WATERBABY'S CIRCUS

Tomorrow is the day I catch the plane and fly away. I will go to Brazil where I will spend three months in Salvador, Bahia. I'll be arriving just in time for one of the largest celebrations there, the Festa de Iemanja. This goddess is known in Africa, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and other countries, and by various names. She is the Goddess of the Sea, and well-loved in the port city of Salvador. Her image is seen all over, as a sign of devotion, or decoration, even in advertising. I'll be looking for and collecting more images. I'll try to paint a bit while I'm there, but the ocean is close by, and distractions are rampant. So we'll see . . . .

A small bit of a larger still life setup, just a quick sketch of some humble sprouts. ACEO size, 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

A drooping Gerbera daisy, ACEO size (3.5"x2.5"). WinsorNewton watercolors on Arches paper. No more time to start anything large, so ACEOs will have to do for now.

Sometimes it's more fun to just watch them sparkle in the sunlight. Pretty pink glass beads, red Swarovski crystals, great Valentine's Day stuff. http://www.waterbabychristine.etsy.com

Yes, it was bound to happen. I have opened a virtual store. Right now I am listing only earrings. I need to upload a lot more images and descriptions and I've decided to leave Watercolors and ACEOs for later - they will require more work. And I really don't care for the appearance of the banner at the top of the page, so that's also on the to-do list. So for the time being, Welcome to Waterbaby Christine's .

Just a quick watercolor sketch of a garden variety camellia. 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" on Arches watercolor paper, with mostly Winsor Newton paints. Followed by a watercolor and black ink sketch of an off-white poinsettia I found today at the Buttercream Cafe. I'm getting better with the rough paper, but probably still a little heavyhanded with the pen. Looks a little darker than I would have liked.

I've seen these seedpods, but don't know the name of the plant they're from, or even what it looks like. Anybody? Anyway, it was so strange, I decided to sketch it using my new pen. Now that I know it definitely does not have permanent ink, I just put in the washes and form shapes, then after that's completely dry, I sketch over it. Thanks Terry B for the comment!

Daisy is really talented and has her own blog. I like to read it, but only when my Lulu can't see me, because she has jealousy issues. As well as separation anxiety. That's why I haven't told her yet that I'll be leaving for Brazil soon, and not taking her with me. I think it would be too hot there for an old girl in a fur coat. Shhhh.

Today was a really nice day considering it's January. Yes, I know we need the rain. But I still prefer sun. I gave my daughter a ride to her dentist appointment in Berkeley and had a cup of coffee while I waited for her. The bakery/coffee shop on Telegraph Avenue is no place I'd recommend - stale pastries, bad coffee, and the only charm in the place was in the plastic flowers on the table. Name? Who knows, I'll neither go back nor refer anyone to it. I should have walked a bit further to Cafe Med, my old hangout. It is somehow comforting to see that some things have not changed on the Ave. But I wanted to try out my new Pilot pen, with the extra fine point. Well. Very disappointed. Even though I specifically asked when I bought it if the ink was waterproof, it was very much not so - the watercolor blurred the ink, giving the sunny day a dark and overcast look. And I still need to adjust to the rough paper. Guess I need to paint first, then draw. Anyway, the shops across th...

Hoodies and more hoodies appeared throughout Christmas day and into the evening to welcome back home, if only temporarily, their bud Nate. Hopefully, next visit home will be for keeps.