What I've been up to and are blogs dead?

There are certain blogs that I love and visit with regularity.  They are all "big" established blogs that have large followings and are managed as full time businesses.  This little blog of mine used to keep me pretty busy and I loved it.  I never had a ton of followers but I'm proud to say that some of my posts have had thousands of hits.  In the beginning I think I had very high hopes for this blog and then after a couple of years I viewed it much more as an art sharing platform.  And then...I confess I stopped doing art on a daily basis.  I was in a rut, sometimes broken with a quick painting or two, but it's safe to say that my art and blogging rut has lasted (off and on) for the better part of 1 1/2 years.  I am cautiously optimistic that my rut is finally over and I've been doing art every day.  This time, instead of blogging a ton to share my art, I've been sharing on Instagram.  I have discovered that there are so many wonderful artists and challenges on Instagram.  They are so much more accessible on IG than in blog form...which finally leads me to the point:  

Are blogs dead?

(Maybe not the big ones...but little ones like mine?)

Follow me on Instagram here. 

Folk Art flowers inspired by the folk art of the Kalocsa region on Hungary.  Mixed Media.

Dobos Torte.  The BEST Hungarian dessert.  Layers of cake and chocolate.  SO GOOD!  Watercolor.

Leadbetter Beach Watercolor and Sunset

My last post showed some watercolor Hungarian Folk Flowers.  I had tried something new...just loose watercolor shapes representing the flowers as I imagined them finished.  Then I did the actual "finishing" in black pen.  I loved the way it looked with the flowers so I tried it with a landscape.  I think it's interesting...needs refinement but kind of cool.

If the tide was low enough to walk around that point you would find the beach where we watched the sunset a few nights ago...

Check out Paint Party Friday!

DPP # 2 Window

There are things that charm me every time I see them and near the top of that list (along with kittens and laughing babies) has to be red geraniums in window boxes. 

 

 

Started sketching in bed this morning.

I started with very pale gray watercolor all over the bricks and let that dry, that's the mortar.  Then I shaded in the dark windows and I added the bricks little by little making sure I varied the colors and how much water I added.

The bricks are finally done.

Adding the flowers and more color.

Adding some details. 
Despite the careful sketching and plotting at the beginning my window panes are uneven!

After all the watercolor painting was done I added shading and details with pencil, watercolor pencils and marker.


And from yesterday, DPP#1 Rainbow.

 

Camping!

Last weekend we joined A's family and went camping at Cachuma Lake in the mountains above Santa Barbara.  The best thing about camping in the winter is getting the prime spots. 
As soon as we were set up I sat in my camp chair and starting painting.
Here is the view from our campsite. 







We got really lucky and enjoyed fabulous weather (although it was freezing at night!) Normally the husbands take all 4 kids camping and A and I stay home enjoying the quiet and maybe a girls night out. I knew that camping with moms would be slightly different for the kids when my son, watching me pack plates, said:

"Why do we need plates? You hold a hot dog in your hand and eat chips out of the bag!"

Ha!

Camping dog.

 

This log is normally submerged but the lake is low right now.  I love the texture in the wood.

Obi's first camping trip and first boat ride.  He was very well behaved!

Journal watercolor from the boat.

 

 

Floating "head."  Surprisingly clean, thank goodness!

  

Best trout I ever ate (and I'm not a fan of trout.)  Yes, my son is kissing the fish.  Crazy kid.

Another journal watercolor from the boat.

It's been a long time since I've shared at Paint Party Friday so excited to link up!

Also linking up with Sunday Sketches. 

Beautiful Weeds

Last week I experimented with a limited color palette.  Today I took it a step further and used only one color.  In the spirit of sketching on a lazy Sunday, I sketched in bed, on a Sunday morning while sipping coffee.  

 

 

I used a black water coluble pencil and then went over the pencil lines with a wet brush.   I wanted a more washed, watercolor look so I decided to run a large wet brush over the whole thing.  I was nervous I would end up with gray blobs but I like the way it came out and I think it's not bad for about a 30 minute effort!

 

 

Dried Sweet Fennel weeds.  Taken on my iPhone while hiking with aObi a few days ago.

It was sunny by the end of our hike.



Bursting with Figs

This time of year is fig time.  We have a baby tree that is not yet producing well but my dear friend has a tree positively bursting with figs.  We get bags and bags of figs from her. 

These figs are so ripe they have burst.

Watercolor on paper

Figs on my art desk...working quickly before the ants figure it out.

When the figs are overripe I like to use them in smoothies, fresh or frozen.  I put them in the blender, skin and all.  They add a nice creamy texture and a subtle flavor.  They are high in calcium and other minerals, loaded with vitamins and antioxidants.  What's not to love?

Fig & Peach Green Smoothie:
1 large fig, cut up and skin on
1 medium peach, cut up and skin on
2 cups mixed baby spinach, collard greens and kale (or any green)
about 6 oz water
add crushed ice if you like your smoothies really cold as I do
when I make fig smoothies for the kids I add barely a hint of greens and much more fruit.

Another amazing way to eat figs and is our go to fig recipe every year on our annual
Girls Weekend in Palm Springs:



Slice figs in half and place face up on pretty serving tray.  Put crumbled blue cheese and roasted almonds on each fig.  Drizzle whole thing with honey.

How do you enjoy figs?  My dear friend and I would love some new ideas!

Smile

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
Phyllis Diller

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.
Mother Teresa


I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.  Not only do I live in a gorgeous town, but I also live close to the ocean and amazing scenery is literally footsteps away.  Now truth be told, I am not a naturally cheerful person...sometimes I feel that I have to work hard at focusing on the positives and not letting the negatives get me down.   The other day I went for a walk and was feeling a bit off kilter but as I neared the beach I realized that I had just dropped my beautiful children at school, I have the cutest dog ever at the end of my leash and I am walking in paradise.  All that was missing  was a smile.  You know there are studies that say smiling will naturally put you in a better mood. 
So I tried it.  It worked! 

 

Watercolor in sketchbook

 

WIP's on my desk

When I walk Obi I am very aware of the people around us. He is attracted to everyone and is likely to strain at his leash and reach his wet nose to any passer by. I often watch people's faces to see if they are receptive to 35 pounds of wiggling puppy or not. Almost everyone is charmed by Obi and will smile at him. It's hard to be in a bad mood when everyone is smiling.

Still a bit afraid of the water

Obi is smiling

Beautiful morning