Journaling, Contemplation, and Meditation

Salad for Dinner

Lots of Bottles

Bottles that just happened to be on my kitchen counter.  They seemed to be posing and my goal is to work in my journal regularly even though school has started up again.

Mueller Lake Park in Full-spectrum Triad

Here's a view of Mueller Lake Park in my neighborhood painted in the "Full-spectrum Triad" of colors.  All colors made only from 3 colors.  I've been rereading Dory Kanter's book on journaling where she suggests trying these different triads for different moods.  I painted this first, then went back and added outlines in pen.

I'm also beginning an online mini-course on journaling through Cathy Johnson.  I love her demos so I posted one here.  Not one from the course because those are currently not public, but another that has been made public.

Cathy Johnson's Journal Page Demo

Texas Flier Sunset

A view of the Sunset from Amtrak train "The Texas Flier."  We were coming back from our trip to Chicago.

Skittles

I sketched this while waiting for a blood test.  Added color later.

Summer Landscapes

A stream and boardwalk near a Milwaukee beer garden we biked to about a week ago.  I think it may have been the Estabrook Park Beer Garden.

Taliesin in Wisconsin

A view of one of the buildings at Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio and architecture school in Wisconsin.  "Taliesin" is the Welsh word for "shining brow" because it is on the brow of a hill.  We went on a terrific tour there in July.  It is a beautiful spot with organic farming around it.  Restoration work is ongoing, trying to make it stabile and back to how it looked in 1959 when he last lived there. 

Robie House Sketch

We just got back from a train trip up to Chicago, where among other things, we visited several Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in Chicago and Wisconsin.  Here is a sketch of the Robie House in the Hyde Park neighborhood.  I'm thinking about adding watercolor to it.

Waiting for Auto Inspection

Had my car inspected to day at M.E. "Gene" Johnson Automotive, a garage that has been around Austin since the 1950s and known for good service.  Their inspection was so fast I didn't have time to complete my drawing!  My son says that the unfinished framed certificate on the wall should say "Fastest Car Inspection in Austin."

Bayonne Waterfront

Bayonne, the capital of French Basque Country. I wish I had done this there, but no, I am using photos.  It is too hot to stay outside in Austin.

Lemons, Limes and Orange

Mug with Brushes

I'm working on defining a white object using shadow.

Carton of Strawberries

Inspired by Charles Reid, my favorite watercolor teacher and author.

Watercolor Bowl of Fruit

Paper makes a difference!  I did this on Strathmore 500 Series (their highest quality) Gemini Watercolor Rough, 140 lb.  I did a similar still life on a student grade watercolor paper made by Strathmore, and the paper buckled and the paint pooled.

Watercolor Bistro Chair

The chair on my sunny front porch this morning.

Mueller Lake on Hot Day!

Really too hot to be outside drawing after 10 a.m.  I literally sweated for this one!

Restaurant Interior

Yay, summer is here!  I've gotten back to drawing and painting again!  Got a good book at Half Price which motivates me.  It's called Everyone Can Draw by Barrington Barber.  I hadn't drawn much with pencil in the past few years.  Mostly pen and ink and watercolor, but this book has wonderful drawings and sketches.

I've also just finished a novel by Elizabeth Kostova called The Swan Thieves. The main characters are artists, and their daily drawing and painting is essential to the story.  How could I read that and not feel like I wanted to get back into it?  I think I have improved just in the past 2 weeks by doing it daily.