgX7227j0F7IAxzHrHew_1PnCSE5wnlTMhMJK-BIn7-kGEI0hQpbOvNGQuUsFK66HhBxW1U-04UGcC7ixghZNjdGoXST4scgzcS4SRWPz1B_91njDMrGC2cX2QoCNo5jKhp8zMmQgt7tqbH91PMsurcERvF_B7eZWJ6WZbLYuT3-4PYHRw/s320/Day%2041.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are all small, about 3" x 3". I'm having way too much fun to stop doing them '</div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-86498091277061742862023-04-17T10:03:00.000-07:002023-04-17T10:03:49.803-07:00More Flowers and The Sketchbook Revival<p> Still doing flowers but I did a few more exercises in the Sketchbook Revival which makes me think I need to play a bit with watercolor again. And had a chance to gather some background on another Art Tribe friend I would love you to meet, Carol Cousineau.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuegz90qnW2vtYCp2-fRHw8Mlfg0_CC0GMZ9nyulIP11Nej53pV2vgyB2Fy3EhlQXd0Pd6a1AxsMFnnoHlIk-cbtL5W9eOGVvm1iE1bEmEh4NijvRUg0HLWIoha2vT_1hi61q51ansszi5TmbmE-jQ1t_AINJ2GOgC_U4zOQdzrjs4sfX-JFUV_j3VJg/s640/Angelas%20watercolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="640" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuegz90qnW2vtYCp2-fRHw8Mlfg0_CC0GMZ9nyulIP11Nej53pV2vgyB2Fy3EhlQXd0Pd6a1AxsMFnnoHlIk-cbtL5W9eOGVvm1iE1bEmEh4NijvRUg0HLWIoha2vT_1hi61q51ansszi5TmbmE-jQ1t_AINJ2GOgC_U4zOQdzrjs4sfX-JFUV_j3VJg/s320/Angelas%20watercolor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.angelafehr.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.angelafehr.com/" target="_blank">Angela Fehr</a> was the workshop leader and doing it reminded me of the fun of watching the colors move and blend. Perhaps time to also consider more fluid acrylics as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did some more sketching too and played a bit with a more realistic watercolor and acrylic floral. The watercolor wasn't fun, not as much fun as those that were just color. The acrylic was more fun but a first try at realism in acrylic. Well not totally. My first acrylic painting done several years back --</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvrCKrNmvzg8whRaTUsAdXxyMqHNGt760mWam2xDTaAH4coOdAI5Z6cXx2NBwX4UaiFsrBmpCIcaMEW4h0Kz_n0aZKYnkmbNDtZ0n6VwJLwK-kLfDVnDChOlegQkjrYeLc6W-JU9mgqSXv_p3K3V3HPdlAeSYHKyAi9VIsElT7k_N0EBGQCtrASeWSg/s640/Ed%20painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="490" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvrCKrNmvzg8whRaTUsAdXxyMqHNGt760mWam2xDTaAH4coOdAI5Z6cXx2NBwX4UaiFsrBmpCIcaMEW4h0Kz_n0aZKYnkmbNDtZ0n6VwJLwK-kLfDVnDChOlegQkjrYeLc6W-JU9mgqSXv_p3K3V3HPdlAeSYHKyAi9VIsElT7k_N0EBGQCtrASeWSg/s320/Ed%20painting.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My spouse making coffee on the sailboat we chartered for our honeymoon. His left arm isn't that light in the painting -- sun glare. This one hangs in my office, he doesn't like it -- I do. Not that it's particularly good, doesn't matter, I love the subject.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that other Art Tribe friend <a href="https://galleryuptown.net/carol-cousineau" target="_blank">Carol Cousineau</a>. Carol's work is always recognizable in whatever media she is working in at the moment. Her primary medium is oil pastel but lately she has branched out using gouache and collage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc_8ua9yB61ncBNvFXqgAX6Mu8GJP484zY29ZNfuofWE1gk9Wiy03h0uLDLG8AMgxfGjptWKpwGX1NZXFdG1Bw-R5aDujc5oxgUaJ-Kc2eFVUjEKdmwoEBXLsxFGc9_H017sT0GczWg9DRpEjmedhckbZVKB5BoVVls4UWXKMfYIkW0mNuKWcPYb78g/s360/carol%20c%20oil%20pastel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc_8ua9yB61ncBNvFXqgAX6Mu8GJP484zY29ZNfuofWE1gk9Wiy03h0uLDLG8AMgxfGjptWKpwGX1NZXFdG1Bw-R5aDujc5oxgUaJ-Kc2eFVUjEKdmwoEBXLsxFGc9_H017sT0GczWg9DRpEjmedhckbZVKB5BoVVls4UWXKMfYIkW0mNuKWcPYb78g/s320/carol%20c%20oil%20pastel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcolHEh48MF4ceyu1x7K9iyxsUVXdjt6-gPalgVwUTaxUVRG-ZpfEuItulZMpYuakB5KQuD_ayKzvHNmYcCykmORuzrAm3Cz5p37-bQyuTxiYSKah5WgfTgdIUmFReWfmJmWw_LcvURxqXdY3bcGkwFMJbW0YXFBmAr5JM8TWtaQogFXDxDZkyCVTZIQ/s360/guache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcolHEh48MF4ceyu1x7K9iyxsUVXdjt6-gPalgVwUTaxUVRG-ZpfEuItulZMpYuakB5KQuD_ayKzvHNmYcCykmORuzrAm3Cz5p37-bQyuTxiYSKah5WgfTgdIUmFReWfmJmWw_LcvURxqXdY3bcGkwFMJbW0YXFBmAr5JM8TWtaQogFXDxDZkyCVTZIQ/s320/guache.