Margot Rose Dinardi

Still alive

2012-01-24T13:41:00.001-08:00

Been making plushies.. some of the animal patterns are from Tabitha Naomi's Felt Friends from Japan. Little nekkid figure is a sizzix die cut. Birds in box are my design, I make on treadle sewing machine on back porch while terriers hunt lizards. Also my patterns are house with smoke and ugly doll. Paintings on piano ledge waiting to be scanned.
Here is Rufus with a bird.

Cleaned a path to computer

2011-03-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

That would be funny if it were not true! Cleaning my room while rocking to the 80s on Pandora and scanning a backlog of paintings. These iris grew in my backyard this past February, immortalized them. This is a night painting, my first. Downtown Tucson around the corner from El Charro, the oldest family owned restaurant in town. We take guests there often. This is a pair of chamois gloves fro the estate of Johnny and Pearle Gibson. Johnny Gibson is an Arizona Icon, was Mr Arizona in1950 (weight lifting). He fought The Battle of the Bulge and the Invasion of Normany. He maintained a barber shop in Downtown Tucson for decades. His weight lifting equipment manufacturing store is now the location of "The Artist's Studio" where I go figure drawing sometimes. Pearle was quite the crafter and had rooms of material and yarn and what not. I exercised control in the face of my own future.

Gail and I made a new friend , Heather, from British Columbia, She went painting with us several days and wanted this painting as a souvenir of a morning in Sabino Canyon.

Checking in!

2011-03-06T13:35:00.000-08:00

Busy year so far, was sick enough to appreciate health again.
Been drawing with my students at the zoo. museums and fancy shopping plazas.
Had a friend come down from British Columbia visit. We painted in Sabino Canyon two days.

Here is a sunset from my front yard!

Summer season over, moving out doors.

2010-11-21T15:16:00.000-08:00

Summer in Tucson means staying indoors. The fall however, is the season of events and grass.
We mow lawns in the winter! It is also the time of snowbirds and college students resulting in at least 3 or 4 major events each weekend. Have not been goofing off, just have to do tasks in batches for efficiency.
Here is a painting dump:

Not dead just working hard and taking classes

2010-09-11T08:00:00.001-07:00

Have had hacienda fever for last few weeks. It is like cabin fever in the northern winter, only it is in the summer in the desert southwest. Just want to be out doors and comfortably. Meanwhile painting inside.

This is from the beginning of summer, those are hazard stripes with Little Debbie cakes.

This cupcake is hazard free. In my Sculpture for Animation class we do these little houses from start to finish in 4 hours to learn the entire process.

Here is the yorkie family on the couch. They have hacienda fever too.
Tabbers on left, Psillie on right, Mi Ru on couch and Liler on pillow.
(Tabitha, Priscilla, Mister Rufus, Delilah)

Miss Delilah is very photogenic and poses for the camera unlike her relatives.
Couple stray hairs left over from a grueling haircut.

End of April 2010

2010-04-25T22:42:00.001-07:00

Been working at things. Taking a grad class in "the clothed figure" takes alot of time every week.
Teaching a drawing class so have been exploring sketchbooks of other artists.
But first, the lastest...
Beautiful spring this year, tons of flowers but here in Arizona there can be thousands of tiny flowers that just do not photograph. Hard to capture the abundance in a painting. This is in Catalina state park, up the Sutherland trail.
Went hiking up a field of purple flowers before the poppies had opened up. Gail stepped right next to this guy.
So this is titled: rattle snake meadow.
This is the saddle off a slot canyon looking out towards Marana. Edited out the sub divisions.
A rare afternoon painting session. So dang hot and buggy! This is a short hike up a steep trail..the Iris O Dewhurst at the top of 1st ave. That is down town with "A" mountain to the right.
In order to get a stamp on my 10 stamps = free art supplies card, I had to buy something and they keep these 2 inch canvases next tot the cash register.And what post would be complete with out the puppies! Delilah on top, Tabitha on left. both 8 months old and ears still not standing up so they are taped. Daddy Rufus is at base. Mom is not part of their wrestling and is sleeping on other sofa.

