the textures of july.
one thing leads to another in a long string of summer hours. the days like a quilt i’ve pieced together by hand. slowly. how good it’s been to stay home and watch the light spill through the trees. porchlife. how can doing nothing be so satisfying?
when i go to the market towards the end of the week the young checker usually asks if i have any weekend plans. oh yes, i tell him or her. many. but i don’t elaborate.
writing, reading, thinking, sketchbooking, watching, listening.
i’m getting such creative mileage out of my pitt big brush markers lately. drawing tree and people portraits seems to give me such a charge. drawing directly with the brushes is helping me to look at shadows and lines in a whole new way. i’m constantly noticing how shadows carve form and lend structure to faces and tree branches. light and shadow a metaphor for everything under the sun.
what else? picked up some paint sample cards to draw on with a white posca paint pen. give it a try. i won’t tell you how fun it is, you can see for yourself.
ON MY BOOKSHELF
of all the books i’m currently dipping into, the ends of the world is captivating. the write-up on it sounds dull, but it is anything but! i’m constantly backing about it to anyone who will listen. in short, it’s the story of our dear earth. an absolute page turner. as much as i adored the sixth extinction (same topic) this one is even better. i’ve bookmarked and highlighted a zillion kindle paragraphs.
i’m in the middle book of the rebecca west trilogy. not riveting, but comforting, like a soft pair of jeans or first sip of morning coffee.
i don’t have etgar keret’s memoir in this list, but you better believe the second i get it in the mail i’m dropping everything to read it. i listened to a story of his on the moth radio hour the other day and ever since i am crazy about him. c r a z y. drawing -him- with- my- big- brush- markers- while- watching- what- animal- are- you- on- netflix crazy. that kind.
you can fall under etgar’s spell here on the youtubes, here at the moth radio hour, and here on netflix.
the beginning of the end
in 27 days i’ll be saying hello to a new class with whom i will spend the next 10 months. i’ve spent the last few days pulling together a long list of supplies for the beginning of the year. if you feel moved to support my little class in the big city, you can contribute to my donor’s choose project. i was graced with a kind benefactor who is supporting my efforts by doubling all donations. you can read more about it HERE on the donor’s choose site. many deep and gracious thanks to wendy, kathy, tina, tasha, kimberly, elizabeth, glenda, kathleen, liz, shannon, lane, laura, and stephanie. because of you i am well over halfway to my goal of putting sketchbooks, watercolors, and plenty of other goodies in the childrens’ hands on the very first day of school. let the good times roll.
Always always informative. Checking out etgar keret’s memoir now!
Oh my goodness! Thank you for introducing me to Etgar Keret. I watched the YouTube video and was transfixed! Now currently searching for everything he’s ever written.
I’ve enjoyed your blog since Remains of the Day, if that was the first one. I keep thinking there was one that preceded that. Anyway, I saw your school wish list and I’m so happy it was totally funded. I found in my stash, an unopened Avery White Mailing Labels, #5160 for Laser, and it’s 3000 of the labels. I’d love to send that box to you. Please let me know. I just need to know where to send it. You’re the best!
Oh AT2 – you are everlastingly fabulous – so gloriously creative – i want you to live nearby – but you are always with me – memories of you teaching me the computer, soulcollage, drawing Faces on the mirror, building crazy cat shelves and ramps – photos – travels —. I love your sketches and your brushes and pens and the books you’re reading. I’m reading Overstory – about the ways trees talk to each other underground, and The Intellingence in Nature – etc. Best wishes for your classroom and the joy you’re bringing to those wee kids! I admire the way you share your bountiful gifts with all of us. love, AT1
oh dort ander how i wish someone would hurry the heck up and invent teleporting so that we might play together more often. carol and i ARE planning to return to our beloved lummi island sometime soon. we did fall in love with your island too. wish i was there now sitting on your deck with a table full of creative things spread before us.
Could it be the lovely island and the glorious long northern days? They are amazing and the views and Puget Sound right at your door? Hard to not fall in love.
That plant with the great big very green leaves and burgundy stems, that was in the gardens at the place I stay in Carp. I’m in love with it, any idea what it’s called? Beautiful photos and enticing drawings as always.
my guess is some sort of thistle, but i can’t be sure!
I second the vote on the Jackson Brody detective books!
Posca Paint Pens…have not tried those. I have a couple of Liquitex ones. I never quite know what to DO with them. How do you like the Posca vs. other paint pens?
i’m a relative paint pen ignoramous. i like the white posca – the only posca i have – but it does pool out the ink at times which can be irritating.
Great idea to use paint cards. May have to do a Home Depot run and pillage the paint section. I am reading Sapiens. Very fascinating. Did you know that Homo sapiens thrived over the other Homo species because they were talented gossips? I never knew that gossiping was a genetic trait😂
i too found that intriguing when i read Sapiens and it made me feel less of a dummy for engaging in it. more homo sapienish.
I am always amazed by the wonderful plants you photograph, many of them new to me. Your reading recommendations are fabulous! I am finishing the last of the Donna Leone novels, all set in Venice, and I will be looking for a new series. You have given me food for thought! Enjoy the rest of your holidays!
thanks louise, always a pleasure to hear from you! may you stumble upon an outstanding new author to relish.
Have you just discovered Kate Atkinson’s books, MA? She has a whole collection called the Jackson Brody detective novels which are worth reading, as I recommended to Carol. So many books in the world!
That’s funny – I’m reading This Real Night right now as well! I have all my battered Rebecca West books (same covers) and reread them every few years. As you say, they’re comforting, especially for me as I know the South of London well. Sorry you didn’t find them riveting.
this is my very first kate atkinson. i’m not so keen on detective books but i do enjoy a long look at quiet interesting lives. the rebecca west trilogy need not be riveting for me to take pleasure in it.