Mokuleia tribute

When I lived on Oahu, I used to drive home after work, pick up my pup, and drive out to this beach in Mokuleia on the North Shore and swim until the sun set. After being totally exhausted and covered in salt water and sand, she and I would head to Pizza Bobs and share a veggie pizza in the car (sans onions). I have fond memories of wolfing down the pizza as the car windows steamed up.

This is a very quick sketch of our swimming area that I revisited this past weekend. It was a nice spot to sit and reflect and pay tribute to a dog that loved pizza and the ocean as much as I did. Here is a pic of her with a coconut she found floating in the water.

Woolgathering's 1000th drawing!!!

One thing that I've learned from Elizabeth Perry of Woolgathering is that everyday life matters. It is the "slowing down, the sitting down, the noticing" that offers an "excuse to pause and daydream, to woolgather." Congratulations Liz on your 1000th blog post! There are very few of us that can possibly claim that!

I'd like to dedicate this drawing to Liz. Pausing at a picnic stop to draw Mokolii Island on Oahu allowed me to slow down ... and really enjoy the views of Kaneohe Bay in the way that Liz has done. She's captured in her 1000 posts, everyday things like her sleeping child, a piece of fruit, many snippets of life that she chose to share with us. Thank you Liz for being an inspiration to me and to many other art bloggers out there. We're looking forward to your next 1000!!

Lunch at L&L Drive In

A local-style lunch at L&L Drive In is an experience not to be missed. Okay, I think I'll need to explain what these are:

Left: Double Loco Moco ... a local favorite of two scoops of rice (that sticky medium grain rice, not that Uncle Ben's stuff), one scoop of macaroni salad, two patties of hamburger covered with brown gravy and two eggs.

Right: Laulau Plate ... One laulau made of pork/chicken/fish steamed in luau leaves (like spinach but not) inside a packet of ti leaves, lots of kalua pig (pork roasted in an underground imu or earthen oven), two scoops of rice and ubiquitous one scoop of mac salad.

These dishes are known as heart attack special #1 and #2 (heh).

And no, I didn't have one of these. I thought better and had a grilled mahimahi sandwich and water instead. I drew these two dishes from pics that were staring me in the face as I ate my healthy sandwich. After lunch, I walked out the door with the nagging urge to turn around :) .

Bliss (Everyday Matters Challenge #100: Draw a landscape)

I had some time yesterday afternoon so I drove around Oahu and stopped at this beach somewhere between Laie and Hauula. Took out my goza mat, lay on the beach under some shade, and was asleep in no time. I woke up to the sound of the ocean and laughing children.

EDM Challenge #9 - Organized chaos

Hehe, this is my somewhat organized chaos of a desk. It's a quick sketch that I did with a sharpie that was lying around. It was a lot of fun ... much less agonizing than a self portrait and about as much fun as making the mess in the first place!

Falling

Ever feel overwhelmed and needing to space out for a bit? Been feeling that way this week ... so I've been knitting my surprise instead of drawing ... and sitting with my thoughts. (I've gotten pretty far with the knitting thang ... I'll have to draw my progress soon).




Since I don't have anything super spectacular to post, here are some gestural studies I did awhile back that represent how I feel, especially the bottom one.

In an effort to regroup, I've decided to take a break and spend the weekend at Waikiki beach! If you happen to be walking by, I'll be the one with the sketchbook in hand. Stop by and say hello. :)

EDM Challenge #56 - Self portrait

I am taking Anita Davis' advice to share a self portrait, even if it's far from what I'd like it to be. As she says "Art never becomes boring, always a challenge, always something to learn, something to push for." If you get a chance, check out her post. That post in particular really hit home for me.

This is what I sort of look like, if I lost the weight I'd like to lose. LOL. I guess I see myself skinnier than I really am. It's funny how that works, isn't it? I am not attempting any sort of creative piece here ... just trying to figure out what I really look like.

