Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Roseville #3 – Clematis

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Clematis, Oil on paper. 6″ x 9″

I finished this one yesterday afternoon. It was tricky because it’s clear to me that the original colors on the vase have faded. Painting it as it looks now is tricky – the changes of colors on the flower are so subtle as to be virtually indistinguishable. I could see a bit more of a difference on the other side. The only section where I intensified the color was the center of the flower. We’ll call it ‘artistic interpretation.’

These pieces are challenging to paint – at least for Beginner Me. I’ve chosen my next subject. Time to study it and do a sketch – I’ve found that helps me to memorize the shape and really get to know the vase. My new easel should arrive later today. I’m looking forward to putting it to use.

I ended up putting my current easel on a suitcase turned on its side. But then it was too high. So I grabbed a big cushion and  sat on it while I painted. That did the trick.

It’s a gorgeous day today. We’re going to take a little drive this morning – Don wants to drive his car and we need to escape for a short time.

I woke up this morning to see the fence between our property and our neighbor’s had been extended a bit in an effort to discourage the chickens from coming over here. It’s nothing but a pain in the tush for my neighbors as it takes a lot of time to wrangle the gang back onto their property. Hopefully, this will do the trick and everyone can relax.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Chickens and Oil Painting

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Lots of rain and thunder yesterday and more expected today.

The rooster and chickens have discovered the opening at the end of the fence, which is just beyond the maple on the far side of the house, so for the last few days, my neighbors have been over here trying to herd them out of the brambles and wild growth that is the upper boundary of our two properties. They keep apologizing and believe me, I feel for them. It’s not fun and those critters are smart! I think my neighbors are going to extend the chicken wire fence down to the street end of the property and I know the chickens’ mom (the daughter of the house) is building a run for them but that will take some time.

Those little scamps make me laugh.

Mr. Pickins is the ringleader, of course.

The painting isn’t finished yet, but this is what I added yesterday. I didn’t like the handles I initially painted so I painted over them. They’re more realistic now – or will be when I finish them. More details yet to add, some fine tuning, and then the background.

I’ve ordered a tabletop easel. It just seemed like the sensible thing to do. When I first started, I had no idea whether this new adventure would stick, but now I know it will. I really fallen in love with painting in oils. So why not invest in something that will make my work easier, especially when I move on to larger pieces? This particular easel got great reviews and it folds up for storage. It will arrive tomorrow.

Thanks so much for all your input about the way in which you access the blog. I’m still pondering the whole thing. Truth be told, I’ve got lots on my plate this week so I probably won’t make a decision until sometime next week. Someone has a big birthday next week, as well. Two someones, actually, because one of them is Little Z – he and Don share a birthday.

I’m going to finish the painting today and ponder what piece I’ll focus on next.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

A Thunder-Filled Morning

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We woke (a wee bit too early) to the sound of thunder. Big thunder. Thunder that shook the house, along with flashes of lightning. Early morning thunder doesn’t happen very often. As we made coffee and opened windows, the thunder kept rolling; long and loud booms coming from over the mountains.

It was wonderful. There were no high winds; just thunder, lightning, and eventually, pouring rain. We have more coming today and tomorrow.

Sort of a magical way to start the day.

Thanks for all your comments yesterday. I’m not sure what to do. Ad income, by the way, comes to me simply by your visits to my little spot on the Internet. It doesn’t come if you read the blog from an email but don’t come to the actual blog. Anyway, the costs of hosting this blog and maintaining its security are covered by that ad income. In the last month, I’ve had to renew and pay for my host for another year. My security just got renewed yesterday. Soon, another form of security will be up for renewal, as well as the services I use to back up the blog. So I’m in the midst of paying out money for those services and having to make a decision about emails at the same time is a bit overwhelming

Most of you weighed in yesterday on the way in which you visit the blog and I really appreciate it. I think I’ll try a survey of sorts later this week – here and on Instagram – to see just how many people really need that email delivered to them, as well as if they’re even reading them anymore. Then I’ll make a decision based on the results.

I’ve started another Roseville painting. This is where I left it yesterday and I have much more to do. I try to find a balance between being too critical and accepting that it’s all a process. So far, I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve created.

Now to find a tabletop easel. This one is too low and I end up with shoulder pain because I’m hunched over while painting. Shoulder muscles and neck tension are an issue already – always have been – and I don’t want to make that even worse.

Our days lately – we do our usual morning things; drinking coffee, waking up slowly, reading, meditating, Don goes to a virtual meeting at 6:30 am, I make our second cup of coffee and we chat for a while, then I write the blog and have some oatmeal. After all of that, Don goes upstairs to write music and record and I paint downstairs in the kitchen – along with, of course, all of the chores that need to be done on any given day. I like that we’ve found spaces in which to create, spaces that shift and change depending on just what it is we’re working on at the time. Dollhouse? Upstairs. Painting? Downstairs. Don sometimes records downstairs if I need the studio space. We are very sensitive to each other’s needs so we adjust as needed. This is a small house, so we need to be respectful and flexible.

I’ve had a hard time reading lately, most likely because I’m immersed in painting and gardening. It’s fine. I’ll shift back to reading more at some point. I’m not worried.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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