mARTa's Art

Moving Day

2010-01-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

I am moving my blog and posts to Wordpress.com where you can follow me at:

Please come follow me as I continue on life's road through the arts, the kitchen, and adventures!

Joshua Tree NP Hike

2009-12-31T19:28:00.001-08:00

Joshua Tree NP hike, originally uploaded by martasart.

On this last day of the year, the decade; I thought a nice long hike would be a great way to finish out the year. Aside from 2 surgeries this year and the minor aches and pains of growing older; it has been a good year. I find myself very blessed with family, friends and health.

So here's to a New Year, the second decade of the 21st century and to a long and happy life! May you all be blessed this coming year!

Hiking N.Etiwanda Preserve - 15

2009-12-27T17:59:00.001-08:00

Hiking N.Etiwanda Preserve - 15, originally uploaded by martasart.

Yesterday instead of hitting all the 'after Christmas sales,' two of my children joined me for a short hike at the North Etiwanda Preserve in Rancho Cucumonga, Ca. It was a very easy hike thanks to the running I've been doing lately.

I was glad I took along my new moleskine as this little flower makes for a great start to a new sketchbook. I have neglected my painting and sketching since I began seriously running a couple of months ago. I really need to find room for both loves.

The Ginkgo Trees

2009-12-02T11:27:00.001-08:00

The Ginkgo Trees, originally uploaded by martasart.

Yesterday I treated my friends Diane and Dawn to a day at the Huntington Library and Gardens. I made reservations for High Tea to end our day. This was my Christmas gift to my good friends.
We paused during our wandering to enjoy the Zen Garden and sketch the Ginkgo trees.

Death Valley Sketches

2009-11-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

The latest editions to my large watercolor moleskine sketchbook that I began this summer while on a road trip through the american southwest. We left Death Valley for a fall visit because we certainly didn't want to visit when it's 125F in the shade!

Death Valley National Park

2009-11-15T15:44:00.000-08:00

This past week Rudy and I took off for a few days in our little trailer "the casita", to visit Death Valley National Park. What a marvelous place we found it to be. This vast desolate wilderness is right in our own back yard! What took us so long to go there?

Visiting Death Valley must be well planned. In summer the temperature can soar to 130 degrees F or 54 C. So visiting in November was perfect with mild sunny days and cool nights. We had no electricity save for the 12 volt battery to power a light in the evening, about 30 gallons of water for washing dishes and ourselves and no cell or internet at all. At night we'd fall asleep to the sound of howling coyotes off in the desert. It was so relaxing.

During the day we made it a point to hit all the view points; stopping to take photographs or sketch. We accomplished 2 short hikes; one to Natural Bridge and the other to Mosaic Canyon where I had fun sliding down the polished slick rock. A trip to Death Valley wouldn't be complete without a visit to Scotty's Castle for a tour of the desert oasis which was a vacation home to a wealthy insurance man of the 1920's. After one of our hikes we stopped at Furnace Creek Inn for an alcoholic respite at the bar and for me to catch up on my sketchbook journaling. We also found our way on our last night there to the Furnace Creek Saloon for snacks and beer.

We so fell in love with this park as we have with so many that we were fortunate to visit this year. We are already planning for our next adventure! Just yesterday I read a news article that on Thursday (while we were hiking) two other hikers in a remote area of the park found human skeletal remains. Authorities are pretty sure they are from a German family that disappeared in the desert in 1996. It really does bring the point home on being extremely cautious while hiking in Death Valley.

Please enjoy the movie I made filled with lots of photos and my sketches of the trip!

La Dulcera en Reposo

2009-10-20T16:27:00.001-07:00

La Dulcera en Reposo, originally uploaded by martasart.

It's time to slow down. Since the river experience (thank you all for the nice comments) I have been going non stop. I spent a week in Albuquerque, New Mexico with my family at the Balloon Fiesta. I only enjoyed the first morning of the massive balloon ascent because by early afternoon I was stricken with a high fever and chills. Soon a week long headache and harsh abrasive cough would follow. The PA at the New Mexico urgent care said they were going to call it HINI. Once back home in California I was excited to meet up with friends who were visiting from nor cal. We spent a few days in Palm Springs with them and then they came to spend the long weekend with us.

This past Sunday while the husbands played golf, my dear friend Tricia and I played in the the studio. I helped her get a sketchbook together and gave her some watercolors and a palette to use on her trip. I painted this pastel; continuing with the Guatemala Series that I've been working on. This piece is 9 x 12 inches and done on Wallis paper. I like the sanded surface and how it holds the pastel.

And now this brings me to today. Rudy took off for a couple of days to a golf tournament, my guest left yesterday to continue their road trip and I have spent the day lounging in pajamas all day. My only chore for today was to check out my SLR camera. I had it in a drybag but was still worried it had been damaged on my river fiasco. It seems to have survived and is working just fine. Yeah!

Next adventure planned are 4 days in Death Valley next month. I'm hoping to try my hand at pastel landscape painting while there. Of course hoping for some hiking and biking too!

I almost died last Saturday on the Colorado River

2009-09-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful 5 days at the beach I came home to quickly pack for a canoe/camping trip down the Colorado River's Black Canyon; starting at Hoover Dam and ending about 14 miles down river. As you can read on the sketch journal entry the water was calm and clear.

After a leisurely lunch and a short hike up a side canyon through natural hot springs we got back in our canoes to head for camp. The water level had risen quickly and people who were familiar with the area said it was quite unusual for them to release water from the dam on a Saturday when people were canoeing/kayaking on the river. With a bit of concern we headed down river to meet up with the rest of our group.

Rudy couldn't go on this trip so I partnered up with a sweet young man, "Junior" what at 14 years old was delightful and didn't mind being paired up with the old lady in the group. He didn't have any paddling experience and it was my first time in a canoe but I've had lots of hours in a kayak and have had water safety classes.

As we neared the beach camp we saw lots of people on the beach waiting for us. 3 of our group canoes (mine included) were headed toward shore. But there was an obstacle; the usually serene water was now a swiftly moving river with small rapids. Under most circumstances doable in a kayak but quite difficult in a canoe.

