A Journal Spread Re-visited...

I'm getting back into a groove with my art journal. The one I'm working in has only a couple of spreads left before it's completed plus a couple of spreads that are partially completed. I worked on one of those this morning. Do you remember this girl from back in March??

At the time Betzie suggested I change the eye color and I did. Thanks, Betzie! I knew there was something "off" about the girl but couldn't put my finger on it. Here's what she looks like now...

I changed her dress color, too.

and added some strips of wallpaper...

and a bit of washi tape...

I saved that spot on the upper right corner for some later journaling.

And I'll work on her collar a bit more...

for now she's semi-finished.

Now I'm off to see if I can keep this ball rolling. I'll try to finish another spread today. The weather is still very cool for this time of year. 

Getting Back to the Studio...

Sorry I've been absent from Blogland for so long. I've been going through a bit of an art slump...not inspired at all...and with my daughter here I just haven't been spending much time on the computer. Today I finally broke the slump by working in my art journal. I finished two spreads that had background paint already on them. The first one I did is here...

I used mostly magazine images for this one.

Right page...

Left page...I may add some writing later.

Then after I finished the above spread 

I began working on this one...

The orange-y background and the stencil had been done quite some time ago. I added some hand-painted paper, stamping, and washi tape. Again, I might add writing later. I haven't decided yet.

Right page...

Left page.

I know the photos aren't very good. We're having some strange weather today and it's fairly gray and gloomy...and very chilly for this time of year! It almost feels like autumn when you step outside today.

AMGEN Bike Tour - Stage Six

Today I have something completely different for you....and there are LOTS of pictures. There hasn't been much art done at Chez Random but there was excitement in the neighborhood as the Amgen Bike Tour came to town for stage six of the tour.

The starting point was only about a block from where we live so HB and I walked down to check it out this morning. Luckily we are having spectacular weather and it isn't too hot...probably only in the low 70's when the race began, but we do have some fairly strong wind which could be a factor.

(click on pictures to view larger)

We were able to get very close to the starting area.

Before too long there was a constant stream of huge

motorhomes and other vehicles

 pouring into the parking area.

The parking area filled up fast.

A local high school color guard

practiced right in front of where we were.

Posing for photos.

Getting ready...

Gotta love the confidence...

Once they got going...

they whizzed by...

in just a couple of minutes!

They will ride 115 miles today! And they'll be going from high desert to mountains. They'll end at Big Bear Lake sometime about 3:50 PM...they left Palmdale this morning at about 10:25. That's a lot of bike riding!! (PS - Jeanie, I took all these photos for your Rick! I thought he might recognize some of the guys.)

A Re-Do of an Old Painting...

I'm getting back in the studio a little bit. My daughter started her new job yesterday (and seems to like it) so I had the day to myself. I had been thinking about re-doing one of my older paintings. It was one from back in 2009 when I first took Mystele's Gut Art class...one of the best classes I've ever taken, by the way. I never did like the face on the painting but just never took the time to change it. Here's the old version:

The eyes are terrible...much too big and buggy. 

And I wasn't crazy about the background either. 

So I went to work on her....

Since I always thought of her as either in a yoga pose or meditating I decided to close her eyes and make her more peaceful.

She looks much better with this face although her hair is really BIG! And I like the toned down background a lot better, too. When I got finished with her I got out another canvas...18" x 24"...and prepped it for another painting.

I have no idea what it will be 

but today I hope to begin working on it.

Whatever you do today I hope you have FUN!

Did You Miss Me??

You probably all wonder what's happened to me lately...no blog posts, no art, no emails...nothing. I have a good excuse! My daughter has moved back to California from Delaware and she's staying with us until she finds a place. She starts a new job on Monday so we've been hanging out together and just enjoying catching up with each other.

I hope to be back in the studio soon but until then enjoy the roses (currently blooming in my front yard) and have a very Happy Mother's Day!!!