Karate Kids

I've been wanting to learn how to draw people in action. What better opportunity than watching my grand daughter in Karate class with 20 other children?

"fighting stance"

At the Vashon Tea Shop--balancing colors

At the Vashon Tea Shop

Getting the colors right in the scan was a challenge! In fact, I never did quite figure it out. The original scan was too dark, but in trying to adjust it, the greens got much brighter than in the original.

What did I learn from this painting?

•  I like balancing colors; if I put a little red in one place, I put another dot of red somewhere else. 
• Things are rarely or never all one color; reflected lights put colors where one might never expect them.
• The painting is more interesting when things--the ladies' shirts for example--are not all one flat color.

Painting a living plant

Drawing attempt #3, Painting attempt #1

Yesterday it took me four attempts to draw this right. I inked and painted two of the drawings today.

Drawing attempt #4, Painting attempt ;#2

Each painting is teaching me something new, or at least reminding me of something I used to know about painting. Today's lessons:

• Living plants change from minute to minute, and even more from day to day. Their leaves change position to adjust to changing light. Today there even seemed to be more leaves! So I had to guess as I painted.
• Light and shadow change rather quickly as I am painting.
• Sometimes I am too lazy to paint every single leaf! 

I like both attempts. The first one seems freer, while the second may be more accurate. That's a lesson right there: more accurate may not be more interesting.

Vashon Coffee Rosterie sketch

People gather on the porch for coffee and talk, to relax or just to read the paper.And today there was sun!

When I first moved to the Island, this was the Country Store, where one bought the oh so necessary winter mud boots, seed, and warm work clothes. When the Country Store moved to new quarters, Stewart Brothers Coffee moved in.

Now Stewart Brothers is gone and Eva has moved Minglement--our local health food store--to this location. The coffee roaster is still there, and Eva has added fresh roasted coffee to her offerings!

In the background you can see the new Allied Arts Performance Hall going up. Harmon and I watched the last roof truss lifted into place about noon.

A Sketch a Day

Lately I've been feeling scrambled. Not sure where to put my creative energy. Wanting to do some awesome water color illustrations for Peacock Princess--and knowing I am WAY out of practice. Wondering what to offer at the holiday bazaars and such.

Then there was that blood moon. I think it energized me.

Painting from nature centers me. I think I need a lot of centering; I've been painting a small water color sketch every day since, and plan to keep it up for at least all of October.

And walking helps. So first I walked the mile to one of my favorite beaches and painted the bridge my kids used to play under.

Then the neighbor's trees splashed with the golden light of evening......












The Sweet Shoot bamboo I bought by mistake. I wanted a fence up to 10' high; Phyllostachys Dulcis grows 20-40' in a GROVE for goodness sake!

Why DO I create art?

photo by Julie Shannon

About every 6 months this question re-emerges, and I try to answer it again.  WHY do I create art?
 Today I answer this way.

I hunger to create beauty, and I hunger to connect with you in that Beauty.

I love the beauty of trees emerging through the mist, the green of seaweed on the beach, the moss on ancient maples. There is magic there. I want to share that magic with you.

When I am immersed in that Beauty, I feel aligned with the Mystery of Creation.  My Joy and sense of Peace multiplies. Compassion grows. I want my every thought and word and act to express that Joy, and to nourish it in others.


 That is why I create art.

 I want to share that Joy with you.
That is why I show my art.

Dahlia Square -- AM I a real artist?

This came out beautiful!

It started out as our practice piece, so that Bright and I could practice painting leaves and check dye colors. I am loving it. I think I'll frame it.

And then what? Will it sell? Do I care?

I'm in total rebellion about art as product, about producing art as business. I just can't make the two paradigms--art making and money making--fit together well.

Some people can do it. Some people can promote their work,  create blog posts and web sites that sell their art, sell out of galleries or shows. Somehow I just haven't figured it out. I just get all balled up.

Is it because I think I have to sell my art to prove I'm a real artist? Why? Some artists, Van Gough for example, sold very little during their lifetimes. I think I've outsold him already! Others, like Picasso, became millionaires!

So...why do I create art? Why do you create art?