mARTa's Art

Road Trip

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 8:44 PM | Posted by mARTa

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!!!

Posted In thoughts travel | 8 comments |

Sea Shell

Friday, June 12, 2009 at 6:15 PM | Posted by mARTa

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.

| 6 comments |

Squash Blossom

Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 1:27 PM | Posted by mARTa

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!

| 4 comments |

So Paint Already

Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 3:03 PM | Posted by mARTa

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.

Posted In sharpie, thoughts, watercolor | 4 comments |

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

Friday, May 29, 2009 at 6:38 PM | Posted by mARTa

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!!!

| 8 comments |

Rose

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 4:37 PM | Posted by mARTa

Rose, originally uploaded by martasart.

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

Another art class assignment done!

| 5 comments |

Santa Marta

Monday, May 25, 2009 at 1:11 PM | Posted by mARTa

"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!

Posted In pastel | 2 comments |

a mARTa update

Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:32 AM | Posted by mARTa

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?

Posted In photo, thoughts Guatemala | 12 comments |

Beer Drinkers, master study after E. Manet

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 2:26 PM | Posted by mARTa

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

All done!

| 7 comments |

mARTa with diamond earring

Friday, May 1, 2009 at 6:15 PM | Posted by mARTa

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!