Tulip number 2

The one on the right is the second Tulip that my daughter did. it came out very nice, she did not finish it off with words, frame or signature yet.

Little Journal Snippets . . .

Saturday Night after a picnic in the Park we came home and our favorite show was not on
( Bones) so we popped in this DVD From Art Journaling to ART we got it from Interweave Press I believe and you can get it as a DVD or a down load. Any way it totally inspired my daughter to get out her paints again. She did a second Tulip later on and thought it was much better- I'll have to post it soon. The DVD was very well done. It reminded me of class from Pam at Creating Nature Journals but there are definite differences between the artists as well. My daughter had a hard time getting used to a Niji waterbrush - which I totally love but I think the one she had , had to large of a brush end on it for her. The other interesting thing to me - was that in school she was taught that a good composition must touch 3 sides of the page, for me I think I might find that a bit restrictive at times. Learning. . . it is all good, good to learn new things and to contemplate old. Enjoyed the sitting and focusing on one thing - even if only for a short time. Looking forward to viewing some other Creative DVD's. We'll be checking out what the Library system has in it. Looking like a dreary day in Western NY - good day to plant in the garden!!

A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.
~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Flight to Arras, 1942

This moment . . . .

{this moment}

From Soule Mama
this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


****a moment 2 weeks ago while away on the Cape . . . . love this moment though!!!

Spotted Wintergreen

So this is a page from my sketch book. I am afraid I still do not know how to get blogger to turn the photo around, sometimes it does it on its own and it is a happy day, sometimes it does not. Suffice to say I try to spend time in Nature each and every day. The amount and location depends on many factors. I try to get the kids out there as well and for the most part they do it naturally. Aside inclement weather they do it on there own liking it as much as I do. They are better at getting outside than doing chores! They all have sketch books and pencils, various mediums, watercolors but the use is in phases. A lot or nothing it seems but that is not that different than we adults.
This summer they are earning small bonuses for looking up things we find .. . latest was an American Dagger Moth Caterpillar this was not a friendly looking guy/gal. After consulting both books and the internet it was time to consult Larva-Lady- aka Aunt Susan,she came through for us.
The next challenge is from a short hike tonight, for the life of me I cannot remember what it was right now. We saw so much in a short time, Pilated woodpecker, deer, rabbit, Leopold frog,bullfrog, sunfish,bass dragonflies,lots of wildflowers,heard many other birds,lilypads.
Any serious sketcher will tell you that if you draw it you will remember the moment more and that when you look at your sketch it will transport you to that moment in time. Part of this is that when you sketch/draw/paint you bring in more cortical brain activity so in essence you have hit record on the video recorder. So on that note- sketch on!! Get out and get that Green/outdoor time every day,it will make you a better person!

Spotted Wintergreen