Friday, April 06, 2007

4/6/07

I finished another ACEO. This one is a painting of Slider, my son Lukas' cat (gone to kitty heaven a couple of years ago). Don't ask about his name; I have no idea why Lukas named him that.

This one I did with acrylics and then gouache. Gouache is a pigment-rich opaque watercolor paint. I do like working with it, especially with the whiskers.



The next one I'm going to do is from a photo I took some years ago. It was at sunset with a fog laying on the ground, and Amber, my horse, standing down in it. I've got the basics laid in, but I'm going to go back and lay in some darker red for the sunset. It's too bland right now.

I find myself struggling with my retirement. I feel a bit lost and directionless, even with all of the things I want to do. I've been taking a nap every day. Well, at least I'm not going to bed at 9 p.m. now. It's been midnight most nights, which is just fine with Lukas, because he's on spring break & he gets to stay up late too.

The boys are coming up tomorrow to tile my foyer. I'll be glad when they get to tiling my studio. It'll certainly make it easier to clean up after my babies (ferrets).

Well, back to painting. Or maybe I'll have some supper and play Civilization...

Thursday, April 05, 2007

4/5/07

My, what changes a month can bring. When we got home, it was to the sight of a foot and a half of snow and the snowblower stuck halfway up the driveway. Long and short, I called work & told them I was quitting. Last Friday was my last regular day; hopefully they'll be calling me back in to fill in once and a while. I miss it, and this was only my first week off.

I made quite a few beads this week, but today was a painting day. I finished my first ACEO acrylic. It's a swallowtail butterfly that was visiting my flowers last summer. It turned out pretty good. I've got about a dozen other ACEOs started; now I just have to finish them.