The first canoe to tip held our friends who quickly went under. Junior gave me a look I'll never forget and I told him, "we can't help them, paddle as hard as you can over the rapids!" But it was a lot to ask of him and while I was hoping to "bounce" over the rapids we rapidly took on water. Junior jumped off and swam for a rock, I slid out but the canoe got away from me. I (with my horrible eye sight) could see the blur of people on shore and I yelled, "SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!" I later learned that people just burst into tear because there was no saving me. I realized it also. I saw Junior reach the rock and a thought, as quick as a camera shutter, I thanked God this boy would survive.

I panicked for a few seconds after that when I realized I was going to die by drowning. So I just became calm and figured this is not how I had planned it. A drybag floated by and I reached for it. I had earlier undone my life vest because it was 'hot'. Now that vest was askew and barely keeping me afloat.

Time somehow stood still and the next thing I knew a face pops out of the water and a man about 28 years old yells, "TAKE MY HAND!" As hard as I tried to reach for it we weren't close enough for contact. I think he must have had rubber arms because the next thing I know he had clutched my hand. He somehow managed to grab ahold of the tow rope of the canoe and used his strength to bring it towards us. We were still going down river quick quickly.

I remembered my water safety skills and heaved myself across on top the submerged canoe and it immediately became balanced and stable. The man was tiring but by now two Australian men had gabbed a boat and were paddling close. They threw him a rope and he secured us while they landed on some rocks along the shore and pulled us in.

As we were being pulled in he kept asking if I was okay. I was now going into shock and trembling. I said I was fine but I think he knew differently. Then I asked his name and he said, "Tony."

"I think you are my guardian angel Tony."

"ah, okay" was his response.

Again he asked if I was still okay to which I said, "yes, but when we are on shore I am going to kiss you and then start crying,"

He smiled.

I was carried off the boat and plopped on a rock and quickly wrapped my arms around him and kissed him and started to cry. I then heard the Australian guys yell to a man on a rock, "they are safe, we've got both of them!" That message was relayed back to the people on shore who were praying and crying.

Our friends whom we'd seen capsize had managed to get out from under the canoe and were rescued by other boaters who brought them to where I was. The third canoe didn't tip but they had gone beyond the beach camp trying to reach me. They were hanging onto the rock face but still in their canoe. They were rescued an hour later by a power raft and some people on Sea-doos. Junior was told to stay put and some guys took a boat out to the rock and rescued him. A fourth boat I learned with 2 of our friends when over near shore and the black lab swam to shore and the ladies along with their canoe were brought on shore.

The couple who were near me and had also been rescued were doing well but being nurses they realized they needed to get me back to camp. They guided me over rocks to reach camp a half hour later. We were all greeted with people crying and hugging us.

Soon I was being assessed and brought dry clothes and a blanket. The shaking was getting better but I was still crying. My friend Karen with whom I went to Guatemala with waited for all my new friends to get in their hugs and then she came and hugged me hard and cried along with me.

Soon everyone was safe, the rangers had been notified that we were out of the water but the helicopter came by to check anyway. My belongings had been retrieved but when the canoes with them were being towed back to shore, they got caught up in the current and were lost again as were all my belongings. I had lost everything but I didn't care because my family wouldn't have to grieve another loss so soon.

Tony's fiancee came to me in tears and hugged me. She said he was her angel too. She later told me they almost didn't come on the trip because now you have to show ID to get on the river and they had left it behind in Las Vegas. They were from Seattle and didn't think they'd need it to party on the river. But the ranger begrudgingly let them join their friends that day. I know that God wanted him there that day for me.

About an hour later people had been bringing me things to use for the night, an extra air mattress, a head light, a blanket and invited to join them for dinner; when we heard cheering on the beach. Everyone ran but Karen said, "don't you go running" and she took off. I walked to see a beautiful power boat towing our 3 lost canoes and all my gear!

My electronics had been in dry bags and appear to be dry. My bedding and clothes also in dry bags were dry. My ipod might be lost due to damage, I lost all my water and food supply and one water shoe. But my watercolor palette and sketchbook, although soaked, survived without smearing the sketches! I don't think I can bring myself to use it again even though it's brand new and it's warped and stained pages will always be a reminder of how I was saved from something so harrowing that it will take time to digest it all.

Yesterday we headed out early while waters were smooth and calm. I tried to keep it together but I was so scarred, I began to cry. Junior and I paddled a bit but I tried quickly and the fear just held me. Karen and "JJ" came by and tied our boat to theirs and we took our time to get to the dock. I arrived with a bit of head exhaustion and was quickly taken care of by the neonatologist on the trip.

We all met up at Southpoint Hotel and Casino just outside of Vegas for a buffet dinner. We were all now eating and laughing, enjoying each other's company. None of us will ever forget how terrifying this experience was; wether you were the one who needed rescuing, the one who watched helplessly while your friends were in peril or the one who risked your life to help another.

My hero is Tony, the Australian guys from San Francisco, my friends from ALSAD, and the boaters who came to help on the river. We gave God thanks that evening for holding us through a trying ordeal. That night I went snuggled down in my tent and had a good bawl. I know it will take some time but I want to get back in the water soon, because despite the scare I had, I love the outdoors and all it's beauty.

I am thankful that although I first panicked, I quickly remained calm which helped save both Tony and I. And although I've always had respect for the water I was foolish not to secure a proper fitting life vest and use it properly. On yesterday's trek down the river, in 103 degree weather, we were all cinched up snug in our life vests.

So, I think God wants me around for a bit longer.

ps: Rudy says he's going on all future trips with me :)

Annie

2009-09-11T17:37:00.001-07:00

Annie, originally uploaded by martasart.

9 x 11 inches, pastel on pastel card.

This is my favorite little girl, my grand-niece Annie

WIP: Hijita de la Frutera

2009-08-29T14:05:00.001-07:00

WIP: Hijita de la Frutera, originally uploaded by martasart.

Working on pastel card from photo, computer screen and conte sketch. Reflected on the computer screen is the backyard swimming pool. With the temperature at 104f I am tempted to take a break and go for a swim!

Hijita de la Frutera study sketch

2009-08-27T15:07:00.001-07:00

Hijita de la Frutera study sketch, originally uploaded by martasart.