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeQzZ1aNqgL_2skB_rFTU_A5lRUzQcplepv-MpDnAZXaTqZSwUV8JSUVYUWTCp8r5nptWpr75A8TAyB3Pn7N90zxg8Hb2vosbgxpiltiyxCgEAihspozwfJm7UZ3jKn8rJPVG2kGKR5k4TEnqtMoxoslhJHkSiebmT4_T2u6C8TS8QvSBCwRjJJY8pg/s360/carol%20c%20collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeQzZ1aNqgL_2skB_rFTU_A5lRUzQcplepv-MpDnAZXaTqZSwUV8JSUVYUWTCp8r5nptWpr75A8TAyB3Pn7N90zxg8Hb2vosbgxpiltiyxCgEAihspozwfJm7UZ3jKn8rJPVG2kGKR5k4TEnqtMoxoslhJHkSiebmT4_T2u6C8TS8QvSBCwRjJJY8pg/s320/carol%20c%20collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Carol is from northern New Jersey.
Museums, and galleries in New York City were very accessible and visiting them inspired her. She was also able to study with Arthur Maynard at Ridgewood New Jersey Art Institute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">She, like most of us, has been creating for as long as she can remember and was inspired and encouraged by her maternal grandmother.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She says "</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The desire to create is innately a
part of me. The process is pleasurable, therapeutic and satisfying. The
resulting piece of art is a bonus and has afforded me the opportunity to be in
galleries. All of the above is motivational." She'd also inspired by </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">museums, galleries, books, interiors, buildings, landscapes, nature, colors, shapes, </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">light and shadows. Travel </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">around the United States and other countries has influenced her art . She added that walking and driving around Michigan has probably had the most influence. We do live in a beautiful state.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You can see Carol's work at the Gallery Uptown -- go see if you haven't already.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-37123166846818505202023-04-02T13:49:00.003-07:002023-04-02T13:49:42.850-07:00I Met Some New Artists<p><b><span style="font-size: large;">And I want to introduce another Art Tribe friend.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I haven't quit the flower project ...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5hZQxItfTBOtQEQQdQzLdXQN7ua5AqJlfvMVoPqc_8Q_5aJ-wqcOi1C9wWz82BeiWarF0CllgeIeenhxDgbzDeTASMAI1jDPVMkgz3UkVy21StbpwVLJl9VJzO8FJnRoWKI0k2lJ6nQfuN-sLqeBAPhgMQc18ljtQasaJpc4JTkhtaZlif7ulaj7Zw/s407/Day%2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="287" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5hZQxItfTBOtQEQQdQzLdXQN7ua5AqJlfvMVoPqc_8Q_5aJ-wqcOi1C9wWz82BeiWarF0CllgeIeenhxDgbzDeTASMAI1jDPVMkgz3UkVy21StbpwVLJl9VJzO8FJnRoWKI0k2lJ6nQfuN-sLqeBAPhgMQc18ljtQasaJpc4JTkhtaZlif7ulaj7Zw/w194-h275/Day%2028.jpg" width="194" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVmw1fi5cIc_bKzUS-qkIXRj8l6qKNXumwgyQPCdM24Rxe03HXQyIRBCtQ3sHCOHeMZmhdlPz1S4ZrAzRxcMsr1WhVJxvrFV6S4wEJXOGmqnP6mCq0JRMx_ddjsH1OTvPJ1qWTgm7M2zvtLZMvTiC4YP2jmChYxT0LzWk9C48v0HPkMdTBS3rbnXeJQ/s407/Day%2026%20tulip%20alone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="288" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVmw1fi5cIc_bKzUS-qkIXRj8l6qKNXumwgyQPCdM24Rxe03HXQyIRBCtQ3sHCOHeMZmhdlPz1S4ZrAzRxcMsr1WhVJxvrFV6S4wEJXOGmqnP6mCq0JRMx_ddjsH1OTvPJ1qWTgm7M2zvtLZMvTiC4YP2jmChYxT0LzWk9C48v0HPkMdTBS3rbnXeJQ/w174-h246/Day%2026%20tulip%20alone.jpg" width="174" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">... but I've also been checking out some of
