Here's my first attempt at a watercolor painting (as opposed to a sketch).
I hope to do more of this.
I really love watercolor because it's free and open. It's really tough to do though. Harder than it looks. And I really don't know what I'm doing.
...dave
While most peoples opinions change, the conviction of their correctness never does.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
stones rock
Still driving around Destin Florida we found the old town of Seaside right next door of the town of Watercolor. Seaside was where The Truman Show was filmed. It's all so perfect there.
We walked through the art shops and ate divine custard scones and drank french pressed coffee at way too expensive coffee shops. In the end we walked nearly five miles. That's a record on my step counter. My goal is 10,000 steps (which is about five miles).
R wanted to drive all day. It wasn't enough that we drove six hours to get down here. She wanted to drive six more. So I decided to sketch something that would do well with wavy lines. (Ever try to sketch in a moving car?)
Stones was a good idea. Later I colored them in various muted hues.
Stones rock!
...dave
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
We walked through the art shops and ate divine custard scones and drank french pressed coffee at way too expensive coffee shops. In the end we walked nearly five miles. That's a record on my step counter. My goal is 10,000 steps (which is about five miles).
R wanted to drive all day. It wasn't enough that we drove six hours to get down here. She wanted to drive six more. So I decided to sketch something that would do well with wavy lines. (Ever try to sketch in a moving car?)
Stones was a good idea. Later I colored them in various muted hues.
Stones rock!
...dave
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Destin Flordia Trip
We took a drive down to Destin Florida over the holidays. It's become sort of a tradition with us to get away during the Christmas holiday.
We get great deals at the hotels and they are only at 10% occupancy. No kids. Peace. We get the pool and jacuzzi all to ourselves. And there's no traffic on the streets on the way down.
We usually pack up a cooler and put it in the back seat. Most stores and restaurants are closed anyway. Cheese, salami, drinks, chips, and coffee are all packed in a box behind the seat.
R drove mostly while I studied, read and sketched. It's about a six hour drive from the Atlanta area. I bought another Mary Higgins Clark and got half way through it on the way down.
We stayed in a 3-star for about $65/night. Regularly $170/night. That's a good deal. So we splurged on breakfast and ate at Waffle House.
...dave
Today is the yesterday you regretted tomorrow.
We get great deals at the hotels and they are only at 10% occupancy. No kids. Peace. We get the pool and jacuzzi all to ourselves. And there's no traffic on the streets on the way down.
We usually pack up a cooler and put it in the back seat. Most stores and restaurants are closed anyway. Cheese, salami, drinks, chips, and coffee are all packed in a box behind the seat.
R drove mostly while I studied, read and sketched. It's about a six hour drive from the Atlanta area. I bought another Mary Higgins Clark and got half way through it on the way down.
We stayed in a 3-star for about $65/night. Regularly $170/night. That's a good deal. So we splurged on breakfast and ate at Waffle House.
...dave
Today is the yesterday you regretted tomorrow.
Friday, December 26, 2008
new sketching fonts
It's always exciting to find new fonts that can be used in my sketching.
It's great to have an initial large cap to start a paragraph or two in the journal. Or maybe a font that I can use while sketching a sign on the street.
I found these in a scrapbooking book at B & N. I copied them into this journal page. It's simply a double line colored. I used some simple highlighters in my desk.
By the way, while I was manually sketching these into my journal the lady next to me was taking pictures with her phone of an entire book! That's a great idea. Why didn't I think of that?
...dave
Stealing a rhinoceros should not be attempted lightly.
It's great to have an initial large cap to start a paragraph or two in the journal. Or maybe a font that I can use while sketching a sign on the street.
I found these in a scrapbooking book at B & N. I copied them into this journal page. It's simply a double line colored. I used some simple highlighters in my desk.
By the way, while I was manually sketching these into my journal the lady next to me was taking pictures with her phone of an entire book! That's a great idea. Why didn't I think of that?
