mARTa's Art

I began this blog with the idea that it would be nice to have a visual record of my creative side. Slowly it found it's own course to follow with occasional drifts into other areas of my life. I like it like that; you get to see several facets of who I am.

I thought I should share the things in my life that have kept me so occupied.  At times the stress of it all gets to me, but all is falling into place now and I'm feeling myself again.  Thank you to many of you who expressed concern.

Nothing really earth shattering, but enough going on to frazzle me for a time. The most significant has been a sudden onset of menopause. It didn't come on gradually and I had no idea it was coming. One day two weeks after my last very regular and normal period I woke to a cycle of hot flashes and night sweats around the clock. A couple of weeks into it I counted the hot flashes.....over 30 during waking hours! On my weekend to San Francisco to see my BFF Tricia we both had to laugh over my situation! But this cycle quickly got old and none of the herbal remedies eased symptoms. One day at work I just lost it; from non stop hot flashes, sleep deprivation, etc....and just sobbed for 1/2 an hour. A few days later I saw my PA who said, "let's discuss HRT (hormone replacement therapy)” I said, "no discussion needed, I'll do anything to stop this!" So, now I wear the Combi-patch and am proud of it! I'll show my patch on my lower belly to anyone who asks!  A week later I was feeling so much better!!!!  (my co-workers are also very happy I am on HRT)

Next major development was I finally had my appointment with a cornea specialist out of UCLA. A bit of medical history: I was born with congenital glaucoma, it was diagnosed at 6 mo. of age but by then I had already lost the vision in my left eye. With surgery the disease was halted and I was left with good eyesight in my right eye. 50 years later the disease came back and I had surgery once again and responded well. But for several years now my eyesight has gotten worse and I no longer can read newspapers, magazines or books unless it's early in the day and I have good light.
The news from the specialist was disheartening. My corneas are basically healthy, just really damaged from previous surgeries. He said no one would be willing to operate on my eye because if things didn't go well I would be left possibly blind in that eye as well. He gave me referrals to the Braile institute and the Low Vision Center in Santa Monica.  Oh well!  He did say that the progression of my poor eyesight would be gradual and over several years. I was alone and when I got in the car to come home I couldn't see as all the eye drops had left my eyes quite dilated.
I was 70 miles from home. So glad I have membership to the Auto Club! They towed my car home and I rode in the tow truck!   I'm sure the tow truck driver thought I must be drunk or on drugs!  Go ahead and laugh, I did!

The next big ticket item in my basket is school. I sometimes feel like I took on too much here. Attending a college class involves homework, research papers and projects!!! I am learning so much even if I do feel overwhelmed. I have one week to complete 3 master studies,  a group research project on German Expressionism....go ahead, ask me anything about it, I have it all up here (pointing to head), and a paper on an artist of my choice: Kathe Kollwitz.  Learning is fun and I know once all is complete I will be very proud of my accomplishments.

This week in figure class we are doing portraits. I so loved this! I am happy with the three portraits done this week. The young lady liked it so much she asked if I would sell her the portrait I did of her. It pleased me that she liked it and wanted it. It was so much fun to do them all from life!

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

a little less mean, old or tired. Lots of things wrong with this: muddy color (I haven't played with pastels in over 10 years...forgot how to apply them!), my eyes are bit too 'bug eyed' (but I really do have large eyes), proportions are a bit offf (I sat on a balance ball while drawing this...too much movement!) and a bunch of other stuff. But what I do like is that it's more like the 'real me.'

I gave it another go tonight...using me as the model. Gosh, I look so old, mean and tired!

I am struggling with white conte on toned charcoal paper. We are doing this in figure class and so far mine are awful. I really don't like the look of this type of art nor the concept. But it's class and I have to do it. I tried this at home this evening but it still looks and feels awkward.