Saturday, July 30, 2016

it's SUMMERTIME!

i can't believe it's been over a month since i've posted.
And the strange thing is -
I feel like I don't have much to say.
But I at least wanted to post something
to let you all know i'm still alive. :)
I just finished working last Thursday,
and it still hasn't sunk in.
The past weeks (months?)
have been a whirlwind.
My older brother Paul visited here
over the past few weeks -
he just went back home to Western Canada 
a few days ago -
and my younger brother Rick (& family)
arrive today for a little vacation,
so we've been busy doing "summer stuff"!
I suspect once everyone's gone
and the house is quiet again -
my heart will flutter at the thought
of NOT having to wake up
at 6am to go to work
and at having so much more time
to play with my paints
in my beloved blue room.
Very little art these days...
There are music festivals all around us
and there are beaches
and tourists
and take-outs
and kayaking
and strawberry picking
and swimming in the ocean,
so i usually spend less time in my blue room
come summertime.
 ...but i must say,
i am almost looking forward
to a few rainy days.
We've had a heat wave here
over the past week or so
and unless you're in air conditioning
or in the water,
it's very uncomfortable & sticky.
We went to the outdoor market last Sunday
and there was a man sitting next to me
talking about how comfortable the temperature was.
We were dying of heat.
He was from Brazil.
His mother was wearing a sweater.
If it was legal to be naked,
i would have been naked,
that's how hot it was.
All about perspective, isn't it?
I did a few quick 'contour' drawings.
I love doing these.
I find a photo on-line (mugshots are always so intense)
and I place my pen on the paper where I want to start
and try NOT to look at my paper
while I'm drawing.
I just look at the photo while I'm drawing.
It's a guessing game 
and you never know what it's gonna look like in the end.
It's always a surprise.
I live for cheap thrills these days.
(giggle)...
I took this photo (below) while we were driving.
Yes, i was a passenger.
The sun was just setting on the tree tops
and with the huge field of green grass...
pretty.
A quick little sketch when i only had a few minutes...
Another quick little sketch on a post it note,
of my dad's dog, Fluffy.
And this...
an old photo of my brother Paul and I,
at my grandmother's house.
I was about 6 I think,
and he was 10.
He does NOT seem too impressed with the fish. :)
We looked at old photos while he was here
and this one cracked me up.
Well, that's it for now folks.
Thanks for being here
during this "slow summer season"...
and hopefully for understanding
that if I'm not posting as often as I used to,
it's because i'm soaking in the summer season
and taking it all in while I can. 
I'll be back with more consistent posts
soon enough.
In the meantime, ENJOY whatever you're doing,
wherever you are in the world
and don't let
another person's misery or hatred
become your own.
xx

6 comments:

  1. So glad to hear a little joy in your voice!! Sounds like a very busy summer with many memories in the making! Love the inspirational artistic exercises posted. The heat we're having here is grueling for me. Never been a heat baby. I think maybe today will be cooler..thank goodness!! Enjoy the visits with family, there is plenty of creative time in your future! Nice to know you are flourishing outside of your work life! Love the photo of you and your bro...you seem so proud, him not so much...lol

    Hugs Giggles

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  2. Your post and all of your sketches put the biggest smile on my face. I have never heard of counter drawing, but they sound like a barrel of fun, fun, fun. Not knowing what your piece is going to turn out to be has to be the best. I am going to have to try it, but not even take a peek. That's gonna be hard for me to do. We are burning up and i have been covered in poison ivy for4 week now. Finally, I am improving due to a send two week double dose of predisome. I have lots of empty for you and that heat...and especially about being so hot you would like to be nude Unfortunately, that is how I was basically for two week but HIDDEN under a very soft sheet in my bed where NO ONE could see me. Hope you and I both cool off soon. Really loved all the drawings. My favorite has to be the Kleenex box. genie

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  3. This is such a happy post. I love hearing of all your summer activities with a bit of art to share. Have a great Sunday.

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  4. Your sketches are great. Never thought about sketching old mug shots, thats a good idea :) lol at the photo with the fish, you look so happy with the bigger one caught :)

    Happy PFF :)
    Jen #44

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  5. Hi Pauline. It's always such a pleasure to read your posts. I LOVE your counter drawings. I'm sitting here, eating a ripe mango and grinning ear to ear-- thanks to your beautiful words and Fluffy's grin and yours too in the fish photo:)
    Soak in more and share when you can...looking forward to more from you. love and hugs. xx

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  6. Hi Pauline! I came to see your blog for the first time in a while and I really want to visit it more often. It's very interesting; simple, honest, illustrated and I could go on! I love it and I love you! I myself have never created a blog, but I think I'll give it a try....

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