Cool Air at Last!

The upstairs A/C is working again but it took the replacement

of the 2 year, 10 month old compressor. Gee, they don't make

things to last any more, do they? Well, the days are in the

80s now and not hot and humid as they were.

My mixed media teacher wasn't feeling well so we didn't

have class. Nevertheless, I painted some papers to use

when we get back together.

Here are some doodles I made while talking on the phone.

And here is an old log cabin I painted in watercolor class.

I have cause to be thankful today. I went to the ophthalmologist

this morning, thinking I might get shot #5 in my eye (AMD) but he

said all looks good. Doing a happy dance! I hope it stays this way.

I spent a lot of time reading Wilkerson's The Warmth of Another Sun

this week. It is about the migration of African Americans from the

south to the north during the time period of 1917-1970 (roughly). 

The book is well over 500 pages and pretty intense. I am a 

Southern "girl" but I have lived in the north as far as Delaware

and the west as far as Portland OR, San Francisco, San Diego CA and

Houston TX.  "Southern" is forever in my blood, but I was not guilty

of what went on in this book. Neither was my family. I saw some of
my  fellow classmates in its pages, though, because I went to
college inone of the states featured in the book. These girls were far
more privileged than I, who was on a scholarship and taking out
loans to get through school. Many lived on plantations. Still, saying
all this, I did learn a lot from Wilkerson's extremely well written
and well documented book. I only wish she could have mentioned

that not all white southerners were like those she mentioned 

in the book. I can't say I enjoyed it because it told of terrible

cruelties and injustice, but it was a fairly easy read. I recommend it.

Thanks to Eva and Kristin for their dedication and hard work

making Paint Party Friday the great meeting place for artists.

The Dog Days of Summer

The heat around here is oppressive plus my upstairs A/C went out.

It is definitely too hot to do anything outside or to clean out

the attic so I did a little bit of art at home and in classes.

From the journaling/mixed media class here is my spread

showing my wonky houses, the project for Saturday.

and here is the class project from Monday's watercolor class:

The first rose painting is in watercolors. Then I scanned it

in grayscale and did a colored pencil "painting" of it. 

I have lots of colored pencils of all sorts but really don't

know how to use them. I couldn't find my paper stumps

so I tried to blend with a Q-tip.

and lastly a doodle sketch.

I'm joining my fellow artists at the fabulous showcase

of art called Paint Party Friday, which is hosted

by Kristin and Eva each week.

Mixed Media Journal

We didn't have class Saturday. The teacher of the journaling

and mixed media class was enjoying her brand new granddaughter.

So I decided to do a page with scraps of papers I had painted,

a copy from one of the faces I had painted some time ago, and

a copy of a watercolor flower I did on Wednesday.  I am

thankful I can be a part of Paint Party Friday that is

hosted weekly by Kristin and Eva.

The words are from Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."

Cards and Booklet

This week I spent most of my time tending to home repairs.

The thing is that the house like its owner is getting old

and things need repairing. But I did go to Mixed Media class

and we made little folding booklets. (Shown below)

Also I found a Martha Stewart all over the page punch

at Tuesday Morning for $3!!! so I made a bunch of cards

using it and some cards using the Big Kick. I know

this isn't painting but until that painting urge returns

I'm doing whatever arty things I'm interested in.

Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting

PAINT PARTY FRIDAY.

Does anyone else wonder who is viewing our blogs and not
leaving comments? One day I had 86 views but only
23 comments.