This little girl was playing shy. Her mother, the fruit vendor, had given her approval for me to snap a few photographs.
This will be the next in my series of Guatemalan paintings. Because of the angle of her face I wanted to sketch her out with conte on bristol board first.

La Niña del Lago Atitlán

2009-08-21T19:48:00.001-07:00

La Niña del Lago Atitlán, originally uploaded by martasart.

Pastel on pastel card, approx. 9 x 11 inches

This little girl and her older sister were very gracious to let me take their photo, if I bought a trinket from them. It was worth it I think.

I do like this but I might have gone a bit heavy with the pastel application. My goal here was not to let the yellow scarf bounce off her face to much and make her sallow. She was quiet and sweet unlike her sister the business manager!

Santa Marta

2009-08-20T15:59:00.001-07:00

Santa Marta, originally uploaded by martasart.

pastel on Canson Mi Tienes
approx 17x23 inches

Final rendering of painting begun months ago. Going under glass today :)

El Bebé no.2

2009-08-16T20:30:00.001-07:00

El Bebé no.2, originally uploaded by martasart.

I"m thought I'd have another go at this. This is much smaller, aprox 9x10 inches, done on pastel card. I do like this surface much better. I might have to buy a large sheet! I do like this one better than the first but I'm still not satisfied with it. I think I need to move on for now.

El Bebé de Guatemala

2009-08-13T16:56:00.001-07:00

El Bebé de Guatemala, originally uploaded by martasart.

I'm not as happy with this piece. I'm really searching for a support that will work for how I want to paint. This is on streatched wc paper with pastel ground toned with cad red. appr. size 15 x 17. Back to the drawing board!

La Abuela de Guatemala

2009-08-12T19:25:00.001-07:00

La Abuela de Guatemala, originally uploaded by martasart.

This pastel painting was done on 300lb arches watercolor paper prepared with Golden acrylic pastel ground and toned with burnt sienna. A much rougher surface than the suede mat board. I really like the rough texture here. This piece is quite small (5 x 7 inches) as I was just 'experimenting' today. I have a large support already prepared for the next pastel painting.

Costurera de Guatemala

2009-08-08T19:04:00.001-07:00

Costurera de Guatemala, originally uploaded by martasart.

I attended Alicia Sotherland's pastel portrait workshop today in San Clemente, Ca.
I had a lot of fun and was grateful my friend Dianne attended also, for she drove and hauled supplies for me.
We worked with nu-pastels on suede matboard. Interesting. No preliminary sketch but began by putting in the background with a dark and finding our shapes. Alicia was a great teacher and I found myself really picking up some good tips. Alicia is a hands on teacher so she had a bit of a "hand" in this piece. This was from a photo from my trip to Guatemala in 2008

Garden Tomatoes

2009-08-01T15:12:00.001-07:00

Garden Tomatoes, originally uploaded by martasart.

Aidan and Adam helped me by picking some ripe tomatoes from the garden this morning. I grabbed my moleskine wc sketchbook and my new Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks samples I ordered and gave them a try. I think I'm going to love them!!

Summer 2009 Road Trip Sketches

2009-07-04T20:15:00.001-07:00

click on photo for link to Flickr Album

Summer 2009

A two week road trip that took us to some beautiful places in the desert southwest. Our travels took us from Riverside, California through Las Vegas, NV, three national parks in Utah and two national monument. Then to Colorado stopping at 4 corners and then Mesa Verde NP. Into New Mexico spending time near Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. Heading home we went to the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon National Parks before reaching home by the 4th of July. All sketches were done on site. Only a few were done using photo reference and I will note that on those sketches.

Road Trip

2009-06-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

I"m setting out on another travel adventure. This time the passport stays home while we road trip it through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona before heading back to So. Calif. My art bag is filled with supplies, the camping gear checked and packed, duffle bags filled with clothes for climates from freezing to 110 f. and our mountain bikes have a fresh burst of air in the tires. Oh, what an adventure awaits us!

Please join me as I post photos and sketches to Twitter, Facebook and Mobile Me. Just look to the right of this screen and click on the links to the photos in the Twitter updates. Feel free to steal any images that strike your fancy!

See you in 3 weeks!!!

Sea Shell

2009-06-12T18:15:00.001-07:00

Sea Shell, originally uploaded by martasart.

Just a quick watercolor sketch of my constant model: a sea shell. I think I'm going to take the schminke watercolor box with me on the road trip because I have more colors in it than the W&N travel one.

Squash Blossom

2009-06-11T13:27:00.001-07:00

squash blossom, originally uploaded by martasart.

Not only are we going to reap the benefits of all the tasty vegetables growing in our garden, but I am going to have fun sketching them before eating them!

So Paint Already

2009-06-07T15:03:00.001-07:00

It feels so good to be done with the art semester. I won't be getting a very good grade because I failed to complete several assignments due to my eye surgery. But I'm not in school for the grades anymore so this does not bother me at all. I did ace the final exam and that will help to keep me with a passing grade.

Now on to summer plans. In a few weeks my husband and I will be taking a road trip. No real plan in mind, just head out to the open highway and drive till we get someplace interesting. I'm already excited thinking of what art/sketch supplies to bring along on this adventure.

In preparation I primed a piece of 300 lb. wc paper with pastel ground and toned with french ultramarine acrylic. I am hoping to take along with the watercolors, my pastels. While sitting here waiting for the paper to dry I did a very quick and sloppy sketch of my art paraphernalia strewn about. I haven't sketched in what seems months. I've missed that.

Upon my return from this trip I will be getting ready for a hospital stay once again. This time it's for major surgery. I have been bleeding frequently for months. What they found is that my uterus is the size of a 4 month pregnancy and I have sextuplets in there (6 benign fibroid tumors). So it all has to come out now. Recovery will be 6-8 weeks. Not looking forward to that. I had 4 c-sections and remember how awful it was. Now I'm much older so don't think it will be any better. But now maybe when this is all done I can get back to my previous activity level before all the bleeding problems began. July 20th is the day of the operation.

Right now just enjoying no school, the garden and wondering if to pick up a brush, pencil or pastel stick to begin this journey.

Not that I'm bragging.......

