Weekly Scumble April 3 Thru 9

[K Taylor-Green]

Not only a new week, but a new month, and April to boot!! Morning everyone!
Welcome to the Scumble, our weekly chat thread, where we talk about the different aspects of our daily lives, like kids, jobs, families, and pets. So come in and visit, share stories and pictures.

In my neck of the woods, April is the month of the morel mushroom. I LOVE getting out in the woods and hunt for these elusive fungi. Once it warms up a bit more, I'm heading out to do just that!

Last week's Scumble brought us a new member. I was typing a response, last night, when a storm took out my internet connection and I felt it wiser to turn off the computer!
So, welcome to Dennis! I hope you stop by this week and let us get to know you.

I think my young colt is going to be easier to train than I thought. He has had a few short leading lessons since I put his first halter on him a couple of weeks ago. To prove this, I found that both of my young horses had flown the coop, so to speak, Saturday. They had shouldered a gate open that Jess had left ajar, and hi-tailed it back to the main horse pasture where the mares and my gelding are.
Naturally, Jess is gone. Naturally the mud level is high from rain. Naturally my mud boots have given out and I haven't replaced them.
So I fill my pocket with apple treats, grab a lead, and the feed bucket (for bribery) and head back to the barn.
They are pacing outside the fence, the others are pacing INSIDE the fence.
I clip the lead on Stega, my two year old, and he balks. Boy has been let go over the winter. Bad mistake. You can't win a tug of war with a two year old, and the apple treats weren't working. Jess had said that Seyn was doing well in his lead lessons, so I unclipped Stega and clipped the lead on Seyne. He was very reluctant, but didn't pull back. After rearing up a couple of times, he let me lead him away. I led him back up to the house area and put him back in the his pasture. Whew! Every time one of the others hollered, he would try to turn and go back, but we made it without incident.
Course, I had to walk back again to retreive the other one. Someone had forgotten to explain to him that follow the leader is a horse's favorite game!!
This time I put grain in that bucket, and that worked where the apple treats failed. He is now back with his little buddy, and had a nice visit with his old buddies. And I got an unexpected workout!
Hope everyone's week is off to a good start!

[CM Neidhofer]

Hi all. Bruce and I took off last week for a quick, two day trip to South Dakota and Wyoming. We went to the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I thouhgt I'd never see Mt. Rushmore in my lifetime, and now I have! From SD we headed over to Wyoming to see Devil's Tower. On the way though, we stopped off in Deadwood, SD and picked a casino to check out. We went to Cadillac Jack's, where we promptly won $180 between us, in less than 10 minutes. We cashed out and went on our way!! My art studio is about as ready as it's going to get for now. Hopefully I'll get some painting time in today...yea!!! It's been a loooong time since I've picked up my pastels. :p

Christine

[KA Obee]

I did a volunteer thing in my 3rd grader's classroom this morning called "Art Goes to School." It's a wonderful program where the volunteers (moms usually) go in every month to discuss different portfolios of three paintings. (I do it every other month, alternating with some other moms.)

Every month's portfolio has a theme. This month's theme was 'Sports' and we've done "Work & Leisure" and "Portraits of Young Men". It's really been a great experience. I've learned so much about art & about working with the kids! My son says that the kids like when we do it because we don't tell them about the paintings, instead we ask the kids what they see. They usually are right on the mark. It's amazing!

There is always a 'sub-theme' to the portfolio. One time we talked about Realism vs Romantacism, this time we talked about the "line of action" in the paintings. They not only get it, they retain the information and refer back to things we discussed with them when we were there 2 or 4 months ago! It's so great to watch them make the connections. Mind you, these are 8 and 9 year olds I'm talking about!

With the time change and the warm weather we've been having, they were out of their skin today. I was relived that we only had to be there for an hour!

I decided to take the rest of the day off from work to catch up on all the stuff around here I wasn't able to get to, because I was either painting or doing yard work all weekend! (It was a really nice weekend!)

KA

[DennisH]

Wow Kate you have horses... and here I am complaining because of kids... lol...

