August 26, 2005
Not sure if I'm cut out for this...
I just started a Painting class, and I'm having second thoughts. I've always enjoyed art, mostly the painting and drawing type. Although I've also done pottery, sculpture, and various other fun things.
Over the past few years I've taken several drawing classes, and I figured I'd try the other side of the coin. Since I've done oil painting in the past and know what all that involves (mess, smell, toxicity), I figured I'd try acrylic painting. So, after the first class, I went out to Rocky's Art and bought my supplies (oh boy, oh boy!!!) and was all ready to jump right in last night.
We started out painting "scales", or gradients between colors... Like painting true red at one side, true green at the other, and mixing slowly from one to the other. Ok, that wasn't too bad. Kinda getting to know the paint and my new brushes.
Next, the teacher wanted us to do a monochromatic painting... all one color plus black and white. So she set up a still life, composed of several objects, all varying shades of red. Now here's where the problems started.
I'm so used to drawing, that starting right out with paint made me kinda nervous. So I sketched it in, and started in with the paints. The main problem was that acrylic DRIES SO FAST!! I'd barely get the color mixed and load my brush, and it was already drying on my brush. Ok, I can deal with that... So I add a little water... just dip my brush in my water a bit. Unfortunately, the result looked more like thin watercolor. 'sigh'....
I'm hoping this is just the initial frustration of getting to know a new medium. I'm disappointed that I find it frustrating... I've heard many artists relate their excitement with this whole process. I find it to be a pain. I guess I also am unsure if the trouble is with the medium, or me.
Well, the only solution is to plod forward, and find out if it really IS me, or the medium!! Stay tuned for updates!! :)
Posted by Sherri at 12:36 PM | Comments (0) | Art
August 23, 2005
Mike's BMW, blog face-lift, and meanderings
Mike's bike is in the shop, our blogs got some really snazzy updates, and I'm finding the time to stop and smell the roses....
After a 5 week tour of Germany, Norway and Sweden, which Mike and bike both came through with flying colors.. the bike finally decided to quit. All things considered, Mike and his 'bike were pretty lucky. His account of what happened is here.
After a lot of looking around and dinking with code, Mike has found some really cool looking pages (templates) for us to use for our blogs. I really like both of them, not sure which I like better! I worked on a new header graphic for his blog tonight, adding a BMW R1150RT to it, coloring it to match his bike, and doing some minor tweeks. I think he'll be adding that header soon!
And looking inward... Every once in a while I'm reminded of how lucky I am, and how happy! Seems as if life passes so quickly, that just slowing down long enough to appreciate things takes effort. But there's so much for which to be grateful, and I find that if I don't slow down a bit from time to time, I miss a lot.
Mike finds ways everyday to amaze me. Nothing grand or expansive, just in the gentle ways he does things. When work gets me flustered or stressed, he's my calming influence. Just a few soft words, a hug, and his big glowing smile does it. All of a sudden, what REALLY matters comes into focus, and the rest is just noise.
Small things matter more, big things less. Or, at least, I'm more adept with just dealing with the big things, and have more time to appreciate the small everyday things. Ok, did you follow that?? :)
Like tucking Sean in bed everynight and telling him I love him. Taking the back road to work just to enjoy the sights and smells. And, taking the time to express my feelings, which makes them all the more real and valid.
ok, enough for today... goodnight!
Posted by Sherri at 10:13 PM | Comments (0) | General
August 21, 2005
School Daze...
Back to school for Sean, back to our regular routine for Mike and me. I've always felt that the start of school was really the "New Year", it comes with so many beginnings, more so than in January. New teacher, new classmates, new subjects, and all new school supplies, shoes, and clothes!
Tuesday of this week was Sean's first day back to school. And, boy was he excited! Old friends to catch up with, and new friends to meet, and a new teacher! This year he has Mrs. Richards, who I've yet to meet. Open House is next week, and I've heard really good things about her. And, of course, Mrs. Kennedy whom Sean dearly loves, is still there. She pops in on him from time to time... and has called recently to remind Sean of an upcoming meteor shower!
We all found the meteor shower to be very exciting! Sitting on chairs in the back yard one night, we watched the night sky. And were rewarded with some small and some spectacular sights. Unfortunately, the meteors were due between midnight and dawn, and I just wasn't up to an all-night vigil. So, after a half-dozen meteors were spotted, I headed for bed. The boys came in shortly after... and we all slept in the next morning.
We're all settling back into our regular routine, with a little reluctance. With this routine comes the knowlege that the weather will be turning cooler and the days shorter. Oh well!
I'm back in an art class... Painting. A new teacher, and only one day a week! We have the option to paint with oils or acrylic, and I've chosen acrylic... less expensive, less smelly, and less health risk. I hit Rocky's Art Supply yesterday, and loaded up. Boy, every time I go in there, I feel like a kid in a candy shop!! So many cool art supplies, so many potential projects just waiting to be done!!
But, I have a current project I must finish. I've been doing a portrait for a friend (Jeff) of his brother. It's from a picture taken when the boy was about 3 or 4, during a family vacation to the Grand Canyon. The picture is stunning, and I'm hoping to do it justice. Jeff, who is an extremely talented person, intends on writing a book about his brother, and wants me to illustrate it, and the picture I'm doing now will go on the cover. I'm very excited about it!
A big project for me is to scan all my art and post it on a website. Seems like such an easy thing to do, but it's amazing what a difference a professional photographer makes. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who could do this at an "acceptable" price. But I need to do this, I'm getting a real backlog of pictures! Watch this site, I'm hoping to get something up here soon!!
Posted by Sherri at 09:32 PM | Comments (0) | General
August 03, 2005
and it's STILL HOT !!
They say it's getting cooler... I'm sorry, but 103 degrees IS NOT my idea of cooler... possibly 85 would be good. ;)
I rode my motorcycle in to work yesterday, what a beautiful ride in. Cool breeze, not too much traffic... Unfortunately, the ride home was not as enjoyable. Hotter than all get-out, and even with my summer riding gear on, I was REALLY HOT. So, I drove the car to work today.
Finally got my little Honda Nighthawk up for sale... out on Craig's List. She was my first bike, and terrific to learn on. Just right for a woman, not too tall or too heavy. Very manageable and easy to ride. Hopefully someone will take a liking to her and give her a good home!
I need to scoot and go pick up our son, Sean. He's in extended day while Mike and I are at work. I can't believe he'll be in 5th grade this year!! He's growing up so fast. His world is expanding from just the here and now to world events and even farther. Sean's latest interest is space. When NASA launched the Mars probes, Sean was in hog heaven!! He knows all the planets AND their moons.
He's also becoming intersted in reading... every parent gives a sigh of relief when their child loves to read. His current passion is a series of books about a boy named Bobby Pendragon, and his adventures traveling through space and time. I've been reading along with him, and I must admit, they're fun and exciting.
Here's a picture of Sean and our yellow lab, Sierra, taken earlier this summer.
Posted by Sherri at 09:06 PM | Comments (0) | General