St. Patty's day events

2010-03-17T11:04:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's day.
Gail took a good pic of me on one of our painting excursions:
After a 7AM mammogram and thyroid ultrascan, I hopped on the freeway down to Green Valley, a retirement community where they have a thrift shop. I saw this Singer Spartan on craig's list the night before. I arrived 10 minutes after the store opened and nabbed it! 95$!
A ganga as they say here in Tucson. I like the shape of the green button-holer case!

The obligatory puppy pic, hard to get all four in one image.

And the latest paintings... been raining here (sort of rare). This is honeybee's entrance with a little trickle of water.
A view from a river walk that Gail rides her bike on. Thought this looked like an Italian villa.
This is Saguaro west, with green-ness every where. Who knew that desert could have a lawn!

For grad class: Honoré Daumier

2010-03-02T16:17:00.001-08:00

Have to embed pics in my discussion post and did not get the pics darn web sites which were not functioning well anyway.

Up Date.

2010-02-11T11:13:00.001-08:00

We have had bouts of rain that turned into the snowaggedon for you folks on the east side of the Mississippi. In between were sparkling crisp days perfect for outdoor painting. Flowers were rain days. This is Pusche Ridge, a visual landmark at this end of the Catalina Mountain range.

Rainy day, bought some flowers and set up in dining room. Gail and Geri came over, we luxuriated with fresh coffee, pastries and flush toilets.

In an effort to find new views, we tracked down some eucalyptus trees being fed by the golf course sprinklers. It was apparently ladies days on the links.

Went to pick up Gail's and Geri's paintings at Sonora Desert Museum (one of the white specks in the distance). Gail won 2nd place!
This is Gates Pass, a sunset spot that we visited in the morning. This painting is 5 inches by 7 inches. (Did not pack well) Others are 8 x 10.
A rainy day spent at Gails.

Another rainy day spent at Gails.

This is Delilah. She weighs 5 pounds, more hair than anything. Almost ready to cut off her puppy black. She has a spunky personality, attacks Rufus and Tabitha as they come in from outside. See the mischief in her eyes?

Poopee Pics

2009-11-24T13:07:00.001-08:00

Here are two remaining poopees.
This is Delilah, she was the runt but grew faster than two siblings within weeks of birth.
Delilah means weak or poor.

Tabitha was the largest of the litter and still is, in fact almost as big as mom already!
She has long legs like her daddy. Tabitha means gazelle.

No I did not miss spell poopees, that is what they are.

Japan, Tokyo

2009-11-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

6 weeks ago, went to Japan with husband's family.
Had a great time, neat culture and great shopping.
Here are a few images from the 175 I had printed, of the 524 pictures I took.
It is a vertical place.
I tried on a kimono that matched my converse shoes.

Lots of school children in uniforms visiting shrines.
Sushi on a conveyor belt! you pay by the # and color of dishes.

Breakfast on fish market day. Alley in distant doorway.

Fish market at 5 AM! 200 pound tunas auctioned off.

This is how you get o Mt Fuji, floating over sulphur vents.

Below Mt Fuji, which was behind clouds that day, is a boat ride to the other side of the lake.

Paintings

2009-11-12T09:54:00.001-08:00

Recent paintings. First two are 5X7, 30 minute studies. One of a tree that collects debris in wash and the other of Gail in her white painting outfit.

This is a slot canyon in Saguaro West National Park

Out in Catalina, is Golden Ranch Road. his is a horse trail beside the wash.

Pepper Sauce campground in Oracle, down a canyon with trees.

Honey Bee canyon past the crawl-in bridge.

Sabino Canyon, A mule deer came to visit so I painted her in. Then took video of her!
That is dirt on the upper left edge, will brush off when paint has dried.

Mule deer

Puppy pictures!

2009-09-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

Here is the beautiful mom Priscilla with all five pups!
A few will be finding their forever home this weekend ):-(

Poppa Rufus loves his pups.

Sooo darn perky and alert yorkies are.