2009-05-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

But my friend Dianne (Desiree) came over this afternoon to visit over glasses of Sangria and to tell me all about her recent trip to Europe. I've missed her the past few weeks and am so happy to have her back! She came bearing gifts: Macaroons from Paris as I requested (they were yummy!) and a surprise from Italy, the new 8 1/2 x 12 inch watercolor moleskine! I haven't seen this in the US yet! Oh I'm just so excited about the possibilities! I feel like I"m the first kid on the block to own one!!!!! Thank you dear friend!!!

Rose

2009-05-27T16:37:00.001-07:00

Rose, originally uploaded by martasart.

22x22 inches watercolor and pastel on Killimanjaro 300lb cp paper from Cheap Joe's.

Another art class assignment done!

Santa Marta

2009-05-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

"Ante tu altar me postro, gloriosa Santa Marta, para bendecir a Dios que se dignoó atesorar en tu alma gracías especíales." Before your altar I kneel, glorious Saint Marta, to bless God who choose to bestow on your soul special graces.

This is the final project for the drawing class. I missed a lot of class time and don't think I'll have time to finish all of it, but I did want to present a final project as it's worth two grades. Again with the self portrait. This semester I chose to do a self portrait with objects. Those of you who know me well will 'get' all the objects I've included.

It's in pastel on canson mi tienes, 17.5 x 23.5 inches. Now, I'm going to spend the next hour cutting a mat for it!

a mARTa update

2009-05-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

On Monday May 10th I had an appointment at the Jules Stein Eye Institute of UCLA for a consult on controlling my persistent battle with congenital glaucoma. I was there from 10am to 6pm for this first visit. When all was done the specialist said, "We will be doing emergency surgery on Wednesday." So on Tuesday I spent the day getting all the pre-op exams and tests done. Along with all this I had a previously scheduled appointment with a gynecologist because of the persistent uterine bleeding I've been experiencing for a few months now, despite the use of hormones. Well, that didn't go so well as she decided to do a biopsy then and there and send me next week for a trans pelvic ultrasound. Back up, one step at a time, just breath.

On Wednesday I had my eye surgery and despite the anesthesiologist not being able to get me completely sedated, I was calm enough to stay awake through the surgery. When I was done I was in pain and tiered. Rudy checked us into the UCLA guest house where I spent the night. Yesterday morning the doctor checked me again and said I had done really well with the surgery. The implant was doing its job and my pressure was way down. Very good news!

Yesterday evening was the opening reception for the student honors show at the college where I take my art classes. One of my paintings, La Cinta Roja no. 2 was chosen for the show so I really wanted to go. With Rudy on my arm, a pair of dark glasses and a codeine tablet on board; I went to the show. I didn't stay long, but long enough to see my picture on the wall and chat with some friends.

Today I thought I might go to art class but I'm still sore and the light outside a bit too bright just yet. So, for now, no new art work to show. I wanted to share all this with you because I realize not all of you follow me on Facebook or Twitter (find me as marta gonzales or martasart). Maybe you were wondering where I'd gone to?

Beer Drinkers, master study after E. Manet

2009-05-05T14:26:00.001-07:00

Beer Drinkers, master study after E. Manet, originally uploaded by martasart.

All done!

mARTa with diamond earring

2009-05-01T18:15:00.001-07:00

mARTa with diamond earring, originally uploaded by martasart.

Today we were to do something experimental in figure painting class. I chose to do a self portrait using cray-pas oil pastels on Walis paper. I used the cray-pas to sketch out the portrait and used turpentine for blending and toning. I also used a little oil paint in areas like the shirt and the eyes. I loved the Walis paper. the oil pastel/paint lifted easily when dabbed with turpentine and lifted with a rag. I don't know how good the cray-pas oil pastels are, as far as artist quality, but this was lots of fun to do!

Dylan at 3 months, pastel

2009-04-25T13:16:00.001-07:00

Dylan at 3 months, pastel, originally uploaded by martasart.

5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches, pastel on pastel card.

While he was sleeping the other day I quickly sketches him in pastel pencil and blocked in the values. I took some photos for reference and continued building up the layers referring to the photo. It's a bit muddy as I had a hard time with the colors. He has really wild hair and I exaggerated that with movement and color!

I also got to practice cutting a double mat. I need to be a bit more careful but it turned out pretty good. I just need to get a frame for this.

ps: Dottie is doing better too!

2009-04-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

The heat takes a lot out of me. Surprising that aside from wiping me out yesterday, I slept like a log to wake at 7 this morning. With the sun already hot and bright I set out for a long walk. When I got back I put on a pot of coffee and went out to peek at the garden. I know, a watched pot won't boil, but I was pleasantly surprised to find some radishes sprouting after just a few days of planting the seeds! Then I tended to our Dottie who is quite ill right now with something called "old dog vestibular syndrome". My heart is heavy hoping she gets better soon.

Then I had some breakfast, cleaned up the kitchen and not even 10 AM yet I did some light housework before beginning my next master study. I should have stretched the watercolor paper first so it did buckle some when I put on the pastel ground and acrylic medium.

Spent a little time nursing Dottie and having lunch while we watched a program we had recorded the other night. By then the day was as hot as yesterday but we were comfortable in the AC. When the show was over we put on swimsuits and went out back to relax by the pool. When I felt too warm I'd go in for a quick dip up to my knees. The water still too cold for swimming!

Early evening found me working on this Manet pastel of Two Women Drinking Beer. When I needed a break I went to the kitchen and made us 2 pizzas and a salad for dinner then back to work on the pastel a bit more.

It was a good day, productive. The only mar on it is old miss Dottie who looks so sad and is just not feeling well. The vet has her on medication but told us if she doesn't get better in about 5 days we might have to talk about putting her down. She adopted us about 13/14 years ago and she already was about 3 years old. We love her so much it's hard to even think she might not be around much longer.

Dottie 2 years ago.

I want more spring!

2009-04-20T16:04:00.001-07:00

I want more spring!, originally uploaded by martasart.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

embarazada

2009-04-10T19:18:00.001-07:00

embarazada, originally uploaded by martasart.

Pregnant model. Twin girls due in Sept. 2009
11x14 inches, oil on canvas.