the short workshops on Sketchbook Revival. Last time I mentioned I checked it because a
couple artist I follow were doing workshops.
Well, I found two new ones to follow. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Both of the new ones are Urban Sketchers and since I’ve
recently joined Urban Sketchers West Michigan I wanted to check what they were
teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love what they do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two are Dutch artist <a href="http://Koosjekoene.com" target="_blank">Koosje Koene</a> and Irish artist <a href="http://roisincure.com" target="_blank">Roisin Cure</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re interested in what Urban Sketchers
is all about check these two artists out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And as long as I’m introducing, meet another Art Tribe
friend, Bette DelVechio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a sample
of her work.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLDAu5e3cVJNVCyHHpZi0wzpbfx-P_SgIQ_B_6v6i6aKLzARY20-mEmOR0I8QIqly-YHahpnNhcv3xeiQIAY92upG61Cv6OmaINSArW3DpU_rpWLQa2nKCBopfjGJG0LH52TI3B880vkr4qGVaxMSo8jZPDoMKMvOGSULmngNkadNNxWzLUsc1_dEKQ/s452/Bette%20D%20for%20blog%20post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLDAu5e3cVJNVCyHHpZi0wzpbfx-P_SgIQ_B_6v6i6aKLzARY20-mEmOR0I8QIqly-YHahpnNhcv3xeiQIAY92upG61Cv6OmaINSArW3DpU_rpWLQa2nKCBopfjGJG0LH52TI3B880vkr4qGVaxMSo8jZPDoMKMvOGSULmngNkadNNxWzLUsc1_dEKQ/s320/Bette%20D%20for%20blog%20post.jpg" width="255" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #F1F1F5 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #F1F1F5 .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<p class="mz12ndqf" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #F1F1F5 .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228;">Bette grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa. She tells me “It’s possible
the diversity of the people and the area has had some influence on my work.</span><span style="color: #1d2228;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; mso-special-character: line-break; orphans: 2; outline: none !important; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="yiv0542839021ydp72bdc1f1msonormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #F1F1F5 .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; outline: none !important; padding: 0in;"><span style="outline: none !important;"><span style="color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like my
friend Sandy, Bette has always known she was an artist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a young girl she was always designing and
sewing outfits for her dolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background: white;"> When she was 5 or 6 she was designing and sewing
complete outfits for a baby doll! What great fun!</span></span></span></span></p><p class="yiv0542839021ydp72bdc1f1msonormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #F1F1F5 .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; outline: none !important; padding: 0in;"><span style="outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #1d2228;">I
can certainly relate to what motivates her – she says “It’s just a need.</span><span style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228;">If I don’t spend time in my studio regularly
I get cranky.”</span><span style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228;">I hope I don’t get cranky
