This was my Dad's Brownie. My first camera was a brownie--I must have been about ten--the 60's. It's amazing how the camera has changed through the years, from a box with a hole to today's digital cameras. I have no clue as to what happens inside the digital to make an instant picture!
Another collaboration. Check out the video of my granddaughter putting down the paint for this and my previous collaboration. At the end of it she says, "It's ready for some salt."
I haven't been able to paint daily--preschool is on vacation, resumes on Monday--granddaughter caught a springtime cold. I sneaked this one in after hours. I haven't worked on a collaboration in awhile, my granddaughter now puts down the paint in a different way. Pretty soon she'll be painting her own little pictures that I won't want to touch!
This camera probably still works. My dad kept his cameras in great condition. This one slowly pops out at the press of a tiny silver button, very cool--I just want to keep pressing the button over and over to see the accordion and lens emerge, but it's old and I better not press my luck.
Miner's lettuce is up and growing all around my house. It's a small round of green. You eat the whole top , little flower and all--pretty tasty. I ate these after painting them.
All the lizards were out chasing each other today. It's sunny and warm--the kind of day lizards love. I thought about painting one. I could have caught one with a thin blade of grass, but I didn't want to hold one captive on this great lizard playing day. Then my cat charged across the back yard and pounced on this big lizard. I chased the cat away--the lizard wasn't moving. I thought it was hurt, but it must have been in shock. I placed it on a high stool where it sat very still while I sketched it a few times. It was watching every move I made. It was also aware of the cat lounging in the shade of the car, so this lizard made a great model! It finally jumped off the stool onto a nearby table and made its escape out into the yard, but I had to chase the cat away from it a second time! My cat is a hunter.
This painting goes along side (on the right) of my previous post, South Side of Hollister.
I hiked up Chumash trail--found a spot. The winds were strong up to 40mph gusts. I was on the top of a little crest. I had on extra layers, but the wind was going right through me. In my art supplies, I found an old rag large enough to wear as a scarf. Under my jacket and under my husbands flannel jacket, I had on a sweater with a cowl neckline. I pulled that halfway up the back of my head (wishing it was a hood!) Then I found an old hair stick I hadn't finished whittling, I whittled a point and pinned the sweater neck to my scarf. I buttoned the wrists of my jacket. I had an almost empty bottle of pink soap (I use this on my masking fluid brush). With my apron tie, I fastened the bottle to my waist, so the wind wouldn't blow it away. It was pretty handy having the bottle right there at the ready and it was nearly empty so nothing came out when I bent over. I may do that again on a still day. Later, after packing up and tying my things to a three wheel baby stroller and heading out to a main road, I almost forgot I had on this makeshift headgear and really didn't want to take it off and how ridiculous that I did, because here I was pushing this stroller full of stuff, might as well have on some strange head gear. This is one of two paintings that go together. I'll post the other tomorrow.
I had to try painting this doll again. I wasn't satisfied with my first attempt and I think I captured a little more of how she looks in this painting. I've got to say that painting dolls or maybe it's just this one, takes awhile. Could be because it's a figure.
This doll was given to my daughter many years ago. It was old then. My daughter gave it to her sister who brought it over to a friend's house and left it there. There it stayed for many years. A few days ago the friend brought over this doll and two others that had also been left behind. She said she'd been meaning to return them. She's moved five times and kept the dolls through all this time. I'm amazed to see them again. My granddaughter is thrilled. Here's the oldest of the three.
My husband brought this bee home for me. I get my bees mixed up. Is this a honey bee or a wasp?--I know it's not a bumble bee--those are the furry black and yellow striped ones. Again, I used a magnifying glass.
This is looking down on Windy Cove from standing just outside the heron rookery. My first pass through windy cove was sunny and still--no wind, which is unusual. Then suddenly the wind came in strong, and dark clouds covered the sun. It went from warm to cold. I put on my extra layers and when the sun peeked through, I'd lie down in a sunny spot on a bed of eucalyptus debris.
I missed a few days due to a bug in the family, so here's a collaboration of a family in a bug or being carried by one...what does this mean?
I found this bird bone today on my walk. Since I dreamt something to do with bones, I thought I'd pick this up and try painting it. I think this is a breast plate with the wish bones up by the neck. It's extremely lightweight.
Leaves from a different Eucalyptus tree---rounder and a more silver color leaf.
