mARTa's Art

I'm in the car with my Rudy and Amy on our way to my friend Joan's funeral tomorrow. This is a self portrait of me looking into the visor mirror.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Many years ago at the annual Firemen's Picnic I met my friend Joan. My little Sarah was just 2 months old and already had been through many an ordeal for such a tiny person. Sarah was born with Down Syndrome, a genetic defect resulting in mental retardation and for her also, a genetic heart defect. At the picnic I saw a teenage girl with Down Syndrome playing and happy. Other than my Sarah I had never met another person with DS. I saw her run over to her mother and after considering it for a few minutes I thought I'd walk over and introduce myself and my baby. But when I approached her with my little bundle in my arms all I could do was put Sarah in her arms and cry. This poor woman didn't say anything to me but instead told Sarah what a beautiful child she was. Today I take comfort in that memory. That was my friend Joan whom I loved from that moment on. She left us today and I am feeling such a deep void. I see her now with Sarah in her arms. I think that's just how it must be in heaven today: in the company of so many gone before her who love her and welcomed her with loving arms.


my amy, joan and me....June 2007...Nipomo, Ca.

After a blustery night the day dawned clear and bright. After breakfast we went for a long walk to the pier where we sat above the train tracks while I sketched. I was going to add ink but rather like it as is .

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

The weather turned cold, too cold for the beach. So we drove a few miles north to spend a few hours at Disneyland: The happiest place on earth! It wasn't as crowded as usual and we enjoyed just walking and getting on the fast rides. I had lots of time to sketch but I have a long way to go for my buildings to look accurate. What the heck, I had fun!

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Finally at the beach and enjoying a late lunch with my Rudy. It didn't take long for me to slip into relax mode. As I write this I have a view of the ocean and the salty air in my hair.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

I got a call early this morning from Rudy (my cute fireman) telling me he can't come home because he was put on 'mandatory' because of the fires in the Big Bear,Ca area. We were supposed to leave for a week at the beach today. After my last week, I was so looking forward to it. We try and go often; parking our little trailer on the bluffs at San Clemente and settling in for a few days to relax and enjoy the ocean. But hopefully not all is lost and we can get up and go tomorrow! So for today I just want to share a sketch I did last year around this time. I have my favorite bench to sit on where I watch the sunset into the dark blue ocean as I sip my wine and sketch....yes, I can do both at the same time.


San Clemente State Beach. watercolor and ink in Winsor & Newton travel sketchbook

My friend Dianne came over this evening porting two beautiful Bird of Paradise blossoms for us to paint as we put our feet in the pool and sipped some wine. This was a perfect way to end the day with a continued good start to the week. Like all friends we easily slipped into conversation and it was nice to 'get it all out' and cleanse myself of the previous week. As our mouths moved our hands sketched and although I don't care for floral I enjoyed this one.
While we chatted away and painted my Dottie (our black lab mutt) availed herself to Dianne's glass of wine and gulped in one swoop! We laughed as Dianne retreated to the kitchen for more. Soon all three of us were feeling quite mellow and content. Dottie is fast asleep, Dianne is back home and I am feeling that the week is off to a great start!


watercolour and ink

and now I begin anew......

Your Personality is Very Rare (INFP)

Your personality type is dreamy, romantic, elegant, and expressive. Only about 5% of all people have your personality, including 6% of all women and 4% of all men You are Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

Well, except for the introverted part I guess I'm all of the above...just not this past week....sigh.....

My friend Barbara done in watercolor and ink.

This need no explanation.

I tried to capture people on the beach, this is so hard to do!

My view of the pier from out well secured spot on a very crowded beach on this very hot summer day!

Journal entry for our day on the beach in Oceanside, Ca

I have finally finished my rebound sketchbook. I'm excited to start my new sketchbook now!

Today I joined my quilt group friends for a day of crafting. I put together an unbound portfolio to carry my precut and folded watercolor paper for future bound books. I decided for my trip to Europe instead of taking 4 sketchbooks ( one for each country) I am just going to take the paper and make the books when I return with my finished sketches.
I covered two bookbinding boards 12x8.25 inches with black book cloth and then covered the inside of the portfolio with sturdy paper with an Italian and French motif. Next I decorated the front with gold letter on plastic bubble tiles and spelled the word 'sketches' in Spanish. To hold it all snug, with the loose paper inside, I made two fasteners with grosgrain ribbon, metal fasteners and some Velcro. This way my sheets of paper won't slip out and they can double duty to hold my paper as I sketch or paint. The whole thing weights 17.5 ounces; much less than 4 sketchbooks would weight.
It's too hot here to sketch or paint. On my way home I noticed the temperature outside was 114 degrees Fahrenheit and it was almost 5pm! Tomorrow a day at the beach to try and escape this oppressive heat.