Virtual Sketch Date-Oops

This is a quick (15 minutes) value sketch of the image for September's VSD. For some reason I thought I was supposed to post it on Monday and still had time. Well obviously that wasn't right. I didn't want to be a deadbeat sketcher so I present this meager offering. I was gratified to see some of Richard Scott's lessons have taken root!

October is another month.

I'd Like to Thank My…

Today I received the Arte y Pico award from Starr. What a nice way to start the day!

As many of you know there are a set of instructions/rules that go along with the gift.
They are:
1. Pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4. Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte y Pico so everyone will know the origin of this award.

It's very difficult to decide to whom to pass the award. There are so many blogs I read regularly, so many I look at in awe and comment on the wonderful artwork. I learn so much and get so much from them all but here goes-the envelope please-

1. Mia-she participates in four (!!!!) blogs and websites, all of them outstanding.
2. Lydia- eclectic and fun.
3. Karen-her journal layouts are so simple and so dynamic.
4. Christie-beautifully written, beautifully drawn.
5.Rachel- I don't know how she does all she does.

Thank you all for sharing your work and thoughts. Thank you, Starr, for visiting my blog.

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

Changing purses today I found this remnant (eeew) from a Cubs game on Labor Day weekend. EDM #188 draw a peanut.

Monday at the Zoo

My granddaughters love the zoo. It has become one of my favorite places. Of course when I'm with them there is no time to sketch so my Monday Sketchcrawl was at the Lincoln Park Zoo. It was a cloudy and cool day. At least it wasn't raining like the last Monday we were there! The sketches were done quickly on gessoed newspaper with the lines pre-drawn. I tore the page and pasted the individual sketches in my "Monday" sketchbook. Not great but definitely fun-
The last one is done right in the sketchbook. It's from a photo on one of the information displays.

9.11.01 Remembered

from September 1, 1936 by W.H.Auden

I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright
And darkened lands of the earth,
Obsessing our private lives;
The unmentionable odour of death
Offends the September night.
...

Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame

Another Day-Another Style

It seems I bounce around a lot as far as drawing style goes. I just pick up a pencil or pen and start, what happens happens. I must be in my adolescent stage of sketching and someday the real me will emerge. I hope so.


These are Fitflops, a great gift from my sister. The construction is based on the walking style of Maasai tribe in Africa. Wearing them exercises your legs and feet. Will they help me attain the Maasai lean and graceful carriage? LOL Talk about hope! Well, they certainly are comfortable.

Pinwheels for Peace

This is a fun and thought provoking project (particularly for you home schoolers). Check out this out on my other blog Remarks from Remarque or Pinwheels for Peace. Enjoy!