Art Every Day (Almost) - Part One!

Vacation. Time to do everything, right? Well, sort of right! Everything you choose to do on a given day!

I made a "rule" or goal to do art every day of my vacation. And I put out a pretty big definition of that, and some of you helped me by making it even broader than I started! I liked that!

And so, I did. Well, I think there was one day I didn't -- I couldn't count 15 minutes of knitting a scarf as art, even though I "counted" knitting. What can I say? It was a busy day and I was doing other fun things!

But yes, I did get in some time -- and here is the part of art that is NOT knitting!

I set up on my porch -- this was not an effective set up on particularly windy days (those days required painting, not cutting tiny bits of paper!)

It's a wonderful spot -- a lovely beach and lake when you look ahead, quiet on other side, as no neighbors were about (or obvious). Actually, Rick and I have different definitions of quiet -- I have a higher tolerance for boat/jet ski noise (though I still believe the only good jet ski is the one you are on at the moment!)

I'm not terribly fond of equipment noise, and I have yet to understand why people leaf-blow up at the cottage when there aren't all that many leaves. But, I digress.

Most of the time, what I heard was the lake, the wind in the trees, the sound of my ducks coming ashore. But I couldn't resist the idea of spreading out paper and images, paints and brushes and playing. No time schedule. No deadlines. Just fun.

The first day, I did little, I confess. Sitting in the sun with my very good book (which you will find discussed on Chopsticks and String and ties in nicely with the idea of art!) seemed an all too tempting thought. Especially when you don't really know how many sunny days you'll have! (And how was I to know that every single day would be glorious?).

So, I just took my pastel and color pencils, a watercolor-stock postcard and looked straight ahead. If you haven't seen this rowboat on my beach before, don't worry. You will.

The next time, I sat down to paint. I decided to paint miniatures. The first is another of my view as I looked straight out. That's the park across the lake, from where they shoot off the fireworks. This is about three inches wide or maybe less.

I had some tiny two-inch square canvases I bought in Paris. So, of course I had to make a tribute to Gypsy. I do this pose a lot. I confess -- sometimes it reminds me of when our Greg (who now is a wonderful artist) only drew cars. No. Car. The same car. Over and over. Yes, I understand.

Like that one? Hope so -- because the next day I did him bigger! And a little more "fantasy."

By then, I was obsessed with Renoir, thanks to Susan Vreeland's book, Luncheon of the Boating Party, so I did lots with little dots -- color and light.

Well, I'm no Renoir! I have no illusions about my skill as a painter or drawer, but I do have a good time! And most of these will be backgrounds for something else.

But this one sort of looks like a forest! (Truth be told, it looks better when you can't see all the canvas indentations!)

On another day, I took to tag making. And really, I cut through quite a lot, at least in terms of prep work. (And for whatever reason, Blogger is turning this photo sideways, and it's not on my computer. Argh!)

But of course, there are always supplies you know you have at home and I didn't want to "finish" with the wrong thing. So, those are in a state of "in progress." Coming soon.

And when all else fails, make cupcakes. (This is an in-progress, too! Needs more texture. More pizazz.)

Well, I did more than draw, cut, paint and glue. But the knitting and my class is for another post!