Dogs On (Last) Thursday

The quilt is very comfy in the morning...it was cold out there! There is more than one, or two ways to relax at the castle. Oh yes, am an avid reader of serious literature, it helps me sleep better. Hope all my friends are having sweet dreams throughout the day.....that means you Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Buddy, Dizzy, Friday, Penney, Tonka, Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe and Chief!

Finished!!!!

This pencil drawing was the last one I did for the exhibit. It is a little larger than an 8x10. Mr. Unplugged hasn't checked the hook-up on my scanner yet, so my digital photos will have to do. Did this in a pretty big hurry, would probably change the composition of it if I could, say, move the "cropped area" over to the right, put the wooden post on the left side.....well, what ya gonna do? Wanted to show it to you framed.

Dropped off all the pieces to the gallery this afternoon after going into work for a few hours this morning. Mr. Unplugged went with me, he was my "art cabana boy", you might say! It was good for him to see the place and meet the owner, but, my gosh, it is literally like watching a bull in a china shop! Hey, he said so himself, felt that way! I was very tentative about how my framing and work would be received. That said, literally had tears well up when the owner kept going on about it. Relieved, humbled, giddy, tired, sad, wishing I could share it all with my dad. She said everything was priced too low.......Mr. U was giddy, maybe saw tears of joy...hahaha. May be getting studio space there!!!!!! The plan is to bring in BigBoy to share it with me since he will probably be starting his own graphic design business. Must turn in application, samples of my art, blah, blah, blah. Keep your fingers crossed that an opening comes soon!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.......took VolleyGirl back to the Dr. yesterday with her foot because it has never completely stopped hurting and after a little romping in our massive three quarter of an inch snowfall the other week it has given her more pain and swelling. Today she wore her orthopaedic boot, and will continue to for the next four weeks.

Have not really done a thing tonight......caught up on some of your sites, a mini-crash I suppose but my mind has already been thinking of what to draw and paint next.

Cats On Wednesday

Dudley, a.k.a., "Duddles", spends a lot of time on BigBoy's bed, it's near a window and quiet. Obviously, he preferred I use the soft focus lens, more flattering to his fur.............(also may be accomplished by hurriedly taking a photo, therefore creating a bit of a blurry image!)

Fruity!

Finished this pear painting late Saturday night. Both of these are acrylic on an 8x10 canvas board.

I literally just finished this apple, haven't even signed it yet. Brought them downstairs to show Mr. Unplugged who quickly declared that he liked the apple best. Taking up for the pear...I told him it wasn't the shiny type of pear, but the dull, matte ones and then in my true, insecure manner, asked was the pear good enough, that I don't know anything else to do to it, not going to touch it. They will both be framed in modern black matte frames.

Started a new 8x10 or larger pencil drawing yesterday while watching the two playoff games, told Mr. U that if the game wasn't close at half-time I would go upstairs to paint. I never did do that but am 3/4 finished with the drawing. Not sure if the composition/perspective or whatever works on it since it came from my head (always a huge risk!) Fruit isn't too much of a stretch from memory!

Made a few visits early this morning and left comments, hopefully I can later during a break again. Have a great Monday!

Art Hearts for Haiti

Please stop by Painted Thoughts and learn about Laure's plan for how YOU can participate to help out the heartwrenching situation in Haiti by participating in the Art Hearts for Haiti.....

My thoughts behind this heart was a "net" to help catch the troubled hearts in Haiti.

Latest Art Catch Up #3 Last One!

This is about 4x6 in. graphite pencil drawing, wanted to have another pencil drawing and had a great frame for it. It didn't take very long at all. I know you have seen this scene before...guess this image is burned in my brain-wonder if the actual scene will ever be revealed to me....I also like to draw this because of the shading involved, though I never seem to be quite satisfied with the stone......Cris asked why I wasn't pleased with my last drawing of the purse, scarf and earrings. I thought it too monotone, shouldn't have started out with such a dark pencil but once I had completed the purse I felt like I couldn't lighten up the rest too much.

Today I have worked with the "Canine Messiah", he's on an antibiotic and hasn't wanted to eat very much, got some down him, gave him his stomach medicine, benadryl, antibiotic, out for a short walk for his sniffing fix and a little business. Gathered clothes for wash, I swear I would bleed lint, now get a shower, take VG to seamstress to have straps on dress fixed for her dance next weekend (drama on that story in future), go by framers to pick up mats and canvas framed then back home to work on my two 8x10 fruit paintings. I also will take some time to do a heart for Haiti, told VG she could do one too! Hope to get online later tonight or tomorrow to check in on everyone, you all sustain me.

Please be sure to check out the Skywatch Friday post just below and Apollo's post today below that!!!! They are both new today also!

SkyWatch Friday.......Catch Up #2 (of 3)

These were taken this past Thursday. All the shades of blue were awesome, even with white.

Always beautiful right before the storm, which we had between 5 and 6 p.m. that night.

