This painting is also 6×6, like the one for Barbara. I am working on a third one that is a whole pepper, but one with 6 bumps instead of 4. Have you ever noticed that some peppers have 6 instead of 4, or is it just me who bothers with those details? And did you know that some of the leaves on mulberry trees have “fingers” and others don’t? Weird, all from the same tree. I notice these things – does anyone else?
Ever had a friend who helped you do something that no one else could do? That was Barbara, working on my computer. This little painting is for her. This idea would never have occurred to me without her suggestion. The seeds were difficult, but with oil paint, it is possible to keep adding layers until it looks right. THANK YOU, BARBARA!!
This was our closing weekend in the Land of No Electricity. It is a time of mixed emotions – it is difficult to be divided between two places, and it is difficult to leave a place we love. When we close the cabin, we cease to worry over freezing pipes, and leaving the cats alone at home. When we close the cabin, we also miss Mineral King like crazy and can’t wait until next summer. Isn’t that just how life is? You get one thing and lose another – it is the old “can’t have your cake and eat it too” dilemma. So, the appropriate response is gratitude for each wonderful thing, no matter how fleeting.
The colors were dull – almost everything took a hit from the unseasonably low temperatures in the previous weekend. The leaves mostly turned brown and crunchy instead of becoming more colorful.
However, if one was willing to walk a few miles, there were rewards!
Sports are not for me – in fact, I’ve been known to say that I have only two sports: walking and splitting wood. I love to split wood! That is the axe my dear husband gave me for my birthday, and this weekend I was thrilled to get to try it.
As I was splitting wood, it occurred to me that there are many parallels between splitting wood with an axe and drawing with a pencil. Look at these:
1. Neither require electricity.
2. Both require a sharp edge – blade or point.
3. For best results, start with the large and move to the small.
4. They both make wood bits – shavings from the sharpener or splinters from the axe.
5. Lots of strokes are required for results.
6. One has to start with good stuff to get decent results – great scenes make great drawings, and good clean-grained wood makes good shaped pieces.
7. Both require paying close attention to what one is doing, unless one doesn’t mind wasting time and energy.
8. The terms “hard” and “soft” are always being flung around, both with wood and with pencils.
9. Cedar makes the best pencils and also the best-splitting wood.
I’m sure there are more parallels; can you think of any?
Here is what I decided looks best: 
Turning Leaf I – oil – wrapped canvas – 8×10 – $80
Turning Leaf II – oil – wrapped canvas – 8×10 – $80
Here is the second portrait in a series of four (see? series, series, series!). I learned 2 new things about men in this particular drawing.
1. Most men are incapable of trimming sideburns equally – a retired barber explained that to me. She said that she could always tell whether a man was left or right handed by which of his sideburns was shorter! Now that I know this, it is my responsibility as an artist to even up those things.
2. A tied tie is supposed to be completely even with the top of the collar, and there should be absolutely no shirt wrinkles that let the viewer know about a too-tight shirt or an undone top button! When this man asked me, prior to the photography session, if his tie looked all right, I had to tell him that that I know nothing about ties because there are no men in my life who wear them. (My husband has worn ties 4 times in the 23 years I have known him: 1. when we got married 2. when our friend’s daughter got married – hey Bob E., are you reading this? 3. when he was in a friend’s wedding and 4. when we went to a reception at the White House.)
I can’t remember what kind of leaf this was, only that there were gingko leaves around it which made the red one shockingly bright. This is probably the correct way to view this painting, but I don’t have the confidence yet to sign my name, lest someone tell me it seems upside down. This lesson of waiting was also learned the hard usual way.
Remember when you were a kid and someone would ask you a “Why” question and your answer would be “because”? If someone asks why Zeke is today’s posting, that is the answer!
When I was learning to use colored pencil, my favorite subject was fall leaves. It was particularly fun to do an entire drawing in pencil (the graphite kind) with the exception of one leaf, which I would so boldly and bravely do in colored pencil. (had to ease into the world of full color, sort of like getting into cold water one toe at a time, but certainly more pleasant!) As I prepare for 3-4 shows this fall, the subject of leaves has come to mind again. Could be that it is autumn, could be that I am still enamored with those brilliant leaves after a summer of brown. . . whatever it is, have a look at this: 
Truthfully, I am a bit confused. Maybe it should go this way: 
Opinions, please!!??
Am I finished with pomegranates yet? Nope, it is a series! Besides, I am hoping to make some jelly, and will probably be getting a bucketful that will be screaming to be painted before they are squeezed! 
Pomegranates XII – oil – wrapped canvas – 6″x6″ – $36