but I know, like Bette, I just have to do it.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="mz12ndqf" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #F1F1F5 .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #1d2228;">Most of
Bette’s work these days is 2D (paintings) but she still does clay work and a
bit of jewelry. When I asked her if her work has changed over the years she
said<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> as she </span><span style="background: white;">continues her trek into art, she learns and grows. “Hopefully, I’m getting better.</span>”</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="mz12ndqf" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #F1F1F5 .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Bette also enjoys entertaining friends with a good meal when she
has time to cook. Cooking is another creative outlet and you’ll find some
of those creative treats when the Art Tribe has it’s exhibit at the Gallery
Uptown in July. Plan on it.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-57846425324719743612023-03-27T09:15:00.000-07:002023-03-27T09:15:14.999-07:00The 100 Day Project Meets Sketchbook Revival<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’ve been
doing the 100 Day Project and recently joined Sketchbook Revival. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmlq_AjbcWUZ9ZXKWAxwzivlFW6r0wZRBd2wvxqKHAcUv_023_hK68dzZPGDjMtKYckoLRCQwWZWA8Z8xGcOJNJ4i0o61fp0jcC2bIvHKNY6Q_TmbYAV3RgKhii2T7yRSX2-Ru2QCEp468SMRf481WpiRzmxXtwTkb6zg9TzzZAscH71UgBlc2QnIAQ/s640/Day24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmlq_AjbcWUZ9ZXKWAxwzivlFW6r0wZRBd2wvxqKHAcUv_023_hK68dzZPGDjMtKYckoLRCQwWZWA8Z8xGcOJNJ4i0o61fp0jcC2bIvHKNY6Q_TmbYAV3RgKhii2T7yRSX2-Ru2QCEp468SMRf481WpiRzmxXtwTkb6zg9TzzZAscH71UgBlc2QnIAQ/s320/Day24.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I joined the Revival because three artists I follow do
a short workshop.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Of the three, <a href="https://jeanneoliver.com/" target="_blank">JeanneOliver </a>was the first workshop and she did a flower.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It fit my 100 Day Project -- perfect.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I like her work and she fills her newsletter with interesting
information about favorite artists, interesting books she’s
reading and videos she thinks are worth watching.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The other
two are <a href="https://www.robynmcclendon.com/art" target="_blank">Robyn McClendon</a> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">and <a href="https://karenstampercollage.com/" target="_blank">Karen Stamper</a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robyn does a
lot of gelli printing collage paper videos. I love gelli printing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Karen is a boat person, how can I not love
her work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And since I’m
introducing artists I admire, let me introduce you to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sandy.meyer.334491" target="_blank">Sandy Meyer.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61FW29YbgjLNe1IoYMgN9XjUKUY6ERsaNKbNrKhXX3Hggu81cwNyB-6fH6QZKr1A2R5IbHcnLC779OnwjzwlAc-92hnknp3KFKYbbqOJYYdwz5HCbU6963SxPB0cLMMM-9qtRbDb7YjaqZjiAySY83QregVvxOCM18jHgzCwnV1dzKsCht8JnkgQ4Jg/s1882/Sandy%20quilt%20painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1882" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61FW29YbgjLNe1IoYMgN9XjUKUY6ERsaNKbNrKhXX3Hggu81cwNyB-6fH6QZKr1A2R5IbHcnLC779OnwjzwlAc-92hnknp3KFKYbbqOJYYdwz5HCbU6963SxPB0cLMMM-9qtRbDb7YjaqZjiAySY83QregVvxOCM18jHgzCwnV1dzKsCht8JnkgQ4Jg/s320/Sandy%20quilt%20painting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She’s one of
