Garden Walk

For this week's artist date, I cheated a little. I didn't go and spend the day alone, but I did have some solitary moments. Tim and I went with the photography Meetup group to Lakewold Gardens. I'd heard about the gardens several years ago (while wedding planning) and had never been. This was a prime opportunity. We didn't have much going on (other than household errands) and the weather seemed to be holding up (no rain).

We packed up the cameras and headed out. I took my new Canon Digi Rebel XTI, but since I had yet to master it, I took along my point and shoot digital camera as a backup. It was a good thing I did. I forgot the instruction manual for the new camera, and it was set in a large format mode, so I didn't get as many photos as I thought I would, so I did end up switching cameras and ended up taking 200 pictures in all. Poor Tim only snapped off 50-ish with his film camera. All in all, it was a very nice morning, and the gardens were gorgeous. I would love to go back when the weather is sunny and the gardens even more lush.

One of these days, I'd love to do something with all of the photos. I mulled over ideas even as I snapped the photos.

It felt good to do something a little different and stretch that artistic side, even though it was just the photography portion of my brain.

Chalk it up

Last week, there was an email that went out to the Tacoma Arts list serv. RR Anderson (a local artist and rebel) started a new event... a sidewalk chalk art challenge. I really wanted to go down and be one of the cool kids to hang out and participate, but I don't know how to draw and I had to leave early for a doctor's appointment so I couldn't take off at lunch. BUT... this week was a different story. I still don't know how to draw, but I thought that I could scoot down there and hang out to see what was going on.

I jumped on the link and rode down to 9th. When I walked up to the group, there were really only two women working on one square of sidewalk. I felt all self-conscious and weird, but I finally decided to grab a piece of chalk and start drawing. I didn't know what to draw, so I opted for doodles. It was a lot of fun.

I didn't win, but I did have a good time. Here's a link to my drawing...

My doodle pic

This really got me out of my comfort zone and it caused me to do something that I'd never done before. I stepped out into the "artist zone" and tried something new.

Decisions, decisions

Lately, with all of the eye candy I've been looking at, I'm suffering from over exposure and it is making me almost *too* inspired. I want to do it all. I have so many ideas for projects and supplies stashed so I can get started, I'm having a hard time to figure out which one I should start with.

Artists' Cafe has some great ideas. I read an article about an artist that oil paints on her photos. I may do that. I can pick up a small oil paint kit and work on that. Costco has the 12 x 12 prints, so I could find a photo that I really like and then paint one up. There is also a lot of interesting stuff about different artists and their collage methods. Somehow, I feel so intimidated in starting a collage project. I don't know why, but it feels like I'm not sure how to start.