Lan Orchid

On Wednesday, I had my first Asian Brush Painting class. I really enjoyed myself. It felt good to be using my brain again to learn new things.  I have been out of work for nearly a year now (for why, see Just Another Day) and have felt like my brain is dying slowly; my memory is not what it was so any form of cerebral exercise is bound to be good for it.  This past week I, and eight other newbies, learned several simple brush strokes. These strokes put together create a lovely Lan Orchid. Well, lovely after a lot of practice.  My attempts are just merely pretty. I spent a good portion of Friday morning practicing the Lan Orchid and have attached several of my attempts below. I am still struggling with the stem, but am pretty pleased overall with my success.

The stem on this orchid is too thick, but the grass is good.
I like the flower on this one a lot. It is well balanced .

The drooping orchid is more difficult, and I feel I did an decent job on this one.
The stem here is more like what the stem should be.
The grass needs a bit of work.

This is my favorite.  The stem is nearly perfect for what is expected. 
The petals are beautiful and the grass is well balanced.

Subversive Knitting

Textile and fiber artists across the world engage in what I like to call drive by knitting- they call it yarn graffiti.  The time, effort and care these individuals take with their art is astounding.  Some projects are huge and probably take days to create.  I imagine the artist casually driving or walking by, seeing a tree or bicycle stand, pulling out a notebook and tape measure, looking furtively both ways to make sure no one is watching before making his/her secret plans for woolly subversion.  Then the artist sneaks off, plans, knits, measures, and then in the dark of night, secretly installs his/her knitting.  In the morning people wake up to wonderful surprises full of color, texture and warmth.  Check out a smattering of pictures below. See http://yarnbombing.com/ for more images and information.

All photos were taken from the website www.yarnbombing.com and are the intellectual property of their creators.

100 Words: Art Class

This past summer I went to a convention.  While at the convention I had the opportunity to try Asian Brush Painting.  I fell in love with it; I found myself drawn to the structure, simplicity and preciseness of this painting style.  When I returned home, I mentioned how much I loved it to my Mom.  She gave me an Asian Brush Painting class for Christmas.  Today is my first class. I am looking forward to working with the fat brushes and the dark ink. I expect that I will come home with black stained fingertips and proud attempts at art.

Three Beautiful Things: 2.8.11

1. One more step completed in the renovation of the back bedroom into a new sitting room: there is now light and electricity.

2. Twenty month old nephew's attempts to say "Stef" results in 'Teh'. Smiling as he pulls on my hand to get me on to the floor to play Legos with him: 'Teh, Teh, Teh'.

3. Yearly physical is over.

My List: U2 Songs

10. Please
9.  Do You Feel Loved
8.  Electrical Storm
7. Sweetest Thing
6. Mysterious Ways
5. Bullet the Blue Sky
4. Even Better Than the Real Thing
3. Desire
2. Love and Peace, or Else.
1. Sunday Bloody Sunday:

Three Beautiful Things: 2.6.11

1. The feel of  the luxurious wool and cashmere blend yarn running through my fingers as I teach myself how to crochet.

2. Sitting in the sun shining into the dining room, and relishing every ray as it warms my face. I can't help but smile; if I were a cat, I'd follow the sun around the house and take naps in it whenever I could.

3.Watching the icicles shimmer and melt in the light of the sun and begin to drip with a staccato plop-plop, plop, plop-plop-plop, plop.