Besides the sheer fun of interacting with all of the lovely alumni and new students of Kate (Cathy) Johnson's that is . . .

Last week, when I told my husband that I was taking Kate's latest class, he laughed and asked why? --- I have been keeping an artist's journal for over 2 years already.

After a few minutes' thought, I told him that I wanted to learn how to teach such a class -- hoping to someday be able to sell Wichita's City Arts on letting me teach it. If I could muster up enough self-confidence to even ask them. A friend of mine who teaches drawing and watercolor there has asked me to consider it several times.

Well, the Lord definitely works in strange ways! I was just approached by the education specialist at Wichita's Botanica, asking if I would consider teaching a class for them on keeping a sketchbook. HUH? YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT? I have never even BEEN to Botanica before!

I just got off the phone with Botanica; this would be for a class in the spring. A slight conflict, as I will be staying in Houston for 2 months in the spring. And she still wants me to consider it if we can schedule it in! I AM IN SHOCK!

As I begin work on a children's book my daughter-in-law, Misty, wrote, I first like to research the animals that will be in it. The characters will be simplified and anthropomorphic, but this helps me get their personalities solidified.

I'm also testing colors of paint I will be using. I used a few colors on the marten close-up below that will not be in the book's palette, so more experimenting is needed. I'd like to keep the palette limited to help the illustrations work together better. Since the story takes place in a forest, there will naturally be earthy colors. But I'll find ways to include bright, happy colors in the animal's clothing, home interiors, etc.

A real challenge is the angel wings of one character -- how to paint them transparent and a bit iridescent.



Misty is letting me choose what kind of animal the forest creatures' teacher will be. I like the idea of using a member of the weasel family --- tall and skinny, maybe wearing spectacles on her nose. Somehow makes me think of my dear great-aunt Lucile, who began her long teaching career in a 2-room schoolhouse near Fort Scott, KS.

I know, weasels tend to like to eat rabbits, squirrels, mice, etc. But this is imaginary; this teacher would never eat her students!

October 31st is a special holiday in our family: my husband's birthday!

In fact, when our children were growing up, we stopped the whole Halloween thing altogether. It was when people started finding razor blades in apples and needles in candy bars. We started re-thinking the whole spook-thing . . . . as Christians, why celebrate a day given over to witches, evil spirits and satan?

So began a tradition of eating out for Bill's birthday, followed by candlelight at home (to discourage trick-or-treaters) and special dessert. Oh, and they had LOTS of candy we bought ourselves. Our kids had costumes to wear to school parties; they didn't seem to miss the evening door-to-door candy hunts.

One of our sons, Jason, has continued the tradition. His family goes out to eat on the 31st, to celebrate "Papa Bill's" birthday. Three-year-old Jayna even brags that "we don't believe in Halloween!" She told her parents that Papa needed a birthday gift . . . . and she picked out a Hot Wheels Custom '53 Cadillac -- because it was a good "boy toy".

Isn't that what we are supposed to do when life hands us lemons?

That first book I was supposed to illustrate is not going to happen. The young author changed her mind . . . along with her address, friends, husband, and goals in life. Once our son Jeff's best friend in high school --- as he told me long ago, she just isn't the same person we knew anymore.

Yesterday, I cut lots of post cards and Artist Trading Cards out of some of the illustrations I had drawn for Evey's story book. These had been waiting for watercolor washes; I was planning on doing the washes all at one time to maintain consistency throughout the book.

But why waste the art? Now they can either be used for our grandchildren to color, or I can paint them to mail to our grandchildren as special surprises through the year.

I am thankful for the time, expense, and thought that went into this book. It's a darling story and I hope one day she will get it published. And I have learned lots through the process. Things I can now apply to a book I am illustrating for daughter-in-law Misty.

The past week, we said goodbye to a special young man. Josh, the youngest brother of our daughter-in-law, Carrie, lost his battle with cancer the previous week at his parents' home in Texas. I drove to Springfield, MO for his funeral and to spend time with our son's extended family.

Before the funeral, it was my "task" to entertain our 3-yr-old granddaughter. One of my favorite activities. Jayna looked like a princess in her black dress, velvet headband, and pearl necklace. I tried to do a better sketch of her, but she noticed what I was doing and never went back to the same pose.

