Another Painting

Well I finished the 4th painting for the online class: Imaginary Visit to the Garden.
This week we were doing Garden Tools.  I took a couple old tools from my garage and set up a pose.  I found an old shovel with rust which I use all the time. And I found an old rusty scythe. I think this one is more of a grass and weed cutter. I floated the rose in the water bowl. The rose is from my David Austin English rose bush named Belle Story.
Here is my photo:


Here is my sketch after 30 minutes:



And here is my finished painting:



In the class blog everyone was very nice and gave good compliments.  But there was something that I kept reading.  They said this is not a journal entry kind of painting.
I guess I am confused because the class is a Visit to the Garden class like when I took a Visit to the Beach. There are classes called Journal classes. This one wasn't a journal class.  I do know that in most of the lessons it is common to write on the painting a note about our visit to the garden and what we saw, how the weather was, a poem, etc.

So when I am inspired to do a painting and not write a journal entry, well I guess I am a rebel and I just do it.  Call me Rebel Carol.  I think I have always had some of that in my blood.

Happy painting and let that rebel out of you!!!

HAPPY MAY 1ST !!!!!!!

Happy first day of May.  It is windy and sunny here.  I'm happy that the sun is shining and my life is happy.
I read this and I like it:
A good walk cures most problems. Want to lose weight and get fit? Walk. Want to enjoy life but spend less? Walk. Want to cure stress and clear your head? Walk. Want to meditate and live in the moment? Walk. Having trouble with a life or work problem? Walk, and your head gets clear.


I would add that walking my dog is fun.  He is so cute.  More on Bob later.


I wanted to share my 2nd lesson painting from my online class. The subject was Boxed Gardens.  The photos I saw of flower boxes were not getting my mojo moving so I set out with camera in hand.  I drove all over Redlands and I walked the sidewalks for a good photo. 
It is legal to take photos if 1) you took the photo (or I)  2) if you can see it from a right of way or public domain.


Here is my painting:


This is the photo:



I had a little problem with the border. I tried to tape around the painting and then paint a dark border to frame my painting.  The problem is that the blue paint bled under the tape.  


Since I didn't find a good flower box I chose to paint this tree with a grate and the Nasturtiums.  I love Nasturtiums.  


About Bob.  He is so funny.  I was working in my garage and he wanted to be near me.  I left the garage side door open and put a childs gate across. He jumped over it. So I raised it up to make it higher. 
See here how it looks:



I did put a hand dolly in front of it and that stopped the jumping over. Eventually I brought him in the garage and he is on a chain. I live close to the street where  people speed. I'm always scared that if he gets in the street he will be hit.  So I use the long chain in the garage.

Bob is looking older here I think.  He is 8 months old now.


So the project in my garage is this. I wanted to organize and clean up the clutter. I installed these racks with my handy dandy power drill.

They look so puny on the wall.  But the internet says that the toggle bolts will hold a lot of weight. I'm just so use to having a handy husband who would weld up a rack when my heart desired it.  Now that I am a widow I have to go to Home Depot to buy their puny racks.  I really need to buy another for the brooms.  
Oh and YES, I do put art work on my garage walls.  You can see the ballerina by Degas.  I bought it at the Norton Simon Museum.  I love Degas' work.
I also have hung many of my own paintings on the walls of my garage.


RACK  with tools



It looks a little crowded but I'm happy with it.  I have the tools out of the large trash can, so floor space is empty, clean and roomy.  I will keep on working on the garage.   
I'm not sure that I posted what I did to my work table. I put a sheet of metal on the table to have a nice heat resistant cleanable surface. 



Here is a wide shot.  I have an air compressor under my table. I love my tool drawers (by Kennedy) on the left. It still seems cluttered so I might put in some shelves for supplies. Art uses a lot of misc. supplies.



Well that is about all. I will leave you with some pretty Roses from my garden for a HAPPY MAY FIRST to all.


Hybrid Tea Rose: Sheer Bliss



David Austin English rose: Belle Story

Exodus 4:11-12 – Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say Posted: 30 Apr 2011 09:01 PM PDT The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” – Exodus 4:11-12 (NIV)