This was the all day pose for today's figure painting class. As usual, the day runs out and none of us finish our painting. The model was sweet and said she really liked this painting I did of her.

Camelia y Plancha

2009-04-08T19:16:00.001-07:00

Camelia y Plancha, originally uploaded by martasart.

Pastel on masonite hardboard primed with gesso and pastel ground medium, 9x12 inches.
I'm awful at doing flowers, as can be attested to here. I didn't like working on the hardboard with the pastel ground. It was rougher than I expected. I might try again with subject matter that would be more amiable to a 'rough' depiction....like the old iron!

Ménage a trois, no. 1,

2009-04-08T14:58:00.001-07:00

Ménage a trois, no. 1, pastel on pastel card, originally uploaded by martasart.

Pastel on pastel card, approx. 4 1/2 x 6 inches.

I am participating in an art exchange with some online artist friends. This is my first contribution and it went to Sherry at Late B(l)oomer in exchange for her beautiful rooster on yupo paper!

madame Gautreau after Sargent

2009-04-05T16:38:00.001-07:00

madame Gautreau after Sargent, originally uploaded by martasart.

Spent the day doing homework. This is a master study of Sargent's Madame Gautreau in watercolor. Mine is 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches.

Perspective, wip

2009-04-04T15:21:00.001-07:00

Perspective, wip, originally uploaded by martasart.

drawing class assignment. This is 3 point perspective. I imagined a futuristic city.

Martin

2009-04-03T19:17:00.001-07:00

Martin, originally uploaded by martasart.

18x24 inches, oil on masonite board.
Not a good photo as I only had my iphone with me in class today. And yes, this is from life.

La Cinta Roja, no. 2

2009-03-30T17:31:00.001-07:00

La Cinta Roja, no. 2, originally uploaded by martasart.

16.5 x 22 inches, Pastel on charcoal paper

girl in turquoise

2009-03-28T18:03:00.001-07:00

girl in turquoise, originally uploaded by martasart.

9x12 inch oil on hardboard prepared with pastel ground and toned with acrylic.

figure study

2009-03-25T16:05:00.001-07:00

figure study, originally uploaded by martasart.

24x18 inches, oil on masonite panel

Very busy with mid term papers and assignments.

Roar

2009-03-20T19:11:00.001-07:00

Roar, originally uploaded by martasart.

Nice how he posed for me huh? Actually, I took the reference photo by holding the camera lens up to the eyepiece of one of those 'drop a quarter in telescope' at the Wild Animal Park. He was fun to do and now he belongs to my little grand-nephew Aidan.

In the Studio

2009-03-19T21:33:00.001-07:00

In the Studio, originally uploaded by martasart.

approx. 6.5 x 8 inches, pastel on canson mi tienes

A study of the ball on top my neck

2009-03-17T07:41:00.001-07:00

A study of the ball on top my neck, originally uploaded by martasart.

LA 2nd&Grand

2009-03-15T13:49:00.001-07:00

LA 2nd&Grand, originally uploaded by martasart.

Baby Elephant Walk.....

2009-03-13T18:40:00.001-07:00

elelphants2, originally uploaded by martasart.

Makes me think of the Henri Mancini tune from the early 1960's.

I took my niece Allison and her two little ones Aidan and Dylan to the Wild Animal park near San Diego. It was the first time for all three of them. Dylan at 2 months was very good and slept through most of the day, Aidan had the most fun seeing all the wild animals. The highlights of our visit were the Hippo pooping, the grand lion that didn't roar, the giraffe with the long tongue and the gorillas that always give a great show!

I managed some pretty bad sketches except for this one that I rather like.

Art Exchange

2009-03-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

I am involved with 4 other online friends and artists in an exchange. Sharon from Flat Sound of Wooden Shoes invited a few of us to join her and share our art with each other. I got my first piece of art from Laura from Laura's Watercolors. She does beautiful work and I was so thrilled to receive one of her originals.

Laura's boat scene

A few days later Sherry's contribution from Late B(l)oomer arrived at my door. Again, I was so excited to receive yet another fantastic piece of art. Her brightly plumed rooster seems like he can almost prance off the yupo paper she laid him on!

Sherry's rooster

The three of us that are left have yet to complete our end of the deal. Jennifer from Jennifer Lawson is on her way back to Bali so it is going to take her a bit longer and my only excuse is life just gets in the way. But I have begun my contributions to the exchange and am half way done. I am humbled by the vast amount of talent in our online art world. How fortunate to receive these beautiful originals from such talented artists.

Art Interrupted

2009-03-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I had every intention of spending the day in the studio working on a project for an art exchange I am in with some online friends. I was honored to be invited but with that comes the apprehensiveness of "my stuffs not that good" "what did I get myself into?" "someone really wants something I created?" "what if I can't meet the deadline?" etc.... And now with two art classes going even more procrastinating. But on the other hand, I excited about participating and have already received two wonderful pieces (I'll post soon). But, back to Sunday. Well we all know that I opted for the beach with the little ones and off I went!

Tuesday then was going to be my studio day! Yes, finally a day to myself! But Rudy surprised me that he was off till Friday this week. That's okay, I'll run errands with him in the morning and work in the studio in the afternoon. I was prepared, had gotten my supplies together the night before, stopped for what I need from the grocery store....good to go.

But as I walked in the house the phone rang and my niece Allison asked if I wouldn't mind watching the baby because Aidan was running a high fever and she was running to the doctor's with him. Of course I could help her out! So, no studio afternoon as I had planned. But the baby is a joy and I loved getting to spend time with him. He soon dozed off to sleep and I put him up on the big ottoman, grabbed my moleskine wc sketchbook and went to work. Well, he woke up crying but by then I had just about finished the little sketch.

So maybe tomorrow I can get to my project?

Big Waves!