There is always one wandering around out of frame, here are four of the five.

Scott has socialized them, as demonstrated by the group belly shot below.

Pig n Paintings

2009-09-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a felted pig and some paintings.

Pups! 4 weeks old now

2009-09-01T17:00:00.001-07:00

Rufus is having a blast with his pups, his own little pack!

Priscilla is keeping an eye on things.

These are the two boys.

And the three girls.

This is Muffin, the middle sized girl, who may be going to Mrs Dinardi (the elder).

A puppy pile!

Here are mom and pop Yorkie.

Art work of August

2009-09-01T16:51:00.001-07:00

Needle felted these four animals. cat first, then panda , racoon and lastly the bird.
Faster than crochet, like sculpting fiber. Found a great local store for the roving: Gandma's spinning wheel on Tanque Verde.

Close up of the Racoon.

Gail and I seem to gravitate towards teapots lately, this brass is the most recent.

Monochromatic theme too.

Could not find the fortune cookies from dinner the night before, but had some handy bullets.....
Looking forward to the plein aire season starting, as soon as it gets below 90 degrees 3 days in a row.

Puppies!

2009-08-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

Here is mom ready and waiting: stretched out on the cool tile.
Priscilla gave birth to three girls and two boys yesterday.
She did a great job and they are all doing well.
You see the heads of 4 and the rear end of one.
Here is a brand new yorkie pup on it's first whole day.

All are very busy sleeping and eating.
Rufus is scared of these little things, will dash away and only after careful observation will he come over for a sniff. (It's not like he has to change diapers or anything!)

Summer time!

2009-07-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

In door still life, after grocery shopping.

An overcast day hunting for lizards this is Priscilla...

This is Rufus, wet from hopping in pool. May be overcast but it is steamy monsoon season and lizard chasing is hard work!

I grew something!

HP Pavilion tx2500us key

2009-05-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a pic of the HP Pavilion tx2500us key that I dropped the battery pack on.

Catching Up

2009-04-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Went painting downtown Tucson. Toward the end of the temperate season, I get sick of mountains/sky/cactus. Found these buildings next to the original presidio that started this town before the United States had been established. On my trip to visit relatives, I crocheted this amigurumi cat in airports and on planes.

Here is beast-let Rufus, looking for rabbits and lizards.

This is beast-let Priscilla being fuzzy.

Painting 09

2009-03-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

Top painting most recent, this morning in fact! Unique to find a big chunk of color like this fushia flower bush in the dessert so had to focus on it. Totally changed my palette. Early morning blue mountains with sun kisses.

My birthday. A slot canyon that the entrance had been filled with sand one monsoon season was suddenly dug out after 3 years! This is my favorite spot in all of Honey Bee canyon; quite a gift!

Had not painted in 3 months, painfully akward to get your groove back.

These are items from Gail's mother's house.

An update

2009-03-06T09:02:00.000-08:00

Posting some pics, A few more updates soon.

Here is my 2D animation work area, light table for drawing, Automatic document feed scanner and laptop. All on one table! Also have hole punch, pencil sharpener, and file box for organization.

Here are Priscila and Rufus in the back yard after a walk.

Fall In The Old Pueblo

2008-11-16T10:57:00.000-08:00

Have been going to some gallery shows. Maynard Dixon at the Museum of Art. Other artists say my work looks like his so had to see what they were talking about. It is a compliment. He used a similar palette, more realistic, less romanticised. No yellow bushes with purple shadows. You just do not see that in the desert! Also very graphic shapes, which I use also.
Went to the Temple of Art Gallery to see Jim Waid's work, a contemporary, abstract artist that always has a 3D quality. Gail and I sat on a park bench on the upper porch at the temple and did quick 5 inch by 5 inch studies of the clouds. Planes were bringing tourists from the cold states.
The artist Jim Waid also has a show at Pima Community College, so we saw the city from that vantage point and went up to "A " mountain to catch the view. This is the road that winds around the hill. Painting is 5 X 7 inches.

The next week after google mapping the area, we found the right spot to paint the distant city.