(At the funeral home the previous day, she asked why they put Uncle Josh's body in a treasure chest. A fitting term for someone now enjoying the full presence of the Lord)

A very touching service. Memories shared by his former Royal Ranger leader, childhood friends, and Army buddies serving with him in Iraq. Special words spoken by the family Messianic Rabbi from Houston, TX. Heavenly music sung by Kathy, worship leader from the same Messianic congregation. Wonderful photos watching Carrie, Luke, and Josh growing up. Not many dry eyes in the place as we celebrated life.

I was so impressed by the Patriot Guard Riders who led the motorcade to the National Cemetery, lining for a procession, and saluting as we drove in. God bless these volunteers who do all they can to honor fallen soldiers. They also have left many kind words, condolences, poems, and prayers for Josh's family on their web page.

A sad time, but what wonderful memories taken away of a very special family.

. . . aren't my grandchildren absolutely the cutest in the world? They all have such a special "sparkle"! These are Quen and Jayna, cousins whose fathers are our sons, Matt and Jason. The families recently spent a day together in San Antonio. The cousins really had a blast together. (Matt is an EXCELLENT photographer; more of his work can be seen by clicking on the above photo.)



Then, there is Mikala, seen below, having fun at Sea World in San Diego:



and one we haven't met yet -- Jayna has a brother or sister on the way.

Each of our four children had a special "sparkle" also. All have grown up to be people of such integrity and honor. I thank God daily for blessing us with each of them.

I really don't know why I keep trying sketchbooks I find on sale . . . either the
paper is not real watercolor paper, lacking sizing, or it's tinted an off-white or cream. Or hard to work with because
it does not open flat.

Last week, I bound a new regular sketchbook and two small purse-size ones, all
using pre-made covers, as shown above.

The gray print one is a crossword puzzle book that had a red band closure. After
working the puzzles, I removed the "guts" and inserted a book block of 90# HP
Fabriano watercolor paper.

I used the same paper in the tiny green leather one -- no gluing needed for this
one. It's a business card holder; just insert the first and last pages of the book block into the pockets
designed to hold the business cards.

The larger one is from a used book sale at the local library -- loved the cover!
It is filled with paper from Strathmore's sample pack of 140# watercolor paper.

Easy to do, following the instructions on Trumpetvine Travels:

http://www.trumpetvine.com/sketchblog/moleskine-reloaded/

I started using the larger one today, following Liz' example of starting with a sketch of my current palette:



Plus a sketch while waiting to see the eye doctor:

A couple of years ago, a dear friend at church asked if I would illustrate a children's book for her. She had just self-published her first book, "Adventures of a Cowgirl Pirate" and was writing a second book about a tiny turtle named Evey.

Although I had zero confidence in my abilities, I said I would try. I spent quite a while researching how book illustration is done, then gathering hundreds of reference photos to work from. Drawing from the imagination is very hard for me -- having photos of the animals and background details of the story gave me a place to begin.

After finalizing the layout for the story, along with rough sketches of the illustrations to accompany the text, I was getting started on the ink drawings when this young author's husband left her and their young daughters. Not knowing where the money to publish would come from, I stopped working on the book.

Then early this year the author wrote me a short, terse note asking if I would still illustrate the book. I wrote back yes, I would, and began working again.

Nearly finished with the initial art, I needed some questions answered regarding the process of transferring to digital and other matters. But all my attempts to write this young woman have gone unanswered. I don't know what to think . . . .

Without any communication, how am I supposed to work with her on this? So I guess I am not.

Then out of the blue, one of my daughters-in-law asked if I would illustrate a children's book for her. She and some friends are starting a foundation to reach out to abused children --- this came out of the desire to do something after the murder of an 18 mo. old child at the hand of his abusive father. The foundation would pay for all costs to illustrate and publish a children's book --- in fact, the people they met with have requested THREE books!

So it looks like I am in the illustration business again. And feeling a bit overwhelmed!

Saturday was a fun family get-together day in Manhattan, Kansas. Our sister-in-law Gail retired from her career as an army nurse -- 27 years active and 4 years reserve. Not just a "Margaret Houlihan", she was a full Colonel at retirement. Husband Dale joked that all over the world, US soldiers are breathing a sigh of relief.

Dale is Bill's brother, also a career Army officer. They have served together all over the place: Kansas, California, Germany, Texas, back to Germany, Washington, Oklahoma, more of Germany, more Oklahoma, then back to Kansas. Dale retired a few years ago. It was especially great to see Dale doing so well. He went through a serious fight with cancer recently but is in remission now. Looks wonderful!

