Trip out West

This month, Marcin and I had an adventure. We flew out to Portland, Oregon to spend time with his sister, then drove around Olympic National Park for a week, and met up with his sister again in Seattle, Washington. While we were travelling around the park, I drew in my sketchbook. Here's what I saw:

The Pacific Ocean

(there were tsunami cautionary signs all around)

Rock formations
(it was very windy and cold,
it was hard to hold the pages of my sketchbook down)

Our one-day duck friend

(Marcin is afraid of ducks)

A boat launch on an oyster-filled beach

(there were massive amounts of tiny crabs under the rocks)

The ferry ride to Seattle

(I'm always paranoid about loosing my sunglasses)

Rats!!!

I have been painting on canvas for a change. And I've really been enjoying the texture of the canvas, which seems to usurp the texture of the many layers of gesso I've been putting on it before I start painting.

I've also become infatuated with painting and drawing my rat, Chunky. He's quite the ham and seems to enjoy me putting a camera in his face daily. I wish I could draw him directly from life, but he won't sit still for a second. If I try to catch him while he's sleeping, he senses my presence and proceeds to sniff at me and get excited. He's very cute, though.

This is my rat.

This is a painting I did of my rat.

His face.

His foot.

Beer at City Steam

Marcin, some friends, and I went to City Steam, a brewery in Hartford. Everything was good - except for the service. While we were waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for the waitress, we became very artistic.

My drawing (right), many monkies drawn by several people (left) and Marcin's "Goat Lady" (Bottom Left).

Close-up of Marcin's "Goat Lady"

Marcin's Monkey

Cute

My cat is so ridiculous.

This is Senior Tuxedo and his rat friend, Chunky Soup. Tux likes to lay on top of the cage and be cute. The rats don't seem to mind too much.

I try to only post creative stuff, but this is too good not to share!

Full Circle

Last spring, I painted this picture (it was called "Vive Printemps", but now is simply called "Spring"). This year, on the first day of spring (March 20th, in case you were wondering), it will be on display at the Jonathin Trumbull Library in Lebanon, CT, for their annual Equinox and the Arts Show. The show is invite only, but will be up all month and can be viewed during normal library hours. I'll post pictures after the show!

I made two types of balloon pigs for a "Hog Wild" party at work. Why? Because it's National Pig Day.

By the way, I'm a recreation director at a nursing home, not an annoying cubicle neighbor.

Revamped Christmas Masks

Sometimes I go to thrift stores, craft stores, or rummage through garbage to find items to paint on. These masks were a craft store clearance item (I think they cost $.45 each). They're my homage to Frieda Kahlo, an artist whom I really love, but can't seem to find many books on. She loved her pet monkeys so I made a monkey to go with her.

The idea sprang from a brainstorm. The masks were pre-cut and pre-drawn. The monkey was a snowman and Frieda was a reindeer (can you tell?). I traced the outlines and drew face after face until the idea for a portrait of Frieda Kahlo sprang out of my brain and onto paper. The monkey, of course, followed shortly after.