I did not want to be so close to be tempted to paint every window and frustrate myself. This viewpoint is from a home site of a development that has not sold the sites at the end of a
cul-de-sac. Eventually there will be a luxury house were I sat. There was a nice morning haze that lifted as the morning proceeded. This painting is 9 X 12 inches.

In the "Sculpture for Animation" class, we did presidential busts, this is my Abe Lincoln caricature. He is about 8 inches tall.

Here is Priscilla, exhausted after a hair cut. She has fine thick hair and a impatient disposition. Rufus wants the attention and sticks his nose under the scissors just as you are about to cut her hair. He did not need a hair cut, but he lays there half asleep in bliss, so he receives excellent trims. Priscilla always ends up ragged.

I took pictures of Abe with my "old" Sony and found this puppy picture of Rufus on it!

His ears are not standing up yet!

Been busy!

2008-10-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

How could it be so long between posts? Summer came and went, did not get much swimming in. Brought out the blanket last night so plein air painting season has officially started. This is the last of the summer inside still lives. There was a vase a flowers there but it did not make it in the picture!

Tried painting in 95 degrees, stuck it out until the sun came over the ramada I was sitting under.

This is San Pedro chapel in the Old Fort Lowell Historical Neighborhood. My favorite part is the American flag.

Tried again, 90 degrees. Was toasty by the time we set up at 9AM so we agreed to be speedy.

Was home by 11:30 as the temp crept towards 100.

This is me sweating it out. Got a new painting equipment. That is the lightweight aluminium easel.

The black bag is lightweight too and takes up an acre when opened up.

Classes started at the Art Institute of Tucson. This is the project from the first day of sculpture for animation, an exercise to learn the materials and process. We made a storybook dwelling in 4 hours from concept to paint. I taught by example. Base is 3 inches wide, whole thing fit in the toaster oven.

And here are the Yorkies! Priscilla standing and Rufus laying down. They are not jumping in the pool to cool off any more, but still prefer it for drinking.

Third flower painting in air conditioning

2008-09-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

Everything's peachy! Somehow all the greens and peaches worked. These larger paintings are taking 6 hours or more. This one is about 18 X 14 inches. Looking forward to the new plein air season. Got a new easel and bag shedding at least 15 pounds. Better to roam with. Also ordered more paint as I did not want to break up the stealth box every week. So I am ready to go, just waiting for the temprature to drop a dozen degrees or so. Still in the hundreds here.

The pups are loving the grasshopper population explosion.

How to plant a yorkie-girl:

AC painting

2008-08-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

Another hot day in Tucson, another bunch of flowers inside.
A smaller canvas and 6 hours.
The theme was white and I must have gone through half a tube!
Sorry no comments so no pup pics.

Air Conditioned Sunshine

2008-08-08T19:43:00.001-07:00

Sunny sunflowers in air conditioned comfort of home. Gail came over and we painted inside.
I decided to go big (for a plein air painter) this is 18 x 24 inches! So I painted small flowers on a large canvas!

Here are the puppies also enjoying the AC. They don't even stay outside for too long!

Making a list of paintings for the Ventana Medical Systems Show next week, 18 good enough to show from 4 years of painting. Presenting at Art Institute of Tucson's open house tomorrow.

Check out Empty Easel link to right for tutorials I wrote on using GIMP to edit your photos!

Grading to be done!

Summer Painting

2008-07-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

The monsoons have started, it is hot and humid.
Not a good condition to paint outdoors, even if it is lush and green for once.

5 x 7 inches Hotel Congress

Inspired by Duane Keiser's cigar box (see "love these paintings" in list to right)

I got my painting partner and I, smaller stealth boxes to paint in coffee shops. In this inaugural outing, we went to the lobby of Hotel Congress. Nice to work in air conditioning with music and bathrooms handy.

Also painted some in studio common objects, here is a fresh teabag on a 6 x 6 inch canvas.

Here are the pup pictures, they are happily hunting lizards, palo verde beatles and tarantulas.
Miss Priscilla scouting.

