Man of Iron

Today Bill added to his list of athletic accomplishments the completion of a half-iron man: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, & 13.1 mile run. Mackenzie pointed out that "half iron man" sounds lame, like "copper man" or worse, "rust man". So we need a better name for it, because there's nothing lame about finishing a race like that! All the novices had to wear neon pink swim caps, as he's modeling here....he thinks it's so they could be spotted if they went under! He finished in 7 hours.

Butterfly migration

Varied Saturday

Saturday started with a trip to the farmer's market, then moved on to a short visit with a friend, then to the opening of the local history museum, and concluded with Furman football.
Here's what we're starting to see at the Farmer's Market. I love fall!




This guy was in the "Cherokee Nation" tent at the opening of the museum:



This rather boring shot (sorry) is of the new history museum. It is located along what is called Heritage Green, site of the Public Library, Theatre, Children's Museum, a branch of the Bob Jones Museum & Gallery, the Art Museum, and now the History Museum anchoring the end of the greenway.



I liked the silhouette of the Furman paladin sculpture against the evening sky:

Barcelona

This is a charcoal drawing I did for my art class. The point of the project was to demonstrate a full range of values (1/3 white, 1/3 all shades ofgray, 1/3 black), and to show depth of field, and to use no lines, only changes in value. The photo is a little overexposed from using a flash. I'm happy with it, even though it was done from a photo (frowned upon, I've learned) ... I did a watercolor a few years ago of the same scene but my dog ate it. I'm happier with the drawing anyway.

Just to let you know...

I haven't disappeared. Grayson took his camera to London (his last fling before the Marines) and so I'm camera-less (because, of course, my REAL camera is at the bottom of the Green River). So I plan on buying a camera tomorrow and playing catchup! I've got one drawing back that I want to post anyway. So hopefully you can check back on Saturday and I'll have fresh shots up.

Morning Light

Loved this shot of the view from bed at the resort this past weekend.

Given the field...I'm considering it.

Day Spa

While most of the men (and a few women) played golf, most of the women (and a few men) went to the day spa. This time I went practical for a manicure/pedicure, but next time I'm going to go for something more exotic! The rest of my day, I spent doing my art homework (the graphite doggie toy piece).

Split Tree

Well-rested

Figured I should commemorate a full night's sleep with a self-portrait.

His gear/her gear

Bill and I went away this weekend to Daufuskie Island, SC to a conference he was attending. I liked this shot of his golf clubs and my art stuff.

Ramon's Place

Lathe

Next project ideas

Tonight I spent over three hours (THREE HOURS) trying to come up with a still life subject for my next project, which is due soon so I really don't have three hours to devote to setting it up! Pictured are the four combinations that I came up with. The parameters are: must show line systems at work, must display texture, must be well composed, must show all degrees of value, must be done from life (not a photo), can be executed in charcoal or graphite. Funny thing is...the composition I liked best is the one I like least in the photos! And some of the ones I gave up on in person, I really like in the photos (especially when I cheat and view them in black and white as the project will be). For instance, the pet toys never looked very good to me and seemed to lack complexity. But in the b/w version of the photo, I love the composition (except for that dead upper left corner). So I'm right back where I started...not sure what I'm going to start drawing at 8:30 tomorrow morning!

Drawing class

This shot is of my drawing teacher showing one of her own drawings to the class and explaining some of her own inspirations and processes.

Artsy Friends

You may remember these two from my girls' week at the beach photos, but I spent time with both this week. Both are farther along the artsy fartsy (I really cannot stop myself: when I use the word 'artsy' I simply must follow it with 'fartsy') road than I am, so they offer me some inspiration and encouragement.

This is a cropped shot of one of the artist's displays. I love his/her? boldness. Wish I had made note of this artist's name!

Pieces of Puddle Pie

I went to a local art festival today (we seem to have a lot of those here!) but my favorite photo of the day was this one, shot as I was leaving.

That time of year

Time to stock up on jeans as the weather gets cooler. I haven't had a pair on since...probably March.

Mostly shoes

This was today's only photo....and it was taken with a cell phone. It is a set up for a charcoal drawing I'm doing to highlight various textures.

PS. By the way...I'm so glad I captured the artroom kitchen! Some curmudgeon has since scrubbed it of all its personality! The sense of this blog being a historical record has never felt so urgent! :-)

Back side

A little bit of everything

This is the scene in the kitchen at the art department where I'm in school. It provides the larger context for yesterday's photo. I doubt you expected a large red California with splatter being rolled on by a disembodied hand. Nor would one necessarily expect a giant upturned purple spider to be on top of the fridge. But hey...it's the art department. I loved the dueling sentiments...."Just Say No to Sex with Pro-Lifers" juxtapositioned against "No special rights for sodomites", with "Save the Males" thrown in for good measure. The whole assemblage cracks me up.

Pollock's secret

Not your father's Oldsmobile

...In all her funky glory

My Funky Chicken collage, done by Judy Verhoven, was displayed in an art show that opened last night. I'm so proud of Frau Funk, and Judy of course! :-)

Date Night: Casino Night

I spent the whole night --between trips to the h'ors d'oevres tables-- at the craps table. I've never gambled before so I had no idea what to do, but the dealer was great and by the end of the evening my $10K turned into $115K! Of course, it wasn't real money, but it was a lot of fun!

Value study

I spent my day at the art studio of my friend Beth...she worked on her painting for a gallery crawl tonight, and I worked on my schoolwork. This building is directly across from her studio, and its monochromatic look made me think of a value study. I liked it in the afternoon light.

...and that, my friends, is a wedgie

South Kakkalacky - part 6

Not the greatest photo, but I was trying to be surreptitious. Like I said, you see all kinds at a Clemson game...

Death Valley

(Wonder if that guy at the top has a 365 blog he's shooting for?)


...you see all kinds.


The players arrive.


Even the sky turns orange in Clemson

BBQ

My favorite part? The crunchy skin! Oooooh. So good! (Call me Redneck).

More schoolwork!

In the tagline of my blog, I mention "what I'm learning" as one of the reasons for the blog. So sorry...you're stuck with my art projects right now, because not only is it what I'm learning, it's the only --the ONLY-- thing I'm doing these days! Bill asked me yesterday if I thought the workload was going to continue like this. I think it probably will. And of course, there's the part of me, though I'm not a perfectionist exactly, that wants to only turn in a strong effort, and wouldn't think of showing up in class without my work done! As he observed, you get out of something what you put into it... so I ought to be getting a lot out of these two art classes!

This project is in design...the assignment was to illustrate pure symmetry, approximate symmetry, and asymmetry all in one cohesive work, using only grayscale cut paper. I was inspired by a photo I took of a graveyard in Charleston, looking through the wrought iron. My photos are coming in really handy as sources of inspiration!

In memoriam

Yesterday after a one month battle against cancer, Clark's favorite teacher died. "Deacon Bob" is pictured here in June, after his first year of teaching, being voted by the students as Teacher of the Year. Clark told me tonight, "Deacon Bob never was upset with you. He always was laughing and smiling. He loved EVERYONE." Teachers like that don't come along often in a child's life, and I'm grateful that for one year mine had Deacon Bob. His death leaves a hole in many hearts today.

He greets me everyday

Bill cleaned out the garage last weekend and my stuffed buddy here was installed then. This little guy ensures that I don't plow through the wall of the garage. When I barely touch his paw, I'm far enough.

Surprise!

We managed to pull off a genuine surprise for M's 16th birthday. Many friends and much food (I tend to overbuy) gave him a good time to mark the day. I didn't get a good shot of the birthday boy, but you've seen him before!

Prepared for anything ... even secession