Last week was spent doing my civic duty – I was chosen as a juror on a homicide trial. It was intense, exhausting, and incredibly sad to participate in. That’s all I’ll say about it. It was an exhausting week in which there was no art and there were lots of hours of solemn reflection. Let me just say two things:

First, I know that many people do everything they can to get out of jury duty. It is always inconvenient to our daily lives. However, it’s one of the most important things you can do – to make sure that fairness is clearly provided to a defendant and to the prosecution. Second, the one thing that was brought home even more than it already was: NEVER drive under the influence of alcohol or another substance. Enough said.

On to other things.

I did participate in CreativeTherapy for the first time in a while. I used an old photo and altered it. Here is the catalyst and what I said:

Catalyst: Did your life turn out how you imagined?

My response:

Shipwreck Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

I don’t even remember what I thought my life would turn out like. I think I focused so much on getting out of where I was that I never really thought about it. I never had a good role model to show me what the possibilities are.

I suppose I thought I’d be a scientist, a business person, a professional. I never pictured myself anything but struggling and working hard. I didn’t ever think that I would be a person who could relax and enjoy life and enjoy just being with someone. As a kid, I don’t think I ever really believed I’d be in love and that there was a true soulmate out there for me. But that was so long ago and such a hard time. I have come so far from that scared child running away into something else – safety, I suppose -  but not knowing what it was or how it would look.

For the past 20 years – nearly half of my life – I’ve been with Dave and we’ve been together and happy and in love. And everything else has become secondary. I worked for a while and I pushed myself hard. But when I developed chronic illness problems, I had to slow down. And, when I really slowed down and agreed to just find out who I am and where I am, I think I finally started to dream about what my life could be.

Now, I take time to relax. To explore. To just be. I take photos; I draw; I paint. I take care of myself and my husband. I don’t run any longer. I have made peace with who I am today and I don’t wonder who I would be. I am who I am and I am constantly growing.

Lace Woman Portrait mixed-media acrylic on 4" x 4" canvas

I am so excited to have completed this painting. I thought I was done on Saturday, but I showed my dear friend, Tracey, the painting and she mentioned that the tree was fighting with the face for attention. So, I used some Payne’s Gray to push it back into the background. I’m much happier with the painting now. This is my first entry for Embrace the Face. I know I will participate regularly!

I also watched some watercolor videos this weekend while I did a bit (very little bit, that is) of straightening up in the studio. I’m enjoying the challenge to do something creative each day this month. It has been good for me.

Something else I’ve been challenging myself to do is to exercise daily. I’ve exercised every day except the day of my treatment for the past 2 1/2 weeks. I have a friend who was going through chemotherapy and she inspired me to exercise no matter how crappy I feel. She did and it helped her through her chemo. Since the stationary bike is in the house, it’s easy to just pedal for 20 minutes on days when I’m not really feeling well. It’s been a good thing for me. It has forced me to make time for it and it has also helped me to sleep better. I recommend it if you can!

More tomorrow!

Yesterday I had my treatment. We had to move my treatment up because my vertigo has been hitting with a vengeance. I’m doing better – though I do have the lovely side-effects of the medication: nausea, fatigue… Lovely, eh?

And so today, while dealing with these lovely side-effects, I have the added stress of the election.  I have been impatiently watching the news, changing the channel when it gets too upsetting. And, no the returns have not come out yet. The upsetting part is that in this great nation, the nation that is the beacon for democracy, we have people who are kept from their given right to vote. I suspect I’ll stay up as long as I can to find out about the outcome. Though, honestly, with all the problems out there, it could be a few days. I’m trying to keep myself grounded.

And, as usual, to keep myself grounded, I am sitting in the studio. I have spent some time today going through magazines that have piled up – recycled some to a friend; others I’ll see if another friend wants. If not, to Freecyle they go… I’ve also done some journaling. There is very little to show but this past week’s CreativeTherapy result:

Catalyst 34 - A Song That Brings Back Memories

As long as I can remember, listening to music has been a part of my life. It was hard to pick just one to focus on, but as I went through iTunes to find a song that made me smile with a memory, I came across Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”. It’s an odd song for a memory, but really, it brings back memories for me.

When I was growing up, I had a close friend, Jeanmarie, who lived around the corner from me. Late in junior high school, we started an annual tradition. The night before the first day of school each year, we would walk for about a mile to a playground, talking about the year ahead, our nerves and anxiety about the first day of school, teachers, etc. Jean Marie was the first one who taught me how to wear make-up. Jean Marie and I were huge Pat Benatar fans and we went to her concert together in the early 80s. We had such a great friendship and a lovely tradition. This song brings back the memory of that annual walk and daily connections at the bus stop.

Art Every Day Month

I’ve joined two challenges this week, as well:

Art Every Day Month – sponsored by the fabulous Leah. The idea is for us to add creativity and art to our lives every day. Admittedly, with the vertigo and treatment I’ve been a bit lax in my art. However, I have spent some time reading, doodling in my journal, and catching up on blogs. All, I think, are creative endeavors.

and

Embrace the Face

Embrace the Face, which I found through a few blogs I follow. If nothing else, it will force me to get out my paints and paint at least one face each month. That will be good practice. This month’s topic is “lace” and I’ve drawn the basic image. I’m going to set up my palate in a moment… Painting grounds me in a way that nothing else does, so I’m off to be “in the moment” with my brushes and my paints.

