the great adventure on Seattle's Great Wheel

i survived.

i did not throw up,

i did not pass out,

but i did take some deep breaths

and kept my eyes on the horizon.

and it was a thing of beauty and

i am glad i dared to take the adventure.

amidst all the ups and downs 

and the sheer beauty of the seattle waterfront,

i was more entranced with a small miracle beneath us.

a seagull family was trying to have some privacy 

during the birth of their young.

I think they were rather confused that this thing 

was finally moving with lots of spectators watching the event.

the following photo was taken by my husband 

who obviously does not fear heights.

see i really did dare to fly and i survived.

i highly recommend it with the caveat that you don't look down

if heights tend to make you weak in the knees.

did i mention we went out over the water,

and yes the glass walls go all the way to the floor,

and if you are lucky 

you can ride car #49

with a sea-through bottom?

step aboard...

again please

again please...

says my dog as she wants me to throw the ball over and over.

and i will say

again please

as i want one more day of sun so i can sit surrounded by foxgloves

and throw to my zoe.

i spy with my little eye

i spy with my little eye...

hmmm, could that be the sun making an appearance this morning?

and with that sentiment in mind -

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

George  Eliot

i will sharply reprimand the sun and give him that encouragement to show up here more often.
but the same could be said of me and showing up in the studio.
 so in that spirit,

you can now find me most of these summer days painting away at my art desk
as i have finally given up
(or stuffed)
my fear 
and i will be having my own booth 
at the Sammamish Art Fair in October.

 the tools are ready

the painting, including the joys and the frustrations have begun.
i have started 30,
yep you heard me right,
30 paintings.

yikes
i spy with my little eye -
30 boards and canvases perched around the room

and a happy little dog at my feet.
i promise to share the process here my friends.
happy painting to you this fine summer day
and please mr. sun,
i would like you to stay, just for a little while.

art-coffee

art-coffee -

what else is needed?

 maybe an almond croissant

and some wonderful art

by Christopher Vestman.

 refueling then...

 ready to head home to begin...

 more paintings...

too bad I only had decaf.

have a wonderful beginning of the week!

a Sunday blessing

this is the beginning of a new day.

you have been given this day to use as you will.

you can waste it or use it for good.

what you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.

when tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever;

in its place is something that you have left behind...

LET IT BE SOMETHING GOOD.

anonymous

This is the day that the Lord has made.

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

psalm 118:24

Zoe keeping cool

my classy dog sleeping next to the toilet

happy father's day!

Hope all you fathers have an extra special day 
 that makes you feel like a king!

gone to the dogs

artEAST went to the dogs last night.

You should have been there.

Pandy Savage McVay organized on a wonderful Creature Comforts show

and even recruited the figure drawing group 

to transfer their talents to drawing the canine variety.

What fun to watch the artists work as the dogs tried hard

to hold their poses.

Pandy's dog Tessa seemed to like it.

And then we met Buddy, Beaver Lake Middle School's mascot.

What a face!

And Lucy was very motivated to sit still as her owner had a treat in his hand - 

it worked well.

Our last model, Horton, was so relaxed he just took a cat nap -

maybe that should be a 'dog' nap?

 Fun was had by all.
It was a wonderful evening
and I hope we do it again.
Come check out the drawings - 
all proceeds from sales of the sketches go to pay for upcoming models
(that would be the human variety).
The Creature Comforts show continues through July 14.

Sammi Awards and iPad brushes app combined

Several months ago I was honored to have this painting chosen

to be a top 10 finalist in the Sammi Awards.

I created this piece as a metaphor to represent how each of us can bloom.  

We may be born from a humble beginning (as in a simple terra cotta pot), 

but we can overcome those hurdles and bloom in a spectacular way 

that is individual to each of us and sheds beauty on our fellow man.

This was how I described my painting on the application.

The annual Sammi Awards are our city's tribute 

to citizens who are unsung heroes

and make a difference

in all the little ways that really matter.

It was fun to see the art show that goes along with it and meet

fellow artists and nominees too.

And as I have been bit by the iPad 'brushes' app,

as if you did not know...

I thought I would see how close I could replicate the above painting 

on my iPad.

 step 1 - background and texture

 step 2 -  a little outlining

 step 3 - more build up in layers

and finally some buttons added with pic monkey.

Voila -  no paint or brushes,

just fingers and an app.

a Sunday Blessing

Just listening to him preach takes my breath away...

If you need a pick-me-up today

then listen to his words of encouragement.

I know I am bias as he is my son, but...

he speaks poignantly, with a message of hope for all.

If this isn't your thing,

then skip, 

and I will be back this week with 

student art lessons.

http://jtholderman.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/jesus-is-our-only-hope/