Me as a Papoose

 

This was quite a challenge!   I received a bound book of handmade paper--it is inspiring and also a little intimidating.  I decided to practice first on some loose handmade paper that I have.  My idea of the book was to make paintings that would capture different places and people in my life.  I am not sure I can do that, but my first test effort was to make this painting of my mother with me in a Native American cradelboard for carrying babies, or "papooses."  My dad's Aunt Duckie had a whole collection of baskets and this was one of them.  That pose was fun for the whole family and I am glad I have the picture.  Painting people on the handmade paper is hard, though!

I took this first one to my critique group and the suggestion was to do another one, using gesso on the paper to give it a better surface before applying the watercolor paint.   I decided to try the same photo and this is the result:

Both versions are interesting.  I didn't even finish the second one because I meant for them to be tests.  I think the color of the original is better in the first version, but the picture I took is not good.  I can't take another as I gave that one to Jenifer, who was visiting from Tennessee.  It went home with her.

It was a fun experiment, but the bound book is probably going to feature landscapes.  I love doing them on handmade paper.

ILLUMINATED LABYRINTH

 

Here's another labyrinth.  I really enjoy doing them and trying to make each one different.  This one started out as one thing and then just evolved into its own pattern.   The colors are vivid, and I kind of like that I used a stepping stone idea to get to the center and then back.

TY BLUMS

 

I got two dozen roses from the Blum family for Mother's Day.  It took me awhile to do the little thank you painting and now I am just posting to this blog.  They were so pretty--yellow, red, and some yellow/red.  I put them in a special vase that my mother bought for me when Louisa was an infant...like two weeks old!

When I did this painting, I thought I would do a background, but I was encouraged to leave it just as it is...so I did!  I hope the Blums enjoy the card as much as I enjoyed the roses.

I have been making posts through an email feature on my website, but think I will go back to "PlumGallery,blogspot.com"  I find that easier.  Maybe because I have done it for several years.

TY BLUMS

I think this is my last holiday gift post.  Max and Sally Blum sent me some amazing wine glasses that were made in Austria.  I have made paintings of wine glasses before and felt like I wanted to do something a little different.  I went on-line and found a picture of an Austrian village  I don't think it's where the glasses are produced, but I never did find out about that.  I just liked this village scene.

By the way, the glasses have a shape that makes them suitable for almost any type of wine and makes sniffing the aroma a very special experience.  So nice!
 

TY JOANN

 

Another fun gift I got was a bookmark that is an abstract painting, done by my friend JoAnn Laboy.  It is fun because it has little magnets that hold it in place.  She also gave me a card that is a beautiful abstract painting, but the bookmark is more fun.  My little painting doesn't do it justice.  JoAnn gave it to me at the brunch hosted by Tara Hamilton--I have written about that before.

I made a thank you card to JoAnn, but didn't take a picture for this post before mailing it.  She went on a vacation and I had to wait for her to return to photograph it and send the photo to me.  We worked it out and it is a little late, but here it is.

BUMPER

 

This is Bumper, Jenifer and Erik's Old English Sheepdog.  This is from a photo when he was a puppy.  I talked to Jen recently and she reports that he is still growing.   They knew he would be a big dog when they got him.  He joined the family after I visited, so I haven't seen him in person yet.  I hear he is smart and is learning the routines of the house and the commands he needs to know.  They are very happy with him.

TY JEFF

 

My brother Jeff gave me an Amazon gift card---I can always find a use for that!

We had a fun visit when he was here from Southern California.  We didn't do a lot, but did see the movie "Boys in the Boat" with Louisa, Peter, Griffin and Sophia.  Another fun thing was going to the Guinness Brewery in Baltimore.  What a sight that was and fun for an Irish-phile like Jeff.  There were many more good meals and times to catch up.  

I look forward to his visit each year.