2009-03-04T18:36:00.003-08:00

big waves, originally uploaded by martasart.

ally and aidan

2009-03-04T18:36:00.001-08:00

ally and aidan, originally uploaded by martasart.

another beach sketch, had trouble with the figures

Perfect start to March

2009-03-01T18:52:00.000-08:00

I had it all figured out today. Up at 7am, went downstairs and in the quiet of morning I made blueberry muffins, a pot of coffee and planned for a day in the studio painting. But after breakfast I ran over to my sister's to visit with the grandkids (hers). Before I knew it I was excited about going to the beach with my niece Allison and her husband and her two babies and my Annie. What a splendid idea it was and we all enjoyed the day. Except Aidan of course who was afraid of the waves. When he saw me start to sketch and paint he came right over with his paper and paints too. Soon frustrated because his brush and paints "don't work!!!" I let him use nina's extra brush and her paints.....which DO WORK. So, no studio day but what a great beach art day it was!!!!

Copy of Woman Combing Hair

2009-02-28T17:22:00.001-08:00

Copy of Woman Combing Hair, originally uploaded by martasart.

Master Study of Edgar Degas pastel painting. Worked on Canson Mi Tienes with Nupastel. Assignment for Intermediate Drawing class.

Painted withbrushes on iPhone

2009-02-24T19:11:00.001-08:00

Painted withbrushes on iPhone, originally uploaded by martasart.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

marker no.1, self portrait in pastel on charcoal paper

2009-02-23T14:00:00.001-08:00

marker no.1, self portrait in pastel on charcoal paper, originally uploaded by martasart.

I've been having a difficult time again with peri-menopause symptoms. I see the doctor next week and will be begging to be placed on HRT again. Last night I took a sleeping pill just to get one good night's sleep. I did but was groggy most of the morning. None the less, I got right to work in class today.

We had to do two markers today. The first was a self portrait, life size using our nupastels. The second was to do a drawing using linear perspective. We could pick something in the studio or go outdoors. It was lightly raining so I just drew what was in front of me. Time allotted was 45 minutes for each drawing.

On Wednesday we are to take to class something that is curva-linear for line drwing. Hummmm

As for the rest of today I am going to begin to prepare some of my masonite boards for painting class on Friday and do one with a new medium I bought yesterday: Acrylic ground for pastel by Golden. I'll keep you posted!

marker no.2, linear perspective

2009-02-23T13:54:00.001-08:00

marker no.2, linear perspective, originally uploaded by martasart.

arranged by value

2009-02-21T18:19:00.001-08:00

arranged by value, originally uploaded by martasart.

Our drawing class assignment for the weekend is to gather our art supplies to be ready to work on Monday morning. Our instructor also wanted us to arrange our nu-pastels (hard pastel sticks) in order of value and not color as they come packaged. Not so easy a task as you can see I checked mine with a black and white photo and had to do some rearranging in order to get them to 'snake' through a value scale. I'm wondering if while using them I'm going to be able to keep them organized!

arranged by value

2009-02-21T18:15:00.001-08:00

arranged by value, originally uploaded by martasart.

A New Twirl in my Dance

2009-02-20T16:26:00.000-08:00

With Myspace, Facebook, Blogger and now Twitter, I've sorely ignored my blog. I think it is time for it to be revitalized once again. In time I will change the layout aiming toward a sleeker look. I hope to be posting more often from the work I am doing in my two art classes. I hope you'll enjoying watching my new steps.

This week I took on Intermediate Drawing and Figure Painting. In drawing I will be working mostly in pastel and later in watercolor. I will be doing some of the same exercises I did in painting class last semester, like the perspective study and master studies. In figure painting I will be working in oil once again.

Today was the first meeting of the weekly painting class. She lectured quite a bit but let those of us who were prepared paint from the model she'd hired for the afternoon. But first she played this little video for us. We were all so inspired! Take a look, it's awesome.

No instruction today so we just did what we wanted. I'm not sure what I did here!!! I was working in very low light which was difficult for me, my eyes hurt! I will have to position myself with more light if I want to SEE what I'm doing! This weekend I have to gather some art supplies and be ready to work hard the next few months. This is going to be both fun and challenging!

Dylan at 1 month

2009-02-17T16:02:00.001-08:00

Dylan at 1 month, originally uploaded by martasart.

Our baby is growing! Isn't he beautiful? 9x12 inches, pastel on canson mi tienes buff colored pastel paper.

At the Museum

2009-02-16T14:55:00.001-08:00

At the Museum, originally uploaded by martasart.

This seated couple were very engaged in the Degas painting before them. I did this very, very fast and am now wondering if I should add watercolor to it or leave it as is. What do you think?

perfume bottles

2009-02-14T11:16:00.001-08:00

perfume bottles, originally uploaded by martasart.

Perfume Bottles

2009-02-12T20:13:00.001-08:00

perfume bottles, originally uploaded by martasart.

Dear Diary: February 1971

2009-02-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

I kept a journal for 5 years beginning in 1971 when I was 15 years old. This is the cover of the 'Diary' for the month of February 1971. I am enjoying reacquainting myself with that 15 year old girl. Rather than pick just one entry to post here I will just share a bit of who that girl was.

My 15 year old self was crazy about boys but had no real boyfriend so she thought Valentine's day was 'drab'. She was most apprehensive about earthquakes and aftershocks because she'd experienced the worst earthquake of her life (to this date) on Feb. 9, 1971. She describes feeling as if she were on a ship at sea during a storm as she crouched with her sister on the floor riding out the earthquake. She talks about a movie she watched with Sally Field playing a teenager!! In one passage she says she is 'gay' and I know she meant happy!!!

15 year old Marta was also getting to drive and looked forward to her dad letting her park the car in the driveway or pull it into the narrow garage!!! Now that was cool!!! Her favorite aunt had breast cancer and it was hard for Marta to visit. She didn't want her aunt to die. (She did a year later). She also kept a vigilant eye for the mailman who brought her letters from her friends in Mexico. Grown Marta is happy for technology which keeps her in touch with family and friends around the world at any given moment!!

Big Love

2009-02-10T18:04:00.000-08:00

Watching TV on a cold winter afternoon. We snuggled together on the couch watching an episode of Big LOve.
fountain pen with noodler's ink and watercolor in small moleskine sketchbook

Little Red Shoes

2009-02-09T12:53:00.001-08:00

Little Red Shoes, originally uploaded by martasart.

Little Red Shoes

2009-02-09T12:52:00.001-08:00

Little Red Shoes, originally uploaded by martasart.

