Happy Halloween!

this month, 2011

I love this time of year, because I love to draw pumpkins!
Looking back over my journal, it's become a regular subject matter over the years

from 2006

from 2006

from 2007

from 2007

from 2008

from 2008

from 2008

from 2009

from 2010

earlier this month, 2011

And the winner of The Cloth Paper Scissors book is comment #30! Barbara L. Email me with your mailing address!

This and that

Cloth Paper Scissors Book

Cloth Paper Scissors Book is full of wonderful articles from past magazines. Barbara Delaney, the editor, has chosen a wonderful, inspiration mix of projects and techniques. They've included my article on Creative Sketchbooks. Here's my article, along with my actual journal page (from my 2006 journal).

Me and Husb, at a recent fundraiser for San Diego Brain Injury Foundation.

At last, a kitty in each bed! Thanks to Knitanista! 

Me, being a spokesmodel (ha, in my dreams) for Secret Lentil (the dress and scarf) and Laga purses. I'm in front of the Mingei Museum, in Balboa Park, San Diego. That's a Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture.

Hey, if your read this far, you deserve a chance at winning a copy of The Cloth Paper Scissors Book! Leave a comment, and I choose a winner by random number on Sunday, October 30th. Be sure and check back here to see if you won!

Sketching and Watercolor ~ anytime, anyplace

1. sketch it in pencil

Me and my watercolors go everywhere. It's easy to bring just a few tools and plant yourself somewhere and draw and paint! (These photos were taken by Carol Bostian Hensley in Austin, at our Lavender Sage Art Retreat, at the Wildflower Center.)

2. Refine the pencil drawing

3. Ink it

4. Paint it

5. Finish the page (oops, I'm not quite finished with the page on the right)

You can check my classes and workshop page, to see where I'm teaching next...

Watercolor & Walking on the French Riviera

      




(I used a map of the French Riviera. Here's my tutorial on how.)




I know, it's a year away, but I'm pretty darn excited about doing a walking and watercolor trip on the French Riviera in September 10-16, 2012. If you want to go, n'est-ce pas,  you might want to make your reservation. Have questions? Look here. Additional questions? contact Carlo. (Carlo lives in San Diego, and she's a delight! and she speaks fluent French) 

fine print:

deposit: A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $500 per person is required to hold your reservation.  payment schedule:  A second payment of $500 per person (refundable based on our cancellation policy) is due nine months prior (December 10, 2011), and is payable by check or money order.  Final payment is due 90 days prior (June 12, 2012)

Blog Radio Interview

Listen to internet radio with AS Rebecca Parsons on 

Blog Talk Radio

Listen to my interview on Artistically Speaking.

Hand stitching

If you know me, you know I love to hand stitch. I'm guest posting on Alisa Burke's blog today, showing some of my favorite (and so easy) stitches.

Monet & Me

Remember Monet and his Rouen Cathedral Series? His Haystack Series? Lily pond Series? The guy was obsessed. 

When I saw this Passion flower at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, I felt an obsession coming on! The red fruits, encased in thorns are simply stunning! and the flower, wow. I took a bunch of photos, no time to sketch!




So, I've ordered two plants, and I'm going to try to grow them here in San Diego, with the plan of doing a series of paintings and quilts and who knows where it will take me.



(See below for just arrived plants.) Looks like I have some time before I'll have something to draw and paint!

In my mixed media journal

and from another page....