2018. The last leaf.

The senior center was open this morning . It's Monday and the last day of the year, so most of us assumed with the holiday on Tuesday, it would be closed.  A few quick phone calls last night and it was verified that it would be open. 

 It was 34 degrees when I let the dogs out at 7:30 this morning.   Brrrrr....   lately it has been between 30 and 34.  Today there was a brisk wind with a chill factor well below the 30s.   In California we don't normally hear wind chill factors with our weather reports, as its seldom so brisk.   

By the time my friend Ruth and I got from the parking lot to the more protected entry courtyard, we were half frozen, but spotted a beautiful leaf I picked up to draw.   There won't be many more after this blustery day.  A Winnie The Pooh blustery day.     Stripping the trees bare as if in a rush to get ready for the coming season of new growth and blossoms galore. 

So for the final leaf art piece of the year, I finished off my nature series in the Strathmire Toned Tan sketch book.  That's the second one I filled since starting the first one in January 2014.     Many pages in both are devoted to these pear leaves.

I already bought a new one so I can continue this series. 

Happy New Year, my friends!

Pomegranate season

One of the members of the art gallery in Lodi has a pomegranate tree that produces huge fruits.      She brought a big bag of them to the gallery for people to take for a small donation to the art center.      I picked out two colorful ones that I wanted to draw.   Sometimes at Senior art on Monday mornings, it is easier to bring drawing supplies.  It takes less room on the table, is not messy, it's easy to pack and carry, and it's fun.    What could be better?     Here is a pic I took while I was working on it. .      The persimmons were brought in by another senior to share.   I'll draw them later.  

An old face, a new face

here is a new drawing of an old face from the self portrait book I mentioned a few posts back.       This is Paglo Veronese (1573)

- or at least my version of his painting.     This is now a favorite because of his awesome profile.   

The next one is anonymous.    

The other day I took a pomegranate to the Senior Center as I wanted to draw something easy, something I could work on but it would not take my full attention as there is so much talking/gossiping going on, it's hard to concentrate.        Here are my working materials followed by the drawing. It's very handy to have a little project and easy to carry materials.     Most of the people in our art group haul in big canvases, paints, wheeled carts, easels, etc.    When I carry my little bag, I have an extra hand available to help someone else with their loads.

Party for La Dean

One of the artists at the senior center is celebrating her 90th birthday.     She's active, lively, and fun to be around.      Her party was this morning, so we all made favorite finger foods, and surprised her with a good turnout.      Here's some pics.   Even at a pot luck artists confer on new projects.     La Dean plans to live beyond 100 years.   She might just do that.     Happy birthday.  

Stamp carving - Mondays at Seniors

Every Monday morning I grab up my stamp carving things and head off to the Senior Center. Most of the people there are painting. I don't like hauling the painting things there because it's a hassle getting them down the stairs, into the car and then set up, take down, and repeat in reverse. My little cigar box purse hold my carving supplies and is so easy to carry.

Here are the stamps I carved last Monday and two from today. The couple with the heart was done last week. Today I did the little girl and the tree. I'm sure I"ll be using them on post cards before long.

Senior Center Art Show

Some of us who do art at the Senior Center on Monday mornings, shared some tables to show and sell some of our art. Here are pics of Francis and Jean, me wearing Francis' hat, and the cake walk - just one of the events planned for the day. It was a fun day. Since we were so fog bound all morning and we started at 8:30 - we didn't have as many people turn out as we had hoped. But, we had fun none the less and most of us had some sales as well.