Love the warmer weather, but in my neck of the woods... it seems as though April is for rain showers..... hopefully it will stay warm enough and dry enough so that I can get some outside painting done...

I have only been in pastels for the last 8 months, and in art of any sort for the last 14 months. I like the forums and chat areas and still have large areas of wet canvas to explore.

Got into art as a means to therapy to strokes. The neurologist seems to think that "exercising" the right side of my brain will help... sure hope so. Of all the other activities I could use to "exercise" the right side of my brain, art and painting were interesting to me. Pastels in particular seem to be my area of interest... painting landscape scenes.

[michellej]

:) Hi guys,
I have not been here for such a long time. It feels like decades. Glad to hear that the snow is finally melting for some of you. Hope you get to go on your mushroom safari soon kate:)

Hi Dennis, and welcome to WC. If the greeting you received was anything like mine then you will feel right at home.

The weather down here is hot and dusty and stuffy, with rain teasing us cruelly every once in a while. Well I have not painted nor so much as glance in the direction of my pastels in a long while.I feel alittle like a traitor to my profession, but i have a good excuse. I am right now smack dab in the middle of planning MY WEDDING!!!!!:clap: I'm so excited and scared and all sorts of things in one. So if any of you has some ideas or anything to share, i'm all ears. My daughter is very excited and happy and that I think is the most important thing for me right now. i would hate to think that I was excited and she wasn't.
So for right now my focus is July and all the promise that it brings.:) :) :)

[K Taylor-Green]

Michelle, that is wonderful news!! Congratulations!! Keep us posted as to all the wedding news.

Dennis, I did my share of complaining about kids, believe you me. But they are grown and have fullfilled all my hopes for them, so now, I complain about grandkids!! And horses, and dogs. Complain the most about what I love the most, I guess. Kind of back handed pride.

Christy, sounds such fun. Right now, I'd like to go somewhere. Winter blahs are still hanging on a bit.

[khourianya]

ohhh - a wedding! Congratulations, Michelle! I'd wondered where you had gotten to lately! Do keep us posted!

[DennisH]

Kate,

Did I mention that we have raised 3 grown kids and now are raising 3 grandkids that we adopted.... definitely a challenge. But like you say, we complain the most about the things we love the most.

[Pat Isaac]

Welcome, Dennis and that is an awesome task you are taking on.
Congratulations, Michelle!!
Christine, we have just booked an Elderhostel trip to Mt. Rushmore and surrounding area for June. This will be our second Elderhostel and we like them as they are very educational, everything is supplied, and you meet such great people. Did you get lots of pictures to paint?

Pat

[CM Neidhofer]

Did you get lots of pictures to paint?

Pat

I got a few of Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. Most are too far away to do much with. I have some pretty good pics of Devil's Tower though and started on a painting yesterday. Have the sky and clouds in at this point. I'll work more on it this morning.

Christine

[K Taylor-Green]

Hey Dennis! What part of Ohio are you in?

[DennisH]

Kate,

I am just outside of Cleveland now. Was born in Warren, Ohio, after high school I have been all around the world mainly with the Navy.

I have family in the southern part of West Virginia and in the Northwestern part of Virginia. Beautiful country there, wish I could do some pastel painting there.

Dennis

[michellej]

Hi guys, Thanks! As you can well imagine things are hectic with all the planning. booking the hall and the caterer:eek: and the clothes. Right now i'm organizing my gown. Found the cutest veil and tiara yesterday. Grabbed it right up since it was the exact shade of off-white that I wanted.

The honeymoon was the easiest to sort out. I found (on-line) this cute little b&b in Tobago. On investigation found that it was everything it claimed to be so we made sure and booked immediately.
But it's still fun because Arnold is very involved in the planning and we discuss everything so... :clap:

Dennis the only time i've seen Virginia is in pics It's one of the must see places on my planning to go on a tour of the US tour.:) I only visited L.A. I want to make sure that my daughter sees as much of the world as possible and also develops a healthy love for travel. So we've done some parts of the Caribbean and most important a lot of internal knocking about.

