November Challenge, Tabletop

 

The Capitol Hill Art League November challenge was tabletop.  I painted a vase with flowers that I received from Helena.  I did it as a thank you card to her.  Here is a view of that little painting:

When I was putting the vase away, I realized that looking through the pierced silver lacework toward the tabletop was an interesting view, so I painted that.  That painting is the one at the beginning of this blog entry.  I think it is interesting and have been thinking about the idea of painting a non-traditional perspective of other things.

I have already posted this on facebook.  Usually, when I do a blog, I also post to facebook, but this time I won't. 

HAUNTING

 

My art group, Capitol Hill Art League, is keeping busy and connected with monthly challenges.  The one for October is (fittingly) "Haunting."  This is a drawing of a glass skull that I have had for several years and only bring out in October.  I used an Elegant Writer pen for the drawing and then sprayed it in spots so it would bleed.  I love the unpredictability of the way the pen bleeds.  I am not sure what I think of it...I'm haunted by what else I could have done.  

TY SUE SUNFLOWERS

 

My friend Sue brought me some sunflowers and roses to cheer me up.  As I like to do, I made a thank you card for her.  I just did a little painting of the sunflowers, and not all of them, either.  Trying to keep it simple.  The little painting turn out well, I think.  I hope Sue likes it.  It is already in the mail to her.

Sunflowers After Eye Surgery

 

After recent "failed" cataract surgery on my right eye, everything I saw with that eye was blurry and my left eye still needed glasses.  I eventually took the right lens out of an old pair of glasses.  This sunflower painting is my attempt at painting what I was seeing then.  It was interesting to do and will document that particular phase of my recovery.  I am still using those modified glasses but am happy to report that now I am seeing well out of the right eye and now with no lens.  So I am actually seeing better than I did before the surgery.  Soon I will go back to the eye doctor for a follow up and will then move on to the cataract surgery on the left eye.  That is predicted to go well.

Thistles

 

I did this a couple of weeks ago, and don't know why I didn't post it.  I like how it turned out., but it was a challenge because I am not seeing well,  On September 9, I had what should have been routine cataract surgery on my right eye.  However, the cataract surgery had complications and I ended up having more intense eye surgery on September 25.  Recovery from that is going well. but is taking awhile.  The right eye is focusing better now and I still have to have cataract surgery on the left eye.

Ellen Cornett, the instructor for the Wednesday Studio group (I am a member) assigned a photo of thistles for anyone in the group who wanted to paint it.  Marian Wiseman does a blog for the group and she posted the paintings here:

https://thewednesdaystudio.net/2020/09/13/the-wednesday-studio-uncovers-the-beauty-of-thistles/

Mine is not included in that blog post because I did not finish it in time.  Once I finished it, though, I was happy with it because the thistles really do look prickly...just like real thistles.

Blue and Yellow Macaw

 September 8 was draw a bird (DAB) Day.  This is my bird---a Macaw in flight. Done from a photograph. If you want to see all the birds submitted to the group, here is the link: https://thewednesdaystudio.net/  There are lots of interesting birds there. I'm happy to participate and have quite a collection of my bird paintings 

Elisabeth Reeves Eydt Memorial

 I am participating in an art project for the new Capitol Hill Village office.  The move to the new office was during the pandemic, so it is not fully open yet,but we are keeping the momentum of the prroject.  There is a map covering one wall in the office and the plan is to have paintings of various Capitol Hill neighborhood locations posted around the map with links to the map.  On Friday, some of us worked on framing the art and the variety is fascinating and lovely.  We were short a few frames so have ordered more and will have it all framed and hung before too long.

One of the pieces I submitted is a watercolor painting of a statue at Congressional Cemetery.  This statue  is a memorial to Elisabeth Reeves Eydt who died in June 2008 at the age of eight years old.  The cemetery is pretty much closed to visitors except for a special group of dog-walkers and dogs who have supported it over the years.  I had to work from a photograph that I had posted in my travelblog www.carolynstravelog.blogspot.com when Sophia and I visited Congressional Cemetery in 2015.  That blogpost was very special to me because her father made comments about how grateful he was that Sophia and I appreciated the statue.  I think he would have liked to have experiences with Elisabeth like those I have had with Sophia.  

My other painting for the new office is of the office itself.  It is a pen and ink done with an "Elegant Writer" with a few splashes of water.