Sketches from Venice

Sketches from Venice

When I traveled to Venice last June with my husband, Michael, there was never really time to sit and sketch. Now that I am retired I find sketching the photos I took to be so relaxing.

These are done with ink pen, soft colored pencils and a black prisma pencil.

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Sun is Trying to Set

Sun is Trying to Set

This is still in process, but thought it might be fun to put one online that is not quite where I want it. It is big by my standards (30 x 48 inches) and started out as a lake scene, but it just seemed kind of boring, so thought I would have some fun today.

Sun is Trying to Set

Shed on the Beach at Lemolo

Shed on the Beach at Lemolo

This is an older painting, but loved learning to paint old wood.  It is interesting to look back at your work several years later and see where you grew and changed your style.  I think when we stop learning and growing, we start dying.

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Drema Tolle Perry Small Art Makes Big Impact

Drema Tolle Perry Small Art Makes Big Impact

Found this artist’s work online and signed up for one of her classes on Whidbey Island in May. I have always thought small paintings could be beautiful and hers are exquisite.

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Leave it to Maxine

Leave it to Maxine

I bought a bird feeder. I hung
It on my back porch and filled
It with seed. What a beauty of
A bird feeder it was, as I filled it Lovingly with seed. Within a week we had hundreds of birds
Taking advantage of the
Continuous flow of free and
Easily accessible food.

But then the birds started
Building nests in the boards
Of the patio, above the table,
And next to the barbecue.

Then came the poop. It was
Everywhere: on the patio tile,
The chairs, the table ..
Everywhere!

Then some of the birds
Turned mean. They would
Dive bomb me and try to
Peck me even though I had
Fed them out of my own
Pocket.

And others birds were
Boisterous and loud. They
Sat on the feeder and
Squawked and screamed at
All hours of the day and night
And demanded that I fill it
When it got low on food.

After a while, I couldn’t even
Sit on my own back porch
Anymore. So I took down the
Bird feeder and in three days
The birds were gone. I cleaned
Up their mess and took down
The many nests they had built
All over the patio.

Soon, the back yard was like
It used to be ….. Quiet, serene….
And no one demanding their
Rights to a free meal.

Now let’s see.
Our government gives out
Free food, subsidized housing,
Free medical care and free
Education, and allows anyone
Born here to be an automatic
Citizen.

Then the illegal’s came by the
Tens of thousands. Suddenly
Our taxes went up to pay for
Free services; small apartments
Are housing 5 families; you
Have to wait 6 hours to be seen
By an emergency room doctor;
Your child’s second grade class is
Behind other schools because
Over half the class doesn’t speak
English.

Corn Flakes now come in a
Bilingual box; I have to
‘press one ‘ to hear my bank
Talk to me in English, and
People waving flags other
Than ‘Old Glory’ are
Squawking and screaming
In the streets, demanding
More rights and free liberties.

Just my opinion, but maybe
it’s time for the government
To take down the bird feeder.

If you agree, pass it on; if not,
Just continue cleaning up the poop!

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Lilies

Lilies

Today the sunshine left only to be replaced with gray skies and drizzle. We started out in the morning to enjoy the Bainbridge Island Garden Tour, but gave up after a long bus ride to a lackluster garden. We did stop at Bainbridge Gardens for a lovely Latte and beautifully displayed plants.

The Lilies painted about two years ago seemed appropriate for the day and also to honor my dear friend Catherine and offer her strength in the recent loss of her oldest son.

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