Afternoon at the gym

2009-02-05T17:38:00.001-08:00

page-17feb5, originally uploaded by martasart.

Grace and Nina in LA

2009-02-02T19:42:00.001-08:00

Grace and Nina

2009-02-02T09:05:00.001-08:00

DSCN1409, originally uploaded by martasart.

Yesterday Grace and I took the train into Los Angeles for our "Grace and Nina go around the world day in LA." Grace, along with her mom, my sister Marissa and my other niece Sara are visiting from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We've had a fun week together topped off by our adventure yesterday!

Commuters on Metrolink Train

2009-02-02T09:00:00.003-08:00

LA-1, originally uploaded by martasart.

Marquee, El Capitan Theater

2009-02-02T09:00:00.001-08:00

LA-2, originally uploaded by martasart.

La Placita, Olvera Street

2009-02-02T08:58:00.003-08:00

LA-3, originally uploaded by martasart.

Chinese Lanterns, Chinatown

2009-02-02T08:58:00.001-08:00

LA-4, originally uploaded by martasart.

Parasols in Chinatown

2009-02-02T08:57:00.001-08:00

LA-5, originally uploaded by martasart.

Still Life Duo no. 3

2009-01-29T16:30:00.001-08:00

Still Life Duo no. 3, originally uploaded by martasart.

Oil on canvas, 9 x 12 inches. Red vase with cobalt voltive.

Still Life Duo no.3 WIP

2009-01-23T15:18:00.001-08:00

Still Life Duo no.3 WIP, originally uploaded by martasart.

Third in the series of Still Life Duos. I have blocked in the canvas with color. Now it will wait for a few days to dry before I begin any detailing and laying on of glazes on the red vase and cobalt voltive.

Dylan

2009-01-22T19:40:00.001-08:00

Dylan, originally uploaded by martasart.

Don't they look like little old men when they are this little? He will be 3 weeks old tomorrow.

iPhone sketch: my dog

2009-01-22T13:10:00.001-08:00

iPhone sketch: my dog, originally uploaded by martasart.

Sketched on my iphone using Brushes app

My dog Dottie while she dozed at my feet this morning..

Martin Luther King

2009-01-20T19:41:00.001-08:00

Martin Luther King, originally uploaded by martasart.

I know it's President Obama's day; but my thoughts would wander to Dr. Martin Luther King. You see, I'm old enough to remember the 60s.

Memory Lane entry no. 1

2009-01-19T12:51:00.000-08:00

I have been going down memory lane this morning. I found all my old diaries; beginning with 1971 ( I was 14 years old). 1971 was recorded daily in handmade booklets I made from notebook paper. Each month had a different cover. Most ordinary but a couple are a glimpse into who I am now and how I sketch.

On this first cover, January 1971, I just used florescent neon poster paint to embellish the cover. Remember neon poster paints????? My entry for January 19, 1971 mentions me waiting for the mail to arrive (snail mail) in anticipation of birthday cards for my birthday in 2 days. I make a reference to school being 'un-cool' that day and my thoughts on attending a P.O.W. assembly: they made me feel depressed. Skipping to my birthday entry I find that I got a total of $18.00 in birthday money and 18 'Blue Chip Stamp' books which I could

redeem for a radio I wanted!!!! Is that not too cool!!!!

MakingMarmalade

2009-01-18T15:34:00.001-08:00

MakingMarmalade, originally uploaded by martasart.

I didn't crawl back into bed but instead jumped in the shower and then spent a good part of the day making Blood Orange Marmalade. The day was good!

It's Sunday Morning

2009-01-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday morning and I'm in one of my funky moods. I have things I want to do today but think I overslept and just shlepping in my bathrobe sipping java is all I really feel up to. I really do hate when I get in this state of being.

I had planned on the yoga class at the gym this morning...but naked with just a bathrobe on isn't going to get me anywhere. Last night I prepared blood oranges so that after I got back from yoga I could make up a batch of marmalade. Well, that can't be put off so after a shower (oh wow, I am planning a shower too!) I have to make that my goal for mid morning. I have a canvas staring at me; ready to go for the 3rd in the Still Life Duo series. Perhaps, maybe.

And so it goes.........no, I really shouldn't just go back to bed.

party peanuts

2009-01-15T17:49:00.001-08:00

party peanuts, originally uploaded by martasart.

eye exam-a

2009-01-13T15:25:00.001-08:00

eye exam-a, originally uploaded by martasart.

Sketched while I waited to see the opthalmologist. The news wasn't good. I knew he'd find the pressure up as I've been having eye pain and tearing lately. So I'm back on medication again. Kinda sucks.

eye exam-b

2009-01-13T15:24:00.001-08:00

eye exam-b, originally uploaded by martasart.

Pony Ride-a

2009-01-12T21:21:00.001-08:00

Pony Ride-a, originally uploaded by martasart.

This is a full page spread in my moleskine wc sketchbook. Aidan didn't say a word but I could see the worried look on his face thinking he might have to ride that big pony! Aidan is 2 years old and I love him to pieces!

Pony Ride-b

2009-01-12T21:20:00.001-08:00

Pony Ride-b, originally uploaded by martasart.

Sketchcrawl no. 21: San Diego, Ca.

2009-01-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

Dianne and I began our day early in Riverside, stopping at McDonald's for breakfast. We then hit the road for our drive to San Diego (about 2 hours away) for the 21st Worldwide Sketchcrawl.

The weather in San Diego was perfect with the temperature in the mild 70s. We soon hooked up with the San Diego group at the Bazaar del Mundo. We picked our spots and got right to the business of sketching and meeting new friends.

In the afternoon we wandered over to Guadalajara's for a nice lunch. We had great food, art and margaritas! Ole! to a fantastic day!

Here are the sketches I did yesterday:

My first Sketchcrawl tomorrow!

2009-01-09T11:44:00.001-08:00

bombero-jan9, originally uploaded by martasart.

While browsing the other day I found the last copy of An Illustrated Life by Danny Gregory. Jana from Jana's Journal and Sketch Blog has been blogging about it and I was curious to roam it's pages also. I began reading it today near a bright sunny window. All the while hoping my eyes wouldn't give out on me. I got through the introduction and first featured artist. I am going to really enjoy my wanderings through it's pages!

