Dog Abuser

I absolutely love my new car . . . but my dog doesn't.

pRESIDENT hU jINTAO

In the news and what I learned from Knowledge News. President Hu Jintao visited the White House last week. Who is he? President of The NPC (National Peoples Congress) in China. He was elected president in 2003. The NPC is 1 of 3 governing institutions of China: 1. Central Peoples Government 2. Peoples Liberation Army and 3. the Chinese Communist Party.

EDM Challenge 62

Everyday Matters Challenge #62 is draw something you have drawn before but in a new medium. Maybe I misunderstood this one. I have never drawn my Easter flowers before but I gave gauche a try after admiring Roz's gauches. It was difficult. I don't know whether to dilute the paint like watercolor or work thick. mmmm. I also tried marker which was frustrating because I couldn't blend. Nice challenge.

Acrylic Techniques

My friend invited me to a free clinic on acrylic techniques given by Jody Abssy.
We tried masking with tape, gel texture, block printing and glazing.
Here are my results:

This is a pretty basic technique of masking areas and painting over the masking tape. I made my edges jaggy to create the effect of hillsides. I also used the glazing technique in this exercise.

This was the exercise was done with a block used for batiking. I tried a block with little leaves and flowers then painted an underwater scene on it.

The gel technique was used to create texture. It can be mixed with cat litter, sawdust, beads. We just scraped the gel around the paper and when it dried, painted on it.

What an art day!

We had the North County Society of Fine Arts Sketch and Paint Out at the Museum of Man today. There was just 2 of us. We sketched a bit and then just wandered around looking at the exhibits. These sketches are from the Reflections Exhibit.

Then off to the The San Diego Museum of Art where there was an exhibition of Goya's Portraits.

This is Portrait of the Marquis of Sofraga which is part of an exhibition of ten portraits. The show is a collaboration with the Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City. Goya is one of the greatest figures in the history of Spanish art. He had the position as court painter under King Carlos IV in 1789 and first painter to the king ten years later. Francisco de Goya (1746-1828).

The votes were tallied from the San Diego Hospice Art Show running until the end of this month and I found out I won 2nd place for the piece, La Jolla! Yippee! Thank you! The photo is not very good. I was shy about taking a photo of my own painting.

This is all I do

On work days I only sketch little, quick things.
A glimpse here, a glimpse there.
It's ok, I don't care.

New Shoes

My car got new shoes today!
(My friend, Kyla used to say that)

It's a good thing because it is raining like the dickens!

Funny Vehicles

I love these pics my friend sent me from her Japan trip!

Little Neighbor, Part 2

I got to sketch my friend's animals while she tended to her horses.

A great day to be outdoors!

Tue 70° 48° "Mostly Sunny"

My Little Neighbor

I spent the day with my little neighbor while her mom is off skiing.

I did this sketch while she caught up on some reading after lunch.

While we were driving around, she would punch me when she saw another VW bug saying something like, "Punch a buggy! Can't punch me back!" I punched her back any way (she's 12).

EDM Challenge #61 Grouping

These avocados were given to me while sketching at the Belle Marie Winery in Escondido. They were a perfect subject for the Everyday Matters Challenge of a grouping. A grouping of the same object.

They were done in my Moleskine with watercolor pencils.

NCSFA - Sketch and Paint Out

Today the North County Society of Fine Arts had a paint out at the Belle Marie Winery in Escondido. It was freezing cold and windy but we had a good group of 7 this time!

We were given a little tour by the General Manager, "Ralph", and were excited to be visited by Mary Curran-Downey from the San Diego Union Tribune. Mary has been making a living as a writer for more than 30 years, originally in broadcast and now in print journalism. She writes a weekly column for The San Diego Union-Tribune, and her freelance work has appeared in publications as varied as The Los Angeles Times and Quilting Today.

This is my piece of the fountain.

A Dangerous Place

Fast Sketching Techniques by David Rankin

I am currently reading Fast Sketching Techniques by David Rankin. My interest was peaked after reading about the book in some Everyday Matters Group postings. The three basic techniques David Rankin uses are: Black Linework, using a Blending Tool for grays, and establishing whites for points of interest. I like his technique because the sketches look, strong, bold and solid (his do anyway!). I practiced this technique while watching TV.

I want to strip . . .

Since I plan to blog everyday I decided to respond to MW's post asking about my comic character, Aidyl.

I started drawing Aidyl about 5 years ago. I know it looks like a kid drawing because I am not good at comics.

I got the urge to create my own comic strip after volunteering at the comic convention in San Diego 3 years in a row. I had been collecting cows for about 10 years, and I worked for Gateway (computers in a cow box) at the time. I think that contributed to deciding on a cow for my character. Unfortunately I never did get a strip going but I draw the character in my sketchbook journal from time to time.

Thanks for asking and Oh . . . I really like your Gracie pics!

Aidyl

This is my cartoon character, Aidyl (Lydia spelled backwards). We are a lot alike: We are both artists, computer nerds and drive '67 VWs. The difference is: She drives a bus - I drive a bug, her hair is always better styled than mine AND she's A LOT thinner than I am!

EDM Challenge #60 Car

I decided to start blogger instead of using my regular website blog. Starting today I expect to post daily. Sounds like a new month resolution to me...

The Everyday Matters Group challenge this week is to draw a car. I draw my car often. Mostly when I break down and have to wait for my husband to pick me up. Here is my car, and here are a few of the latest car trouble sketches. April 1st car and 3 March car troubles.