Tuesday, September 7, 2021

late summer and one kind of work or another

Saturday...I determined that I want to do the finish work on the first trumpet flower piece before I fill the mold for the second one so I can see how well or not at all some of the shading came out and now that I've had a week off I was determined to get over to the shop today, and start the cold work. Except it is so horribly hot out there. If it was just 92˚ as the thermometer goes it would be manageable with the fan blowing on me but the real feel is 103˚ and they aren't kidding. Plus, I wore myself out yesterday with the trimmer. Two gas tanks worth, had to refill the string bobbin, but I got it all done and my arms were so tired after that I was like Trump, needing two hands to bring a small glass of water up to my lips. And today they are so sore. Well, maybe tomorrow but probably not. I think I'll set up for and pour the wax base for the luna moth model. I can do that in the AC. And today I'll work on a second butterfly drawing for another of the stands...in the AC. Or I might take a nap. We'll see.

It is so dry here, the ground is cracked and the grass is sere and crunchy. It rains all around us but not on us. I'm back to watering, moving the sprinkler from spot to spot. The pots, even the big ones need to be watered every day.

Monday...I thought I had lost the morning glory bush too but it finally returned and is blooming now. It's one of my favorites.

I went outside as soon as I got up to take the picture above because they fade by noon and I had missed the previous days' glories. I took close-ups too, like this one,

but the camera didn't pick up the color, I guess because the sky was completely overcast and getting darker and it did finally give us some rain this morning though not as much as I would have liked.

I'd been watching this flower bud develop on my datura and still would have missed it if I hadn't been intent of getting a picture of the morning glory bush this morning.

I got over to the shop yesterday and poured and trimmed the wax base for the luna moth piece and then collected pictures of tiger swallowtail butterflies, which I think is the next one, to work on a new composition but that's as far as I got.

Today, though, was a frustrating day in the studio. I didn't have any wax sheets big enough or thick enough to suit me and it took me 4 tries to get what I wanted. Then I realized that, the way the luna moth piece is designed with the leaves going off the edges, it won't slip through the brackets at the top and into the stand because with the leaves, it's too thick. Well, fuck fuck fuck and dammitall. Now I have to redesign the piece.

Tuesday...It's not supposed to be as hot today so maybe I'll work on the trumpet flower piece while I noodle over the luna moth. 



13 comments:

  1. I see Rajani found you too.
    One of my daughters is having a very hard time right now and I tell her, "To everything there is a season," which is about the most comforting thing I know from the Bible. I guess you're having one of those seasons. Sucks. I'm sorry. By the way- your roses are blooming nicely. Thank you for that.

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  2. Your flowers are so beautiful. I went out and photographed our yellow roses yesterday, and if I remember I may post a few pics on the blog. I'm sorry things went awry with your luna moth piece. I hope your "noodling" goes well there.

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  3. You sound just like every working artist I know. Me? Right now I long for a long arm sewing machine.

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  4. Pretty much a case history of art in the making. Dangit.

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  5. Ooo - I LOVE the morning glory bush! Sorry about the luna moth piece. If it helps I finally ripped out that big ole scarf/shawl thing I was knitting & rewound the yarn. That was about 5 hours of work gone - and it only took about 15 minutes to rip out!

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  6. Your inspiration is all around you in your garden.

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  7. Love your flower photos! Your comment reminds me of a t-shirt I saw for sale that said, "I'm pretty confident my last words will be, "WELL SHIT! That didn't work!" LOL

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  8. The morning glory photos are beautiful. Just imagine the color.

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  9. Those morning glories are -- well, glorious. Sorry about the unexpected glitch with the luna moth. Seems the law of unintended consequences (wings over the edge) always is lurking. You'll work it out, although I suspect 'work' will be the operative word.

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  10. I love my moonflowers (datura) or jimson weed. Their fragrance is just the best. Mine are on the west side of my house and the sun does not reach over there until afternoon. But still the poor things are wilted like cloth dinner napkins by 10 a.m. They bloom at night and the smell is just heavenly.

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  11. Those flowers are really gorgeous! I can't wait to see how the trumpet flower will turn out. Your work is so lovely!

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  12. That morning glory is beautiful! I've never seen one like it. Sorry your art project work didn't work as expected. I hope your weather turns a little cooler with less humidity.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.