my Art Tribe friends.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I met her when she
joined the Gallery Uptown which I’m part of.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Tribe will be having an exhibit at the Gallery in July and I hope to introduce
you to all of them before that show.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It
will give you a taste of what you will see in the exhibit – 7 artists, 7
different visions.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But back to Sandy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It wasn’t
until she brought a painting of her quilt to the gallery that I realized I’d
met her years before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went home to
check and sure enough, a page I tore out of The Artist’s Magazine had an image
of the same quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the same painting
but definitely the same quilt and the article was about the artist – Sandy Meyer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Sandy’s from
Quincy Illinois, between Mark Twain country and Lincoln country – she says both
had an influence on who she is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one
of 10 kids her escape was to go to the woods, the river bank, the fields and
gardens with her watercolors and her sketchbook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was her quiet time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She tells me
she always knew she was an artist – both her kindergartner teacher and the
school principal tol her so when they saw the drawing of her family that she
had done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You can see her work is way different than mine but I love it. you can see more of Sandy’s work on her facebook page, there is a link above.</span></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-25314158388612245822023-03-19T08:02:00.000-07:002023-03-19T08:02:18.203-07:00Just Playing With Watercolor<p> The last few florals done for #my100dayproject have been just putting paint down and seeing what happens. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURDShZfVE_SV93cB9XORKAcEfOzb5ID_lQvDt4zgZGQqadDqvR-1GT6Iof9XBrEE6yetgz-koNiBhqkQAgGneiqlb-ujqmdUsq0Iq2Q_Dz04vvrjo-K82CHxYLM56GDE5JyBYGCON-iQ0KrQJGNQ7sbgLszhvjqkqDU56m2x9x7SIy9vJxefd1EZesg/s640/Day%2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="463" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURDShZfVE_SV93cB9XORKAcEfOzb5ID_lQvDt4zgZGQqadDqvR-1GT6Iof9XBrEE6yetgz-koNiBhqkQAgGneiqlb-ujqmdUsq0Iq2Q_Dz04vvrjo-K82CHxYLM56GDE5JyBYGCON-iQ0KrQJGNQ7sbgLszhvjqkqDU56m2x9x7SIy9vJxefd1EZesg/s320/Day%2017.jpg" width="232" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some I like. I don't start with a plan other than my color choices.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbHxmacIpehbmf5d-3uUgZIIXDaOLZvgVp32ZeY261GKahOPR6W0o9U5jhQ0Z9502ydRPJhkSi9_RCub7zJMe5jnplXDyJI-TgZ62ihS3PMnFC5tSzlIHuZewdA1b0Ll8fbyyZaemxkq8TOF2YtmInc2G3e-52TYB5vEATjpuDlhKzndAmrq6i3ZpjA/s639/Day%2019%20and%2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="464" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbHxmacIpehbmf5d-3uUgZIIXDaOLZvgVp32ZeY261GKahOPR6W0o9U5jhQ0Z9502ydRPJhkSi9_RCub7zJMe5jnplXDyJI-TgZ62ihS3PMnFC5tSzlIHuZewdA1b0Ll8fbyyZaemxkq8TOF2YtmInc2G3e-52TYB5vEATjpuDlhKzndAmrq6i3ZpjA/s320/Day%2019%20and%2020.