This is Rufus in action, he is a swift and strong leaper, look ma, no feet on ground!

SketchN and PaintN

2008-06-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

Have had the urge to sketch for a while, so we went to the old downtown residences which are quite charming. Next day went to Tohono Chul and painted there.
Of course the obligitory puppy pics.

Florida Map

2008-05-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

Revised #2:Revised:
Original:

Here is a Florida map to be published in a book of photography by Patty Dirienzo.

Not the final version but getting close! Click on image to see bigger version.

Evening walk at studio

2008-05-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

These were taken by KGUN9's anchor Guy Atchley.

Perfect mothers day gift: me with my kids!

Paintings N Pups

2008-05-06T13:12:00.001-07:00

Or rather Pups-N-Paintings.
Due to complaints that there were no DOG pictures.... "TEAM WORK"

Purple flowers bringing on the Butterflies.

94 Degrees, probably last day of season for painting out doors.

Decided to face the always challenging rocks.

Art Institute of Tucson

2008-05-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Had an interview today that must have gone well since they gave me application forms to fill out.
Might be teaching a 2D and/or a 3D course in July.
Here is my demo reel also available on youtube if you search for Dinardi.

Flower pics

2008-04-02T12:45:00.001-07:00

Carpet of purple "weeds" in backyard. Meadow in Catalina state park, close up of flowers follow.

Catalina Meadow Flowers

2008-04-02T12:39:00.001-07:00

Lots of flowers at the Catalina State Park in a meadow above the wash.
Took pics of flowers and painted colors that are not there!
Like it though, captures the spirit of the morning. Fun in the back yard, she may be cute but Priscilla is vicious too!
See lizard in mouth?

Ahhh, A quiet moment in between rounds of wrestling.

Drawing Studio

2008-02-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

Here is a painting of our model Susan done in three hours of 20 minute poses.

8 x 10 canvas. Ran out of time on the hands :-[

This is a 20 minute painting-sketch of Susan with 5 minutes of negative space painting done later at home.

This is a Honey Bee Canyon done two weeks ago. The weather here is just beatiful these days.

And of course, what you really want to see... The puppies who are happy and healthy.

Rufus

Priscilla

NewYear

2008-01-08T11:13:00.001-08:00

These were the last of many and were spared being ate. Made my room smell delicious too! These radishes were started late on a Sunday and by the time I got back to them, were dried up. So the under painting stands on it's own merits.

In the afternoon sun.

After a day of wrestling.

Christmas dinner!

Nuts!

2007-11-19T09:53:00.001-08:00

Walnut, hazel and pecan.

Bought these nuts before halloween, they keep. Walnuts are fun to paint, the hazelnut so simple it was difficult and the pecan required alzirian crimson which is rather transparent but dryed well. There were two sets of shadows which I thought were interesting. The blue is from the shoe box I set them on to get them closer to me.

This is Priscilla taking out her favorite toy which is a decapitated lime green teddy bear sans stuffing. She sticks her nose in the neck opening, where it gets stuck and can look pretty funny.
Below: Happy Rufus running.

Purple flower & the Yorkies

2007-11-15T10:34:00.001-08:00

So it took three weeks to get around to finishing this one. Did not do much to the flower itself as it is now a dried up flower. Did choose a non-existent blue/green for background, still life is set up on cardboard.

Priscilla looking like a stuffed toy.

Rufus being a sweetie.

The next two are for contrast, after hours of chasing and tumbling, they do get tired.

Catalina State Park

2007-11-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

TPAPS and OPA had a joint paint-out at Catalina State Park on Saturday.
This is my result..It's alright, nothing glaring wrong.
The Saguaros cactus are not cigar-o-s.
There is a bank of shrubs casting shadows on the left that I painted a tree over..opps!
Here is the setting for reference. You have to paint the shadows at the time and then let it go; they are going to be different by the time you finish the painting.

Here is handsome Rufus!

Here is silly Priscilla!

Here is the two of them acting like a married couple!

(She started it.)

Honey Bee Painting

2007-10-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

After the colorless one last week, I did not put brown on the palette and had to make it myself.

