Steampunk Pin Up Day 3

Only worked for an hour and a half tonight. I got the head mostly done and put the guide lines for the lacing on the bodice. I'm thinking the background will be the wheels of an old steam engine. That will be fun.....

Steampunk Pin up Painting Day 1 and 2

This is my newest painting. I'm going to post pictures of each day's work. The skin tone on day one took four hours. I did the basic corset color on day two and that only took an hour and a half or so. I have a long ways to go on it still. I plan on adding seams and stitching along with grommets and lacing. I will also paint a lace or brocade pattern on the main part of the bodice. I want the paint to dry before I start on that.

Bad health and Prejudging

It's been an interesting few weeks. Last month I tripped over my bed and cut my toe open. A trip to the Urgent Care was followed a week later with a trip to the podiatrist. They cut a chunk off my toe and sent me on my way. That kind of sucked. A month after the original tripping incident and my toe is finally starting to heal. The night of the toe incident had been going so well. Nick and I had gone to the Symphony and ended the night playing pool. Too bad it had to end with a freak accident.

I also came down with the flu last week. Now that really blew. I am absolutely getting a flu shot this fall. I am just now starting to feel normal again.

Today was the prejudging for the Hyde Park Art Show. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Last year I new the moment I walked away from the judge that I didn't get in. This year I'm not sure. I don't have a great feeling about it, but who knows. I've got at least a month to wait until the results are mailed so I'm going to turn my attention to something else. I've had a steam punk pin up sketched out on canvas for several weeks now. I think I'll start on her tonight. I'm going to try and do her in a Gil Elvgren like style:

No Pinatas Please

I will not be having a pinata for any of my kid's birthdays.

Movies That Have Made Me Cry. A Lot.

There have only been three movies that have made me cry hard. Sob really. Sure I've had the tears well up for plenty of movies and occasionally one or two spill over. The Pursuit of Happyness and What Dreams May Come to name a couple. After becoming a mom I cry even easier now. I teared up at the intro of the Lion King once. Ridiculous I know. But only three have made me truly cry.

The first was Last of the Mohicans. Watching Alice jump off the cliff after Uncas died and realizing that all this time they had fallen in love was just too much. I lost it and sobbed for the next twenty minutes.

The second movie was Schindlers list. This one takes no explanation. It was aired on t.v. commercial free. I some how managed to hold the tears in until the movie was over. Then I went in the bathroom and cried for half an hour or so. Real crying. I can't breath crying.

And now, tonight, the third movie to make me break down.........The Duchess. I think it's because I'm a mother and the movie was based on a true story. The fact that she had to give up her lover's child was too much. I started crying then and barely stopped until the movie was over. Anyone who says Keira Knightley can't act is an idiot. I did find it a little silly that she never seemed to age, but whatever. The movie pulled me in and made me sob. Is that a good thing? I don't know. But it makes me appreciate my situation and the life I live.

Thank You Celestial Seasonings

By overcoming the strong current against which he swims, the koi (or carp) reminds us that we have the freedom to move in any direction we choose.

Courtesy of a box of green tea. You go Mr. Fish.

Back in the Saddle

It's been a while since I did a painting. I'm happy to say the one I'm working on now was a commissioned piece. It is a present from a bride to her soon to be mother-in-law. The photograph is the only picture the mother-in-law has of her parents. It's their wedding picture in Greece. Pretty cool. I'm very happy with how it is coming out. I should have it finished by tonight.