Change of Pace

The best laid plans gwyn aft awry

The daily challenge today was to eat a meal or snack in a different place.  I decided to eat out in the backyard, as it was cooler than it had been, and sunny. First I had to change my clothes, because what I wear inside is inappropriate for outside, and then I carried my food out to the backyard and the first thing that happened was the I sat in a chair with a puddle! I didn't see the puddle--it was invisible!  Now I look like I peed my pants. The next chair also had a puddle, but smaller.I stupidly moved there, and sat in a second puddle. Meanwhile, huge black clouds came up and a persistent fly buzzed around. I noticed that my son, when he mowed the lawn, piled the grass clipping on top of the tomato plant, damaging it and breaking off some small tomatoes! I got up, unburied the tomato and pulled some weeds. The dark front continued moving in until it covered the whole once blue sky. I ate most of my lunch outside, and then came in for the final part and I think that horrid fly followed me in. Well, it was a change of pace, anyway! If I hadn't gone out, I wouldn't have rescued the the tomato plant in time!  So that's the silver lining!

Self-Portrait Challenge July 27, 2014

Quick Self-portrait Sketch with no mirror or photo on left
adjusted by peering at photo on right
(but still not quite right)
by me, Mary Stebbins Taitt

Starting with the quick sketch I made of myself (without looking in the mirror), I compared it to a photo of me and then tried to make it look a little more like me while still being essentially the same picture I'd originally made.  It turned out to be as difficult as reinventing myself has been, all my life.

I would like to be thinner, prettier, younger-looking and enlightened.

Wait . . . .

I don't think those things go together.

I guess what I want--and need-- is to accept and love myself and others, just as I and they are.

Flaws, quirks splotches and all.

Keith: A limerick for Daily Challenge

I have a sweet husband named Keith
who is good for some comic relief.
     He likes a good hoax
     or some off-the-cuff jokes
and is full of Joy and Caprice!

Fish Doodle For Daily Challenge

Fish Doodle in "Fresh Paint"
by Mary Stebbins Taitt

This is my challenge for the day. Done in Fresh Paint.
A five-minute sketch (actually 7 minutes and 33 seconds)

Progress on Moleskine and Noah book

"Bid Noah Goodnight"

"And they came in in twos . .  ."

Casual Poppy Card
print card from acrylic painting
for pocket

Not sure if these are done yet.

Biker Buddy With Potato Chips

Keith with Potato Chips
I made this on my new Surface Pro in Artrage

Keith with Potato Chips
Then I printed it, and painted over almost the entire thing with acrylics
click images to view larger.

The second one I am including in Ballookey's pocket.

I am still working on two other pieces.  I will maybe try scanning them later today.

I am looking at these two paintings and I see things I like in the original and may do more work on the acrylic.  Oops, thought I was finished.

Unfinished self-portrait with left hand

Trying "watercolros" and "pastels"

Switching to trying "oils"

I was using a brand new program (app?) (new to me), "Fresh Paint," and my left hand.  I got so frustrated my right hand kept trying to take over for my left.  I had to give up.  The reason I was using my left hand was for a challenge for Daily Challenge/Me/You health.

It made me think how frustrating writing and drawing must be for little kids who don't have much manual dexterity.  Seriously difficult stuff!