...dave
Stealing a rhinoceros should not be attempted lightly.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Motivator
Make your own motivational posters with Bug Huge Lab's motivator and a picture of your own. I used my own photo of a koi pond I took some years ago while living in Hawaii.
...dave
Doing nothing gets pretty tiresome because you can not stop and rest.
Drawing in public
Often at lunch I'll find a shady tree near a park and sit in the car and draw.
There's a park near work that is quiet and peaceful. Gentle breezes blow through the pine trees. The leaves tumble across the lawn. Sometimes I'll see folks walking their dogs. Occasionally I'll buy a burger and drive over to the parks and enjoy the peace. But I feel a little self-conscious.
I feel self-conscious because...I often wonder what the neighbors think. I would be alarmed if someone pulled up across from my house just to stare up at my telephone pole. Who is this guy? They must think me mad.
Sometimes I drive the family van to work, and then to the park, which is even worse. A lone guy in a van? This can give people the creeps.
I'm preparing my defense should they call the cops.
"But Officer, I was just sketching their telephone pole."
Somehow that doesn't sound normal.
...dave
Half of the people in the world are below average.
There's a park near work that is quiet and peaceful. Gentle breezes blow through the pine trees. The leaves tumble across the lawn. Sometimes I'll see folks walking their dogs. Occasionally I'll buy a burger and drive over to the parks and enjoy the peace. But I feel a little self-conscious.
I feel self-conscious because...I often wonder what the neighbors think. I would be alarmed if someone pulled up across from my house just to stare up at my telephone pole. Who is this guy? They must think me mad.
Sometimes I drive the family van to work, and then to the park, which is even worse. A lone guy in a van? This can give people the creeps.
I'm preparing my defense should they call the cops.
"But Officer, I was just sketching their telephone pole."
Somehow that doesn't sound normal.
...dave
Half of the people in the world are below average.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
salt shaker and book wrap
I've gotten into the salt and pepper shaker sketching. It's so quick to do while I wait for my meal. Trying to do it by candle light in those fancy restaurants is a challenge.
The other sketch was an idea for a sketchbook wrap. This would be fairly easy to do. It's just a piece of leather (or other stiff material) that you glue to a sketchbook. It wraps around the right edge and has a loop that goes through the flap. You could then just slip your sketch pen into the loop and your're set for a day or sketching.
I looked in etsey.com and found exactly what I was looking for. Someone had already done it. I figure that after the sketchbook is full I'll just slice it out and glue in one I've made myself.
Sometimes I use the sketchbook to draw random ideas I'll either make it myself or find it somewhere on the Internet. Sometimes it's cheaper and easier to buy it from someone that has already built it.
...dave
Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand. - Chinese proverb
The other sketch was an idea for a sketchbook wrap. This would be fairly easy to do. It's just a piece of leather (or other stiff material) that you glue to a sketchbook. It wraps around the right edge and has a loop that goes through the flap. You could then just slip your sketch pen into the loop and your're set for a day or sketching.
I looked in etsey.com and found exactly what I was looking for. Someone had already done it. I figure that after the sketchbook is full I'll just slice it out and glue in one I've made myself.
Sometimes I use the sketchbook to draw random ideas I'll either make it myself or find it somewhere on the Internet. Sometimes it's cheaper and easier to buy it from someone that has already built it.
...dave
Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand. - Chinese proverb
Sunday, December 07, 2008
"I'm calling in rich"
Imagine calling your boss and telling him that you won't be coming in anymore. I guess that's what a lot of folks dream about, especially as they get closer to retirement.
Of course, the way the economy is going, many may be coming OUT of retirement. Like a bear waking from the winter's hibernation, they may not be too happy about it.
Some people I work with joke about winning the lottery so they'll never have to work. They'll tell me: "See you on Monday, unless I win the lottery."
Well, it turns out this guy did. My favorite story of his was when he first realized he'd won. He reports:
Whether winning the lottery or receiving some kind of big windfall, it's important to keep your head about you.