Our son, Jason, was able to fly here from Houston to join us in re-connecting with family members. Jeff, currently in the Navy, wished he could have been there to pick on Dale alongside cousin Amy. This family was blessed with an overload of humor genes!

I have always loved reading, but this is getting ridiculous! I really need to catch up to the stack waiting for me . . . and try to stop buying new books quicker than they can be read! It is SO EASY to buy books when you can find them in the secondary market for under $5.

I am currently enjoying the second book from the top, reading only a few pages at a time to fully savor it.

From the top, these titles are:

"10-minute Watercolours" by Hazel Soan
"A Blossom in the Desert" - art & writings of Lilias Trotter, compiled by Miriam Huffman Rockness
"The Journal of Beatrix Potter, 1881-1897" code broken by Leslie Linder
"View from a Sketchbook" by Marjolein Bastin
"The Silmarillion" by J.R.R. Tolkien
"Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day" by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois
"Illustrating Children's Books" by Martin Salisbury
"Painting Nature's Details in Watercolor" by Cathy Johnson

I have been sketching, usually with a watercolor wash, for a little over 2 years now and I love it. But at times, I feel like I have forgotten how to paint regular watercolors. After working so much with ink lines before watercolor, maybe I've fallen into a "coloring book" mentality. I seem to lack confidence in working without that ink line crutch.

I tried July's challenge of a garden scene, but never completed it. Everything looked too forced and flat to me. So I was thrilled to actually finish this one . . . . and it didn't turn out as bad as I feared it might.

This was first lightly sketched with a Derwent Graphitint steel blue watercolor pencil; those lines virtually disappeared as paint was added.

Bill loves playing with his woodshop toys as much as I like playing with sketching toys. He just finished building this cool shelf on casters, which sits just next to the table I use for sketching and painting. It can be pulled out to form an L-shaped work area, then pushed back out of the way later.

So I spent a day of so reorganizing my sketch stuff, deciding on what to store on the shelves. Also, what to keep 'packed' for sketching away from home:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickysketches/3833456249/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickysketches/3833457235/

A fun way to pass the time while recovering from the flu (which I am completely over now).

It really HAS been some "dog days" this past week. Hot, humid, sticky . . . . and I have had a flu-bug that just would not let go. (No swines around, though!)

Feeling a bit more human now. Very little energy, but enough to sketch a bit and to play on my lap top.

Maxwell was named for a dear friend who shared him with me before she lost her battle with cancer. Her last name was Maxwell and she had bred Scotties many years ago -- dearly loved the breed.

But when Maxwell is shortened to Max, it's just too common of a name for pets. So I have taken to calling him Mac for short.

I have a gem of a book by Cecil Aldin titled Mac, about a Wheaten Scottish Terrier. In some of the illustrations, he looks like a West Highland White, in others more like a Cairn. But most of the illustrations look like a Scottie. Written in a Scot's vernacular; lots of fun to read out loud even to myself. Especially while recovering from the flu.

The English pups that I have met,
Weel, weel, I never liked 'em yet!
The Irish ones -- they're fu' o' sport,
But losh! their tempers are sae short!

Noo I'm a dog that kens what's what,
I am a braw and canny Scot:
Sit doon and have a friend'ly crack
Wi' me awhile -- my name is
                                               MAC

(from Mac, by Cecil Aldin)

This past weekend was our town's "Prairie Port Festival" (we have a huge lake-reservoir near by). Churches met together at the old middle school building to worship together. Kind of unique, given the normal sense of division and competition between most local church bodies. Sadly, some main-stream churches still refused to join us.

Built in the 1930s as a Great Depression work project, this building is still way better than all the newer school structures in town. The current high school is undergoing a complete rebuilding of its structure --- understandable when it has leaked since it was first built in 1969. But what do you expect with a "60s-modern style with peaks and valleys all across the roof?

I miss the days of piano recitals, band and jazz concerts, etc. when our kids were in school. Kristen and her husband, Michael, were part of the best high school band ever. And Jeff played with the best-ever jazz band. My dad even did set designs for a production of "My Fair Lady" here in the 60's. He was the art teacher at the high school then; I did not live with him but remember visiting him when the production was held.

I sketched this during the service (explaining the slight cockeyedness), then color added later at home.