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And sometimes even that changes. The lilacs started out pink but morphed into this --</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LGV96ZqQitEweqLGXp3Onbt9Zyu0dzIn0mSmmQTJmSaAqvVifubag4ZUZN6C-_yN0TXaIH2kg6jPDJhea82bEp2TlcdaN48z5EwFBokT-T5kRbYMvAPysRp8v1wAr09x_cSyxLLyKZiBtdIHtcS02zbXUhGizmcdp2AIG8qfhUoiToMfx322YxL-PA/s640/Day%2021%20and%2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LGV96ZqQitEweqLGXp3Onbt9Zyu0dzIn0mSmmQTJmSaAqvVifubag4ZUZN6C-_yN0TXaIH2kg6jPDJhea82bEp2TlcdaN48z5EwFBokT-T5kRbYMvAPysRp8v1wAr09x_cSyxLLyKZiBtdIHtcS02zbXUhGizmcdp2AIG8qfhUoiToMfx322YxL-PA/s320/Day%2021%20and%2022.jpg" width="236" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do a rough sketch of a pot first but don't decide the color of it until I'm done with the flowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are all 5x7" which makes it easier to watch paints mix. These have been fun and I have a few more 5x7" pieces so may try a few more.</div><br /><p></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-54001729382722590892023-03-11T11:27:00.001-08:002023-03-11T11:27:18.623-08:00Another Sunflower<p> And I do like this one better</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAQct8G60DBfikIamB6TG3h1jXoPV_D1Fx901gz8xkTdna1bxzG13WR6DOHU4B7HkGDHr-VguzPapJIdyomrtAiKfjJvQ0ChI42pxOQVPkA0Lji2nTxFimaSYWOAjYXECBYh6iG_fwppFDNzDk3uQ9aCx6X_oC0tqLJB6puFoUrV14-i60C9U_hlVjw/s640/Day%2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAQct8G60DBfikIamB6TG3h1jXoPV_D1Fx901gz8xkTdna1bxzG13WR6DOHU4B7HkGDHr-VguzPapJIdyomrtAiKfjJvQ0ChI42pxOQVPkA0Lji2nTxFimaSYWOAjYXECBYh6iG_fwppFDNzDk3uQ9aCx6X_oC0tqLJB6puFoUrV14-i60C9U_hlVjw/s320/Day%2013.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p>Actually, when I started this I planned on doing Daylilys. There was a photo of several on the weekend drawing event over on wetcanvas.com last weekend. I finally decided I didn't like where the Daylilys drawing was going and I already had the paper covered with some yellows so -- why not try another Sunflower. I'm much happier with this one.</p><p>This week my Tuesday Painters group went to Herrick Library in Holland to see the quilts on exhibit. This is national quilt month and all the libraries in our area are showcasing quilts made by women in the area. The quilts were fun to see but I wasn't inspired to sketch a bunch of books on shelves or any of the quilts so I opted to do some pencil sketches of people, two sketchers and one librarian shelving books. Then some playing with lettering.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01UKZI9i_Us6tkmPf69KWNsZC8ZtzZfyy-VEVYU08X9YKUF4z79z_GiOee4AoO7ok5k-V-EOeB78fEhk4zMAqxtNhbAGXo_TWaWMhBxfaDUts_bF9-4XQVtjpXuFy2R0GAK8YadX1FwrlS4thEbLvN_k0U42d2ARFbAvKRKyQ2xD1zsQMuD93EL6_0Q/s640/March%207%20herrick%20library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="640" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01UKZI9i_Us6tkmPf69KWNsZC8ZtzZfyy-VEVYU08X9YKUF4z79z_GiOee4AoO7ok5k-V-EOeB78fEhk4zMAqxtNhbAGXo_TWaWMhBxfaDUts_bF9-4XQVtjpXuFy2R0GAK8YadX1FwrlS4thEbLvN_k0U42d2ARFbAvKRKyQ2xD1zsQMuD93EL6_0Q/s320/March%207%20herrick%20library.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>That was fun, I may do more of that -- both the people sketching and the lettering. Since the pandemic we no longer eat out much and that was when I did most of my people sketching. I do want to get back to doing it.<div><br /></div><div>And speaking of quilts, I've been talking with a friend who has painted a few quilts that she has made. I love her work and want to introduce you to her. I'll be working on that introduction for an upcoming blog post.<br /><div><br /></div><div>What else, more in my art journal and I've read a couple books. My grandson has a fractured hip and can't walk here from school so I pick him up. A book helps kill the time waiting in the parking lot. It also means I need to keep reading at other times so I can try and figure out who done it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Spring is coming -- I think I'll paint some daffodils.