I wish there were more than 8 colors. This one did turn out more vivid. 8 inches x 10 inches.

Very windy day, 30 and 40 mph gusts, so we went under the bridge and up the slot canyon.
Just around the bend from the first painting of the season (horizontal painting way below).
A few times I had to hang on to the umbrella but I was looking into the sun so I was glad I had it with me. Beautiful day to be out upsetting the birds.

Mister Rufus! He is looking for Priscilla whom he is fascinated with. They play well together. He can overwhelm her with his speed, size and tenacity but she gives him what-for and provokes him by biting his nose.

After a good bout of growling at Rufus, Priscilla is pooped.

Miss Priscilla Arrives!

2007-10-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

We bought Rufus an expensive toy.

Here she is! That pink thing on the left side is a thumb.

Rufus is 8 months old now and Priscilla will be 9 weeks tomorrow!

Breeder said she will get to 6 lbs, Rufus is 7 lbs now but a string bean.

Somehow I suspect living in the Dinardi household they will both be pleasantly plump in no time.

Rufus is a bit miffed. Claudia came over and he went berserk, like we ignore him.
Priscilla hadn't been in the house a full 24 hours yet.
Who needs children with babies like these?

HoneyBee

2007-10-16T11:43:00.001-07:00

This is honey bee canyon, looking south towards Tucson. My usual graphic style but an attempt at poetic brush stroke. No inventive colors, going for the truth. The canvas is 8 inches by 10 inches and took about 3 hours to paint. (After one hour of wandering around with all the gear, looking at one inspiring view after another.)

My mother claims Rufus looks bored. So here is an action shot with ears flapping.

I started, but did not complete a still life so a bonus Rufus the Yorkie pic for my sister. He is intent on a lizard. A little tired out, panting, a cute butt shot.

Honeybee Canyon Salt N pepper

2007-10-01T12:45:00.001-07:00

Sunday night painting of Salt and Pepper shakers. The canvas is 4 X 4 inches.

Below is Honeybee canyon, was overcast this morning so light did not change and it was a comfortable temperature. Sat on a rock on the side of a cliff to see this view. I like the focal point of the tree on the edge and the path leading up to it. But I got lazy on the right hand side rocks. I may go back in to develop those. In person it is an overwhelming mass of cracks.

And Rufus the Yorkie! He sleeps!

Catalina State Park

2007-09-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

Here is my painting from this morning. Those are gnats stuck on it.

The grasshoppers and buzzy things were nuts!

Trying the techniques from "Alla Prima, All I Know About Painting " by Schmid

This turned out OK... in other words I don't hate it!

This is pic of our painting spot, that's Gale painting there.

Really needed the umbrella since the sun was in front of us.

Like the celery I did the night before better!

And a Rufus pic!

First Plein Air of Season

2007-09-18T09:50:00.001-07:00

First Painting of the 2007-2008 season. Poured rain the night before and left a rare sliver of water on the floor of the wash to reflect the sky. It was drying up by the time I finished painting. You can feel fall in the air, a cool breeze brought in beautiful clouds. Of course I could not paint them in. Painters can chase shadows all day and end up with a mud painting. You learn that one quick but the temptation is always there. Used the Water Mixable oils and a limited palette.

If you click on pic you get the huge version, there are grains of sand on the lower left. Have to wait til it drys to brush them off!

Here is Rufus cooling off on the top step of the pool where I put bricks for him. He loves to run like a horse after getting out, sometimes through the house and onto your lap.

Old Wallet

2007-09-05T11:34:00.001-07:00

The switch to working Mon - Fri gave me the day after Labor Day off.

I cleaned my room like I had been meaning to all summer when I started a full time job.

Found my old wallets while cleaning. Girls do not throw out their old wallets, I had two red ones and this one had the hinged change area. So it is not a statement about being broke and having an empty wallet although my Ball & Chain suggested I put it over my check book as inspiration.

