Waiting for the new year...

Remains of Day fish book

Fish Book from Pat P on Vimeo.

Sketchbook Project Redux

Earlier this year I posted that the sketchbook I created for 2013 Sketchbook Project was online for viewing. At the time, actually, my entry had not been posted, and when it was a bit later, it was incomplete.   It was a total mess – only half of the pages got scanned and since my artwork was generally a two-page spread, it was hard = actually, impossible to follow. After several friendly emails back and forth, and lots of months of wait, it was corrected. It’s almost okay now, although the gutter area art is lost about halfway through.

You can find my book, called Hometown Journeys, there. (If you go, take some time to look at some of the many sketchbooks posted in their digital library. Some are truly amazing. )

However, the book shows much better on my Flickr page which you can access directly here or click on the little picture of my book in the right column of this page.  I still like it when I revisit it, which is a good sign of something! It was a lot of work!  But also great fun. Every page has a photo “proof” of my visit to each place, surrounding by drawing and painting of the rest of the scene. I hope you will take a peek.

This page, for example, got lost in the translation at the S.P site. 

Orphan candles ....

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad helped out with Snapseed and Phonto apps

It is exhausting...

...to watch the Molines prepare for Christmas.

Journal Play

On my awfullest attention-deficit-like days, I find my focus gone and flit from one thing to another.  Today was one of those days. As I started to sort through the piles upon piles of studio STUFF (last minute packing grabs, bits and pieces of memories from trip, you know, you know, you know..), to start the clean-up process, I came across something that inspired me to look at one of my older journals.

So I filled some pages.  

 

These was made from a bad photo of long daffodil leaves that I manipulated and then worked the background with paints and crayons. 

. 

Most of my journals are unfinished (if "finished" is ever an option anyway),  and I add to them as I find pictures, or draw things, or glue the papers in my life. Then I searched out some photos from early 2010 I hadn't done anything with, and then I played with those with apps and Photoshop

Amazingly, I fended up with five more pages. Didn't get much cleaned up, though.

In the interest of variety and because I get bored with the same thing easily, my journals run the gamet in size, structure, handmady-ness, bindings, and paper. This particular 2010journal is out of order, inconsistent in paper quality and size, and needs firmer binding; but it's coming together and, like all of my visual journals, 35 and counting, it gave me a kick to browse through it and remember days. Cliché alert: Seems like yesterday.

 

No animal was harmed in the taking of this picture. Maybe embarrassed. Rosie was Plimply-ed here.

I goofed up at the bottom in my spacing, but I don't mind.

And, yes, I do keep track of these crimes. When I can. It's a full-time job. 

Book Love in Several Languages

I collect picture books whose illustrations grab or inspire me. And alphabet books. And lovely children's books in foreign languages. And sketchbooks of travel.

Here are the ones I brought back with me from my trip to Tuscany, Prague, Budapest, and Paris. I will get many hours of pleasure from them.
In Budapest, I met the artist of one book (Jartamban..Kertemben), Maray Mariann, who signed it. She was working upstairs in a studio/gallery at the cutest darn bookstore of the whole trip, books and art and cards and jewelry all with artists' touches.

It does make for sweat time at baggage check-in, but I made it! 

Wrapper Medley

I found some wonderful wrapping paper in my travels last month....

in Prague:

and Budapest...

and Paris.

A couple of postcards

Altered an existing iconic Tuscany postcard view for a September postcard exchange. 

 Inspired by a French alphabet book I added to my collection this week!  

Montmartre Moments

This friendly-looking guy enticed me to an exhibit of his work today. It is a self-portrait of Eugene Delatré. I didn't know him before today. He was among the painters, printers, artists living and painting in Montmarte early in the 20th century. Think Moulin Rouge, Renoir, Picasso, and LaTrec.

This artist was a supreme etcher and printer. I fell in love with his pieces when I saw the exhibit today at the Musee Montmartre.

The museum is on this street but it didn't look so great back then. I saw pictures. Believe me.