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208990445790211266.post-17495554620308553352023-03-04T12:14:00.001-08:002023-03-04T12:14:56.911-08:00The Challenge Continues<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmIGbMipxdw9b-VZMLDiSvB66BpVzQ4zt_oac6-ypk0AgO_S9oFTaGjRdCHW--z7ZUiWjWuMQsdc6U6IFLW_Vgg3JCxV-UvF8JsxaEe7vxwy6LlhG8D77vn7GMY3AX_YGGLnzD0-EkylfXhRufCqM41L15FDDaTUPLGXV1xk6qWOtDVnTAUSiE-hppQ/s640/Day%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="640" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmIGbMipxdw9b-VZMLDiSvB66BpVzQ4zt_oac6-ypk0AgO_S9oFTaGjRdCHW--z7ZUiWjWuMQsdc6U6IFLW_Vgg3JCxV-UvF8JsxaEe7vxwy6LlhG8D77vn7GMY3AX_YGGLnzD0-EkylfXhRufCqM41L15FDDaTUPLGXV1xk6qWOtDVnTAUSiE-hppQ/s320/Day%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> And some turned out quite nice. This is one and here are a couple more...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS7Yn1xU-GNbk7Ub_8i_PcF4XJ7IpsclP0eOmJiRcD4QJxuCIM-bVuzsQL2TFfxSZ8pdp92yEhFEyqQ04SFD_2wQa0nPo0VdSOcEuCm3yLxg3pLuqXkhXpl-7D_xmQijAU8M6aZH68Xu3BzysnUf_oHGI-p8Ms6TdEdhqNlkY3nczKGA03OhGMCnnPg/s640/Day%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="640" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS7Yn1xU-GNbk7Ub_8i_PcF4XJ7IpsclP0eOmJiRcD4QJxuCIM-bVuzsQL2TFfxSZ8pdp92yEhFEyqQ04SFD_2wQa0nPo0VdSOcEuCm3yLxg3pLuqXkhXpl-7D_xmQijAU8M6aZH68Xu3BzysnUf_oHGI-p8Ms6TdEdhqNlkY3nczKGA03OhGMCnnPg/s320/Day%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusrmjWZvFKFq6zgIEtDASiN0XwWljNiP4BtUuiV043TsQhhJw608M35WLdssGHduncOv5JxOepbJsmdkabIWquZu_nBNm19Bc9qSzKZ2e-BzlrqACUrQO2U59AXhq9d4oLqbvY_uHm_54N_orMXYkdL4i_CtO8l0eoDcr57UifJQvidfh6vdd_thB_g/s640/Day%209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="640" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusrmjWZvFKFq6zgIEtDASiN0XwWljNiP4BtUuiV043TsQhhJw608M35WLdssGHduncOv5JxOepbJsmdkabIWquZu_nBNm19Bc9qSzKZ2e-BzlrqACUrQO2U59AXhq9d4oLqbvY_uHm_54N_orMXYkdL4i_CtO8l0eoDcr57UifJQvidfh6vdd_thB_g/s320/Day%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And some, not so nice ... Too many lilacs on such a small piece of paper. This is about 2"x3". I should have limited the number of branches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTtpZ3HrtLGUf8u6p8I0gdIfNulUjP1jKJGCtHKvGLzhNuHNjY4OAfjO3VxF9jYd6lcaOIl4DrO3MHqwEFdidwW7CXQQBCCCiM_9hxm3TECa91li-33UnoPApm4EPNsLTgvST4CK08cmLNGpTYpwZfip-Cd3MFow_2np3ULxzy5mrU_2xynk8Z_vvrQ/s640/Day%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="640" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTtpZ3HrtLGUf8u6p8I0gdIfNulUjP1jKJGCtHKvGLzhNuHNjY4OAfjO3VxF9jYd6lcaOIl4DrO3MHqwEFdidwW7CXQQBCCCiM_9hxm3TECa91li-33UnoPApm4EPNsLTgvST4CK08cmLNGpTYpwZfip-Cd3MFow_2np3ULxzy5mrU_2xynk8Z_vvrQ/s320/Day%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this one is just way overworked. I was not having fun and it shows.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT37i7XOOp9Z6nFuwWCvaJwC829978LVUnvCkQQFli7oUQawbbC1XH_0NCX3iiXcc3Lt8Jh82bMVOoo7m_Xh75zuzM_K4I-k0HQ6V9Gw8cGXDH6RT9FV9rci33upr_N3cmmlpyDENDs2DW3yEsr93Xqd3zyiIgENP8gGrZabwYLc0d8K_rzcgIGbQSQ/s527/Day%205%20finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="393" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT37i7XOOp9Z6nFuwWCvaJwC829978LVUnvCkQQFli7oUQawbbC1XH_0NCX3iiXcc3Lt8Jh82bMVOoo7m_Xh75zuzM_K4I-k0HQ6V9Gw8cGXDH6RT9FV9rci33upr_N3cmmlpyDENDs2DW3yEsr93Xqd3zyiIgENP8gGrZabwYLc0d8K_rzcgIGbQSQ/s320/Day%205%20finish.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are watercolor. I'm planning to do a couple more watercolor before moving on to acrylic -- or maybe collage. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Helen Percy Lystrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00162214208975169832noreply@blogger.com3