Good-by 2016

Ah, yes, here we are at the end of 2016. I took some bookmarks discarded by my youngest granddaughter this summer and finished them.

A cheerful way to end my lettering journal and to end the year.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!

Lettering Detour, 2

Lately, finding something to say while working on lettering leaves my mouth dry and my tongue stuck. Platitudes are beginning to bore me, too simple. So I recorded a few thoughts about taking care of myself.

Notice that the first time I got on my exercise bike, 

I could only hold up for three minutes of huffing and puffing.

One can only get better!

I'm rather pleased with my progress...

Lettering Detour, 1

 In an attempt to begin the New Year back on my own track, I'm working to finish my lettering detour. 

I'm experimenting with fonts and color, in this case, watercolors.

At the risk of putting another platitude out there, I do believe that this is generally true.

Anticipation

And so here we are, December 24th, the day when so many kids are in a state of wild excitement because of that wonderful and magical thing called "anticipation". 

May your holidays be magical! 

He Drives, I Draw--in December

When it comes to running errands, he drives and I draw. I only need my small sketchbook and a ballpoint pen--very convenient. 
Occasionally, I get bored with the subject of traffic. I've drawn so many cars and taxis from the rear end...but then again, a big truck with a worn out broom stuck into the back corner suddenly catches my attention. You never can tell.

I may add color later, often with colored pencils. 

Sitting in a restaurant is always interesting.

Once in awhile I'll just work in colored pencils--a nice change.





And to show that I've got the holiday spirit, some seasonal colors: The last bowl of pomegranates with clementines (a cousin to tangerines) and navel oranges. All home grown and organic.

May your holidays be filled with beautiful colors 

and delicious fruit!

Saturday Evening

My current organize-and-finish spree to end 2016 has brought me some clarity of thought and forced me to focus. I joined SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) finally (should have done that years ago) and I'm now prospecting for art galleries for a solo show. 
So last Saturday evening found Mr. M. and me at the lovely Galérie Saladin in Sidi-Bou-Saïd, run by Ridha Souabni. We attended the vernissage of a Tunisian painter, Ahmed Souabni.

Sketching in a museum or at an exhibition helps me remember the event and I always learn something about line, color, and subject matter. 

So I whipped out my small sketchbook and ball point pen and sat in front of "Quo Vadis" (shown above),  which has spectacular movement and a beautiful use of color laid down in wide swaths. At home, I did a color study with colored pencils to appreciate the work.







Mr. M. posed with "Le départ des pêcheurs" ("The 
Departure of the Fishermen").

All in all, a pleasant evening.

A Recycled Journal

Continuing my end-of-year organizing and finishing spree, I made covers for an old day planner (from a bank) that I used for Sketch Club. The title refers only to the fact that it was saved from the trash--the content is not off-color in anyway, just experimental.
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And so, I continue ruminating during this "digestive" period. Lots of things please me in this journal...like still lifes and the fruits-from-my-garden theme.



Playing with line and color (watercolors, usually) rank high on my list as well. 
Blind sketches are appealing to me. 

And sometimes, I like my "ordinary" drawings.

I've probably explored pomegranates enough for a lifetime considering I'm finally finishing the Pomegranate Tree Quilt after five years. 


Mostly the wilder stuff intrigues me. I can see some themes and ideas taking shape, some interesting possibilities. And that's the nice thing about starting a new year--there are so many possibilities....