Native American Museum

This isn't really the Native American Museum in Washington, D.C., it is only an impression I sketched after visiting there. The Museum is located with the other Smithsonian buildings in downtown D.C. Yet, when you see it, you are reminded of the red, brown, and pink rocks of the Southwest. The building looks like a pueblo or cliff dwelling from the canyons of New Mexico.

The corners are rounded rather than having sharp angles. There is a large window that looks out over a stream and bit of green space. The rocks are beautiful grey and black river rock scattered in, and near, the stream and in other areas around the building. The water flows gently past them and creates a sound similar to the singing of a brook. Even in the midst of busy streets with traffic noise, the horns of cabs and buses, and the ever present construction, the Museum and its landscaping offer a feeling of quiet, timelessness, and peace.

On my next visit to the Museum, (one of many, I hope), I will be prepared with my sketching tools and hope to more accurately represent this inspiring building. For the time being, this sketch will serve as my EDM - "Draw Some Rocks."

(Fine point Sharpie, Graphtint pencils in large watercolor Moleskine. Graphtint is a wonderful medium for soft, earthy, natural colors.)

Draw Some Scissors - My First EDM, #105

I have been looking at the many wonderful blogs, the fascinating art work, and the helpful comments on the EDM Super Blog for a few months now. One evening, when I was feeling "artistically confident," I sketched the scissors that I keep beside my chair. I thought that I might, someday, post it on EDM. So, here it is, the first one!

The scissors are laying on the arm of my recliner with the tile floor in the background. The color of the tile is accurate but the chair color needs more red and less purple. I think that the painting would have more depth if the values in the chair were stronger.

Overall, I am pleased that I actually sketched something, painted, and finished it. Your comments are welcome! (Holbein watercolors on 300 lb. CP, Kilimanjaro Paintbook)

WWII Memorial Impression

I sketched this in June last year when I visited the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. My sister and I had planned the trip and she had gotten us a lovely room at new hotel near all the National Parks. My father was killed during WWII, over England, while flying reconnaissance in a P-38 Lightening. He crashed, unarmed and alone, and we believe that they recovered some of his remains. What I have from his death is a sprig of lavender from the field where he was killed.

I wanted so much to be at the opening of the Memorial, but that wasn't possible. At the Post Office where I work, I have met several Vets from that war. They are in their 80's, as my dad would have been. I keep hoping to meet someone who served in the same squadron or at the same base. I want to know what it was like for the men who took the photos for the D-Day invasion. His letters indicate that he took part in the photography for the invasion.

During a few moments when my sister and I sat to cool off, I sketched this impression in a large watercolor Moleskine with Graphtint Pencils and a Pigma pen. It isn't accurate or carefully rendered, it's just a remembrance of my visit and the nice trip Barbara and I shared.

You Can't See Me - EDM #52, Draw a Dog

This is a drawing of Ben, my little red doxie. He is thinking that no one can see him under the flame grass plant. He thinks that the squirrels and butterflies can't see him if he stands very still. Ben thinks that I can't see him if he is on the other side of the tree when I want him to come inside. If he can't see me, then he thinks that I can't see him.

This is the first time I am letting "the world" see my art work! It is a frightening thought for me to "reveal" my attempts to make art a routine part of my days. I hope that you enjoy visiting my blog and I welcome your comments.

This sketch is done in a Strathmore Field Watercolor book, spiral bound, 10" by 7", on 140lb. cold press watercolor paper. Graphtint and Derwent watercolor pencils were used to add color to the graphite sketch.

A BANQUET OR A BUFFET

Many people choose "heroes" as models for their aspirations and lives. It might be Superman, Wonder Woman, Mighty Mouse, a beloved parent, or relative. My hero has always been Auntie Mame -Rosalind Russell's Auntie Mame. I don't know of any one else who played Mame that was as classy as she was. Auntie Mame was expressive, expansive, creative, imposing, fun, radical for her time, and delightfully scatterbrained! She always seemed bigger than life.



I watch the movie every time it appears in the TV lineup, and I once saw the play, live, on stage, with Juliet Prowse in the starring role. I bought a sweatshirt that night with the word "MAME" across the front in cotton candy pink. I wore it only once. Since then it has occupied a special place on my closet shelf. It will be up to my daughter, grandchildren or great-grandchildren to dispose of it after I'm gone.



Mame's motto is/was "Live! Live! Live! Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death." When someone asks me what my favorite quote is - that's it! Mame and Buddha - these two speak the words that direct my life. Quotes from great thinkers, poets, religious figures and political icons may move me for a fleeting moment, but they don't change my mind or heart.



I was thinking of Mame and her motto today, and realized that I hadn't truly taken her words to heart. I have been living as if life was a buffet instead of a banquet. When you are at a banquet, you sit at a table with crisp linens, beautiful crystal, polished silver, and fine china. There is a delightful waiter or waitress seeing to your every need. The bread is hot, the entree perfectly prepared and presented, dessert is your favorite, and the coffee is just right. You are there to enjoy and celebrate.



Buffets happen at weddings, funerals, and family gatherings. Church suppers are usually buffets. Lunches at local restaurants may serve "buffet style" for business lunches. There is nothing better than a Chinese buffet if you want variety. Occasionally I serve dinner buffet style and put the food on the table, or in the kitchen, and everyone serves themselves. Sometimes the serving bowls are the pans the food was prepared in! Buffets are convenient, quick, but, rarely memorable.



In my "buffet life" there have been a lot of choices - too many, in fact. I have looked at, sampled, and worked at so many different things that nothing has been outstanding enough to capture my full attention. I have either chosen too quickly, or, so slowly that the opportunity is gone before I can make up my mind. Periodically I consume beyond my capacity and suffer for hours and days with a stomach ache from being bloated - "materialistic bloat." Those are the times I tell myself "remember this the next time you think you can't do without that special thing, or taste, or feeling."



In order to put Mame's motto into action, I must sit down at the banquet table and enjoy what is served to me, what is good for me, things I like, stuff that is healthy and benefits my life. At the age of 62, my time for the entree is finished and I am getting ready to have dessert and a cup of hot coffee to finish the meal. When the banquet is over, someone else will blow out the candles and I will go home.



This blog is to share my ideas, and art that I create and add, and to remind me to "save room" because dessert is on the way!