live oak branch

We have live oak trees lining our long driveway, and they are heavily covered in acorns this year. So much more than the local squirrels can gather, though they work steadily at it.

I’ve been lacking in sketching inspiration __ or any other type of activity __ during recovery from oral surgery. Then Bill brought me this snippet off one of the trees and I just had to draw it. I used a Kaweco Liliput fountain pen with a Graf Von Faber-Castell carbon black cartridge, drawing a bit of shading out with a waterbrush.

Texas live oak trees grow to such a majestic size, yet they have such teeny tiny acorns!

time to grumble

I had gum surgery on Thursday and while I am at least up and sort of eating (the usual “soft” diet of mushy, gloppy stuff), I am still feeling grumbly — so a grouchy page in my journal! 

Three times the nurse asked if I wanted Tylenol 3 — I kept telling her I was allergic to one of the ingredients! I had told the dental surgeon that I have very bad reactions to anesthesia and drugs, yet he proscribed a strong one that kept me nauseous and added an anti-nausea pill after my husband called to tell him that I couldn’t even keep water down, let alone his stupid pill! I eventually gave up and grabbed an over-the-counter pain killer instead.

My face is just now starting to lose the swelling, though the bruising is quite colorful! (And no, I do not choose to post photos or a self-portrait, Bill — thanks anyway!)

Okay, grumps are all out of my system now and I’m good. 😜  On the positive side, our daughter has made 2  fabulous homemade soups for me to eat: wonton and squash!

Liliput time

I’m not really participating in Inktober this year, but my wee Kaweco Liliput fountain pens are just fun to play with! I have never found an ink converter that works well with them so at first I just used water-soluble ink cartridges in them — like the J. Herbin ‘Terre de Feu’ used here. Easier than trying to refill the tiny used cartridges with a syringe!

De Atramentis Document ink also comes in these short cartridges, giving a water-resistant ink option. But I kind of like the fuzziness the water-soluble ink gives a sketch.

At first the extra-fine nibs were a bit stiff. But with use they are becoming more flexible — and the lines are more and more variable!

continuous contour line . . .

Wonky as it is, drawing something directly in ink in one long continuous contour line can be relaxing. (tiny bits in blue bands and watercolor added later)