Inktober 2016

A few things I learned from 

#

inktober

:

In life there are good days and not such good days. The same is true in art, but when you commit to a drawing everyday there is no time for wallowing around in “inky self pity” because tomorrow is another day…and it could be awesome.

Community—the amazing fellowship with others of sharing interests and goals and great art!

Challenges—they are what makes life interesting, give us meaning, make us stronger and keep us learning.

And finally

—that expensive Namiki fountain pen I bought years ago and never used, became my favorite tool as I inked my way through October.

Thank you #inktober You were a very special gift. See you next year!

Sweet Porter




About 4 feet high, 7 feet long with a foot long nose "Porter" is Mallory's lanky Borzoi who spends his days holding court, sometimes wearing a bowtie, at the Whole Dog Market pet store down the street. Sophie insists on a daily pop-in because she knows Mallory passes out treats and I am fascinated by this sweet model-like graceful dog.

Camino Portuguese Day 2




Vilarinho to Barcelos
28.9 km/18 miles
A long rainy walk on cobblestone streets and muddy dirt roads passing through vineyards, pastures and eucalyptus woods.
Deliriously happy to have a Coca Cola Zero with lunch at mile 12.5. Then on to Barcelos, a town devoted to a medieval legend involving a chicken coming back to life. This is my second Camino and my second encounter with a "chicken town".

Day 1---Porto to Vilarinho



Porto to Vilarinho Portugal
27.3 km/17.0 miles

A long walk through rainy Porto looking for yellow arrows marking the way. The rain finally subsided mid day as we continued on through the commercial and industrial areas of the surrounding towns. After 17 miles on uneven cobblestone streets we ended up in the peaceful gardens of Casa da Laura in Vilarinho Portugal.

Packing for the "Camino Portuguese"


Everything I will be carrying on my back for my 150 mile journey on the “Camino Portuguese” are in neat little piles and plastic ziplock bags ready to be stuffed into my backpack. Aware I’m bringing way to many art supplies as I sketched the contents of that plastic bag last night, I ditched the colored pencils and two pens only to put them back in this morning…I still have two days to reconsider…

“My friend George”


George Anderson is an artist and owner of the gallery/studio where I work. He is a painter, entrepreneur, businessman, salesman, husband to Jean, father, mentor and my friend. At 84 years old, he goes to the gallery/studio and paints everyday after he walks three miles. His lust for life comes from family, friends, a great sense of humor and doing what he is passionate about and that is his art. 
He is my hero and I want to be just like him when I grow up…

Holiday Hike


My beautiful niece, Paige and I decided on a 5 mile Christmas morning hike up and down Thunderbird Mountain. She runs marathons so it was my job to keep up with her as we passed most of the other holiday hikers. She gave her Aunt Jen a good workout and I survived to sketch from the one photo we took as we ran by all the other hikers and decorated scrubby trees at the top.
Happy Holidays everyone.
#Arizona #Christmasday #familytime

Jackie—She's 90


My mom is a fifth generation Californian, born and raised in San Francisco. She was married to my dad for 64 years and they lived in the same house for 59 years where they raised three kids. 
She is still going strong and happily lives in Arizona enjoying the warm desert climate. She walks around the block or exercise class everyday though she would rather just read, migrating from couch to couch immersed in 10 books a week. She likes to sneak around without wearing her hearing aids…


"Little Angels"




A friend asked if I could paint his granddaughters as Christmas presents for his kids. After much angst and haggling I agreed on oils and he on a price. I got out the pliers, twisted open the paint tubes and started to paint. I had such a wonderful time with the buttery feel of the oils and the colors in the fleshtones that I couldn't resist giving them wings. After all its that time of year.