Sunday, December 31, 2006

Bella Trio


Bella Trio
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Here's the quick rendering of my sketch done at Bella Trio. I tried to make notes of colors and placement (I needed two mini sketches to do this!) ....

I still find I'm leaving out important information -- shadows, where the light is coming from, etc. Nonetheless, I like the result as a journal entry and hope to do more of this type of sketching/painting for 2007. Still a bit tight -- but loosening up ...

BTW, the massage was wonderful -- very relaxing after a week of company and holiday busyness!

(watercolor, pen, done in Raffine all purpose sketch book)

Bella Trio sketch


Bella Trio sketch
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I redeemed the gift certificate my children gave me for my birthday -- a massage from Bella Trio.

The Day Spa was lovely -- done in Tuscan colors and decor ... I sketched my view as I waited fo my massage.

I tried to capture the main details of this lovely room so I could attempt a full sketch/painting when I got home.

(sketched in ballpoint in a 3" x 5" pad)

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Rosy Rose - EDM 99 - Art Goals 2007


Rosy Rose
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Another art goal is to learn to use values more.

Emily in Nick's car - EDM 99 - art goals 2007


Emily in Nick's car
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Another art goal for 2007 - improve my sketching of people so that they look more like themselves and less like illustrations.

Another goal - improve perspective so that items, like the wheels, look like they'd work!

Friday, December 29, 2006

Lilacs - EDM 99 New Year's Goals


Lilacs
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I've been spending a lot of thought-time on my art goals for 2007. Here's one of them -- to sketch looser using more transparency and 'light.' I want more of my sketches to have a painterly look -- somewhere between the details I crave and the looseness of Charles Reid.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Cardinal


Cardinal
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
As I cleaned out two huge craft closets and reorganized and purged various papers and unused items, I came across a December 2002 cover of "Organic Gardening" that featured this cardinal.

Our birdfeeders are filled with these bright, colorful birds and while I had more time to devote to sketching yesterday, decided to try my hand at it.

I'm fairly pleased with the results, though I prefer a more 'painterly' approach. Still, I learned a lot by practicing another method and now will have one of these pretty birds in my journal to commemorate the winter and cheer the bleak grey of the landscape.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

The Grand Christmas







I have so many photos I'd love to post -- but I'll give ya'll a break and post only a few.

The cars were gifts from everyone -- Mom, Pat, Mary Ellen, Mom, us ... and did Emily and Nick (and even T) love them! Here's some of the production --- the surprise - Emily looks thrilled, Nick confused, and then the 'driving' lessons, a near crash into a large ornamental grass, and more.

Close Up


rose sketch
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
A better close-up of the sketched rose. I hope to get to painting it today -- but I have more cleaning to do, bills, take more things to my son's ... etc., etc.

Rose


rose
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
After 4 hours sleep and an early morning (4 AM!!) drive to the airport with Mom and Sis, I spent the next 12 hours working on dispersing my gloom by reorganizing craft closets and 2 upstairs rooms. I managed to really purge a lot of unused items, and even find some wall space! YEAH!

We all seem to be coming down with colds and after all this pushing, pulling, bending, tossing, hauling, I sat down to sketch before I fell into bed.

I managed to get one rose done before fatigue overcame ...

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Christmas - Quiet


Christmas
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
My sisters and mom are now en route to home. We return from the airport before sunup; the house is quiet and I know the let down of so much fun, family, food and holiday preparations will hit me as much as fatigue later this afternoon.

I'll counter this quietness with sketching, finishing photographs, working on grands' journals, and reorganizing my craft closets -- a much procrastinated task.

C is home today and he too will be recuperating. The refrigerator is still full, and after a much-needed trash run, I see naps playing a big part in today's menu.

It was one of the most blessed and joyous holidays of my life, and endings always make me sad.

Pastries


Pastries
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
We visited Mike and Joye yesterday to see their 'Christmas" -- got a tour of Mike's plant and model homes, saw N & E who were sniffly and coming down with colds.

My daughter sent photos of T's first Christmas and their celebrations with her.

We brought some cold cuts and desserts for Mike and Joye to enjoy before they were headed to Joye's parent's and sisterss for more gift giving.

We returned home for leftover crabs and spaghetti for lunch and more of the delicious Italian pastries my sis brought from NY: honey balls, anise biscotti, clam shells, chocolate and ricotta mini-cakes, cannoli, eclairs, Napoleans, Reginna biscuits, etc. etc. MERCY!

Then a quick nap, scrabble, and lamb for dinner, packing and goodbyes as my sis, Pat, leaves to head back to Long Island.

So darn hard to see company leave!

