Dumpling Resturant, Seattle.

Dumpling Restaurant, Seattle., originally uploaded by Tea and Ink.

This drawing has made me think about the feeling of 'outside looking in'. I took the photograph on a 'sky bridge' to the parking garage looking back at Pike's market.

To be in the inside... a warm world within, the smells, lighting, conversation, shelter. The outsider looking in can imagine all those things but experiences none of them. There's a sense of longing or 'wanting' being on the outside. But, it can be a good thing too - in a less desirable location. Like seeing prison windows from the freeway!

Hmm... I feel a series coming on. Happy Sunday!

Inky Weekend

Looking up at the Letterpress shop

Did a lot of drawings over the weekend... in prep for the 2 upcoming shows. (my daughter did a lot of drawing too... marker all over her feet, legs and face. too funny!) I've been loving drawing architectural scenes and hope to search out more images to draw. (maybe a good walk downtown... lots of old buildings there).

I have 2 linen art quilts I've blogged about in the past year and am hoping to hastily quilt them to have for the Ruby Slipper show in Spokane. They're throw size (or a bit larger) and I think they'll look great on the wall. Hopefully later in the week I'll post some progress on them!

More Telephone Ladies at Luncheon

India ink on Arches Cover paper. I want to add some funky sofa or busy, old-timey wallpaper. Wish time travel was possible... I'd love to visit other eras to experience it first-hand.

Golfe Juan Beach

An ink and gouache drawing of a trip to Provence. This was one of many beach clubs you can see from the boardwalk on the edge of the Cote d'Azur. We were heading towards a beach town called Juan les Pins. I was fascinated by the rows of brightly colored umbrellas... a different color for each little club. It wouldn't be mine if it wasn't unfinished, right?! Trying to get these all completed and put 'em in the etsy shop. (PS I'm having a sale on all the paintings on wood right now... check it out here!)

Just Opening Up...

A lovely sunflower about to open... still need to finish the leaves. More fresh drawings to come in the next few days!

Little Village Ink Drawing

A street scene in the village of Sospel - French Alps.

I've been trying to finish a lot of ink drawings on paper lately... love painting these with gouache. It's really armchair travel pour moi! But, things are looking up, it's been raining and the snow is slowly melting! There is a little grass visible in the front yard now and rings around the trees and bushes. This is a good sign. Hopefully I'm going to discover a few bulbs peeking through :)

A Few More Drawings...French Inspired, of Course!

This one is unfinished (Doorway to Cezanne's Studio... Aix-en-Provence)

Antibes, France

Here are a few more I'm working on... I hope to get more finished and then add them to my etsy shop. (Hopefully by this weekend). No school again today... snow is melting and now flooding is a big problem. If only the streets would improve maybe life could resume. arg!

Saint Marthe Cathedral in Tarascon, France

This was a memorable Cathedral we visited in the town of Tarascon... it's named after one of my best friends! I'm looking forward to painting these drawings I've posted. The holidays seemed to have broken my rhythm, though! Lately, I've been sitting on the floor, knitting while the kids play next to me... or just playing with them. So, I'm sort of stuck in that lazy, post-holiday 'in-between-world'! I've gotta get my groove back... but it is nice to just chill for awhile.

Antibes

All this snow and cold has caused my mind to go en vacance.... to the south of France, bien sur! I was able to do a few drawings today amidst my poor little daughter - who has a miserable cold - crying, fussing and yelling throughout the morning before nap time finally arrived. My son, however was so pleased with his new trains and toys, there was a whole lot o' quiet coming from his spot in the playroom. (he's usually the loud one, I love role reversal!) Anyway, the Provence drawings were a lovely form of travel today... I'll be doing more all week. Then, the gouache will come out and I'll paint 'em all.

There's something brand new in the shop today... 'art cards' or blank greeting cards which are reproductions of 2 of my ink drawings with gouache. Take a peek!

A Few December Drawings Before a Cookie Party

Just a few fruits of our labor today!

It's been awhile since I've done any drawing... and it shows in that rocking chair... it's not meant to be tipping forward or in the middle of the paper! But, this was a warm up. Plus, I used Stonehenge paper and it does not take gouache well at all! Much prefer the Arches Cover or Rives BFK... guess I spoiled myself using those papers for ink drawings because after today, I won't use anything else!

We had a big cookie decorating party today with all the kids in the local family... sugar cookies with colored frosting and silver dragees, and about a million sprinkles! They all had a great time, and me too. It's so fun to watch them work, talk, sample etc. Hope you are all having jolly times with family and friends.... Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year.... :)

I've been tapering off on posts lately and will probably do more of the same over the next few days. But, there may be a few posts here and there!

Unfinished

Estelle

Teenager, Drawing

Store Display

If I was in school right now I'd get a big 'I' for incomplete! I have been making some drawings the past week or 2 but can't seem to carve out enough time to actually paint and finish them. Grrrr. But, life has been happening... and good stuff, I'm happy to say! We have a lot of birthdays in Sept and Oct in our family. (also Nov and Dec!) So, we've been cooking and partying quite a bit around here. Maybe this week it will all come together!

On another note, I was featured in lavender Wool's treasury on Etsy! Thank you so much, Lav - it's nice to be in such great company! You can visit them at http://lavenderwool.com . To see the treasury, click here: www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=11852

The Roadie

Just goofing off with colored paper scraps..(seem to be doing a lot of that lately.) I thought he looked kind of 'pretty' but masculine. With rock n' roll hair, he's ready to go on the road!

ps I put a few new needle felted pillows in the etsy shop - take a peek!

The Cooking School

A quaint little house that's been turned into a cooking school in a Pacific NW beach town. (I liked how it was perched up on a hill from the sidewalk). I used gouache on this ink drawing plus a bit of colored pencil. I'm working on being more 'rough and immediate'. More to come... This will probably land in the etsy shop but first, we're going for a good long stroller ride. The weather is legendary today and we must bathe ourselves in it! Happy holiday weekend :)

A Hint of Blue

My little collaborator wandered over to my painting station while I was getting the mail! Now look at my drawing that I was about to paint with gouache :( Whah! Well, now that it's shot to 'H' (as we say around here) I may paint it anyway for fun and see what happens... with unlikely colors... get a little Fauve!

A Few More Drawings...

Dining Room Interior - detail

Moorish House in Provence (another version!)

Boulangerie Series III

Here some more drawings.... I have several to paint now and I'm eager to get to it. However... I'll be going away to the beach (a different beach) again for about 2 weeks, so I won't be posting -or painting- while I'm gone. For now I have tons of packing to do and many snacks to prepare for the car trip. Happy summer, be back soon!

More Drawings

Cafe-Boulangerie series II

I've done a few more drawings on Rives BFK paper (love it, it has such a great texture) and India ink. Now, I'll start painting them with gouache... I have a lot of 'em now. So, maybe in the morning when the house is still asleep I will delve into it.

My Christmas in July sale was fun but I did not sell much. :( I should have brought my room divider and displayed some prints on it... I just had them in baskets and a 'print holder' and I don't think many people took the time to look through them. Oh well.

Fresh Drawings

Yellow Umbrellas, Juan-Les-Pins, France

Swimming Lessons ( in progress)

Antique Chocolate Mold

I've started a few new series of India ink drawings on thick, printmaking papers and painted with gouache. The ink is a newer thing I'm working with (Pitt India ink brush pen) and I've noticed it gives my drawings a sort of humorous, quirky feel to them... that's my take anyway! (What do you think??) It's been really fun drawing in a loose, immediate way. There's lots more to come and they are a few in my Etsy shop now.

I was interviewed today by a new local magazine coming out next month... the article is about Spokane artists that have Etsy shops. I'll write more when it comes out in September. Last week I was featured in a few Etsy treasuries which is always a nice surprise, it always makes my day to hear that news!