art stuff, flowers, weird aging

I made a decision about my drawing. I left the large central petal for last because those white filaments coming off the side petals were tiny and fussy and with small gaps where the petal in the background shows through and the shading of them and quite frankly I don’t think I can detail them in any way that they will look right or that I will be happy with. I looked at lots of pictures of violets yesterday and many, maybe even most, don’t have those things. So. I’ve decided to take them out. I thought maybe when I finished the drawing I could use a little thick watercolor and add them in, experimenting on a scratch piece of paper but then I realized that colored pencils are wax based it might not work. I’ll still test it out so we’ll see. I did a quick little test and it might work but I still don’t think I can get the definition. 

I worked on it more yesterday, the bottom petal, and finally put it aside because I didn’t feel like anything I added or slightly erased was changing it in any significant way. Not sure I’m through but I probably am. Not sure how happy I am with it, for one I know I omitted part of the flower and two I don’t think the shadow reads as a shadow like it does in the photo but, hey, can’t expect every drawing to come out to my satisfaction. I’m not unhappy with it just eventually I get to the point where I’m ready to move on. I think I’m there.

So, now, do I do another drawing of the other violet while I have my pencils out or go straight to watercolor. Or maybe I’ll get out the watercolor pencils and play around with them just to see what they do. And speaking of drawings or rather prints of my drawings, one of my framed prints, the yellow trumpet flower, sold at the Hesed House market.

I had to get up early this morning, and by early I mean 7 AM, for a dermatology appointment in Rosenberg (or Richmond, never sure as the two towns are contiguous). It’s a 25 minute drive mostly on the highway and my appointment was for 8 AM. By choice. Am I crazy? I think so until I get there and no waiting because I’m first and back home by 9. The other choice is in El Campo which is closer but would actually take about the same amount of time to get there. Today is also the day I do my weekly grocery shopping and one of my days to fix dinner so not much free time today.

Just some random photos…Next year’s zinnias. There’s a seed at the end of each petal, not all mature but most.

The indigofera,

the beauty berries turning purple.

Can you see this? That black line in my palm is a rogue hair I pulled out of my left eyebrow. It’s over 3/4” long. Aging does weird things to your body.