Have a great Election Day!

Catalyst 22 - My Greatest Accomplishment

Here is my response:

Biggest accomplishment? This was hard to choose. From a professional and educational standpoint, I have accomplished a lot in my 40 years. The first thing that came to my mind was the usual – graduating from college and grad school. I did accomplish all of those things through the usual hurdles and additional ones that my chronic illness created, as well. But that didn’t feel right.

So I kept thinking. And I thought about all of the things that have happened since my education has been completed. I realized that who I am now is really the result of learning to take care of myself. In the past, I have taken care of others and their needs much to the detriment of my own. These days, however, I am mindful of my body, heart, and soul and the needs I have. I have learned self-care and that, I think is the greatest thing I have accomplished to date.

Technique Highlight:

Collaged background on watercolor paper. Doodles over the collage work to create new shapes. Sakura’s Gelly Roll Glaze pens and Pigma Microns for doodling.

Stop by and check it out! If you participate and post a link in the comments at CreativeTherapy, you’ll be in the drawing for this week’s RAK! Jump in now! Can’t make the Wednesday deadline? And, be sure to join our Flickr group, too!

I don’t really want to post all of the pictures, (you’ll get bored rather quickly, I’m sure, since the subject is the same with just some difference in gestures, but here are a few of the highlights. For more, you can go to my Every Day in May set in Flickr. Some are good; some not so much! But it’s all practice and I see the proportions much better.

The hands need much more work, so that’ll be tomorrow’s plan, I think. I just posted here one of the hand pages that includes a full mannequin. It’s one of the best. I’m not sure I like the hand mannequins. That may be my problem. But I’ll continue to try and I might get brave and try to draw real hands, too!

Yesterday I arrived at an appointment early. The day was beautiful and I sat in my car blasting Michael Buble on my iPod while I drew the scene right in front of my car. It was the tree, in particular, that caught my eye, but the trash can next to it was an interesting juxtaposition.

I’m sure there will be more drawing tomorrow. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

washes do OK, so if I decide to bring watercolor pencils, that could work. Today I used some graphite pencils, watercolor pencils and a Pigma Micron .05.

Anyway, here are today’s drawings. I don’t usually draw pictures of men. I decided I should get a sense of the proportions of men’s faces. I did several drawings from photos in a magazine. The drawing of the couple above is loosely based on an ad in a magazine. The man in the picture above I like. The woman’s face however, is a bit off. The drawing to the right is also based on ads in a magazine.

Left is a montage of three different faces from the magazine. I thought it was time to start playing with some color, so I added watercolor pencils for some color. I tried to stay somewhat true to the images in the magazines.

I got brave from here and started doodling some faces. Those are to the right. The hand on the guy on the left of the page is in great need of some rework, but I decided that I probably just need to spend some time working with hands. I tend to freeze up when I look at them and try to add them. That’s something I want to change. Maybe that’ll be tomorrow’s drawings?

Today I’m tired and achy. But at least I’m up to posting on my blog! To the right is EDM Challenge 23 – Draw your Foot. Since I went and had my manicure and pedicure while Eliana was here, I figured drawing the foot was a good thing to do. I drew the cool little flower and the lines at the top of the big toe – the only one you could really see (I have teensy toes and even more teensy toe nails!). I decided not to use any color in this and to see if I could create it with just the Pigma Micron 02 and 08 pens. I like how the pants leg came out, in particular. I rarely do this kind of shading, so it was a good challenge.

To the left, you see a drawing of my reading glasses. I have several pairs of reading glasses – mostly from Target’s dollar spot! I buy them in bulk when they have them there. I have found that since my 38th birthday (yes, two and a half years ago!) I’ve needed to wear these reading glasses with my contacts to see up close. Reading without the is greatly straining on my eyes. So, I figure some funky glasses should be owned. The pair depicted here is actually black, clear and gray – sort of a plaid.

My husband is just finishing up doing his rounds at the hospital. He’s taking me out to lunch when he gets here. It will be my first time out of the house since last Monday. I’m sure I will be exhausted when we return home, but getting out of the house is really necessary right now. Have a great Sunday, everyone!

EDM 31 – Draw something you collect.

I brought my grandmother’s vintage train case into the den, where I am sitting in front of the TV. I drew the train case open with the photos in it. My grandmother took very good care of it. Her address from The Bronx is still in it, easy to read! The mirror is still perfect, as well. It’s quite heavy, or I’d use it for travel. For now, however, it will remain in my studio as storage.

While the pictures and the train case were here, I posted more of my vintage photos and cabinet cards for sale on my “Supplies for Sale” page. Take a look. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, send me an email and I will see if I have what you need in my collection!

EDM 164 – Draw your camera.

I also drew my point and shoot Canon Powershot Elph. This camera has been with me for a while. It’s 4 mpx, which was huge a few years ago! It will be coming with me on all my trips, since it fits so easily into a purse or backpack.

Now it’s time to relax and try to keep from getting more fatigued. Hmmm… Perhaps a nap?

I had hoped to post more drawings from today, but, as usual, I have some major fatigue from yesterday’s treatment. I’m going to take a nap now…