[Vegas Art Guy]

Wow, I have not been here in forever and three days. Let's see, my daughter got straight A's last semester and has a drawing hanging in a student show where she takes her art lessons. She has taken to art like a duck to water. I'm still working and going to school part time, but I did graduate from the two year college and have moved on to the 4 year one. It's been a challenge but worth it. We adopted a little boy last year who is equal parts angel and devil. I think that's it.

[bjcpaints]

You miss a lot in a few days here!
Welcome Dennis and hello to all!
Kate, I am glad you were able to get the horses under control! All of my horsey experience has been through instinct. No fear. People are amazed when I turn the horse around and get it to go where I want it to! LOL Rode backback more than in a saddle when I was younger. Flying freely through the woods on a back road. Those are great memories for me.
Christine, Congrats on your win and your fun trip!
KA, Good for you promoting art to the younger generation!
Dennis, Art is wonderful therapy!!! I started painting as a result of quitting smoking about 4 years ago. I really did not have much of any art experience before so it is a new wonderful world to me!
Michelle, Big congratulations on your wedding! Best wishes for much happiness!
I have some exciting news that I just could not wait to tell someone! After whining for 4 years that our local art council never has any programs of interest during the evening or weekends hours (when I could actually attend);
I was stunned to see a pastel workshop listed on a Saturday in June with Robert Carsten!!!! I immediately signed up and am so looking forward to it!
This will be the first time I have ever even seen anyone else use pastels! I am sure to learn a lot and it will give me the boost I need! OK Thanks for listening to me.
TTYL
Barbara

[DennisH]

Barbara that sounds great... lol.. wonder which you are going to do... tape record the session and do the exercises... or take notes of everything... I know I would be at a loss as to which to do...

DennisH

[dlake]

Dennis, I want to welcome you to WC. You seem to be quite a nice and interesting person. Everyone here is really nice, supportive and helpful. You will find yourself growing alot. And when you want to know anything, people here will extend a hand to help
Michelle, congrats. Weddings are nerve wracking but, wonderful. I hope everything goes just very well - don't look for perfect-haha. Relax as much as you can and just enjoy and remember, don't sweat the small stuff. I am so very happy for you.
To everyone else hello. I gather everone is doing great. That's so nice. You know, I think spring just brightens everyones life up.

[dlake]

I'm sorry about the double post but, I have such exciting news.:clap::clap::clap::clap:
My art teacher asked me to help with 4 lectures she's giving on different eras in art. Like help lecture. and it's about the romantic period, impressionist, german expressionism and then the dada and cubist period.
How exciting is that:eek::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Wow. I am just smiling ear to ear right now:thumbsup:

[Goewyn]

Congrats!!! Sounds like you'll do great. :D

Have fun!


Dennis: Welcome! I grew up just outside of Cleveland. :) Good luck on your art and post some stuff when you have it, these forums will teach you a lot. :)


-- Linda

[bjcpaints]

Diane, Congrats - what a very nice recognition! Hope you enjoy it!

Dennis, I have no idea! I am so new to it. I haven't got the materials list even yet. Not sure if we get to paint or just watch or what? I would not record or photograph at all - I would be afraid to miss something or be too distracted by how to even work a camera. I just want to paint and hope to learn some good fundamentals. This particular workshop is called Summertime, Summertime and is focusing on composition and landscapes. Now, I am the least likely person to paint a landscape (usually just paint animals!) but I am in a real growth sprut right now artistically (sp?) and admit I don't know where I will end up 10 years from now. I have recently been intrigued with the idea of doing portraits so I guess I want to try everything!! I will be sure to give a full report of the workshop here - its not till mid-June.

