Illustration Friday.....Song

Sharing the naked soul with strangers.

Whether it is music, writing or art, it still takes courage to bare the soul to others. This man was on the streets of DC sharing his talent with the world. I much admire the courage it takes to be this free.

This is a coffee painting. I discovered the wonders of painting with instant coffee while in a Junior High art class. I painted this picture with Instant Hazelnut flavored coffee. Finally my husband had to ask me what that sweet smell was. I just told him to go back to the video game, it was just my paint! Hope you enjoy this fun little painting. It didn't come out like what I had in my head, but it came out different and yet better. Paintings that smell wonderful too! What fun.

Illustration Friday....Simple

Simply Sunbathing Sea Lion

This is a postcard that was stained with a Chai Tea Latte mix then watercolor applied over it after it had dried. The paper is handmade watercolor paper from India. I am usually such a detail oriented realist that as this painting evolved I saw these wonderful colors emerging and I just felt the need to keep pushing it. I enjoyed this painting so much that I doubt I'll ever mail it to anyone!

Illustration Friday.....Chair

This is a watercolor sketch on a postcard made from handmade paper from India that was stainded with coffe before the watercolor was applied. This is my spinning wheel and chair. When I was 9 years old I had angora rabbits and I harvested their wool and I took spinning lessons from a woman named Mary Stock. She had a studio in her barn where the sheep were below and while you were there taking you lesson you could hear the sheep walking around down below you. It was kind of relaxing in a way. My mother ordered this spinning wheel and chair from New Zealand and spent weeks finishing the wood and putting it together in our basement so that she could surprise me with it on Christmas. I still have these and I will charish them always. The love that went into not only getting and putting this together for me but the love and patience of a mother for her 9 year old to have such interests is the greatest gift a mother could give. For that I thank you mom.

San Fran for the weekend

When Brian decided to take a day off of work and go to San Fran for the weekend I got right on the computer to look up and find what I would like to see while there. I was so excited to learn that there were sea lions there at Pier 39 that you could go and see. That was number one on my list. I just knew that I could get good pictures of them and I was right. I took a ton of pictures and some are even becoming watercolor paintings already and we've only been home a couple days!
Another place that we wanted to go and see was the Aquarium. Just to be able to walk through the tanks and really feel as though you are under water was magical. I also got to pet a leaopard shark and other animals while there. How cool is that?
We took Beanie with us on our trip and when we got to Fort Point they said that they didn't allow dogs but if I kept her in the bag that she was being carried around in that she could go in. She was great and never tried to crawl out. Just being able to stand at the top of the fort and look out over the bay was incredible. We had forgotten what it felt like to be close to water. The Golden Gate was a wonderful sight to behold, especially when you are right next to it.
While walking around at night we were treated to a wonderful view of the city from Pier 39 and I just couldn't resist shooting a picture. All the lights and the clouds overhead really gave you a great atmosphere.
While over at Fort Point you can really get a good view of the city. There was so much to do and so many places to eat and drink that you would have to spend at least a month there to really get a chunk of it done. We did so many things just in the couple days that we were there. We really had a wonderful time. It was so nice just to get away for a bit. I have tons of pictures but can only show a couple here. Hope you enjoy them.