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Erin looking eleven and more like herself. What did I learn
from this three day struggle? I tend to make my noses too narrow. I
totally forgot there's an eye width between eyes. |
What do you do when you get up at 3:15 AM to hug, kiss and wave goodbye to loved ones? You cry a little. You go out on the deck and shoot a very early sunrise. You throw some towels in the washer. Then get out Erin and tweak her likeness till you can tweak no more. It's time to move on and say hello to my next project: JD again.
I've got my studio back. I didn't miss it much. Sketches like Erin, my Mom, a couple of pastels and a Sharpe drawing were enough in between sightseeing trips to everywhere. After a few more loads of towels and a nap, I plan on wandering down and poking around. Maybe a little oil sketch? Maybe a watercolor I've have in mind? Maybe tomorrow, after beds are stripped and sheets are washed? I'm at the dirty end of our most memorable vacation at home ever and it's too quiet!
The ruckus of a house full didn't cramp my production. My output on the kitchen table between family outings was respectable considering. A drawing was produced every other day and some cool memories were photographed in between. A good mix.
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| Young Mom, Charcoal. Best of show for artwork squeezed in. |
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| Old Mom, graphite |
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| A Puckish JD on an early summer night.. He maybe my next project. |
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| Amsterdam looking Sharpe |
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| Amsterdam looking garish. Worst of Show |
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| The better part of a failed pastel drawing. |
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| Roth men's favorite animal, the White Rhino |
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Roth women's favorite, the chimpanzee-- or is it a gorilla,? He looks kinda a big.
I'm a city girl. |
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The fire that broke out and caused some excitement among the blood
thirsty spectators at the NASCAR races in Brookline. Sorry NASCAR enthusiasts,
but you know that a crash is what everybody is secretly waiting for to make those cars going round and round
the track for hours much more interesting. this is Kelly's shot. |
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The Ford family's favorite: Henry's first model T (Tin Lizzie) in 1903. It was a prototype.
for the 1908 Model T |
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| In 1930, the Ford Motor came out with a new model: the Model A (letters of the alphabet are so much easier to remember than those numbers and letters we use now to differentiate between different cars. |
The designer/builder in me was attracted to the fabrication exhibit of the Eames Chair, designed in 1956 for the Herman Miller Furniture Manufacturing Company in Zeeland, MI. It is still in demand today and sells for a little under four thousand dollars. That's high-end design for ya.
A couple of good drawings and a few interesting photos did not the vacation make. What made the long vacation at home great were the early morning chats we had with our son while the rest the family slept. Once a son marries and has children, it's damn hard getting to talk to him alone and hear about his world from his mouth as he sees it without interruptions or distractions. I loved that old intimacy during our time together. We're going to miss that.
The drawings make beautiful memories of this staycation.
ReplyDeleteLike the old car shots. Have a friend who uses a Model A as his primary transportation. Amazing.
Is that what it's called. It was as grand a vacation as we've ever taken. It cost big bucks to entertain six. I just hope my son didn't over extend. He gave the kids a choice of Disney Land or us. He told me they chose us. I said, have you had them checked? --I'm just glad I worked the time in to draw. Nothing great was created--though my mom's young drawing is pretty good--but the objective was to stay in touch with the touch. I think daily is the way to being pretty good.
DeleteI think the pastels suck. JD needs another pass or two. The two photos of the animals are good. The cars were really interesting historically, but my legs were giving out. The Titanic you can have. I didn't particularly like the movie, with the exception of (the unsinkable) Molly Brown, played by Kathy Bates. I did appreciate the craftsmanship of the (alive today)grand staircase finished carpenters. But my granddaughter was into it, so, so was I.
Your a great Artist, mom, grandmother and buddy ...in any order you like!
ReplyDeleteRest up, kiddo, you done them all proud ... drowning notwithstanding!!
Big LOL, which to me means lots of laughter. The raft is now thrown to the side of the garage so Ellis can get his car in. The last two weeks he gave his car to the kids and we shared mine, (he was a bit piggish). As for great artist: would'ave, could'ave, should'ave IF I hadn't had such lovely boys who grew into such lovely men doing the world a world of good. They are my best creations.