Spent about 4 hours total over the day (had to stop for a nap). Panel is 8 X 10. Used water mixable oils and a limited palette. Warm and cool of each primary, black and white. Trying to get in gear for the upcoming plein air season. The water mixable oils act a little differently than the Alkyds I use. I needed soft brushes to blend and not leave bristle marks. A clean brush blends wonderfully and a little dampness would "revive" an area.

Wish I had moved the subject up a little and had just the panels behind it for compositional horizon lines but now I know. Was in such a hurry to DO IT!

Joy is a puppy on your lap while you paint! Here is a Rufus Pic!

Grand Puppy Pics

2007-08-02T10:55:00.001-07:00

Here is a pic of Rufus the yorkie and me on a trip to Mount Lemmon.
That is a twig on his side, he collects those where ever he goes.

Grisaille painting

2007-07-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

Did this painting on 3 lunch hours (back in 2004!) using ivory black and titanium white with water mixable oils. Glazed the color at home when it was done and dry. All are 6 by 4 inches.

This was my attempt at going commercial; creating a series for print. Topic: comfort food. To be sold to coffee shops and restaurants. The subjects and imagery are straight from my imagination, no still life or reference. I just made it up. The Cup N Spoon is the finished grisaille. The other two are not finished.

Rufus !

2007-06-11T11:28:00.001-07:00

Here is my new Yorkshire terrier pup named Rufus.

He is 12 weeks old and weighs about 3 lbs.

Now I get get up early.

Easy to do when a very rambunctious fuzz ball is biting your nose at 5:30 am and the threat of a stink deposit occurs to you.

Spent Sunday at work with me, was well behaved.

Slept on the wacom tablet while I made the graphics and on my lap during the show.

Only heard him bark once, when the lizard he cornered wouldn't play any more.

Anger, Take Two...

2007-05-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

Postcard "back"

Postcard Front Poster

Here is a concept I have been working on for a sermon series.

The images have been adjusted for display on the blog, the originals will be printed.

Design is open to adjustments and changes, this is the first draft.

IF: Remember

2007-05-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been transported back a few decades to a specific place by a smell or the quality of light? The smell of a grade school disenfectant, crayons, old wood...BAM I'm back in kindergarten in a split second. AZ's creosote bushes in the rain is just as powerful.

So the new job is making me lazy. First I have not participated in a while. Second, this is a composite of 4 pilfered images with a photoshop brush filter applied. The chick I drew. Found a site: www.posemaniacs.com that provided a skinned image that inspired me. Skinned as in- no flesh, all muscles and tendons depicted; sorta takes the lust element out of it. Site has a 30 second pose feature that limbers up the ole hand/eye coordination.

Agave Death Shoot

2007-04-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

At the request of my Dad....

An agave death shoot. This one is now 3 feet taller and sending out flower shoots.

Another in the yard joining it, the shoot just starting. We counted 7 in the neighborhood!
A friend wants to the shoots when they are done to paint!

A Day In The Desert

2007-03-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

Went painting this morning in Sugauro West.
Got a bad case of "what's over the next hill?-itis"
Woke up a bunch of javalina. Scared me more than the bob cat did!
They are sorta dumb and might have run at me.
Have heard they have germy tusks you don't want to get poked with.
The first few got away but I climbed a rock above where they came from and got a few pics with the Rebel. Here is the good one.
Also; our hawk on the flag pole.

BAM a MammOgram

2007-03-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

So at 10:15 we find out we need a graphic for the 11:00 Health segment. I google Mammograms, MRI and what not. Used the template and stuck these images in after some edge feathering and color correction.
3 minutes before it gets used, we find out " Mammagram" is spelled with and O. Got to send it out so you may notice the drop shadow behind the O is from an A! Couldn't pick it out for the 5 seconds it was on the Big A** Monitor behind the anchor.

A New Beginning

2007-03-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a silly illustration I drew while waiting for my pre-employment drug test. That is me as a lego person.

There may be some surprise this week as my students discover I have moved on to work in the field of our study. After more than 3 years with the art center design college, I will be doing graphics for KGUN9 the ABC affiliate here in Tucson. I would have liked to have told my students in person but that is against the art center's policies.

