Rock Climber. . .

This silly creature has taken residence in my art journal.

I had painted a stack of watercolored shapes and the

next thing I knew I'd sketched a ladder and the rock climber scrambled up to the top!

Linking to Sunday Sketches and

Creative Every Day

White flowers only, please. . .

Several years ago I worked part-time for a couple in Florida answering e-mails, filing papers, etc.  It was a cushy job in gorgeous surroundings.  Their home and landscaping could easily have been featured in any number of magazines.  The furnishings and decor were lush and exquisite.

The lady of the house had one funny quirk - she only wanted white flowers in their home.  Pops of color in their abode only came from the art they collected.  The remainder of the decor was neutral so that the art would take center stage.  The effect was stunning and there was a great side perk to that quirk. 

The couple would often receive flowers from friends and colorful blooms were a distraction from the carefully arranged art.  Newer friends and colleagues often did not know of her love of only white flowers.  That meant that I went home with gorgeous bouquets of colorful blossoms on a pretty regular basis.  Told you it was a cushy job!!

Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day

Big Red

She was never quite sure if her nickname came from the color of her hair or from the stature that the antlers provided. . . It was probably a bit of both, don't you think?

Linking to Illustration Friday - RED

Creative Every Day

Spring Girl. . .

FINALLY!!  Spring has arrived - not only because they said it on the news. . . 

but also because daffodils are growing in our yard.

After the winter we've had the bright yellow blooms are more welcome than ever! 

Soon lawnmowers will be filling the air with the aroma of cut grass - 

one of my most favorite scents - 

closely followed by the fragrance of grilling. . . 

which is even better when the grill is in my backyard!

Enjoy your weekend! 

Linking to Art Journal Every Day and

Paint Party Friday

Inky girl with swirly hair. . .

I try to post weekly to Sunday Sketches - While I love to draw I sometimes need the push of deadlines and responsibilities to get myself busy.

I realized that it was 9PM and I hadn't even started anything yet - yikes!  

Linking to Sunday Sketches and 

Creative Every Day

Neutral-holic

I recently purchased a 36 pan of Angora Water Colors.   It is a gorgeous color-filled palette. 

I, however, was the most excited about the grays, browns, yellows and flesh toned hues. 

36 colors to choose from and I've only managed to use 10.  Probably the 10 that never get used when others buy the same paints.

"My name is Michelle and I am a Neutral-holic."

Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day

Do my glasses make me look smart or just old?

When I was young I had atrocious eyesight - to the point where I could only see the "E" on the eyechart.  In fact, my first pair of glasses were bifocals!!  That was because the optometrist said that trying to read through that strong of a prescription could cause headaches.  

You'd think that a 8-year old wearing bifocals would be a popular girl but surprisingly that was not the case.  LOL! 

Eventually I found myself working with a group of ophthalmologists and my life changed forever after getting RK surgery in the early 1990s.

Finally I could see - no need for contacts or glasses anymore!!  If you've spent years completely dependent on your lenses you can relate to how freeing that was for me! 

I spent many happy years enjoying my nearly perfect eyesight.  Now that I am closer to 50 than 40 I find that my near vision is beginning to go.  Oh no!!  I wear readers when I draw now, sigh. . .

Soon I think it will be a full circle moment. Probably won't be long until I am back in bifocals again.  While I am not too happy about it I am ready to have clear vision again - well worth the sacrifice that I'll have to make.  Besides, glasses are way cuter now then they were in the 80s!! 

Linking to Sunday Sketches,

Creative Every Day

sometimes you just need a break

I have too much life and too little time to live it in - I'm sure that is a pretty common refrain these days but at times it is a bit overwhelming. 

sometimes you just need a break

Am I right? 

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Nurture

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."

               - Morrie Schwartz

Linking to Sunday Sketches and

Creative Every Day