raindrops and cool damp air in los angeles the last few days. perfect weather as far as i’m concerned. more please.
the matilija poppies are holding court along the arroyo where i went for a stroll.
the moss cottage garden is resting in its usual state of disarray.
i’ve let the smoke tree get a bit shaggy.
any plant that can’t look out for itself will have a difficult time here.
i’m in the throes of travel journal indecision. i knew i shouldn’t have made my travel journal so early. too much time to think and ponder and go back and forth.
it’s too small and too thick. won’t work. how will i fit writing and pictures on the same page. maybe if i cut the pictures out. out of what? you mean take extra watercolor paper? oyvey!
i’m sorting all of this out in my mind and have reached no conclusions. sister’s travel journal isn’t made because i may give her the one i already made for myself and make another one, a different one. for…you know, ME. except i can’t decide on a course of action.
part of the problem is i love using watercolor on cold press paper and the travel journal i made is only hot press.
i’ll just keep making little house pictures and maybe an idea will present itself.
they usually do.
i’ve been watching various little old men paint on youtube. like THIS one. can’t understand a thing he says, but i do think he’s delightful and a wonderful teacher! i’ve got it into my head that my travel journal will have lots and lots of little landscape paintings of village scenes and mountains, lakes, forests, etc., brushing up is in order!
so, i turn on the youtube and paint along with my new friend alan owen.
i’ve started the 2nd cazalet chronicle. my favorite character is the aging, destitute, governess eleanor millimant. there is a lovely scene where she buries her long dead fiance’s letters in the woods at the very end of the light years. i may have needed a kleenex. her character is developed with such poignancy, it’s difficult to be unmoved.
i go back and forth between marking time & the german war.
so very good.
I have fallen in love with Alan Owen now and will return to his videos again and again. I love his guidance on shadows and color mixing. I had no idea a touch of alizerin crimson in ultramarine would ever be a good idea. Or that burnt sienna could be used to make a green of that shafde. Or the way he uses the brush to get the branches. Lovely.
hi MaryAnn,
I recently showed an inquisitive/adventurous friend of 70+ your wonderful blog….I do believe he’ll be reading & enjoying your wonderful stories very soon….he’s a great hiker/walker. Another resource for suggested reading for Germany et al European countries is the ROAD SCHOLAR itinerary posting for their trips. We loved the selection for our first trip with RS to Croatia (2017) and have used it for our 3 2018 non-RS trips. (Scandinavian/Baltic Sea countries; Prague/Budapest/Vienna and visiting Germany along the Rhine….wonderful selection of books. many available as “used” on internet or at your public library).
Just returned from visiting the wild Sonoma & Mendocino county coastlines….I think a delightful cottage in the Mendocino county would be an awesome retirement home…..you are lucky to live in such a crazy state…I also admire your fortitude for your gas tax & other taxes…..
Oh I love him! He’s 85 and he’s youtubing!!! My mum at 85 asked me whether e-mail was as fast as normal post ….. Hat off to him!
You could make a journal, well at least the cover, from a vintage germany poster. E-bay will provide! If you don’t love your present travel journal, then you just have to bite the bullet and make a new one. You’ll never make friends with the one that’s not quite right and you’ll be frustrated with it throughout your trip.
Rain drop flowers and accented watercolor instruction…you are so generous with your creative inspirations, Miss Mam. Thank You.
Journal idea to ponder – sub in a few cold press postcard sized waterccolor sheets in those slots and share the replaced postcards in Sister’s journal.
Spring rain greetings from MI.
Thank you for introducing your readers to Alan Owen. I couldn’t sleep so am sitting up watching his videos. What a talent! I can see his influence in your paintings. I’ve registered for a class in watercolor at adult ed. Starts next week and I can’t wait!
I had a very wet Mother’s Day here in Carp too.
thinking of you up there in carp… do you know of the #carpsunsetseekers ? lovely peeps who gather to watch sundown each evening. if you’re ever at the beach at that time look for my friend sharron – short mop of gray hair on a little body. your class is sure to be wonderful!
I’ll keep my eyes open for Sharron!
Me too! Alan Owen is a treasure! Thank you MaryAnn!
I have the morning alone in Malmo, Sweden. I’m channeling you, wandering slowly through the cobbled streets, taking it all in: the doors and windows, the lilac and wisteria, the unbelievably warm and sunny weather. Ahh, slow travel, oh so nice.
oh besty. this thrills me. if you’re posting pics to facebook tag me in one of them so they go to my page. would love to SEE!
He has a Welsh name but his accent says he’s from the north of England – like Hugh!
I love that voice. What an artist.
and he went to art school in the late 40’s, after the war. i too looked to see where he was from. can’t wait to begin the first of many pilgrimages to the uk. xo
I will definitely check out the little old man painter person. What are the two pink types of flowers in two different pics, MAM? They are so pretty. I love seeing the raindrops on everything. Also will check out the tearjerker book. I am a sucker for tearjerkers.
I had a rather subdued mother’s day. My son and GF came yesterday and gave me, what else? Art stuff. A large canvas and a nice sketchbook. My middle offspring was home sick with a sore throat, but called, and the oldest came by with the most glorious orchid, which I shall put on Instagram later. It is only my second orchid, so I am hoping I can keep it alive. The first one is doing great though, so maybe I can do this!
You must be getting our weather, and we are getting yours. In the 80’s today and tomorrow. More like summer than spring.
Can’t wait to see what you decide on your travel journal. It will be fabulous, of that I am sure. And lucky sis, if she gets the accordion one!
NO ONE can understand him. Shame! The closed captioning on his videos are hilarious. “the number one de vacas paralysed, that hello this little bit of justice torture starting from heah.” But agreed, he is quite lovely.
PEOPLE! I see people in your village scenes! Perfectly perfect little people. And that makes me remember our people drawing practice sessions up North on the Grand Tour of California. Which makes me laugh like a drunk hyena. Except your little people are PERFECT!
I was just looking through my email when your post popped up. It’s rainy where I am too, but your baptized flower images gladden my heart. So beautiful! And the little artist man IS delightful. What a to-do about your travel journal. I say go for broke and make the one that is going to make you wiggly with joy. No lukewarm journals allowed. The one you already made will be perfect for something or someone else. I’m reading Circe by Madeline Miller and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.