While I really enjoy teaching, my heart has not been in it lately, which is not a good thing for an instructor. Most of it is due to the college's administration; the micro management, the pseudo psychology and the lack of caring. Some of it was due to dealing with students who just don't put in the time to get their tuition's worth. To the few that do make teaching a worthwhile experience, thank you for trying your best and giving me hope.

Since I do not work at the art center any more....the grapevine has it that my former boss will be quiting at the end of this term too. (hence the ship sinking) I am sure the department will be fine under the new department head's (name begins with a B) guidance since that person might care. Remember to pretend you don't know!

I am very excited about working in television and learning Lightwave, the software they use for 3D.

I'll be making the lower thirds, OTSs and BAMs. So if you are watching the 5, 6, or 10 o'clock news and something in the banner at the bottom , the over-the-shoulder or big-ass-monitor is spelled wrong or missing, it will probably be my fault! ;-)

Mule Deer

2007-03-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Went to Sabino Canyon to paint this morning. A mule deer went bounding by, then stopped seeing the plein air demonstration ahead.
On her way back I got these pics.

Click on pic to get larger version; love my Cannon Rebel.

She was pretty far away from me, I was zoomed in and I cropped the image so you could find her.

Also saw a snake but his head is in the cactus so not real impressive.

See the dust from her feet?

My easel had an umbrella on it for shade, wind gusted by and took the whole thing down. The pastel dust was evenly distributed across the image losing any detail I had. >:-[

Total-ly Fed Up

2007-03-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday Challenge: Total

Hmmm... Nothing comes to mind.

So much for waiting for an inspiration to hit.

Sort of fed up lately.

Wanted to use my chalk pastels.
This took about an hour.

The pastels are very forgiving, pure pigment that grips onto the archival velour paper.

I prefer it to the fine sand paper usually used for pastels.

If you like to draw and want to paint, chalk pastels is the way to go.

With pastel pencils you can get texture and detail too.

Did only the layout with pencils, used mostly sticks to quickly fill in areas of color.

Points for participating?

St Phillip's Church

2007-03-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

Went to an old church on Campbell and River here in Tucson.

Many possible paintings there, took tons of pics with my new Cannon Rebel.

The shadows were perfect even if they did move the whole time.

The stucco walls were not white, they reflected the brick floor or the sky or the trees. After looking so hard it felt like you were going crazy, they are just white walls!

Took 4 hours using Alkyds on a 8 x 10 inch panel.

More time on Rose

2007-03-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

120 minutes

Found the pen was not working with me.
Changed the buttons at the top of the pad to be [ and ] which make the brush smaller and bigger.

Then changed the lower clicker on the pen to X which switches the foreground color with the background color. Helped me alot.

Erased to define edges, zoomed into the bud and defined that.
Cohesified (?) the over all image, blurred the leaves and saved-as.

Not sure how much more time.

Ready to try something new.

Photoshop Painting

2007-03-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

40 minutes 20 minutes

Original Image

Inspired by TwinCircles and Chatree, I tryed a timed painting.

Used a wonderful brush that is just like chalk pastel.

How they did much in 5 minutes is beyond me. It had been 20 before I had much info on the page and frankly an additonal 20 did not improve it much but I needed to post something! (I had forgotten my password!)

So here ya go! I may try another 20 minutes and move on.

Crash

2007-02-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

Well, The Illustration Friday Topic is Crash.

Did this in Photoshop with a Wacom tablet.

Did not get my usual detail, but like the spirit of the image.

Web banner

2007-02-08T10:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a web site banner made with Photoshop that I did for a local business. http://www.bookmans.us/undefined

Several changes were made, it originally had a wing tip shoe but that was too simular to another article about the same subject.

As an artist, photoshop montages are almost too easy to make, it seems like cheating some how. Still involves composition, controling values, supporting a theme and style. It was fun to do.

The beginning

2007-02-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

I gave in and started a blog!

Mostly to participate in Friday Illustration and share images/links with my students.

Here is the first one!

Subject "Sprout"