Monday, December 25, 2006

Gifts


Gifts
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
We held our first phase of Christmas the day before yesterday, while my daughter was here and the rain held off. I

n the afternoon we gave Emily and Nick their battery-operated cars -- oh the hilarity! Up and down the driveway -- into the bushes, narrow escapes to save car crashes! I could not imagine explaining to our car insurance agency that a 3 year old had dented the car without a license to drive!!!

Then a bit of rest and a large fish dinner. Gift exchange with my daughter and her family --!! Oh to see all my family together! Emily and Nick were so good as Michelle and her family opened their gifts. Afterwards, my son and his family went home to rest and we placed the next phase of gifts to open in the living room for their return visit.

WHAT FUN!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

MERRY CHRISTMAS


MERRY CHRISTMAS
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
To my dear friends -- A most blessed and joyous Christmas!

And all my gratitude for your support and encouragement and most of all, friendship!

May we all find peace and love in this most wonderful of seasons!

Vase of flowers


Vase of flowers
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
A quick vase of flowers .... in the midst of the celebrations! More FUN, COMPANY, FOOD and gifts today!

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Christmas Tree


Christmas Tree
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Our three-foot, pre-lit Christmas tree sits atop our flour table. We've bedecked it with apples, berries and birds in nests ... very naturalistic and reminescent of our home in the woodlands.

It's a busy busy time. My sis arrived, daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter arrived (so thankful for a safe journey), mom's here, we babysat the grands while my son and daughter-in-law did their holiday shopping, my other sister and brother-in-law arrive this afternoon, and we all share dinner tonight.

M and J will pick up the grands this morning, and the rest of us will be cooking, putting out gifts, and getting ready for several days of feasting and gift opening.

No one has slept much, I have to admit. anticipation, excitement, and fatigue seem to be plaguing the adults and toddlers ... ah well, what's sleep when we can bask in family and laughter!

Friday, December 22, 2006

Peach Rose


Peach Rose
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I like parts of this -- the rose sketch, the watercolor -- but I'm not sure I like the sponged background with it. Another learning experience.

Family members are arriving, the refrigerator is bulging and we have much more to cook this afternoon ....

Hope YOUR holidays are going well. Be careful en route and be gentle with loved ones ... This can be such a wild time!

Poppy


Poppy
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
A lighter version of the earlier red poppy ... a closer color to the orange/red we fell in love with in Sicily.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Rosettes


Rosettes
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I stayed up last night to finish dozens of these delicate, fried, traditional cookies. Most folks call them "Rosettes" -- we call them "Snowflakes."

After I packed them up in tins, I went to place them on the shelf -- and whoops! One of the tins slipped from my arms and fell -- and the fragile cookies inside broke into hundreds of pieces!

DRATS!

PINK ROSE


PINK ROSE
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Another day of holiday preparations and a focus on flowers to slow down and meditate. I'm also using these to practice wet-in-wet, wet overglazing and other watercolor techniques.

My mom arrives this morning and her arrival begins the start of the holidays and family coming in! I'm so excited my arms are a'tingle!

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Yellow Rose


Yellow Rose
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
The HOLIDAYS!! Woohoo!! My family begins arriving tomorrow -- so today is my last day to 'get it done!' Busy! Busy! Busy!

In my haste of holiday chores and preparations, I'll be using flowers (for the most part), particularly those with lots of petal shapes and contours, to continue my daily sketch and watercolor practice -- but also to stop myself from getting too frantic -- to make myself slow down -- and SEE again. They'll be my meditation practice -- so I can 'center' and truly enjoy the time with family and return to the spirit of the season.

Roses for me have been a tad 'challenging' with all their contours, highlights, swirly petals, dips and flanges. They're my mom's favorite flower -- and I tend to love them myself. The new varieties of 'Knock-Out' roses are one of the most robust, care-free varieties I've seen, and they have a delicate scent that so many hybrids have lost.

I have a number of these on my property (and at the Arboretum). I collect the petals after the rose has bloomed, dry the petals, and then use their delicate scent for potpourri.

While roses may not be a Christmas 'seasonal' .... to me they always represent love -- and THAT is definitely a part of this season.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Holiday Candy


Holiday Candy
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I carried a few photos and some holiday candy with me to sketch as I waiting for my three-month car maintenance yesterday. (These scanned much darker than they really are.)

A good friend of mine gave me a wonderful vase filled with these candies. I was thinking as I sketched these that their flavor -- a bright mint -- is often so nice during dry, cold winter weather. These past weeks have been so unseasonably warm -- yesterday was almost 75F!! -- that the mind was refreshingly cool!

Guess I just like mint! LOL

Roses Again


Roses Again
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
This has scanned much darker than it is in real life.

