This is one of a series of vastly amusing and delightful photographs that LJ Flist member kaldiboo  took recently. She used cast iron mice, and while it's not visible in this instance, she added one or two lines of story.  Because all these mice had stories to tell.  The collection is at turns sweet, hysterically funny and always amusing.  This particular photo is titled "Bang & Lilly"

I so wish I had this sort of talent or the imagination to come up with it myself.

To see the whole set (recommended) just head on over to http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaldiboo/3515198759/in/set-72157605344012427/ (opens in new window)

I have decided that since I am now 45, I need to learn to draw.  Maybe to paint as well.

To that end, I have bought a sketching set of pencils, a couple of books that are essentially titled, "How to Draw" a couple of sketchbooks (one the same size as a Moleskine!) and some Watercolor Pencils.

The next thing I need to beg, borrow or steal is some ability to draw...

I tried to draw an orange.  But it came out looking like a smudgy pencil blot.  It was sort of round, and all shady and stuff.  It just looked totally messed up.  Dreadful, to be honest.  I showed it to an artist friend and all I got was laughter.  Which was appropriate.

And don't ask because I won't post it.  (This is not a challenge, BTW)

The only thing I've drawn that I would consider showing to anyone besides Elaine is a sketch I did of a specimen cup.  Y'know, the little plastic cup you tinkle in for testing purposes.  Well, there was an empty one sitting on our coffee table, so I tried drawing it.  It came out okay, but it's no great shakes...

I drew a tree, colored it in with the Watercolor pencils, got the brush wet and made it look like something a 5th grader would hang on the fridge.  I was so proud.  The trunk actually turned out okay, but the rest of it was lacking.  It's hard to get artistically excited about a decent looking trunk holding up a green blob, and growing out of a green mass.

I just have to keep working at it.  Who knows?  At some point, I may actually like something enough to actually want to post it here...

Maybe...

The painting at left hangs on the wall of our living room, right over our couch.  It is called "The Old Grist Mill" and was done for us by a dear friend of ours.  Her name in Sheila Akers and this painting was a gift for our 5th Wedding Anniversary (which was almost 5 years ago).  It was going to be a wedding present, but great art can't be rushed.

I took the photo to show it to a friend that lives out of town, and figured you might enjoy seeing it here as well. 

(You can click on the picture a couple of times to get a bigger, better look at it.  Any problems with reproduction are mine and shouldn't reflect on Sheila's marvelous talent.)  Hope you see the wonderful bird.  Added a wonderful touch.

And by cracky, we're happy about it!

4 years ago we went to visit a friend and his family in the San Francisco area.  One of the places we tourists went was to the Ferry Building and while we were there, I saw a seagull cooling his claws on a post.  The Bay Bridge is in the background, and that bird stayed right where he was while I lined up the photo below


























Fast forward a few years...to like last month.  One of my online friends in a Yahoo group posted a link to his blog loaded with watercolor-y goodness. His name is Jeff Suntala and he is an amazing artist.  You can see his watercolor blog, Blog of the Back Run or you can check out his gorgeous drawings of ballparks, old and new as well.   My wife and I were quite taken with a couple of his pieces and I inquired about availability for purchase.  He countered with the suggestion that he paint something that would have meaning to us.  So, I sent him the bird picture.

Click here to see what he did...

Not long after he finished, we concluded our business and he shipped the painting to us.  Last night we got it from Michael's who did a fine job of framing it.  The photo below shows that off.






























Our thanks to Jeff, and you really owe it to yourself to check out his work.  It is amazing.  A permanent link to his main page will be located in the links section.

Pencil, Paper, Scanned, Posted, Ducking.



Told you I can't draw worth 2 cents.