WATERBABY'S CIRCUS

I try not to let this blog turn into a rant about whatever random topic. and don't go into politics at either the local or national level. (YAY OBAMA!!) And when my friend Abby forwarded this to me, being the cynic I am, I went straight to Snopes to check it out. Lo and Behold . Here's what she has to share: Sears - Christmas shopping has already started I know I needed this reminder since Sears isn't always my first choice. Amazing when you think of how long the war has lasted and they haven't withdrawn from their commitment. Could we each buy at least one thing at Sears this year? How does Sears treat its employees who are called up for military duty? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up. Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called u...

This is what followed the previous smaller sketched version. I think I left too much open space with the sky and foreground, although I have already cropped a large strip from the sky at the top. I sorta like it, it's just not grabbing me. I'll put it away for a while and come back to look at it. Maybe I'll like it then, or maybe I'll see what it is that's bothering me. Comments, as usual, are appreciated.

I occasionally go out painting with a pick-up group of artists, mostly but not all members of the El Cerrito Art Assn. On a return trip to China Camp a couple months ago I did this rough sketch. It was only intended to help work out the values and colors of what was to become a larger painting. So it's blurry, with pencil smudges and not a lot of detail, but now that the large painting is completed, I prefer the spontaneity of this small unfinished version. The atmosphere of a bright summer day is still there, and though the old fishing boat looks a bit awkward, it seems to help it look like the relic it is.

This little watercolor sketch was done at Moonshine Campground, where we went camping in August of this year. It's a privately owned camp on the Middle Fork of the Yuba River just out of Camptonville, CA. Me, my sister Michele, my daughter Koko, and my granddaughters Jasmine and Lily, were visited there by my other daughter Lisa, my granddaughter Kandi, and my greatgrands, Julian and new baby Nedjha. Rounding out the group was my girls' old friend Brett and her boy Max. We had a great time, the river was lazy and calm and warm due to lack of rainfall this year. So it was perfect for swimming and floating around. We all enjoyed it so much, we decided to return next year, only to find out that after many, many years in operation, the camp is shutting down. Family business complications. We are all so disappointed. After trekking from place to place on our annual-ish camping trips, we had finally found a place we all liked and that was pretty much centrally located for everyone....

I met with my daughter Koko and friend Isabel after their classes for coffee at the Buttercream Bakery in Albany yesterday afternoon. Neither had been here before and had a hard time finding it. I had a hard time too the first time, because you can drive right past and not see it. The sign is on the front window, but if you're following your nose driving down San Pablo Ave., you possibly won't see it. I brought my sketch book, thinking maybe I could do a saltshaker or spoon, just a doodle while we visited. But the ear of Indian corn I thought I would paint, morphed into the vase of fall flowers behind it. Koko and Isabel left and I painted on; then a couple of other watercolor artists came in, part of an ongoing lesson from one of the cafe's owners! Who knew? Well, they invited me to stay, so I did of course, and tried my hand at a setup of persimmons. I love this little cafe, and would gladly link to their site, but it is still being developed. Fresh baked goodies, bre...

What a week. I arrived at SFO from Cabo late Monday evening and have been playing catchup ever since. I had forgotten how all the trivia of daily living here can be such a giant time suck, at least as far as doing anything creative goes. Having had all the previous week with no errands to run, phone calls to make/return, demands of family and others, combined with a warm and sunny place did wonders for me. And made me remember that I need to be back in Brazil. So by this past Friday afternoon I was way over-ready to go to Dee's place to paint, visit and eat. I think the old salons must have been something like her house, a welcoming place where artists of various persuasions can come and relax, share what they've been doing and what they know. You never know where the conversation will go but it will always be interesting. I took out my sketch book and finished what had started as a plein air watercolor sketch of one of my favorite places to eat in Cabo, Mama's Royal Cafe ...