Finally finished! And just in time.



"Lost"

 Well this took longer than I thought it would. I found that making an individual portrait out of each stone takes time. But I did so enjoy the journey. Got it done just long enough before the show for the gallery to get it framed. The annual Thunderbird Art Gallery show was December 1st and 2nd. Many of my old friends from our mountain man enthusiast days came and we had a grand time reminiscing.

I took the photograph of this stone building back in the '70's when we first moved to town. I don't know if it still stands. I haven't found it again yet. But I have many photos from that time period, and many more paintings to do. I am liking getting back to including the stories of old buildings in my art. We'll see how that goes.

Hope the lost baby robin finds its mom.

All art, poetry and writings are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

Advancing oh so slowly

I've got to learn to say no better.

Okay, some progress here. Coming down the wall and starting the next four panes in the window. I can't believe it was August 24th when I last posted, nearly a month. I've gotten way busy. Tomorrow is my art class at the Senior Center here in Greeley. After the class I volunteered to visit a 90 year old lady in an Assisted Living. She is a very good artist, and has been down and not having the enthusiasm to paint or draw. Several of us from the Greeley Art Asso., (GAA), are going at different times during the week. Last Friday I didn't get home until 4 p.m. She is a delightful lady.

Then for October 1st I am doing a demonstration for the GAA. Was supposed to be someone else, but that didn't work out, so this is a last minute preparation for me. Then October 6th I signed up to give the program for the Greeley Poetry Club. That would be just fine had I not remembered it only a week ago, and then November I will be writing the lead letter for the GAA monthly newsletter.

Not much time to paint, and besides this stone building, I have several other drawing/painting responsibilities. I just have to get the list back to 95% painting.

I had asked for title suggestions to this painting. Now, since I have decided that the little lost Robin won't work out, what do you think about a mouse in the window, or ... ?

Okay, gotta go. If I don't get much more work done on this painting, I'll at least try to say hello before another month goes by. Have a great week. ~J~

All art, poetry and writings are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

More Stone and Mortar ...

More Stone and mortar, more stone and mortar!

Ok, the new post I've been promising. I wanted to be farther along than this, but, boy, it has just been one thing after another. This picture is blurry toward the bottom. The painting, mounted on its board won't fit in my scanner, and I just couldn't get the lighting right to use my camera. That will teach me not to take the set-up down after each session. So I hope you can over look that this time. I'll have a good photo next time, and will hopefully have a good start on the bottom 4 window panes. (In less time.) Have to get this one done soon if I'm going to get everything done on my agenda.

Having visitors in September so hopefully .... Can you believe, my daughter April and grandson De will be here for a while. April is here to get De settled into an apartment and set up in school. This in Texas mind you, so they are in for a lot of travel before heading back to England. This will be empty nest time for April and Curt.

I remember that day! When the last one of mine left home. My husband and I ran for the empty room of our choice to make personal/office space for ourselves. I couldn't believe how much my husband had stashed away for "his" room. It ended up being a right handsome mountain man museum. Those were the days.

Please keep up the welcome comments.  Need them to improve. Till next post -- ~J~

All art, poetry and writings are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

Bruce and Fang

Once upon a time, (about 12 days ago), there were two little Chihuahua types roaming out in the road, trying to find a scent to take them home. They wandered the road, and general neighborhood for 4 days. So I had to see if I could get near them. At first the larger one, (top of first picture), ran under the neighbors fence growling and barking. Next day was the same, but I was bearing treats. She sneaked up and ran with it. It was down hill from there, and she coaxed the little one to come over and get a treat. That accomplished, I put food and water on the porch and let them make up their own minds. They of course took to the food and water, and soon were guarding the porch. I was in, and it didn't take but a short while to get the larger one to allow me to pet her. We called them Bruce and Fang. Finally the little one gave in and you could tell they were grateful for human touch and care. So, I made a bed for them on the mud porch so they could be inside, and propped the door open so they could get in and out.

 
The next stage in the evolution was to call Sharon, friend, to come see what I had! She came and saw and took Bruce home with her. Bruce is now Frieda. ( I don't see what's the matter with Bruce.) She has been taken to the vet for a complete check up and shots, and is now adopted into her family.


