Invasion of the Amateur Movie Crew

Pin It Now! Saturday, March 24th, 2012

The Bink's movie crew has picked my living room for a scene. It is utter chaos. I have escaped out the front door to Neverness'.  Totally derailed him from his Saturday afternoon pursuits. Mawahahahahaaha! If you want to know what he was doing check out his Blog at Neverness Hobby Chronicle.

B. U. T... I've managed to get him ARTING! We're currently plotting away on our 40K project.

So I'm getting a lesson in inking and then dyes.

My sketch 

My first lesson in inking

I really like how this came out, I've noticed some things in the drawing that could have been tweaked.  Practice, Play, and Practice some more.  I've progressed since I first started drawing and I'm happy.


Update:  He (Neverness) gave me homework before rushing off to the wilds of Indiana.
So I am now outfitted with Black Magic Ink, New liner brush, tracing paper, new sketch pad, and a couple of "text" books.

Now the plan is to add a second page to this here blog that will be center on our exploits in this Warhammer 40K Collaboration.

If Warhammer 40K is complete gibberish to you check out Games Workshop & Fantasy Flight Games for some clarification.

Communing with Gaia

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HELLO Spring 2012!!!

For me its always easier to breathe surrounded by trees.  Trees of all shapes, sizes, and colors.  My favorite is the willow. Did you know that there are champion willows.  My sacred Willow is in Burke's Garden, VA.  It has a sign that proclaims it to be the Champion Willow of 1976.  If it was that grand then, just imagine what it looks like now, HOLY COW!!! 

The weather has been so wonderful that the Bink and I, along with some compatriots have journeyed forth into the Wild Woods so near our East Tennessee home. We're so lucky to have several State Parks so very close.  It is a simple thing to leave work and be surrounded by nature in just a few minutes.  With it being so early in the season we've managed to witness the sprouting of nature in her protected habitat.  We've traipsed among tree roots, last years leaves, and the crumbling rocks of Gaia's bones.  It is but a hint of the beauty that is to come.  I feel so at home with the trees.  I believe that there are places for each of us that allow us to inhale and exhale more freely and to be more relaxed.  My Uncle Ron commented on a photo of our hike saying, "trees connect us with our past and [with] the earth, so we're respected by our ancestors." I so agree with him.  Even my Pops feels that his soul is at peace when he visits the 'ole homestead' where he grew up and learned how to fish in northern Michigan.  Wherever that place maybe for you.  GO THERE!!! Commune with the birds and the trees.  Relax and let your soul find freedom and peace!

That's Just Me COOKIN'!!!

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I love to cook!  I LOVE to COOK!!!

Of course in the grand scheme of life sometimes I don't.  I think I might even consider myself a foodie... That is if pressed.  There isn't just one thing that I enjoy. It makes me think of a line from City Slickers, where Billy Crystal is asking Jack Palance the meaning of life and Palance's response is its just one thing ..his index finger held up for emphasis... (If you haven't seen this movie, watch it at least once)  I'm going to disagree with Jack. *gasp* Its many things: the process, the ingredients, and ultimately the edible result.  I cannot deny that I like food and the more complicated it is the more I like it.  I cook cause it make me happy and I've been told recently that it makes others happy too.  That declaration makes me even more happy and giddy.  

I'm beginning to see my practice of art in the same manner.  There's not just one thing that I can point to and say that's it.  It isn't just stamps (totally obsessed), paint, pens/pencils, tape, paper, etc, etc, etc... its the whole kit and coboodle.  The Bink told me the other day that he's delighted to see that my OCD isn't affecting what I'm doing at the art table.  It was an AH HA moment for me, 'cause I have to constantly remind myself to let go and walk away if its too messy.  So, when he says this it means that I'm making some progress.  YEAH ME!!!  

I'm currently obsessed with a Mini Journal.  I even got the Bink to help me trim paper for it.  Its 4 inches by 4 inches and totally cute. I'm finding that there are days when I just can't art but a few minutes and my large journal was too much for such a short period of time.  I've got enough space in the mini to journal short and sweetly.  I like that I'm using those scraps that are forgotten in the bottom of my stash.  Because I used Binder Rings I can take pages out to work on them and reorder the pages as I like.  

I've been reading Life is a Verb by Patti Digh.  I have to admit that its my fall back book for when I finish a book and don't have something else to read to finish my workout.  So, I've been reading it spurts.  Days pass and I don't even think about it.  Don't get me wrong there are parts of it that I laugh at and nod my head to.  Sure, I've been there something similar has happen to me or to someone I know.  Patti tells a good yarn.  Today, though there was a passage in Chapter 6 - Intimacy: Love More (Give Free Hugs) that even though my elliptical machine had stopped I couldn't quit reading.  So, there I am standing on the machine reading about Juan Mann, his Free Hugs Sign, and Patti Digh's daughter.  I was riveted by the story and by the time I got to my car I had the Free Hugs Video up on my phone.  I cried, I laughed, and I cried some more. I found it again when I got home.  If you've never seen the Free Hug movement videos, follow the link above or search via YouTube.  I think its well worth it!

So Long ART fans where ever you are!!!