Yesterday I stayed put and finished both the magazine articles I was writing. I can discipline myself when I want to, and deadlines help; it 25+ years of magazine assignments, I have never missed a deadline. Even my developing barometric headache didn't stop me. The result was that I didn't get out of the house.

Today, the snow is back (predicted by my headache), but I'm going out regardless. 15-20 cm don't scare me. Although this snow business is getting old...

 The bird's jaded expression says it all.

L'ennui.....

 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

I will go into the day....

 Wishing you a fruitful week.



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Wacky birds are my specialty. I draw them with love and a lot of humour. The birds forgive me for taking liberties. I know because they told me so!!

These two are now in the shop!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

I have little patience with artist's/writer's block and the agonizing that goes with it; it may sound glamorous, but it's not. It is merely a euphemism for "I need a break". If the well is empty, fill it with something else. I take breaks when I need them, which is why I can keep returning to my work table in a positive mood. I don't believe in "muses" either. I believe in myself. (You are your own muse!)

I've been dreaming about an orange bird squawking.....

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 I've been making monoprint masks and thinking of shapes that would work, so it was only a matter of time before a bird found its way into the mix. I got the initial marks on the paper by blotting off most of the paint with a piece of paper, then added some random strokes before I added the bird. I liked the clean look, so I stopped there.

 Happy Tuesday

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Continuing with monoprints, I wanted to try something a little more involved. I drew some birds with a white pencil onto black cardstock and cut them out.

 The mask is now ready for printing. After I roll paint on the Gelli with a brayer, mixing the paints (white and raw umber) and making marks on it, I place the mask over it, cover that with printmaking paper, or lightweight watercolour paper, and burnish with my hands. Then I carefully peel it off. Which is probably why it's called a hand-pulled print.

 I never really know what's going to happen, and that's part of the attraction!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

The doggie's parent returned on the Amtrak train from New York and picked her up this evening. And not a moment too soon. She somehow knew he was returning today and she gave me baleful looks all day as if to say, Where is he??

Now for the clean-up. Everything revolves around the doglet when she stays with me...

I've been painting a series of tiny canvasses, 4x5 inches, using a palette knife instead of a brush.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 One of my jobs this week is going next door twice a day to cat-sit for a friend and it was a pleasure to walk out this morning; the air is fresh rather than freezing, and the sun is out. I'm now tackling my big project which right now involves a lot of thinking and planning in my head. While I'm thinking, I'm doing other things too. This week the birds took over.

I was at Curry's yesterday picking up a stack of canvas boards for The Project, and saw a new stock of  pads, 6 x 8-inch Strathmore mixed media paper with a vellum surface, and couldn't wait to try it out. Watercolours out of a tube gliding across this paper... pure bliss.

 I also replenished my embroidery threads and stitched this over a few evenings.

 I love my work. It's taught me to be fearless and just go for it. Like this embroidery; it was unplanned; I just kept adding to it.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Stitching is the perfect winter occupation. There are snowflakes falling outside, but nothing serious. Just an excuse to curl up with needle and thread. I started with this blank piece of linen hand-loomed in Nova Scotia (the maker's label was on it and I included it as part of the markings), and started improvising.

Yesterday I added a few colours to my stash. I'm partial to Van Gogh tube watercolours right now. I wanted to experiment with pink. I got a permanent rose (Cotman's because that's the only pink I  could find) that I mixed with titanium white -- I prefer pale pinks, the paler the better -- and added some azo yellow, and ultramarine, also mixed with white.

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 It's a bright sunny day, and very cold. A perfect winter's day. The windows, which have taken a pummelling from rain and snow and wind and need cleaning, can't compete with the blinding sunshine, and my apartment is flooded with light.

Inside the colours are softer. And the days are getting longer....

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 You might be forgiven for wondering if owls have taken over, but rest assured that I am still in control... toowhit, toowhit, toohoo!

Attention shoppers: I have a holiday discount coupon in my Etsy shop. Click here!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Working with cardboard and little else forces you to use your imagination.

 I put the finishing touches on this piece ...

...  and then, the inevitable dress !

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Today, I'm playing with cardboard. I chose to stitch, and it's a bit hard on the hands but I like the effect. First I cut it out, then I glued down the bits, and stitched the tail and legs with binder's thread.
It makes me happy!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Works with brown paper. Heavy, light, or in-between, give me brown paper and I'll make something. But don't ask me to explain my attraction to this simple, basic paper. It just is.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 I love drawing with ink and an old-fashioned pen that you dip into the ink. I finally found a shade of ink (umber) that suits the old look of antique ledger paper and used that on this piece.

Available in my Etsy shop SOLD

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

A little playfulness is a very good thing!

Acrylics on canvas board

 Happy weekend!




Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

You're responsible for another life and suddenly you have to follow schedules, feel as if you're abandoning her when you need to go out to appointments etc., take her out twice a day rain or shine (rain today), and give her a little lecture about the bed being a No-Doggie-Zone; she has her own bed at the foot of mine, even though she prefers the floor most of the time. She's understood that so far, but today while I was out she decided she'd try it out. When I came back the duvet was all scrunched up -- no big deal, except that it had drool on it, so off came the cover and into the laundry basket. Ah, but I love her anyway.

This project was fun, but not for the impatient. Roll out Sculpey air-dry clay, that is (THANK YOU DIANNE FOR CATCHING THE ERROR!), cut out shape with exacto knife, insert wire for legs, let dry. Wait for what seems forever -- a day or two. Seal, paint, seal again.

Wishing you a dry and calm day!

 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Suddenly it was Wednesday...
The air is a little cooler, the birds are making plans for their travels.

"I hear Paris is pleasant this time of year...?"

"I sometimes sound more frivolous than I am."

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Time is going by too fast. In barely 3 weeks, I'll be travelling again. I'm trying to stay in the present moment; maybe it will slow things down...

A feather in her cap.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Still working.
And then there were three.

Detail

 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown