Portrait of a Cat

My friend has been out of town, and asked me to care for his lovely cat.  After I get done with the routine care of cleaning the litter box and filling her food and water dishes, I sit with her and scratch under her chin.  I sip a hot mug of tea, and relish the quiet, contemplative cat-time.  Pretty soon, I get my pencil out and try capturing her unique personality in my nature journal. 

This tiny cat has such big eyes -- and so much depth & presence.  How can I capture that?

Catching up!

Here are a few odds and ends from my recent journal entries.

The pines at the Wildflower Reserve one September afternoon.

Urban sketching journal -- an architectural detail on a building on the South Side of Pittsburgh.

Full Moon Friday the 13th

Friday, Sept. 13th was good luck for me on my nature hike.  The wildflower reserve where I hiked put on a beautiful show.  Here are a few pages of sketches.

Walking down the trail, I spotted the last 2 feet of a Black Racer snake disappearing
down a chipmunk hole.  Where will the snake come out, I wondered.

Blue Lobelia

Wild Sunflower 

Wild Sunflowers in different stages of blooming

Sunset in Doak Field

Late yesterday afternoon, after a jog down a wooded trail, I sat in the peace of a wide, rolling meadow in Raccoon Creek State Park.  Doak Field, named for the first Europeans who settled the field, was filled with light and peace.  The interplay of the long beams of the setting sun on foliage inspired me to try to capture a bit of the scene before the sun set.

A Ten-Minute Discovery

Today my schedule was chock-full of errands and preparations for a class. I thought there wasn't time in the day for drawing, but I tucked my nature journal under one arm and toted it along, as I often do.  During one of my stops, I took 10 minutes to breathe under an inviting pine forest, and found this huge, orange slug slithering gracefully over the forest floor.  It appears to be the Dusky Slug (Arion subfuscus), a European species.

I was mesmerized by its graceful transport over the pine needle-strewn forest floor, and by the way its slimy body accumulated short, spiky spruce needles, especially at the tail end. Watching the slug twist and turn back on itself so smoothly and elegantly, like a dancer, rivaled my delight in watching its antennae-like tentacles shrink and extend as it sensed the ground it passed over.  Fascinating!

Upcoming Art Classes!

If you're interested in gaining inspiration, carving out time in your schedule for creativity, or trying new art techniques, check out the upcoming Continuing Education art classes at the Community College of Beaver County here: http://www.ccbc.edu/ConEdCatalog

I'll be teaching the following classes this autumn:

Recycled Papermaking :
Create your own artsy & unique paper out of a variety of upcycled materials that you can use to craft and personalize your own journal, stationery, cards, or other unique creations.  All materials are provided
Wednesday evenings 
Sept. 11th & 18th from 6-9 pm
Cost: $39 with $10 Lab fee

Jumpstart Your Journal!
 A regular journaling practice provides a way to capture the fleeting details of your daily life and to process your thoughts.  The calming, grounding experience you have been seeking awaits!  Explore ideas and fill the pages of your journal with new discoveries.
Wednesday evenings,
Sept. 25th, Oct. 2nd & 9th from 6-9 pm
Cost: $49 with $10 Lab fee

Inktober
Capture a natural scene with watercolor & colored pencil, and make it pop with pen & ink touches.  You will work outdoors and take inspiration from the brilliant autumn colors.  Join us for a relaxing immersion into nature and your own creativity!  Beginners are welcome!
Saturday mornings,
October 5th,12th & 19th, from 9 am - noon
cost: $49 with $10 Lab fee

To register, go to http://www.ccbc.edu/ConEdRegistration
or call the Information Registration Center at 724-480-3575.

Hope to see you at one of these sessions!

Bike Ride with a Painting Break

In celebration of Labor Day, I hopped on a bike with a pack of art supplies on my back and zipped down the Pan Handle Trail towards Bulger, PA.  Though the town name didn't sound promising, the expansive, rolling landscape was inspiring, and I stopped at the crest of a broad hill to paint.