Tuesday, August 19, 2008

TWO POSTS in one day? Never!

I just realized the two or so of you readers out there never got to hear my story all about how I made money on the commuter train! It was quick, painless, and I would have only charged the guy five bucks if anything at all, but he was so happy, he gave me a twenty.


Thus ends my sad attempt at innuendo.
So there we were, just settling ourselves into our seats on the Grafton-bound commuter train Sunday evening, and I chose to sit facing Rick, since we were on the seats by the door where you can do that. A couple with two little kids sat down, the mom holding her baby girl sat next to Rick along with her son, and the dad next to me with the carriage. I was pretty absorbed trying to sketch Rick (and it was actually sort of looking like him, too) so I never even noticed the dad leaning over and complimenting what I was doing. Rick had to pretty much kick me. Anyways, he asked if I'd take a commission, drawing his wife (now holding the little guy, who'd fallen fast asleep) So I did my best, and dang if I didn't actually get some sort of a resemblance, and even managed to finish up just as we pulled into their station. He was happy enough with it (or at least the experience & novelty) to give me a twenty when he shook my hand, and I was more than happy to have been given the challenge.

It made Rick's day too. He even posted about it before I ever did.

so very busy

Time again to dust off the ol' blog:

I just got back from the info meeting at Seaba for the Art Hop. Barely two weeks to go, and with all the crazy framing going on at the store, I have to make sure I don't forget to order the last few frames I, myself, need! Debating also whether I have time to design a button to hand out (or sell) at Art Hop, among other venues. Got the link from Arkonbey-- Busy Beaver Buttons. ($35 bucks for 100 1" buttons, how cool is that?) The Art Hop "Juried Show" will be on display for the month of September, we'll see if I got into the "juror's choice" section. Either way, Housemates (Filbert & Darius) will be on display there. Our favorite piece that we saw there at drop-off was one of John Brickels' ROBOTS. Oh, when we win the lottery...

With all the rain, and the long hours at work, we've only been able to do house-stuff here and there. Our garden is this vast forgotten tangle of greenery, but there appear to be several tomatoes, but I dare not jinx myself by describing the rest of the produce before harvest-time! See, I have learned from last year.

Spent Sunday down at the BCA Print studio with Miriam, and we had a good time messing about--first trying to remember how to print from Pronto Plates, then giving up after a few attempts. (something to do with the ink, we'll know more for next time.) Then she did some really nice two-color prints from some older zinc plates, and I followed some old class notes on the "Joe Zurker method" of monoprinting. My pile of experiments produced about two or three good prints. Two of them, 'ghost' prints, have been much improved by colored pencil.

I've started a few tiny paintings in addition to the prints, so it's time to sign off and work on those.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

a year of the hitching

So today marks the 'summer anniversary' of the Mister and me. One year of legal attachment, plus many more of the quasi-common-law variety before that. We shall celebrate tonight with a movie and probably a few cosmos.

Despite the slightly musty smell that has been pervading the house during our VT monsoon, things are great. We managed two mini-vacations, the most recent of which involved lots of swimming and even more eating. And the delightful rediscovery of how fabulous it feels to dig your feet into sand.

I mean really fabulous. It was foot therapy.

With the Mister's advice, I believe I'll be entering "Housemates" for the juried show at Art Hop. It'll be interesting to see if it gets in or not.
This weekend I'm hoping to try out the print shop at BCA with Miriam. We're going to test our pronto plates that we've been drawing on. With luck, some of them will work and we'll both have more stuff for sale at the Art Hop! Plus I'll have a few new little paintings that I started while Karen was here the weekend before (thanks Karen!)

See you all at the Art Hop: September 5th & 6th.