Doodle montage

I was REALLY bored last night ... couldn't find anyone to see Jodie Foster's new movie "The Brave One" with me. So, I went around the house and drew whatever my eyes set on. I am practicing my overlapping, which is not a natural thing because my brain wants to keep everything separate. I mean, if I can't watch Jodie Foster kick some thugs butt, then drawing my coffee pot is the next best thing, right?

Withered

“The wind blows out of the gates of the day, The wind blows over the lonely of heart, And the lonely of heart is withered away” - William Butler Yeats

EDM Challenge, I think

This is part of my medicine cabinet, which doesn't contain any medication ... just assundry personal things. Thought I'd touch up this fast sketch with some color.

Color me pink!

Teri Casper of Teri's Painted Daisies, THE creative blogger herself, honored me with the Creative Blogger Award today! I am tickled and so thankful to be nominated. Thanks Teri!

I now pass the award to five creative bloggers who "bring unique and creative elements to their blogs", in no order:

• Tracy at Small Smackerels who makes the most creative postcards I have ever seen. And if you're extra good, maybe her Birthday Queen will visit you on your birthday!
• Brian at Brian's Art Blog paints sensitive watercolors that keep me going back for more! He elevates everyday items like water sprinklers to works of art!
• DRB at Daily Art (mas o menos) because his blog is the definition of creative!
• Kate at Kathleen Rietz - Artist because she is such an eclectic artist ... she does mosaics, graphics, designs, makes jewelry, draws, paints, and photographs! Can't get more creative than that!
• Bev at Little Friday Stories who combines poetry with beautiful paintings and drawings and blogs tidbits of interesting facts with links that feed my creative side.
  

Now, these honorees may now proudly post your awards and give the award to five other creative bloggers. For more info on Christie and the Creative Blogger Award, including other awards, check it out here.

If you don't keep your feet ...

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." Bilbo Baggins (J.R.R. Tolkien)

... a quick sketch after two days of suffering from food poisoning. Not to worry, I'm feeling half human again. :)

I've come undone - 3 for 1!

I don't know why, but as I posted this, the song Undone by The Guess Who stuck in my head and I haven't been able to pry it out of my brain. Alas, here are the words, perhaps you can make better sense of it than me ...

She's come undone
She didn't know what she was headed for
And when I found what she was headed for
It was too late.

She's come undone
She found a mountain that was far too high
And when she found out she couldn't fly
It was too late.

Irregardless of this nonsense, this is my Everyday Matters Challenges #33 (eye), #53 (mouth), and #65 (nose)! 3 fer 1! For those who know me, hopefully, they will look familiar.

Shoe explosion doodle

Yes, I subscribe to the notion that a person's shoe collection is a window to his/her soul. I leave my partial shoe collection up for interpretation ... :)

An incomplete study

This is my early-morning-just-outta-bed study. I exaggerated the darks a bit here, knowing full well that darks are not so dark on white. It's not quite complete but since it will be awhile before I'll get to it, decided to post it as is. Comments and critiques are very welcome!

Everyday Matters Challenge #19 - Something I've made

Can you believe it? I am trying my hand at knitting! It's a rather awkward endeavor since I'm just a beginner but it's another creative outlet that I'm enjoying. I drew my progress thus far. I won't tell you what it is yet ... I'll surprise you when I'm done. But don't hold your breath, I hope to finish it before Christmas. :)

EDM Challenge #3: Purses, wallets, bags

This Everday Matters Challenge was a lot of fun but took forever `cuz I used my Pigma Micron 005 pen (I had to cheat and used my 01 for some of the shadow ... otherwise, it would have taken me longer than forever to finish!). I know it doesn't look like there's anything in it but I recently "detoxed" my purse so it now holds only my essentials: my wallet, cellphone, Kleenex, and keys. They're in there! Stand by for a drawing of my bulging wallet ... Now, that's ANOTHER story!

Hope you're all having a great long weekend! Happy drawing!