DeleteNice to hear that life didn't stop you from creating, it is so easily done. Happy painting
ReplyDeleteArt is also an escape Roger. With me, it's like daydreaming. It lifts me to another place that's quiet and serene. I feel sorry for people who don't try their hands. It's such a marvelous hideaway from chaos.
DeleteIt's obvious you had a great time with your family! You will get used again to that quiet, until the next time!
ReplyDeleteJudy, with families scattered around the world the next time could be a long time. Airfares to anywhere are obnoxious.
DeleteYou managed to do a lot of stuff and paintings while having the house full...I am full of admiration ! The house always seems double empty when everybody leaves and the silence is loud ! But it won't take long till you are back in your old routine :-))
ReplyDeleteHopefully tomorrow. Today was a day full of laundry and reclaiming our usual spaces. For two weeks, I used the dining table as my computer station because the bar downstairs was an off limits private space. The dining table is now clear and ready for nothing much interesting going on, which is how I usually like it, but after sharing it with my son, don't. The silence is loud.
DeleteWhat a vacation - I am exhausted just reading about it! After all the laundry is done and life settles down, I am sure you will find yourself fully inspired from all the life, love, laughter and near death experiences you just had!
ReplyDeleteI don't think mine was a near death experience Susan, but it sure was an eye opener on water safety. I took our little lake and my little raft too lightly. I was lucky that I chose to be stupid when someone was around to come pull me out. Jon was really my hero. I learned that day that he doesn't particularly care for swimming in lakes, yet he did push his apprehensions aside and come after me. Thank goodness, I insisted upon my guys having strong swimming skills early on.
DeleteLinda, you family's vacation sounds like a complete success! I can hardly wait to hear about your next adventures ... without the misadventures!
ReplyDeleteAfter all the running around we did, it's okay with me if the rest of the summer is a lazy one. But Honey kept the raft and we bought two more ores, so maybe he has plans I don't know about. I'm game. I really would like to tool around the pond and be able to swim off of it.
DeleteWhat a touching post. I love the early morning chats with my mother. I agree with your best of show but there are so many good works here! The JD drawing is great - what an expression you captured!
ReplyDeleteThe three of us sitting around drinking coffee at six in the morning while the rest of the household slept was very special Dan. The best. In Vegas last year, my other son was there and the banter was great, like years ago. Lot's of laughing. Lots of teasing. Lots of opinionating. Lots of love. Then when my grandson joined us one morning, he remarked, he could really be himself in this group. I loved that. Can't get enough of it.
DeleteI think I'm going to try JD full figure. I have a lot of nerve doing that, but I have great hopes for the figurative portraiture workshop I'm taking in August. His pose on that fence is just so boyish. I love it. I'll probably try his head first though on a small canvas. Can't get too familiar before jumping into the deep end.
Thanks for the art show...I'd give them all ribbons. I like the changes you made to Erin. I agree, you did indeed get a lot done even with visiting family..high five! I know it is weird when people leave...it is almost a little like "culture shock", just when you get used to the feel of a batch of people around, blam! now you have to get used to them not being around. Sigh! Well, even your blogging pals were entertained, so we know everyone had tons of fun.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the next project...I'm intrigued with the watercolor...what is the subject?
Thanks. With portraits you just keep tweaking the likeness. This one is close enough. She knew it was her as she passed my computer and noticed she was my wallpaper, which is an excellent way to scrutinize a drawing/painting. As you blog or browse or play spider solitaire, in other words, think of other things, you do spot the shortcomings. That's exactly what happened.
DeleteThe house is deadly quiet. I did have trouble adjusting to others around and now I'm having trouble adjusting to the silence and no shoes piled up in the hall. The would be a good sculpture. Moms and dads all over the world could relate to it. Some of the shoes have to be little girl flip-flops; those were the sweetest:-))
Wonderful post, great sketches and photos. 'Erin' is beautiful, I love the different textures, and the composition, and the movement, and that you braved a smile, and........well, everything!
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