Missing posts from you, but maybe I better put up for myself.  Anita and I did a fun glass fusing workshop at the Museum of Glass.  I'll try scanning my piece and see if that works.  Really fun.

Its 4 inches by 4 inches and different elements float on different layers.  Colors are almost right...

We also had an Art day and went to the Frye, had lunch and did some plein aire painting in Volunteer Park.
I was amazed at the Frye.  I've been there so many times with my mom through the years.  Let me tell you it is not your mother's museum any more!  One interesting thing they did was to take an assortment of their permanent collection and hang them so the horizon of all of them was the same and continued across the entire long wall.  Nothing else on the wall.  The big exhibit was of the work of someone who did/does temporary outdoor installations.  Lots of big chunks of concrete and building materials.

I've been staring at my watercolor for the weeks since we went.  My opinions about it keep changing.
Things I should fix ...Things I like...Impressions...

I've also been to the Tacoma Art Museum with John.  One of their exhibits is about portraits.  There are all kinds of them over a huge range of time and a big variety of styles.  They have a big day of the dead thing coming up starting on the 20th.

Enough of me, how about something from you?

A visit to the library

These are worth a look and very inexpensive at the library:
Children's Picturebooks Info about the process with good examples from illustrators
little big book Like a catalog of recent international illustrators
Wanda Gag (prounounced Gog) about her life and work including Millions of Cats

Cispus and 'Play 2'

Sounds like a fun art date. (As in the Artist's Way)  My event last weekend had some easy access to art too. We all made Jackson Pollock t-shirts which was really fun and we had time to do 'art as process' paintings.  It was a bit hard to surrender the content and just play with the material, but I did realize when I was avoiding the assignment and aimed closer to the idea.  Then later, I took time for myself and went off and worked on this watercolor. The scanner was to small for the whole picture so I let it cut off some of my foreground.  No way the shirt will fit in the scanner so later,  when I have a photo I'll load it.

Anita has been getting children's books from the library to stay current.  She inspires me.  We have been howling over the newest by Daniel Pinkwater.  Its called Kingman Lives  and is the story of a young man who wants to be an artist.  There is a chapter which tells the history of art from the point of view of a fundamentalist minister which is wonderful.  The book takes place in the 'beat times.'  So great!  Lots of reflection on what is quality in art.

Ginger what fun! Sitka is a special place. My Uncle Bob (my Dad's twin brother) moved to Sitka after 1949 and raised his family there. One or two of my cousins still live there. I, in 1993 ( way back when) crewed on a 45' sail boat to work my way to Stika! Needless to say it was both positive and a negative experience. The shall I say the  "captain" was not sailing with Marine Charts but a Marine Atlas. Needless to say I jumped ship when we hit Kitchacan and American waters. Called my Uncle and made arrangements for the family to meet me at the airport! Ordered up a Taxi, grabbed my survival suit (which I did have to ware at one point in the trip through Canadian waters) my back pack and fled to the airport! I was never so glad to see my family when I embarked (De-planed)
Sitka was wonderful! Everyday I walked from Uncle Bob's through a forest of Totem Poles to town and went to every museum that was there. Performances by the Native Tribes and the youth - inspiring.

The Alaskan Artist, Rie Munoz, did a work before the Russian Orthodox Church burned. It is right in the middle of the street! She used to work on Orcas Is. I understand and not far from my place! I met her one summer when she was having a show on Is. She is a lovely person and not to mention one of my favorite Artists! Would you believe she traded a book of her work to me for just one of my hand Colored prints! A whole Book! Oh and a poster of one of her exhibitions in AK!

I am astounded yet today - one of MY Prints!!
Enjoy and bring home the fish!

Oh, some new work: I was given a gift to go to a place in West Seattle called Mind Unwind. This is a delightful idea. Sign up for $40, pick the date you want to paint. Walk in, be given a glass of wine, a place to sit, a 16x20 blank canvas, acrylic paint and a room full of enthusiastic people - who have never painted in their life or very little and go for it! The person who teaches watercolor, Jay, is very supportive of all work. We did acrylic painting and the facilitator was a delightful young girl who went about encouraging everyone. A most enchanting eve. I did not finish in the 2 hours as most of us did not but we can come back anytime there is not a class, order a glass of wine and finish! Such a nice way to approach art. Everyone but me were relaxed and not expecting much of their work just the experience of creativity. For me it is serious business but I did enjoy the commendatory and giggles not to mention the wine!

I forgot to say I think of Rollin and he always inspires me.

Sitka Doodles

 I love your photos from Aug 15.  Here are my drawings from my fishing trip to Alaska the first week in Aug.  Yes, I brought home a lot of fish and had a wonderful time.

Then we decompressed at Mason Lake for a week. No drawings, but I worked on another rug and read and we fished the lake without catching any.

I'm going to Cispus later today through the weekend for a church sponsored event called Play.  I'll take my art toys.

These are all my husband.  He didn't stay still so I drew him where ever he was.  It was catch and release.  He was really enjoying himself.  He stood there reeling them in till his arm was tired.

August 15th, 2013

Art friends we have had quite the Aug 15th! Lunch with Elizabeth and Suzanna! What a feast! Then on to the EMP to view the Fantasy Exhibit and the Si-Fi Exhibit! WOW! My head and being is in a digesting of what imaginations can create.
We missed you Ginger!  But here we are in a "Warp-Tunnel" or something from the "Galaxyfar far away." I even fought off an attacking Dragon! What a DAY!

As we were leaving I noticed an elderly lady sitting holding her cane in the large format music video room sitting in the front row transfixed.  I took a pix, it is hard to see but there she is the little person with her cane.

We ended up the day at the Design Center's 3rd Thursday Gallery Shows. Very inspiering and the drinkies and food was good to. I feel EXPOSED to a new art avenue. HOW DO I GET MY WORK OUT THERE?

A quote from Rollin:

Think you are, and you will be.


Love to you all,
suzanna

Rollin Thomas had a profound influence on illustrators in Washington state and was a dear friend, teacher and illustrator. He is already missed. Nov 19, 1947 to July 30, 2013, age 65.

Happy! I am glad you aare using the blog and making cool use of time.

August 1, 2013

What a wonderful Art Adventure we had in July.
This is what I have been doing.

You may have heard, our beloved teacher, Rollin Thomas passed away on July 30th. He was such an inspiration to so many artists, illustrators and children's book authors. He will be missed, though he lives on in the hearts and minds of so many.

Does anyone have a copy from our "Art for the Children's Market" class of Rollin? Was it class of 2006?

As he always said, "Be Well, Create Lots".

Lake Tahoe

Here are a few of my vacation quick draws.
They need to be done when the action starts or the food arrives. Tahoe was wonderful and I had a great time with my husband, sister and her husband. We did so many fun things together.  I think I remember doing another one that I didn't find and I have one unfinished and a dud I didn't show you.

Ginger

Thanks to Ginger!

Hi Ginger,
Thanks for starting this blog! And grateful for beautiful sunsets!