Fang ... Spazz now ... has now seen the vet and was given a clean bill of health. She wasn't too pleased with the attention there however. She weighs in at 4.75 lbs. And we're guessing she is about a year old.


Tried a lot of things to see if anyone had reported them missing. There was one Chihuahua reported lost and was given the number to call, but their little one had been found. After considering all the things we observed, we have decided they must have been dumped. They don't have to worry about that any more.

 
This was not my plan. I have/had a nice quiet life with Gizmo. (He wishes that were still true!) But we'll get used to this new little ball of fire, and she will learn she doesn't have to run and hide at every fast movement or loud noise. She can actually get to every room in my house and back to me in about 2 seconds. Just the dog for an old broad! So, just call me an adoptive mom once again. Sigh...

 
Judy



Photo #1 - Bruce and Fang hanging out on the porch.

Photo #2 - Now Spazz instead of Fang, hanging out on my lounge chair pillow. She climbs back there to be on the pillow between the back of the chair and my "warm" back.

 

Photo #3 - Spazz in Gizmo's bed. She rooted around with the little blanket until she was covered, and soon was sound asleep. All you can see are her ears. Gizmo keeps looking at me, but so far hasn't disturbed her.

Update on the painting on Wednesday ... I hope ... been an awful lot of interruptions since my last post. Have a good rest of the week!

I'm feeling really good about this piece so far. Was hoping to be a little further along for this post. But since Monday has gone by without the progress I had hoped to post, decided I'd best just do it. The biggest time consumer, of course, was the spider plant in the window. Remind me not to try something like this again. But ... I love it! The fun is in the details ... right?!

The latest suggestion for a title is "Spider" ... and considering the plant has gotten all the attention so far, it might work! Keep 'em coming though. I enjoy your comments.

Have had a bit of a break from the heat today. It is only 91° here at 2 p.m., and that is much better. Means the house holds the cool long enough to keep it mostly comfortable here. Western Oklahoma and eastern Kansas aren't so lucky today. Especially Oklahoma. They are already up to 106°

This is it for today. Next post will tell you all about the two little Chihuahua's that I found wandering the street in front of the house. With pictures! Cuties.

~J~

All art, poetry and writings are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

A little more progress

Well, I have made a little more progress. The window itself will be the hardest and will take the longest. I painted the plant in first and am painting the dark interior behind the glass last. Being careful to get all the paint chips along the windows panes. I have no luck with a masking fluid on my watercolor paper, which is cold press rough paper. The liquid just doesn't adhere to the roughness and allows a jagged line. Not acceptable when the plant's leaves are so narrow. (Pretty much not acceptable for me at all.) So here you are. 

Don had a good title, but at the time he didn't know about the plant in the window. I'm sure he or one of you will come up with another good shot at it. This photo of the painting is a bit brighter than the original.

Time to get back at it. Will post again when I have advanced down the window!

All art, poetry and writings are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

Brick and Stone

Hello all! It might be too soon to share this because it is going to take me some serious time to complete it. But I love the colors and the texture and couldn't wait. This work in progress is going to be about 7" x 10" and is a long narrow window. The panes are quite dark with plants showing through. If it works out right, I'll put a little lost baby bird on the window sill, and will title it "Lost" unless you all have a better idea. I have no clue yet what to call it if the bird doesn't work out. So ... here is the beginnings of my next watercolor painting....

Hope all of you are getting through this horrendous heat! Going to be 100° again here today, but Topeka, KS and Altus, OK are going to hit higher temps. Never in my life have I been known to say, "Come-on Winter!" ~J~

All art, poetry and writings are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

Sitting with a fan on the back of my neck. Just too hot. Yesterday my son came and got me to see a deer in our yard. She was very lost. There was a time that I would wake up to a couple of deer browsing off my trees in front, but it has been a long time since then. She was a real treat. My son "tracked" her with his cell phone, took the shot, emailed it to mine, and I cropped it close. So this is the only record of the visit. But hey ... I'll take it. Better than all the skunks and raccoons and feral cats around here. (No complaint about the horses though!)

