Side Two

I  was concentrating so intently on this side that I forgot to take photos until this stage. All that remains is studying it for awhile to see what needs to be refined.

Unacceptable Ugliness

While walking in my Three Rivers neighborhood one morning, I saw this bit of ugliness and got an idea. The neighbor, who has graciously allowed the water board to put this booster pump on his property, agreed with my idea.

What is this ugly thing in my neighborhood? Entirely unacceptable. However, it is fixable with the help of a very capable neighbor.
The very capable neighbor built and delivered this.

Side one.

It is fun to use all these colors. 

Side two and the final touch-up are ahead.

Phriday Photos

I seem to have run out of words.

Back on Monday, Lord willing, the creek, etc.

Odd Job, Day 5

Back to the coat of arms painting, an odd job of an oil painting commission.

I mixed and applied the correct green, along with a strong purple for the bottom ribbon. (It will need some detailing).

Then I mixed and applied a more golden yellow and a stronger blue.

The edges are a little weak, but the entire piece will get black outlines. This is a simple painting, but there is very little forgiveness with strong colors each abutting other strong clean colors. It requires a lot of drying time in between layers.

Another Odd Job, Day 3

First, this isn’t my third day of painting – it is the third day of posting on this topic. I don’t know how many days or how many hours, but it is entirely possible that I underbid the job. It became so fun that I just kept layering, tightening, detailing, and correcting.

Trail Guy helped me flip the sign right side up. Then I realized that the left leg of the N was too short. We ditched the oval that was part of the original design, but I neglected to reshape the words. Always learning as I go. . .
Pippin was thrilled to have company in the morning.
HEY – is that an osteospermum?
A camelia, perhaps? And the longer left leg of the N needs more layers.
Finished!

Well, not exactly finished. The back needs painting, but that is boring, so the next time you see this, I hope it is hanging above the new nursery at the Three Rivers Mercantile.

Another Odd Job, Day 2

Oh-oh, the yellow paint is picking up the blue chalk. Guess this will take many coats.
The green will also take at least 2 coats.

It was too hard to paint the bottom of the sign, so I flipped it over. But it got stuck, so I continued painting while outside. That was actually easier. (Never mind how I will get it unstuck.)

I finished the first coat of green on the bottom, leaving the “growies” for later, because I don’t know what colors I’ll use there. And I am still picking up blue chalk with the yellow paint.

I learn by doing. White paint mostly hides the yellow+blue chalk problem. Now it needs yet another coat of yellow, maybe even two.

To be continued. . .

P.S. I have guest posted again on the Mineral King Preservation Society blog.

Another Odd Job

I love these jobs! They each pose a new set of challenges, preventing me from coasting, forcing me to dig deep into my resources on the premise that everything is figure-out-able. 

What’s back there?? A Very Large Project.

First, we worked out a design with Photoshop Junior.

Mrs. Customer wasn’t pleased with Mr. Customer’s choice of colors. (I remain entirely neutral on these things, because I am there simply to serve the customers’ wishes.)
Better. The rubber stamp look of the vines will be a freer, more natural look on the real project.
Remember overhead projectors? A friend found this in a dumpster and brought it to me. I’ve used it several times and lent it to a few friends too. (No need for everyone to have to dumpster dive.)
The laptop had images to help me draw the “growies”.

Next, paint.

Sunday Thoughts

Beauty restores. Beauty comforts. Beauty heals. You cannot overdose on beauty. 

 

He has made everything beautiful in its time. . . Ecclesiastes 3:11a

Some Fun on Saturday

I saw this on Instagram, and don’t know who to credit. Totally tickles my funny bone.

My business referral group, Business Network International, tells us to meet with other members in our chapter once a week. We need to truly know one another to confidently refer business. This friend and I met at the river and properly socially distanced.

This is probably the best my studio garden will look all year. Everything is temporary (including this stupid virus, so there.)

As a very late adopter of tech, until a few weeks ago I didn’t know what FaceTime was. This week, a dear friend and I had a long visit via FaceTime – what a treat! We’ve known each other since 5th or 6th grade and after a decades long separation, we reunited about 4 years ago. I showed her some artwork; she sang me a song and I “met” her husband.  (Sorry, no photo for this.)

My friends/customers put this on Facebook, and then sent it to me as a screenshot because they know I would enjoy the setting for their goofy post. Makes me grin. (Yes, I know there shouldn’t be an apostrophe in “it’s” but I didn’t write it. Or its. Or it’s.)

What’s going on here? I will tell you on Monday.

May you find some fun on Saturday. (Remember when you wished weekends would last forever? What do you think about that now?)

What I Learned in April

It feels as if I already told you what I learned in all those listicles. These are just occurrences in my strange little world, not things I learned.

  1. My 12th blogiversary came and went without fanfare. I have published 2,816 times since April 15, 2008. Bless you for being here!
  2. I forgot a close friend’s 60th birthday; she has forgiven me.
  3. A quote to rework my website made my head spin; unsure of how to proceed. 
  4. I miss the bulk bins at Winco almost as much as the library (although they were not a weekly visitation site for me like the library).
  5. A friend called #Hastag Hostess has encouraged me to post on Instagram 5 days a week. I am trying, but it ain’t natural-like. If you are into that particular thing, I am #janabotkinart.
  6. I have a pile of things to donate to the Goodwill but it isn’t open. Neither is the local thrift shop, but there is a leave-and-take bookshelf out front.
  7. Our cats are starting to rebel at their curfew, mostly Jackson.

How about a list of books I read:

Salt & Light, or Reading Rabbit, oil on board, 11×14″, Not for sale
  1. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
  2. Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher
  3. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
  4. Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge
  5. Storybrand by Donald Miller
  6. Don’t Make Me Think (still reading this one)
  7. Words that Work by Frank Luntz (ditto)
  8. Hearing God by Dallas Willard (ditto)

What did you read? 

What do you miss?

What is taking place in your strange little world?