I'm continuing my practice in between days of holiday preparations, car maintenance, doctor appointments, grocery and gift shopping. This kind of practicing will continue through the holidays as our house fills with family and guests this weekend.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Cup of the Grands


Cup of the Grands
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
We had Emily and Nick from Saturday until Sunday mid-afternoon! What fun -- truly! At almost 3 and almost 2, they are full of personality -- chattering to us, to each other, with imaginations that make me laugh out loud!

After my disappointment with the geraniums (below) -- I sketched the plastic cup that both Emily and Nick spent so much time playing with. I have a bag filled with plates, cups, utensils, pans, etc. And it is with these, they spend most of their creative time.

Both Emily and Nick will place ALL the plates on the table, add cups (such as this), and then with their pots and pans, fill the cups with "water", the plates with blocks (also called rolls), and make sure C and I EAT our MEALS! LOL

Emily also makes sure her baby dolls are fed -- and the entire 'play' is just too cute to miss.

With the knowledge of what's in store for these two at the end of the week (can you say PRESENTS!!! and more PRESENTS!!!! LOL), this simple game of 'kitchen' was even more endearing!

Geranium


Geranium
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
One of those days when NOTHING i sketched or painted came out the way I wanted. That after such a good painting day the day before -- SIGH!

I thought I'd post this anyway -- for honesty's sake -- and for the comfort of others, who like me, have disappointing days at the art table --

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Artichoke


Artichoke
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
My husband brought home TWO of these huge artichockes! I love them any time of the year; but around Thanksgiving and Christmas, they're especially mindful of the season!

I could only fit ONE of these into my pot -- so, naturally, I had one to sketch!!

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Poppy


Poppy
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I started this with a really nice wet in wet, but then got fussy about trying to form the ripples in the petals. I'll be trying this one again.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

At the Hairdresser


at the hair dresser
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
My view as I sat and waited for my perm to set ...

Roses


Roses
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
My sketch paper was acting like it had some kind of 'resist' for these roses ... so I'll be attempting a better wet in wet ... but the color is closer to the original ...

EDM 97 gift


EDM 97 gift
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I'm finding more than ever that it really isn't the gift/item itself that is meaningful -- but the thought BEHIND the gift that touch one's heart. Sometimes those gifts are small --as when my dh brings home raspberries in the middle of winter for me to enjoy on my cereal, or when my daughter calls to share a special moment or something her daughter did to make her laugh. Or, like these art supplies, when my son 'saw and recognized' me -- as I continue my quest to learn to sketch and watercolor. These 'gifts' represent too a bit of time -- going out of one's way to pick up the phone, shop an unfamiliar store, search for the 'unusual.'

These are the gifts that stand out and are remembered and cherished -- the gifts that say "I see YOU -- I see what makes you happy" - and here's something that let's you know -- I SEE YOU."

To me, these acts of love, whether presented as a phone call, a pencil or a special treat, are what gift-ing is all about. They're wrapped in recognition, time, and sharing ....and last a lifetime.

Bold Roses


Bold Roses
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
These started out very simply in gentle washes of light pink -- but when I went to put in shading -- the color changed, and changed some more -- so I finished these by making them bold.

Watercolor is ALWAYS something new!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Amaryllis


Amaryllis
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Tis the season for this flower! I see bulbs for sale everywhere!

Angel


Angel
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Another view of my ornament

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Another Camellia


camellia 2
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I'm following Monet's example and continuing to sketch multiple views of what I love. Here's another vase of camellias with a different background and a few additional flowers.

Angel Ornament


Angel Ornament
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Though the scan is a bit dark, this pale angel ornament sits atop the small grandfather's clock left to me by my father. Angels seem so much a part of this season, especially ....

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Camellia


Camelia
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I am in need of flowers this time of year ...

Persimmon Fruitcake


Persimmon Fruitcake
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I made a dozen of these wonderful delights! The persimmons made the dessert so MOIST! While most folks detest fruitcake -- I love them! And this recipe is more like a spicy tea bread with bits of glazed fruit sweetness!! YUM!

Calla Lilies


Calla Lilies
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
After sketching all holiday items for a while, I was longing for some flowers. My dd loves calla lilies so I thought I'd sketch these for her.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Holiday horn with greens


Holiday horn with greens
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I've begun working on some ornaments for this year ... nothing much, a bit crafty with grandchildren's photos. I purchased this small decoration in my craft buying and thought I'd sketch it. In real life, the color is a bit golder ... but when I tried to adjust for gold, I lost the richness of the red ... so here's the compromise!

I love the horn because to me it represents the music this time of year, hymns, carols, orchestra classics -- and afterall, what would the holidays be without the music?

