mARTa's Art

In my dream i am frantically searching for my friend Eva and a German Sheperd. I climb a big hill to find a Spanish Galleon afloat on rough seas. I board it and find myself searching the ship for Eva and the dog. The dog scares me but it belongs to her and is important. I keep getting guided to various areas of the ship. I finally give up and let her and the dog go. I am then handed an old fashioned key with  a bird (an eagle I think) handle made of precious red stone and inlay mother of pearl. I am immediately at peace and know I have been given a very special gift. I hold it in the palm of my hand and can sense its power. I know I must be careful with it: it will open many doors for me if I use it wisely. I cannot get the key out of my head so a week after dreaming about I chose to try and reproduce it today. It was much more beautiful in my dream.

8x8 inch Cold pressed 140lb. lanaquarelle

My sister came over the other day and I showed her this day lily that I had spotted growing randomly in my yard. It had wilted and I was disappointed I hadn't painted it. But there were a few other buds on it.
She said, "that's why they are called day lillies......they only last a day (duffus..she didn't say that but implied it)"
Today I wandered outside and thought I would check out that random visitor in my yard. It had a present for me, just like a good friend had told me each day was; a Present. I will take these gifts and take each day at a time. This will be matted and framed so I can use it as a reminder, along with a poem my friend sent me:

Yesterday is History
Tomorrow a Mystery
Today's the Gift from God
That's why it's called The Present.

I will be off work for awhile to take care of me. I have begun.

And today Sunday we enjoyed a warm but foggy morning at Point Loma lighthouse and wandering near the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument.

I didn't realize yesterday was a world sketchcrawl day but guess I was participating. Things have gotten very complicated and it's time to take of myself. I have a doctor appointment on Monday and for the weekend I have come to San Diego to let Amy take care of me for a bit. Yesterday she had a work commitment so I went to see the Georgia O'Keffee exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art. It was a great show. While there I met 'Marty' , a man around my age sitting sketching in the museum. We had a nice conversation and shared our sketchbooks. It always feels so good to connect with another artist.

From there I went to find a cool spot in the shade near the Botanical Building. Built in 1915-16 for the Exposition, it is one of the world's largest lath buildings with over 2,100 permenante plants. While doing this watercolor (no pencil sketch or ink for this one) two young women stopped by and introduced themselves as Christians. Normally I dislike being bothered by people approaching me with their religious views. But these two were really sweet and well educated and I think a little surprised about my views. I enjoyed the encounter and thought that on a day I had to myself, I had some really nice interactions with strangers.
The evening with Amy was quiet, she'd gotten too much sun at her company's picnic and so I spent the evening taking care of her. Today we are both feeling more up so we are on our way to Point Loma to the Cabrillo National Monument. Then to find a cool spot on the beach the rest of the afternoon.
So many of you have been so generous in expressing your concern and wishes for myself and family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Normally I wouldn't express this on an art blog but since I have I will keep you posted on my well being.

I am feeling down today. Normal for what has come to pass. I got dressed to go run but sacked out on the couch instead. Then vowed to get to the gym, but can't seem to get there either. I took a long nap even though I slept well last night. I picked up some knitting I had put down months ago and listened to an audio book while I knit. Then I went to sit on the patio withmy  moleskine wc sketchbook in hand, when I saw the neglected flower pots. The only survivor was the aloe vera plant. It reminded me it's time to begin the healing.

These are the last of my drawings from the past month from my figure class. I am planning on going in to take the final tomorrow before going to the graveside for my cousins services.  I pick up my final project and portfolio.  I'm going to miss the class and all the great people I was fortunate to sketch side by side with.

This is us, our family.  Most of the kids were running around so Ralph and David's kids are  not in the photo.  My sister Marissa came out from New Mexico so her Terry and kids are not in the photo.  My cousin Daniel and aunt Rosa Linda came out from Tucson but my cousin Jose couldn't make it.  My brother Javier,  Marcy and my niece Elisa came from No. Arizona but my nephew Chris is in New Jersey working.  But the rest of us are all here.  That's me with David and his wife Lucia who opened their home and heart to me and Ralph's kids last week.  We are not a very big family but we love each other very much.  

I will be away from blogging for a while.  We've had a tragedy in our family and my focus will be elsewhere for I don't know how long.  I told my art teacher today it would be my last day.  Since my grades are good, I have passed the figure class.  My final project is complete and I'm just short on one master study and the final exam.

It's done, matted and the critique went really well!