Last night we were rumbled out of our seats by a strong earthquake. If you've never experienced one it's hard for me to describe. Even before the ground begins to move you know it's comming. The roar sounds like a fright train speeding toward you and just before it hits the movement begins.
We slept well enough and woke this morning to howling winds. The Santa Ana winds are anoying and bring the threat of wild fires too; but in some ways I enjoy them. They give me the excuse to not venture out the door and just keep cozy indoors. So here I lounge at noon, still in my bathrobe and savoring 'computer time.'
Tomorrow Dianne (Desiree from The Clothes line and other laundry lists) are going to San Diego for my first sketchcrawl! We are meeting up with Jane LaFazio from JaneVille and the other San Diego sketchcrawler group. I am like a little kid having already picked my supplies to take; reloaded my watercolor paint box, bought a new moleskine wc sketchbook and still deciding which bag to cart it all in!
I'd like to invite all of you who are sketchcrawling tomorrow and have access to your blog or facebook to 'post' while on the sketchcrawl. I wish we could join Jana and Martha (Trumpetvine Travels) in San Francisco, Cathy Johnson (The Quicksilver Workaholic ) in Kansas City and all the others who will be putting pen and brush to paper tomorrow. Well through Facebook or Blogging we can! Let's have some fun!

Still Life Duo no. 2

2009-01-07T17:10:00.001-08:00

Still Life Duo no. 2, originally uploaded by martasart.

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-01T14:58:00.002-08:00

This is the year!

I will sell a painting (or more I hope)

I will seek new adventures

I will loose 10 to 15 pounds!!!

I will try to find a way to 'give back' that is meaningful to me

I will continue my explorations into line, shape, hue and space!

I will continue to dream.

I will live my best life!

Still Life Duo Series 2009

no. 1

oil on canvas, 9x12 inches

Click on the painting to see the next in the series that I am currently working on. This is a wet canvas project that I am participating in along with my friend Casey at Rue Manuel Bis.

chair with scarf

2008-12-30T22:30:00.001-08:00

chair with scarf, originally uploaded by martasart.

self portrait at year's end 2008

2008-12-28T21:39:00.001-08:00

self portrait at year's end 2008, originally uploaded by martasart.

I could have left in all the age lines, kept the cheeks droopy and left the glint out of my eyes and the smile off my face.. But what the heck!

orange mug

2008-12-28T14:18:00.001-08:00

orange mug, originally uploaded by martasart.

Still Life Duo series no 1 (WIP)

2008-12-26T17:02:00.001-08:00

Still Life Duo series no 1 (WIP), originally uploaded by martasart.

I am joining my friend Casey on this exploration into still life composition with only 2 objects. With each successive painting you switch out one of the objects. So the next painting will have an orange and something else,
This is still a work in progress as I need it to dry a few days so I can brighten it up with some glazing!

Memories of my boy Brandon

2008-12-14T11:17:00.001-08:00

This is a youtube video my friend Cori sent to me. Her son Brandon is part of the video.He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was just a year old. Brandon is doing well now...wonderful in fact. He's like 8 or 9 years old now! I had a hard time watching it. I saw my boy hurting, I recognized my hands and my stethoscopee in his little hands. I thought some of you might like to see what I used to do. I miss my pediatric nursing career but relish that there were wonderful outcomes like Brandon's.

Cori's note to me:
" Everyone who was involved in the video went to view it on Thurs night before it was posted and I just started to cry, it was really hard to see my baby like that. You know for 2 or 3 of those photo's you were there with me. The one with the wash rags on him, you were the one who gave him the medicine stuff that made him start to go into shock. I don't remember what it was, I wanna say it was gamma or something, I didnt write that down. I also don't remember why he was going to need it, but I remember there were possible problems to go along with it and they happened!
And the other picture with his lines being flushed, that was you flushing them. Yea, it brings so many memories back for me too. Very hard memories I don't like to remember, but also such wonderful memories. Like meeting you! "

Conceptual Art

2008-12-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

In this season of believing; I chose to believe in myself. With so many hurdles in my path this past year I know I need to get beyond all of them and continue forward. I was having a hard time coming up with an idea for my final project. As the days for the presentation grew near I knew I could not put it off any longer. I came up with all sorts of ideas but none that really melded. None had real creativity or spirit. So I began with stapling a piece of canvas on the studio wall and applying a coat of gesso. Then I stared at it.....for days. Then I took a 1 inch flat brush and began applying white acrylic and medium to the surface. And then it came to me!!! The play of light from the window, the reflections from the facets of my rings danced on the surface and the colors from a glass magnifing glass cast an array of beautiful colors on it. I decided then that the art was what was happening on the canvas. The composition changed with the movement of sunlight! It was an ah, ha moment really. I did think that I might not be able to turn it in as my final piece but I gave it a shot. My instructor accepted it as a piece of conceptual art. She said I had done a good job of convincing her and the rest of the class that it was a piece of art, that this was not a cop out. My family laughed saying, "only you could get away with doing something like that!" But honestly, I actually felt this piece. I am proud of it. I BELIEVED IN MYSELF.

Final Presentation Fall 2008

2008-12-11T11:23:00.001-08:00

Final Presentation Fall 2008, originally uploaded by martasart.

Yesterday was the end of term for the oil painting class and we had to present our semester work to the class. I really loved working in oils and feel like I'm just getting started!

Virgencita Azul

2008-12-09T10:13:00.001-08:00

Virgencita Azul, originally uploaded by martasart.

I began a new Moleskine on December 1, 2008 and have been sketching in simple holiday/Christmas images on odd days and a brief though on even days. Today I was sipping my coffee admiring the collection of angeles on my mantle and looked upon Mary and her babe. I bought this my first married Christmas. A simple madonna dressed in blue and yellow and made of paper maché.

Red Pitcher with Lemons

2008-12-04T10:39:00.001-08:00

Red Pitcher, originally uploaded by martasart.

Okay, it's finally finished. The suggestions Dianne gave me about the green jar helped as did the ones from my professor regarding how to paint shiny bright objects. She said not to try to paint the shine but to look closely for the shapes and values, where hard and soft edges fall and to remember shiny objects tend to have more hard edges.