Sketches of the Month

I made a new resolution.



I wanted to create more art. But time is hard to find around here. So I bought myself a small sketchbook and a travel pack of drawing pencil. So now when I'm sitting on the couch watching tv I can multitask.

And so far it seems to be working.

Baby M passed out on my chest

 

A toy marble

 

Baby M in her toy glasses

This last one if my favorite <3 It took me a bit longer than planned. (But people are hard to draw!) But I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out.

Three drawings in the last three weeks ain't bad. Although funny story... I first titled this post "Sketches of the Week" before realizing my mistake. Ha ha ha...

My true goal would be to get back to painting more. So if someone knows how to make oil painting more portable, please share!

 

Blowing in the Wind...

Hey, look who's back. I can't believe it has almost been a month since I last posted something. Honestly, I have not had much time to paint. Or do crafty projects. Currently my craft room is the cleanest it has ever been.

I have, however, jumped onto the Instagram bandwagon. Actually, I was on it for a brief time. Then hopped off. And now I am officially back on. I find it fulfills my need to take and share pointless pictures. I am just getting started. Naturally, Meatball is my most popular photo subject.

Back to the topic of this post. Remember my windmill? First seen here.

Completed 2012
12"x12"
Oil on Panel

I finally finished it up. This was really more of an experiment to try out painting on a panel. I thought I was going to like it, but I'm having mixed feelings. The black dried with blotchy spots and I'm not sure if it was a result of the black paint, or the panel. I'm debating trying it again, but we'll see.

Something else I learned: black paint is really hard to photograph. All around, this was one big learning experience.

Adventures in Albuquerque

For the next couple of weeks (minus the few days I have already logged) I am in New Mexico for some Very Important Stuff (VIS). Week 1: Albuquerque. Week 2: Santa Fe.

In between VIS, I narrowed down the things I wanted to see in Albuquerque (based on recommendations) to two things: The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History and a visit to the Sandia Crest.

Today I was able to cross off the first thing!

If you are anti-nuclear, please avert your eyes.

I managed to get to the museum before closing time. Exactly 45 minutes before closing time, with just enough time to race through the exhibits and snap some pictures. The museum walks you through the history of nuclear science, past to present, including WWII and the Manhattan Project, the Cold War, nuclear medicine, and nuclear power. For being a one-story building, there's really a lot to see and a lot to read. I really wish I had had more time to read things. Instead, I took pictures of signs to read later. It was not ideal.

So here's an abbreviated tour. Starting with some of the beginnings.

The first controlled nuclear chain reaction took place in a squash court under the stands of the
unused University of Chicago football stadium.

Weapon casings identical to those used for the Fat Man and Little Boy atomic bombs

Limo used to transport Manhattan Project scientists

Some planes and missiles.

B-29

B-52B

Even a glimpse into the present.



Last but not least some nuclear art. Seriously.

It was fun to see some art on the walls. Some of it was just there for decoration, and some for sale. And the stuff for sale was not cheap. Maybe I should get into that...







 This was one of my favorites.

Doug Waterfield, Doomtown X11: The Trinity Test, 2011

All in all, a good use of 45 minutes.

Shooting Stars

Not actual shooting-across-the-sky stars. But shooting/photographing stars. I can see why you might have thought that though.

These two guys have been shining brightly since at least last night. I only know this because Meatball has actually been letting us walk him at night. I did some intense Google searching and I think they might be Venus and Jupiter.

I know nothing about stars or planets so I could also be wrong.

BUT I did find this....

Looks kind of like my picture, right? And Earthsky.org says:

"Venus blazes like a lighthouse in the west at dusk in March 2012, as seen from all parts of Earth. In fact, all through March 2012, Venus and Jupiter – the sky’s two most brilliant planets – are the first “stars” to pop out at evening dusk, with Venus being the lower planet and Jupiter the higher in the first half of the month."

I'm going to have to say its Venus and Jupiter.

The waxing crescent moon won't appear until late March. It'll just be another excuse to drag my tripod onto the front stoop. Yes, I'm that person...

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Nothing beats a homemade valentine. Better yet, a valentine with some humor cheesy humor!

I found this Valentine's Day light bulb tutorial and knew immediately I wanted to make one for my Valentine.... because I like giving him electricity-related gifts. See also here.

The tutorial has good, detailed instructions, plus a link to how to empty out an old light bulb. All went according to plan...









Is that a reference to the Electric Slide lyrics?

Why, yes. Yes, it is.