I did not take this last photo which shows the tornado that hit in our area Thursday night around 5:30. It did some damage and took out power for many. Luckily there were no major injuries and no one completely lost their home. Go to http://www.skyley.blogspot.com/ for more sky photos! Please be sure to read Apollo's post today, below!

Dogs On Thursday: Catch Up Post #1 (of 3)

One of my dearest pleasures is taking in a bit of the outside occasionally during the day.

Often, I find solace in my quiet time for deep thoughts and reflection.

Then some idiot interrupts me by snapping photos suddenly breaking the private thoughts once peacefully passing through my mind.

What is one to do? Take a nap.

Here's hoping that you are left alone for your somber moments of time. A big woof to my buddies out there Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Buddy, Dizzy, Friday, Penney, Tonka, Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe and Chief!

H.A.W./C.O.W. .......ongoing

Dudley would have no part of cooperation with the photo taking process. Gotta love the cattitude!

Finished this in record time...not totally pleased with it, but considering I was using brand new pencils and working quickly, won't complain. Still not a scanned image, so it doesn't appear very crisp here. Also, painted the background again on an earlier painting, painted some on two 8x10s, found frames for two ink pieces last posted, purchased more pens, brush and a project board for VolleyGirl's science project. Gathered all my other pieces to see just what all I had....for certain! Heaven forbid should I forget washing a couple of loads of clothes! Tomorrow I will paint and go get mats cut for a couple of pieces. After looking over what I have, any new pieces I do should be colored pencil or graphite pencil. Enjoyed taking a little time this morning to check in on some of you too......oh yeah, chased the royal one a bit too!

Working BREAKING NEWS Away...

BREAKING NEWS: SHAMELESS, BURSTING OFFSPRING PRIDE BULLETIN! Just before going to bed last night, after speaking to BigBoy on the phone, he texted me saying that he forgot to tell me he was asked to design the cover for the college yearbook!!! Apparently someone had told the yearbook staff about him. This is the same university that just won the National Championship in college football.........University of Alabama- Roll Tide!!!!! How did you forget to tell your mother that on the phone!

Working away to get pieces ready by this Friday for the upcoming art exhibit. Both of these fill up an 8x10 space and are in ink. They will probably require my getting a special mat cut for them to be put into a 11x14 inch frame. This is due to the fact that they are on 9x12 paper but are too large for an 8x10 opening. The top one would fit an 8x10 opening but I want to leave a bit of a border around it. Neither is a very good photo......I did receive a brand new copier, scanner, printer from Mr. Unplugged at Christmas but must have him look at it again because I cannot get it to scan. The second zentangle was started in December, originally it was to be for someone else but, duh, I made the border larger than the 8x10 opening of the plexiglass type frame that I like to put these in, makes it look like it is floating. So, I started again on the one that was sold and decided that I would finish this one and frame it differently for the exhibit.

I was scheduled to work 5 hours yesterday but ended up working 8 so as to not leave a newly hired person there alone. I do not work again until Friday but my manager said I could have the day off if I needed it to get ready for the exhibit. While working, there are many periods of downtime where I am waiting for downloads on the computer to complete so I used the opportunity to make notes on all that is needed to be done this week. My big goal is to do 2 or 3 small paintings, one pencil drawing and perhaps a simple zentangle or two. There is one or two framing changes I am going to make, frame the latest work, price, name.....blah, blah, blah! Why am I here, typing you ask? Because I miss all of you....can't believe how it grinds my gears not to check in with you all! So......I will bid you goodbye for now and begin scanning the world for blogs!

Snowkids and Zentangle

Yes, we actually had a bit of snow last week, along with the subfreezing temps. Here are my two little offspring, able to stand that close without punching or aggravating......that is in many of the other photos I took.

Finished this commissioned zentangle just this morning. It had MANY requested personal elements to be included. Some of them you may recognize easily and some you may not. I learned that I cannot do this by putting down a "picture" then trying to work around it. Had to begin over again after learning this. I literally have to draw a big squiggle line, study it and add the elements to it. Kind of like the game my dad and I used to play with BigBoy when he was young, draw a line, then the next one has to add to it or make something out of it. My time is very short to get some additional pieces ready for my exhibit that begins next month. I have worked a bit on an ink piece that hopefully I will post later this week. Wanting to do a painting, pencil drawing and some simpler zentangles............

Dogs On Thursday (Belated Edition)

Perhaps you missed me lately....forgive me for celebrating the season surrounded by my closest subjects, focusing on what they can do for me. Occasionally, I just had to sit down and just let the festive decor feed my inner dog, uh, er, my inner young royal.

My best buddy, (deep sigh), we have had so much fun, playing. Simply, "he completes me."

Santa brought me a growling bulldog and I really love it. My time is limited with him, much to my dismay. My buddy leaves this Sunday and I'm just not sure how I will handle that, so keep me in your thoughts. On a high note some new friends have found new homes recently, congratulations to Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe and Chief! Welcome to our privileged world! Big ol' bark out to start the year off to Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Buddy, Dizzy, Friday, Penney and Tonka!

Cats on Wednesday

Wow, I'm looking good this year!!!!!!!
-Dudley