This day was a bit of a turned down day. Overcast skies, a late rise (the result of a screeching middle of the night headache), the kitchen still disheveled by the grouting project Mike has on the go...all good reasons to just take it easy. There is a little chipmunk enjoying the sunflower seeds. Much to Freedom's chagrin he is very quick to scoot to the safety of the rocks beneath bird bath. The hairy woodpecker male brought one of his youngsters to feed on the suet log...so cool that he fed him there on the log to teach him the ropes. I had the company of a Jack Russell for an hour this afternoon. He has a rough coat and a skin condition so his 'mom' gets him shaved down like a smooth coated Russell. He was a good boy...just a bit cranky over his front legs. Life is good. I did not go any further on the dragon but I did finish the eye practice for wet canvas weekly challenge. It looks okay though I could use more eyeball practice before I do another protrait.

There is a few days of rain to deal with and a day of mixed weather to boot. Keeps me indoors which is good from an art standpoint. And so the dragon!

Today I worked the face. I like the progress and will continue working it a bit at a time. There is some excitement to this point. It is more than half way there!!!

I have finished the drawing of Mike's beloved white Boxer...the late Chance. It brought a dewy look to Mike's eye...and that is one more reason I cannot as yet draw my little Dexter dog. It has been five years since he died and I still can't see him through the tears that well up when I even think about looking a photos of him...some day soon I'll get to it. But now the dragon moves forward! I have managed some texure to his skin. I am planning some more for the face area but unsure as to what exactly as yet. There needs to be something a little more exciting and dynamic about his demeanor. What, what, what and then HOW???

Alas, nothing has progressed with the dragon...well nothing truly notic able. I deepened the tone here and there but I think I will have time later today to do more. There needs to be more visable texture worked into his hide which I see as leathery...tough yet flexible. I did finish the leaves challenge and I think I have come up with an idea for a series of mini bites of nature to go with these leaves. No, I cannot seem to complete one project at a time! The lighting in the tv room is not good enough for the dragon work so smaller less complex drawings work for that. I am also in the middle of a portrait of my Mike's beloved Boxer... the late and much missed 'Chance'. For now here is 'the leaves' and the waterlily from the creek where we do most of our kayaking.

Well now, a couple of days were lost to kayaking the creek and lake with my daughter. A most enjoyable way to catch up as we have not seen each other for several months. We went out first just on the lake so she could get used to the kayak. The next day the guys all went fishing...caught one trout...and we met up with them at the beach where they had set in. We started our paddle on the creek...went upstream for a bit to get some photos and then shot down to the lake and paddled the 5 miles or so to the beach. It is a very energizing recreation...I love it. The result is ofcourse just a few hours devoted to the dragon. It is all blocked in now. The rest of the work will be shading and possibly a background in charcoal...maybe. I am pleased with it so far but I am leaning toward more detail or perhaps the shading alone will improve the look. It remains to be seen. I scanned just the lower part first. The second shot is the pieced together scan to see all at once. I realise that the only proper way to view it is to photograph it which is what I'll do when it is completed. I have a little 'infront of the tv project' on the go now for wetcanvas's drawing challenge of the week. It is leaves. I found them rather dizzying to draw from the reference photo so I cropped out a simple section to draw. I need something to keep me from getting too dozey in the evening...old fogie!!

Yesterday the dragon effort felt disappointing to me. It did not go in the direction that pleased me. I look at it today a little less critically. I think there are changes to be made but I don't feel quite so down about it. The kayak trip up the creek and back today has lightened my mood. I feel less critical of myself as a result. MUST kayak more!!!! The creek bed is lush with growth, the water lilies are just beginning to open and the birds abound. It was truly a refreshing and much needed excursion. Again, MUST kayak more!!! Now What,The Thing Will Not Add A Picture. ÉÉÉ Okay it's a day later and now the picure uploaded okay.

Sometimes the most obvious place of all is the safest and most overlooked place to be. In the oblivious mass of millions of organisms there is a certain knowledge that the sound of one hand clapping will not be heard. It is reassuring in its lonely endeavour to deliberately not matter one bit in the grand scheme of things. A quiet walk through the woods today netted a few wildlower photos which I am pleased with. It has also left me feeling rather small.