I'm FREE

I'm FREE

Monday, May 7, 2012

Life Is GOOD

Bruno having a munch on the lower end of the yard, after a ride.

Gorgeous weather. Fruit trees in bloom.

Before

After. I did paint in a "ground" then the rest of the background looked really off. So I darkened a bit in the fall of leaves, and brought the grass green up higher, so the front of the goose would show more. These colors are off - still don't have photoshop. Otherwise I think The Mad Conductor is done.

I did a quick sketch of this last night.

This morning, I got it on wc. paper, and started a soft background w/w wash with aureolin, quin. gold and phthalo green.

This is a very rough color sketch I've done of the Burrard Bridge.

This is a more detailed sketch I've done for the painting. I'm doing a smaller one - about 10 x 17 in. - if and before I move to a larger format.

This is another sketch, from a very old photo, when the bridge was just completed in the mid-1930's. I like the more thrusting angle of this sketch. I may do both.


I finally have some time to myself for the next few days. The Boxer Girls were picked up by my sister on Saturday. We went for a 2 hour walk, then sat and had tea, and chatted. I love the two dogs, but they are very needy. My sister has no children and these are her surrogates. They usually stop eating, or eat very little when Denise is away. Mind you, at home they are very picky, too, and she hand-feeds them. Um ... NO!
Bruno and I have had some very good rides. He is g r a d u a l l y becoming more supple. As for me, I can feel my "riding muscles" starting to come back ... the core muscles, and the ones that enable you to crack walnuts with your thighs!! KIDDING! But sometimes it feels like it.
I'm back to work on Wednesday, and Friday and Saturday. I'm not sure how the dentist's arm is doing; it might be another two to three weeks of really working for a living. And I'll probably surprise myself, and find I'm missing the work when it's cut back again.
or not! :)

12 comments:

  1. The Mad Conductor is finished beautifully, Kathryn..I love how the Burrard Bridge is coming out..and you're right..Life is good!!!

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  2. The painting has come nicely. Hope to see the two versions of the bridge soon. Your sister must be really happy to have left her "girls" in such worthy and caring hands :)

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  3. By the time I had finished reading the last para of your post I had forgotten about your paintings. I was really laughing. :)
    Anyway I like the new goose. But I think I still like the older one better. The way his chest and the background almost merged into each other was very interesting.
    And those bridges. I'll wait for them.

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  4. Nice to hear you and Bruno are doing well!
    The Mad Conductor (great title) is great, I like the improvements you made! Love the tulip and the bridge sketches, hope to see the finished paintings soon!

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  5. Love the Mad Conductor - brilliant title too :)

    Glad life is good at the mo, long may it continue xx

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  6. I'm so glad to hear you have some time away from work and are back painting again! I just LOVE that Goose! Those willow leaves are so effective! And the character that comes with his pose is fabulous! The flower looks like it's going to be gorgeous too :0)

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  7. You have been very busy. The goose looks terrific. I like your use of violet. It is violet isn't it (LOL); I don't have photoshop either and don't think I ever will. There are other things I'd rather buy--besides Celeste said sometimes she gets photos that match her work and sometimes not. Well that's how it is I guess.
    Your sister's spoiled dogs remind me of my friend. She just got a new Shepard, Gunner. She's been letting her new puppy sleep in her bed "till he acclimatizes to his new home"--so you know she's also letting him sit on her lap on the couch. She complained about her last shepard being the Alpha dog in the house; I'm afraid Gunner will be an alpha and my friend will be omega in this new relationship too. Looks lovely where you live--looks lovely here in Michigan too. Great time of the year.

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  8. The mad conductor ...alive at last...I feel I've know that goose since it was an egg.

    Your weather certainly looks good. We had a national drought declared, followed by the wettest April on record, with flooding.

    My cousin in Nova Scotia say's company is like fish: nice when it's fresh but goes off as the days go by!

    Hope the dentist gets fixed soon, so you can have some free time.

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  9. Always keeping your hands busy aren't you :-) So now we just want to see some of all these sketches DONE ! The goose is perfect now, an awesome piece. I am glad you get to do some riding with Bruno, I know how it really cheers you up :-) Hugs!

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  10. Wishing you continued progress with your riding and painting! You are on a roll and I can feel your energy! You go girl, thanks for sharing. "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means." ~ Albert Einstein

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  11. You have been busy, Kathryn - and I thoroughly enjoyed looking at your recent work. The Mad Conductor made me laugh! :) And I love seeing Bruno-he is drop dead gorgeous!

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  12. Its fun to watch you make changes,, and sketch so freely (like its easy- well I guess it is for you!)
    The goose is awsome!
    And so glad you got some alone time with Bruno
    love
    tweedles

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