I got flowers.

I got flowers for March 8. I love Hyacinth, they smell so nice, so strong. Here is a painting I am doing for someone. It is far from being done. I will need some hint of wings. The cat died, so early, young, he was loved very much. 

I got myself some art materials to brighten up my day 

and start using it right away. Brush turned to be a bit too 

soft  for my liking, but inks are gorgeous.

Carrousel Sin Fin.

Carrousel Sin Fin... My interpretation of one of my favorite songs by Federico Aubele " Carrousel Sin Fin". I have been carrying this image in my head for a long time, since the concert, it was on my to do list. I didn't know the lyrics, couldn't find translation online, so just obeyed the feelings from this song, just trusted the melody.

Here is the actual song. Carrousel Sin Fin.
May be someone, who understand Spanish, will tell what this song is about? I used ink, bits of gold paint, didn't scan well, few Kuretake pens. We should always do what we planned, even if t is not coming out the way see it in our heads. I feel better now, even it is not exactly what I was dreaming about. 

The portrait of Hill.

I did the portrait of Hill a while ago, but running around so much and feeling that time is seeping between my fingers, and I don't do even a small portion of what I have to do is pretty overwhelming.

This time I was drawing it with this frame on mind and pulled some blues on her dress to connect with the frame. You are turning 25 only once in your life, I remember mine... and all that feelings. Time of making decisions that may affect your life forever.
I used ink and Bienfang brush pens for touch of color.

West 72 street in Manhattan.

We've been having pretty brutal winter. Every day below freezing point for days and days. Snow, ice. In many states. I am not leaving home unless I have to. Here is West 72 street in the City with snow, dirty roads, train station in the middle. Ink and Kuretake.

Portrait of a Young business woman.

I used ink and Kuretake. She is in business, connected to education, this why the book is here.

Marie.

Someone, I met and wanted to say thank you. It is so hard in this hectic life to stick to your word. I used ink and Kuretake.

Orange juice or getting back to myself.

Orange juice on the plane. Watercolor in Beta sketchbook.

3 min sketch in South Florida.

Kilwins ice cream in Delray Beach.

Ave I.

Sketched on Ave. I with watercolor while waiting. It was a little experiment. I tried to go from bigger wash to smaller strokes and keep tonal value.  Weird. Feel serious need to pull out real brushes.

Spent few minutes in the waiting room in the doc's office. I need to be more loose with pencil sketches.

Sketching with watercolor.

On Sunday morning we got Maggie's breakfast from Krooked cafe in Tannersville, the best breakfast in the world. Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, a little bit of home fries, salad and few slices of fruits.

Sketched on the porch  with watercolors while waiting.  Struggled with small water brush, wishing I'll have my regular brushes with me.

We had a little sketch crawl afternoon. Lake was beautiful and all sad thoughts vanished for a while.

Here is my sketch. Really need to carry with me bigger brushes.

Sketches in airport in Delta sketchbook.

Sketches on my trip. I was so overwhelmed by big project, painting Chinese garden in the living room in 4 days, that I thought I need a rest from drawing, but the truth is I craved sketching even more.  So I was happy to steal few minutes here and there for quick sketches. I used Blacking pencil, the old one, vintage, not Palomino, (what a magic pencil!) and a little bit of Faber-Castell Durer pencil and few drops of ink in Delta sketchbook by Stillman and Birn. What a pleasurable combination, Delta sketchbook and vintage Blackwing 602.

Trip.

This unfinished breakfast with cherries was sitting on my table for a while till it felt right to share thoughts and feelings about my daughter's trip to Israel. Little strips of paper with dates and plans like the ones what people use for prays and wishes, they folding and place between stones of the Western Wall. It is a centuries-old tradition. I sent mine too.
I used ink and Inktense pencils, but finished up with few Kuretake brush pens.

British pub in a process.

British pub in a process. What else to do in such dark rainy evening?

Breakfast in red.

I experimented on Zeta paper from Stillman & Birn. I used ink, Kuretake and a little bit of Liquitex spray paint, which I got as a sample.
Zeta paper is smooth compare to my usual grainy watercolor paper and support the color. I am surprised it took multiple heavy washes, wet-in-wet and transparent glazes, very strong paper.
The subject is simple, breakfast, but touched me on emotional level, its colors, smell, joy of being together at the table, promise of another day. It is all about being able to See. This purple is a "fake" bacon, which I love more and more.

Guilty pleasure.

One of our Saturday's breakfasts, iced coffee and bagels, brought up in almost pajamas from favorite local place, early morning and almost Mediterranean light. Light, playing huge part in orchestrating the whole morning adventure of eating outside, above the ocean.
I really like this paper, Fabriano Artistico, pretty thin, but so vulnerable under the ink. I used ink and Kuretake.

Quick sketches thru the weekend in Gamma sketchbook.

Dealing with Maggie's breakfast from Krooked Cafe on the Mountain is not easy, too delicious, too beautiful, too amazing on a rainy grey day. Aftermath.

Stole a minute here-there to stretch my pencil and Bijou watercolor box.

Still sketching.

Still working on this sketch.  Can't get involved with anything else much, till complete the study. Can't find my Lamy Safari after move. :( It had nice ink in.

Apple dumplings.

We decide to order Apple dumplings, (whole apple baked into dough), which we didn't do for years, even we loved them and use to order pretty often in past, in good times, when we had house full of friends. People knew my name in the bakery, remembered me, laughed when I asked, pretty pretty please! They don't bake it if not ordered.  I came to pick up in the old place and they are not there anymore. So I found them in the new location, they said they are there for at list 3 years, if not more.
I still shared with friends, sent some to one friend's home, brought in for a sick friend, invited a new friend.  Not because I am too kind, but because it extend the pleasure. Fun.
Especially fun to draw it. I used ink and Kuretake pens. Could not find my fat white pencil for the powder, so used white pen.

Song to go with by Raphael Gualazzi, remixed.

Sunny Breakfast.

   

Didn't fit into the scanner even in 2 portions. Was trying to get impression of a happy sunny morning. Even life is not perfect, but some moments are. I used ink and Kuretake and couple of pens. Still don't have my art supplies in order, can't find many things, running around too much, but want to start drawing already.

7 minutes sketch.

Was picking up someone at the train station in Coney Island and was so happy to grab my Gamma sketchbook and pencil case, always chilling in my bag with me, and start sketching the building in front of me.  Normally people unhappy to wait for someone longer, I am always praying I'll have more minutes to wait, so I can exercise my pencil, which is probably, handicap by now, from being unused for so long.

Cat from pet shop.

Drawing of the Cat from the pet shop in Brooklyn. He is pretty big and has very serious eyes. After wordless deep conversation between us, I felt a little ashamed of myself and left in a hurry. Maybe, we, people, can do a little more for others and each other. Ink and Kuretake.