I have been putting off the weeks grocery shopping for several days now, so I guess it is time for me to get 'er done. At least it will be cool in the store for a while.

Have received lots of good input on the graphite drawing of the owl, "Alert." Thanks to all my fans for the support. ~J~

She's Finished!

This little Long Eared Owl is finally finished. Well, not exactly "finally." For me to complete her in two weeks is probably a record. She took 64 hours. Have received lots of compliments on FaceBook and that is always very nice for the ego. Most of the work was done before about 4 p.m. Which is time to feed the horse and the dog ... er ... Gizmo. Don't tell him I called him a dog! I would like to spend more night time hours painting/drawing, but there are still Miller Moths to contend with here. Thought they were gone, but this heat seems to have brought them back.

My class of students continues to go well!

Okay ... now for a watercolor painting. Decisions, decisions, which one to start ....



Long Eared Owl - "Aware"

 Have a great day to all my fans and supporters out there.

All art, poetry and writings are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

WIP #3 - Long Eared Owl




Long Eared Owl



 Well, it is Monday and almost two in the afternoon and already 102°.

I had hoped to share the finished drawing today, but a lot of unexpected things came up instead. Not least of which the electricity went off for an hour and 20 minutes.

But I did make good progress, this weekend and you will have a better idea of where I'm going with this drawing. I want her to be in as natural a setting as possible, so that she will be somewhat camouflaged. I have yet to emphasize different textures and there is a lot of value reworking to be done. But that will be the noodling session at the tail end where I will have to know when to stop!

Hope you enjoy.

All art, poetry and writings are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

WIP #2 - Long Eared Owl

Hello again! How do you like this? And there hasn't even been nearly 5 months since my last post. I'm really trying to reform. Really ...

I've made some progress with this drawing. Still a long way to go, but hope by Monday I'll be able to post with a much greater progress. Right now I will have to leave some parts of the owl unfinished so I can introduce the bits of the tree she will be sitting in. Looking forward to a rest from feathers for a while, not that I won't have to go back and put the finishing touches on them later.

My class continues to go well. Students seem to be making good progress practicing new information and really working hard at home to get it done.



Long Eared Owl - WIP #2

 Hopefully I'll be back Monday.

All art, poetry and writings are copyright & cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

Catching up ...



Hello out there.

I've been busy this year. I have been teaching art at the Senior Center here in Greeley. This has proven to be a lot of fun, and very rewarding. I have seen a lot of improvement in the skills of my class simply by starting with the basics. Drawing ... real basic ...


At the end of the season of classes for the Senior Center I started my own semi-private classes in my home. I haven't had classes here since the 1970's. I'm having a good time with my students and it helps out too.

Long Eared Owl

Saturday I started a small drawing. It started with a photo I got out for a student, and decided it was time to draw it myself. Have to keep my hand in you know. I got some very nice photos of several owls and raptors at the annual Rocky Mountain Raptor Program gala early this year. I'll do a work-in-progress for you to watch the drawing develope. It is small. This first photo is cropped to about 3.5" x 5.5" but will be larger when finished. About 5" x 6".

This little owl is considered medium sized and isn't as well known as other owls, tending to be more reclusive and located in remote areas. These guys have a defense of making themselves tall, skinny and motionless so they will be mistaken for a broken off tree branch. It's quite funny to watch them do that. Now you see an owl - now you don't - and you haven't looked away.

All art, poetry and writings are copyright & cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer

Hello my friends - are you still out there?



Gizmo - 8"x8" - graphite painting

It must be time to get back. To a lot of things. It has been almost a year since I last posted. I just cannot believe how fast the time goes for me these days. Must be getting older than I thought I was. I am still, like, 24 you know ....


This is one of my most recent pieces. This is my little Gizmo. He is half Chihuahua and half Pomeranian. I think he has the best of both breeds. He sure thinks he is cute. But I can tell you, he really keeps me going! He will be 12 years old this coming May.


Time for another cup of coffee. I will be back!

All art, poetry and writings are copyright &; cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from Judith Angell Meyer