Another One!

Yes, believe it or not, I finished another painting this week. I was in the mood for something that didn't require a lot of detail and was more impressionistic so chose this Yucca grouping for my focus. When I go away from realism I always feels as if it is undone, but I know if I keep futzing with it the result will not be impressionistic; but, rather, poor realism. So, finished I declare this!

I so enjoyed painting with my Thursday afternoon watercolor group today. It had been too long! I find the painting to be so therapeutic for whatever ails one! While I am so pleased with my husband's progress in his rehab after his many health issues this summer, I still find myself needing to have another focus for my own mental health. Painting and jewelry-making does this for me. I created a wrapped cabochon pendant yesterday and that was exhilarating, also. If you would like to see the pendant, click here. So, you see, I am gradually returning to the creative things so dear to me.

What will be next? I am sure the Watercolor Workshop elves are planning what will be our project for the month of September, so I will await that and see if I can't particiapte in the monthly challenges for once.

Complementary Iris

I am posting this finished painting mainly because I want to show I actually finished something during these past three months. While I am not particularly proud of this one, I am glad to have stuck with it and gotten it done during all the stops and starts I had to work on it. I think a few of my creative muses have started returning since I am planning my next painting now...a larger desert landscape.

Anvil Cloud

I've seen photos taken by others of anvil clouds, but could not remember ever seeing one for myself. Well, today was the day. While driving home from some necessary errands, I saw this anvil in the northeastern sky. I pulled into a parking lot and tried to get the best shot of it with no palm trees intruding in the shot. I was curious about what phenomena causes an anvil cloud to form and good ol' Google led me to this explanation:

Anvil clouds, which are mostly ice, form in the upper parts of thunderstorms. They get their anvil shape from the fact that the rising air in thunderstorms expands and spreads out as the air bumps up against the bottom of the stratosphere. You will often see streaks of snow falling out of the edges of anvils. This light snow usually evaporates as it falls through the relatively dry air surrounding the upper part of the thunderstorm.


Cool, huh?

Getting back to normal

As we are slowly emerging from our difficult past few months here, I am realizing how truly blessed I have been to have such a supportive group of online friends who care about our struggles. I received a message from Barb Sailor that contained this little message at the bottom and I thought it particularly pertinent to my thankfulness to my online buddies, so will share it with you.

Have a good Saturday, all!

Got my hubby back!

I am pleased to announce that my husband has returned home after far-too-many days and weeks in hospitals during these difficult past two months. There may not be too many free minutes for artwork for the near future, but at least I will have everything at hand to steal a few hours here and there painting, at home, instead of sitting around hospital rooms. It has been a difficult time, but we are both committed to Tom's making a good recovery and staying away from hospitals!