[KA Obee]

You should bring a camera to the workshop. You can usually take photos of the teacher's demo during breaks. You can also photograph his/her pastel tray, so you'll be able to remember what was on the palette. You're going to have an awesome time!
KA

[bjcpaints]

Thanks KA! I am so embarassed to say I am terrible with a camera and I am so used to scanning my work (tough with pastels!). At your recommendation though, maybe I will throw the old camera in my bag when I go ( I've sworn off DH's digital completely).:angel: Long story, sore subject.
Why not come up and join me - its not that far of a drive!?! Plenty of time to register.:)

[DennisH]

This is such a nice place for those of us like myself that are self taught. Its nice to know that if I have questions, there is a place where I will be able to get good honest info.

Goewyn, its a very small world that we live in today. Just when you think that you can not be amazed at how small our world really is, poof something else happens and it reminds us all of just how connected we are.

Barbara, yeah the camera and maybe even a tape recorder would be nice to have for the workshop. I was truly surprised at how much I missed even when I thought I was taking decent notes on the subject. The tape recorder will capture the entire workshop and you can go back later and relisten to the tape to help you adapt the techniques you learn.

DennisH :)

[bjcpaints]

Thanks Dennis, Well, I have plenty of time to find the old cassette recorder or come up with one somehow. I also have to figure out how to transport my pastels now that I have them all laid out in these wooden trays. I have foam cut and laid over each of the 2 trays and could possible band them together somehow but I think I need something a bit more secure to transport them. Will have to look for something I can slide them into snugly.
What is everyone up to this weekend?
I am hosting the WDE in the AMAE Forum and would love it if you would all join in!
Barbara

[KA Obee]

What's the AMAE foum? ... oh, and what's the WDE?
I bet I got it - the weekend drawing event? but still, what's amae?
KA

[KA Obee]

AhHA! All Media Art Events!

[Bringer]

Hello,

Here's something quite interesting about a Norman Rockwwell's work:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5328753

Have a nice weekend,

José

[dlake]

Hey, I may be saying bye for awhile. I've been feeling very restless and the need to paint with acrylics. I feel the need to use a brush. So, I do plan to keep my hand in pastels but, I just need to do something else for awhile. I may do one painting, find why I stopped in the first place and come running right back. Then again.....
Anyway, thought I'd let you know.

[KA Obee]

Diane,
You could always do your underpainting in acrylics - maybe mix it with a little pumice stone - and then do the pastel on top???
We don't want to loose you!
KA

[dlake]

I'm only taking off for awhile. Just feel restless and need to do some brushwork. I've concentrated on pastels for so long that the urge to paint is very strong. I'm not going away just going on vacation.

[khourianya]

lol - do whatever you need to do to enrich yourself artistically, Diane. We'll still be here when you get back.

[scall0way]

Hi everyone!
It seems like I have been so busy the last few weeks, no time to be around and I miss everyone so. Nice to see all the fun trips and plans and new faces here.

I've mostly been trying to deal with my dad. He had surgery last week for NPH (excess fluid on the brain) and had a shunt installed in his head. He seemed great after the surgery. We could see almost immediately that he was walking better, thinking more clearly, more animated. But then Thursday night suddenly everything changed. He was weak and could not move, could not speak clearly - almost delirious. We took him to the ER where they found he had a 102F fever, a *very* low blood pressure of 81/36, and a bacterial infection. I suspect it is not related to the shunt as he get symptoms like this every 2-3 months and has done for years - although they seem to get a little worse as time goes one, and not one single doctor has ever been able to determine the cause or resolve it. This is the third episode like this he has had since he has been up north here in NJ since Thanksgiving. The first time it happened he had *12* different doctors and they still could not figure it out.

Anyway, he was admitted to the ICU and put on IV fluids and antibiotics, and is already feeling a lot better, but there is always that "when will it happen next?" feeling?

Anyway, I have not painted a thing in weeks and miss it so badly, but my spring art classes start up this Wednesday, so I hope that will at least get me jump-started again! Back to the nudes probably. :)

[dlake]

thanks Cori. I just feel sooooo restless and this overwhelming need to take up the brush for a little while. I'll be popping in and out to see how everyone is behaving. I just didn't want people to wonder where I am. Since I'm waiting for my paints I have been doing a pic and will probably post a few before they get here. But, I'm excited. Just like to shake things up to keep things interesting and fresh.