This guy (it could be a gal, she/he calls themself "D" so as to remain anonymous) is doing all kinds of charity stuff. Which is very cool. It would be great to give cash to unsuspecting people. Of course, you don't have to wait until you're a millionaire to help folks out.
I remember when our family hit hard times, a friend gave us an old '56 Buick Century. It was a mammoth car. Dad and I cleaned it all up (well, mostly dad), got it running (it wasn't before) and even installed air conditioning we cock-roached from another old car. Point is, the people that gave us the car didn't have much in a material way either, but they did what they could to help us out.
They have probably since forgotten about it, but it made a huge impression on me. I still tell people about it today.
...dave
Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible.
- Charles Dickens
Theoretically Related Posts
Of course, the way the economy is going, many may be coming OUT of retirement. Like a bear waking from the winter's hibernation, they may not be too happy about it.
Some people I work with joke about winning the lottery so they'll never have to work. They'll tell me: "See you on Monday, unless I win the lottery."
Well, it turns out this guy did. My favorite story of his was when he first realized he'd won. He reports:
“I was driving to work and happened to call the hotline for the lotto. I always played the same numbers, so I instantly knew I had won. I immediately called into my work and said I was calling in rich.”
Whether winning the lottery or receiving some kind of big windfall, it's important to keep your head about you.
This guy (it could be a gal, she/he calls themself "D" so as to remain anonymous) is doing all kinds of charity stuff. Which is very cool. It would be great to give cash to unsuspecting people. Of course, you don't have to wait until you're a millionaire to help folks out.
I remember when our family hit hard times, a friend gave us an old '56 Buick Century. It was a mammoth car. Dad and I cleaned it all up (well, mostly dad), got it running (it wasn't before) and even installed air conditioning we cock-roached from another old car. Point is, the people that gave us the car didn't have much in a material way either, but they did what they could to help us out.
They have probably since forgotten about it, but it made a huge impression on me. I still tell people about it today.
...dave
Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible.
- Charles Dickens
Theoretically Related Posts
- These lottery winners didn't fare well.
- This biggest lottery winner in U.S. history says he wished he'd never won.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
O.J. in the slammer
It's too bad about O.J.
I had so much more confidence in his lawyers than this.
I can't understand how they could have gotten him off for double homicide but not armed robbery and a bit of kidnapping.
I've lost all confidence in lawyers now.
Maybe it was his defense?
"I just wanted to get my personal things from my friend. I didn't mean to steal anything."
But the judge wasn't buying it: "When you take a gun with you and you take men with you ... in a show of force, that's not just a 'Hey, give me my stuff back.'
Maybe the problem was with the new lawyer added to his team? He himself went to jail for homicide after someone was killed in a barroom scuffle.
Anyway, O.J. will get at least 9 years in the slammer; all over a few photos, a signed pigskin, and the suit he wore at his murder trial.
So, double murder with good lawyers gets you freedom, but stealing back the suit that you wore at the trial gets you 9 years.
Go figure.
I just wonder if his release from the previous trial emboldened him to commit the second crime.
...dave
Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad. - Ecclesiastes 8:11
I had so much more confidence in his lawyers than this.
I can't understand how they could have gotten him off for double homicide but not armed robbery and a bit of kidnapping.
I've lost all confidence in lawyers now.
Maybe it was his defense?
"I just wanted to get my personal things from my friend. I didn't mean to steal anything."
But the judge wasn't buying it: "When you take a gun with you and you take men with you ... in a show of force, that's not just a 'Hey, give me my stuff back.'
Maybe the problem was with the new lawyer added to his team? He himself went to jail for homicide after someone was killed in a barroom scuffle.
Anyway, O.J. will get at least 9 years in the slammer; all over a few photos, a signed pigskin, and the suit he wore at his murder trial.
So, double murder with good lawyers gets you freedom, but stealing back the suit that you wore at the trial gets you 9 years.
Go figure.
I just wonder if his release from the previous trial emboldened him to commit the second crime.
...dave
Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad. - Ecclesiastes 8:11
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