More Orchid Studies

Orchid Blossoms in Pencil (left) and Watercolor and Ink (right)

I'm loving the way orchid blossom petals fit together, and how subtle the shadows have to be to keep them white, but still show the gentle curves.  Fun.

In my state of "unmotivation", I can't seem to complete anything serious - anything larger than a sketchbook page.  So I guess I'll just stick to my sketchbook for awhile.

Now I am off to set up a still life for my afternoon class.  We will be working on simplicity and draped fabrics.  I even ironed the fabrics!

Orchid

Orchid 

Sketched in pen and Prismacolor colored pencil on Strathmore 400 Drawing Paper in my hand bound sketchbook.

Yesterday one of my students brought me a BEAUTIFUL orchid!!!  We had fun painting it in class, and last night I did this contour drawing.  You can see the patch on the right side of the drawing where I glued a piece of drawing paper over a botched try at that blossom.   I've had people ask if it's okay  (ethical) to patch, cut out, rip out, whatever, something you don't like in your sketchbook.  Yeah, of course.  Unlike life, you don't have to live with your mistakes in your art world.

I have been terribly unmotivated lately.  I have tried to turn this unproductive time into something positive, so I have been going through old sketchbooks, scraps of painting demos, and lesson plans written on pieces of paper here and there.  Organizing and sorting  gets me geared up for the next round of painting and upcoming classes and workshops.

Life is not maintenance free, and sometimes I have to look back at what I have done in order to figure out what I need to do  -  or want to do.  But what I want to do today is sketch that orchid some more. 

Tomato Gorgonzola Soup Recipe

Marj has posted her recipe for tomato basil Gorgonzola soup on her blog.  Just click on it to enlarge.  I just made it and it is yummy!  Thanks, Marj.  While you're there, check out her happy and colorful watercolors.

Salt and Pepper Shakers at Applebee's 

I thought I might paint my dinner, but I ordered a messy looking, delicious  salad, and we had to hurry to make the 7:00 show. We saw The King's Speech.  Great movie. And it was ladies' night  -  $4.25!

Today in class we worked on loosening up and letting the painting paint itself.  We painted with clear water and then put in color.  Even though it was a simple geranium stem and blossom on a small piece of paper, it is still hard to relinquish control and let it happen. Watercolor on its own usually does better than I do, so I try to stand back and see what happens.

Sooooo cold here.  The wind is blowing, the Bay is frozen, the sky is gray.  Every year I complain about the cold, but I'm not going anywhere.  I like the slow pace of winter here  -  then I like the fast pace of summer.   Perfect.

Tomato Basil Gorganzola

Taking My Sketchbook to Lunch Again

Tomato Basil Gorgonzola soup.  Wednesday's special  -  I love it!!!!
It's a good day for soup with friends.  It is very sunny and very cold here.  While the rest of the country (a good portion of it, anyway) experiences terrible blizzards, we have blue skies and sunshine. 


If anyone comes across a great tomato basil Gorgonzola soup recipe, would you let me know?  If you make it, paint it  -  it's a great color.