Renoir lived in this building for a few years back then. He would take his large easel to the streets and paint all day there, then return at night to his room. 

This was on the grounds also. It is the swing from "The Swing" ...a painting you may recognize! Critics didn't like it when it was first presented. He took a hit. Don't know what they didn't like about it.  What's not to love about that dappled light? 

There were old photos of many of the artists who made their name here and spent their days and nights on the streets and cabarets. Fun to see early Picasso, young and old Renoir, Toulouse LaTrec....

I thought the best part of all was a large model of Montmarte with the artists' homes and studios designated. 

 I pooped out before getting to see everything I had hoped to see. I love scouting around and finding famous spots. (Yesterday we found Ernest Hemingway's first apartment in Paris with Hadley and Jack.)  I wanted to find Amelie's cafe and Picasso's studio. Alas. Must save for next time. Hilly, you know. Lots of hills and steps. but what views!

Walking the street is such fun. How else do you come across a silver man taking a cigarette break?

Yum.

Delectable mid-day treat from Gosselin Pastries right next door to our apartment.

The road to Cortona

I don't know if the world really was that blue or not. I do know that the road to Cortona from our villa was curvy and hilly and scary and steep and long. Pretty, yes. but also curvy and hilly and scary and steep and long. The longest eight miles I've ever known. That's Sandy on the left and me in the jacket that keeps on giving.

Fiva Kindsa Pasta

Iconic View Alert

Not much time for sketching but captured a few beautiful Tuscan views today. A sampling. When i have better technology, I'll post better versions, but you get the idea. The two sculptures are in a series of five whimsical ones in the piazza of Montalpulciano. I loved loved them. I will post more about them later, I hope.

Still no good news on the lost luggage department. Boo hoo.











- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Splendid music in a splendid house

From the Prague journal..September 29

We attended a pleasant evening concert at the Municipal House, where Art Nouveau reigns.




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Fortunately...

We have arrived back to Roma for our week at a real Italian villa.





Unfortunately, we left behind my laptop luggage at the airport parking garage. It is still among the missing and having done what I can, do not hold out much hope of seeing it again.

Fortunately, I had removed the laptop and I have it, and it has all my travel photos tucked away.

Unfortunately, the power cord is in the missing luggage and I am out of juice.

Fortunately, I was wearing clothes when we left it behind.

Unfortunately, all my other clothes and scarves, old and new, were in the luggage.

Fortunately, I finally have a day to journal and sketch and blog from my photos and memories.

Unfortunately, most of memories are in that bag on SD cards and notes.

Fortunately, (and it is a big one), I had saved photos elsewhere and will have them when i can power up.

Unfortunately, I cannot share all I would love to.

Fortunately, i know how to put things into perspective. I am not being shot at while shopping at a mall or teaching 1st grade or rescuing all my belongings from a raging fire. And I am at a lovely place in the world right now with many best and longtime friends.

-Posted with BlogPress on iPad.

From these photos....

You may have guesht
That I have been
To Budapest.













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A traveler's lament...

Half dones. Journals, postcards, notes to build memories. A  traveling journaler's frustration. 

I am wanting to photo. I am wanting to draw. I am wanting to share. I am wanting to see. I am wanting to journal. I am wanting to meet people. I am wanting to be with friends. I am wanting solitude. I am wanting comraderie. I am wanting peace and quiet. I am wanting more time. I am wanting to forge ahead. I am wanting to linger.

I am wanting to blog.

Quite obviously, I am not meeting all of my wants. Of course not. Perhaps soon I will find the time to put what is in my head to paper. To postcards. To you who have come here by intent or accident.

Room with a view

Prague: the city of spires



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Portal...updated.

Doors aplenty. This one particularly caught my eye.

Playing with Ink Effects on iPhoto app gave me an idea for a quick business card to give out to my new friends from class.  Technology otherwise failed me that day; my technology karma has been bad bad on this trip. I have gotten so spoiled. I try to put things into perspective. See me smile.