Friday, December 08, 2006

Candle


candle
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
I love candles, but never more so than at this time of year. They seem to represent the light against the dark, warmth against the cold. And when they're bedecked with greens and flowers and fruit -- then they are really a favorite!

Rebecca's Carolers



Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Revecca has been busy turning each of her B&B guest rooms into holiday delights. On the mantle in the room I rent, she had these l8" carolers surrounded by greenery ...

Thursday, December 07, 2006

EDM 96 Holiday Cookies - Sweet


EDM 96 - Holiday Cookies
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
This time of year I have the most difficult time not giving in to my 32 sweet teeth! But those holiday cookies are just too much to resist!

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

HOLIDAY SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS


HOLIDAY SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
Rebecca's B&B is filled with all sorts of holiday decorations. As I sat at her table the other night, these squat salt and pepper shakers were just begging to be sketched!

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Holiday Candle


After spending the majority of the weekend in the kitchen rendering persimmons into fruitcake, bread, jam, dried slices, and eating many out of hand, and then cleaning the house stem to stern because our housekeeper didn't show up, and after FINALLY putting up some holiday decorations, I found this image of the holidays I really want to try to sketch.

I just love the combination of greens and candles, and in between chores and returning to work, I'd add a bit here, do a wash there -- and I really had time to let it dry between stages (always a good thing!!) LOL

Also, I was beginning to miss my 'typical' detailed style, and a number of dear friends said they were too, so I decided to try doing BOTH ... and yep -- I really like the combination! I see where I wish I had done the background FIRST, so I could have left the candles whiter ... but I really like the bits of looseness combined with a bit of detail....

What I"m learning as I've been attempting all this 'looseness' is really how to work better with wet-in-wet instead of solely depending upon my typical wet on dry methods. And what I'm learning too ... is how to COMBINE them and use each in different treatments of various subjects or even in the same painting.

Mercy ... learning is really a lot of work as well as addictive! LOL

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Tagged

My dear friend, Patti tagged for for six weird things about me. Hmmmm.... my husband thinks EVERYTHING about me is weird so it'll be hard to list only six ...

1. I love licorice .... seems like EVERYONE else in my family abhors the stuff -- I LOVE it -- yep, the black kind .... I even find it relieves a tummy ache

2. I eat the weeds ... literally. Dandelions, henbit, chickory and the like -- I studied ethnobotany and so found out which of our weeds are edible -- and learned how to cook them so that they're really quite good. And yes, I always admired Euell Gibbons!

3. My love of rosemary is 'weird' according to my son --- he says it smells like an air freshener and the rosemary bread I eat is, to him, like eating Lysol.

4. I'm a bit shy ... I find it difficult to introduce myself to folks I don't know. I can carry on a conversation AFTER the initial icebreaker -- but BEING the one to break the ice .... well, I usually leave that up to my husband! LOL

5. I wear socks throughout the year .... folks find this 'unusual' -- but while I'm cold natured all the time, my feet get especially cold and I wear socks day and night to keep them footies warm! Oh -- and my preference for knee socks .. my son thinks that's beyond WEIRD -- but absolutely certifiable!

6. I watch little television. These days I suppose that may not be considered 'weird' ... but at a recent conference I was sitting with a group of young to middle-aged individuals, and when they ALL were naming off their favorite shows, they thought I was from MARS since I didn't KNOW any of them. My preference is for books on tape -- I can listen to a good 'read' -- AND do artwork! LOL

Okay, so that's six ... instead of me tagging six folks -- how about six folks VOLUNTEER to list six weird things .... and perhaps my asking for volunteers to do this can be counted as weirdness #7 ...!!! LOL

Nandina Berries

Nandina

The Nandina berries are so bright this time of year ... and while I was looking around for some holly berries, these Nandina seemed ready for sketching.

I brought in a sprig of leaves and a plume of berries; laid them on my art table, and tried, a bit more successfully, to work wet-in-wet on the leaves, and a bit of loose and controlled on the berries.

Apparently the meds have finally worked and I had more energy today than I have in ten days, and this sketch seemed to work much better than those last week. Ah, modern medicine!! LOL

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Persimmon


Persimmon
Originally uploaded by linfrye.
FINALLY! A looser persimmon - achieved wet-in-wet. I found that I had to use a LOT of paint during the first wash and a very light, but pigment heavy second wash in order to get the lights dark enough!

Spent most of the day in the kitchen -- made persimmon jam, bread, fruitcake, and even dried a few. I've been nibbling on persimmons too -- eating them like apples ... it's a wonder I haven't turned a fair shade of orange!

I'm down to my last three ...and I'm thinking of a persimmon/rice custard for tomorrow .... hmmmm.....