leftover samples

So what do y’all do with watercolor samples that you’ve decided not to use? I thought I’d give them to grandchildren to paint with, but none of them are really into painting anymore. When I used to meet up with other sketchers at sketch crawls in the Kansas City area, we used to trade art supplies we no longer used — but I’ve never found anyone local to sketch with.

So I guess I’ll just sketch these samples in my sketchbook and stick them back in my stash. Or throw them away?

UPDATE: after gathering more unused art supplies, my daughter is mailing them to her high school friend Charity, who now teaches art at a Kansas college — she keeps a “freebie” box for students.

remembering President Bush

Bill had cardio rehab yesterday in College Station and there were already signs of preparation for Thursday’s events, when President George H. W. Bush will be buried next to his wife Barbara at the Bush Library. After therapy, we headed towards home, driving along Wellborn — a freight train was going by on the track running along the side of the road but it was also pulling a passenger car, heading towards Houston to be added to the train that will transport President Bush from Houston on Thursday. We wondered if this car was for pall bearers or the press. The front engine of the train had number “41” painted on it.

Stopping at H.E.B. for a few groceries, we saw two jets flying overhead, one jet breaking away — practicing the “missing man formation”. We continued to hear them roaring overhead from inside the store as they went through the same pattern over and over.

Heading home, we saw men already setting up fences to hold back expected crowds when the road will close tomorrow. Bill decided to reschedule tomorrow’s therapy appointment.

Here in Texas, President Bush wasn’t just a political figure; he was a beloved member of the family. I once went to an Astro’s game he and Barbara attended, just part of the “regular crowd”. About 17 years ago, I went with Bill’s mother to hear Barbara Bush speak at the junior college in our small town in Kansas — because Mom was on oxygen (considered handicapped), we sat right in front next to Barbara. She was an engaging, intelligent speaker but I came away mostly knowing of the special love she and George shared. Now they are together again.

studio palette clean-up

Sinus headaches have kept me from wanting to sketch much, but cleaning up my art space and palettes seems to relax me. Maybe because it doesn’t require much thought? I keep a larger Schmincke metal palette in my studio space, with a lot more paints than I normally use for quick sketching. There were several colors that I no longer used . . . or tried and never really liked. So I cleared them out and made this color chart of the watercolor paints I kept, along with pigment information. These are the colors I most love to use. Many are convenience blends, easy to get to if I don’t want to take time to mix. One “staple color” no longer in this palette is quinacridone gold. I loved the original from Daniel Smith but just don’t like its new substitute blend.

(Unless otherwise noted, I use Daniel Smith watercolors. A.J. = American Journey, Holb. = Holbein, and W + N = Winsor & Newton)

While I was at it, I did this smaller color chart just for fun. Basically it’s a “warm” and “cool” of the primaries plus a selection of greens and neutrals. Plus extra blues because there is such a broad range of blues to choose from!

a bit of prickly pear

At one of the properties our daughter and son-in-law looked at, we found some prickly pear cactus growing. It grows wild in the countryside around here (full of extremely sharp needles!), but this one was a cultivated kind (no needles). Only 2 fruits left . . .

sheepish neighbors

While looking at several country properties with our daughter and son-in-law, I tend to wander around snapping photos to sketch later. These sheep lived next door to one of the places they decided was not right for them. They watched every move I made but didn’t seem too concerned.

early pages

As I was sorting through the clutter on my bookshelf in the loft, I came upon these three pages from 2006 — my early attempt at keeping an artist journal. I first discovered watercolor in 2005 and began drawing again after ignoring it for over 30 years. These were probably copied from other sources; I had filled an old unused daily planner with cheap watercolor paper.

Sketch With Me — gratitude

The past two days have been sketching days for the Facebook group, Sketch With Me, and this month’s theme is gratitude. While I had planned on sketching on Saturday, we ended up looking at a country property that our daughter and son-in-law considered purchasing. They are wishing to move away from Houston’s suburbs to a small acreage in the country . . . and they are specifically looking for a place with an in-law house, hoping that we will join them.

We both dearly love our log cabin here, north of Brenham, as well as our church family and this area. We also love the many improvements we have made here in the past 5 years, including a woodshop, a new carport, a remodeled bathroom in more of a rustic style, and real stone tile floors. Getting rid of the 2 previous ugly carports and the small building that blocked the cabin’s view made it much more attractive as well.

I am grateful for the time we have been able to live in this place and for all the Lord has worked out in our lives since coming here, including bringing Bill safely through the years of chronic pain and an unexpected second bypass surgery.

But we do not trust the current situation with our community water well. Those in charge of its upkeep have refused to listen to sound reasoning . . . or the fact that the state does in fact have the right to demand that wells be brought up to state code or they can be forced to be shut down. There are 30 some homes depending on the well system and we have a lack of confidence in the board members doing the right thing. Bill tried serving on the board for a time but they would not listen to his vast knowledge and experience in these matters.

Yesterday, instead of regular sketching, I scribbled the above in my sketchbook as we checked out the in-law cottage on the 7 1/4 acre property we were looking at. After much thought and discussion, all four of us agreed that the acreage is a bit more than we need and the larger ranch house is not special enough to move our kids to buy this early in their search. But we had a great day together anyway, which is another thing I’m grateful for!

one wee mushroom

After meeting our daughter for lunch at our favorite BBQ place in Chapell Hill, I noticed this tiny mushroom growing in the railing in front. So I took a quick photo of it to sketch later . . .

leaves for remembrance

We had a fun time with our daughter and son-in-law yesterday in spite of damp, drippy weather. They have been considering a move to the country recently and we have been going along to look at properties with them. Between Kristen being a highly experienced mechanical engineer and Bill having been a master plumber, heating & air guy, propane tech, and a skilled woodworker with additional knowledge of electrical wiring systems, they can pretty much learn quite a lot about a property’s condition!

They have been looking at properties that include an in-law house, hoping that we will join them. At first we made jokes and just laughed about the idea. But they are serious. Our oldest son and his wife already live in a similar arrangement with her parents in an in-law suite attached to their home. Given the number of properties we’ve seen that include such a house, it appears to be a common thing in this part of the country.

Given our lack of confidence in the HOA in charge of upkeep on our common well, which is not in compliance with state mandates governing community wells, we are giving the whole idea some serious thought. I love our little log cabin and the improvements we have made here, and I would miss it. We would also miss being so close to our friends and church family.

Meanwhile, all 4 of us liked the property we looked at yesterday very much — if only they can negotiate the price down to a reasonable level. The main house needs lots of repairs and updates, having been built in the 1960s. We had fun talking over the details and imagining changes. Kris and I even started talking about raising dairy goats and learning to make cheese together! As we were leaving, I picked up these leaves to sketch, to remember a great day, regardless of the outcome.

a cup of cocoa, please!

I love quickly mixing a cup of hot cocoa but the packaged instant cocoas sold in stores are way too sweet! They also have added ingredients I’d rather not consume. So I came up with my own instant mix using Sweet Leaf stevia. A bit more care is needed stirring to make sure it dissolves, depending on what brand of powdered milk and cocoa is used. Some brands won’t hardly dissolve at all.

My recipe:
2 cups nonfat dry milk (I don’t necessarily want nonfat but it’s all I can find)
1/2 cup powdered cocoa
1 1/2 Tablespoons Sweet Leaf stevia sweetener (or 3/4 cup sugar)
dash of salt

Mix very well and store tightly covered. Slowly stir boiling water into 1/4 cup mix; top with real whipped cream.

This gouache sketch is the final page spread in this sketchbook journal, so back to my larger journal. And perhaps I’ll add another small one to my bag.