Le Mouton Noir Bakehouse Watercolor and Ink Stillman & Birn Beta Series Sketchbook 5.5 x 8.5 Inches

KJ (Catching Happiness) and I ventured forth this past Friday for an adventure. We went to our downtown area to a bakehouse named Le Mouton Noir Bakehouse. She'd read about it in the newspaper and we're always game to try new restaurants and Friday's weather was too spectacular to stay inside.

So off we went. We both took sketchbooks and cameras. By the time we found the restaurant, we were starving. Starving. We kinda got lost in our own hometown! We're blaming Google Maps...but before I digress to far...

I can assure you that sketching and painting was not at the top of my priority list by the time we arrived.

So, what's an artist to do?

Compromise.

I decided to sketch the food in pen then took out my camera and snapped a quick shot before digging in! I figured I would add color once I had convinced my stomach that my throat had not been slashed, but it didn't happen at the restaurant.

Later, when I arrived home, I was no more in the mood to paint than I was to to clean the house. And yet, I didn't want an unfinished page in my sketchbook. (The house being dirty didn't bother me. Never does and rewards don't seem to work either.)

Using compromise to finish the page didn't work because there was no reward (like getting to eat)…or was there? What could be my reward, besides a finished page?

A really, really good piece of chocolate!

You may be struggling to get back into the sketchbook habit. How can you reward yourself to create a page and finish it? What will your reward be?

The second element I incorporated was to challenge myself.

The idea of sitting down and spending an hour—or more—to finish the page held no appeal to me. Since it was a super quick sketch to begin with, I saw no reason to labor over the painting portion of the project.

To keep the quick-sketch feel of the page, I set myself a challenge to see how quickly I could paint the page. In total, I have about 25-30 minutes in the page.

Consider other ways you might challenge yourself: limit your palette to 3 colors or even one; just received new art supplies? Incorporate some of those new supplies. Use only pencil or pen. Use no pen or pencil and just paint. Limit your time. Add a piece of collage such as a patterned paper or part of the menu. The ideas are endless.

Evaluate the page becomes a matter of perspective. Is it a successful piece of art? Depends on your perspective.

In my case, I have recognizable objects. I have a record of a very fun day with gorgeous weather and a good friend. I also have a reminder of a great restaurant that I'll visit again soon. Considering I didn't want to sketch and I didn't want to paint it in the first place, I consider this a successful page.

Creativity to comes in many different strengthens and concentrations. If we focus on what we can do with what we have rather than what we can't do (for whatever reason/excuse) or what we don't have (time, interest, inspiration), we will almost always surprise ourselves with what we do. 

Being creative doesn't require time, money, or inspiration. It requires doing.

I've had to push myself lately. What about you? Are you struggling too? Tell me how you're going to push yourself to be creative by simply doing. Tell me about your rewards too!

Pumpkin Pancakes at IHOP Watercolor and Ink Pineapple Journal 5.5 x 5.5 Inches

Have you ever notice that a home improvement project will take over and totally eclipse your otherwise sane life?

If you answered no, consider yourself lucky. If you answered yes, you commiseration is greatly appreciated. We are reluctant do-it-yourselfer's. We're too picky about what we want and how we want it done to hire out the job so we always end up doing it ourselves.

Chris and I have decided it was finally time to tackle the long hallway in our house. The hallway that has 7 doors and slightly resembles a hotel hallway. (What was the builder thinking?!)

So there is our first challenge...we decided we would try to "disguise" two of the doors by making them less obvious.

Our second challenge came from the fact that the people who built this house did not prime any of the walls. They used the old, thick wallpaper paste and glued wallpaper up—over drywall. Oh yay. Can you say damage?

The prior owner removed the wallpaper as it was very (VERY) dated. In the process of removing the paper all the walls were left with an "interesting" texture. If it had been a texture we could have worked with, great, but no. Instead, it looked like exactly what it was—damaged. In fairness, I have to say I don't think anybody could have removed the paper and the glue without damaging the walls.

Our third and final (?) challenge is that this hallway is in the center of our home and you don't go anywhere without accessing the hallway. That meant there was no way to shut it off and work on it. If we tried to drywall, even with wet sanding, we'd be cleaning dust long after the cows had come home and the chickens had roosted. (In case you've forgotten, I am NOT nor will I EVER be a good housekeeper—there are too many other things I would RATHER be doing!)

So, we've looked at textured paint products, heavy wallpaper, paneling, drywall textures, and something else I'm not recalling to the point of ad nauseum. Without success. Nothing looked promising as the walls are so messed up. We were quite perplexed.

Enter the power of the internet.

I was surfing the web in search of paint grade v-groove planks that were not 5/8 of an inch thick. Oh yeah, there's another challenge...the hallway's not particularly wide and it's dark. We don't want to make it narrower nor darker.

After getting frustrated with all the big DIY box store web sites, I started thinking we were going to have to "settle" for a product that neither of us were crazy about but would do the job. To blow out a little of the frustration I switched over to looking at pictures on Google.

I stumbled across a very talented woman who had used paint-grade v-groove planks to redo her dining room ceiling! Oh boy! Not only did she show a photo of the product, she also mentioned where she purchased it. A year ago.

To make a long story a little shorter, I skipped over to Lowe's yesterday to find out if they still carried the product as their web site was not answering my questions. Sure enough they had it, but it was on clearance. Yay! Oh, wait, oh no...

Luckily, I had managed to find one of those super nice, super knowledgable, super helpful sales people. He helped me source the additional planks we would need at another store nearby.

After picking up our spiffy new planks, we came home and reevaluated our project—and right before our eyes—it expanded! Poof! Just like that.

Dang.

We were going to need even more boards. So bright and (too) early this morning, we hiked over to IHOP for breakfast which just happens to be conveniently located right across the street from Lowe's.

Since I love just about anything pumpkin, I was delighted to see Pumpkin Pancakes on the menu! As for the wonky sketch of them above...I can only say that I had not yet had any coffee when I started drawing...BUT...it rather captures the mood of the morning with all its wonkiness! And the pancakes were delicious.

After returning to Lowe's, we bumped into Mr. Super Helpful Sales Guy and he once again helped us to locate the additional boards we need. Yay!

All this and we haven't even started the project. And yes, it has taken over our lives. I rather dread the coming month.

Have no doubts...you will be hearing more about the ongoing saga, and maybe, just maybe I'll be able to wrangle some more of those pumpkin pancakes out of the deal!

Our third day had us exploring the Painted Ladies near Alamo Square. These Victoria beauties simply sparkled in the bright sunshine! It was a brilliant day to be out walking and exploring. So much so that before the day was over, we'd walk over 16,000 steps!! (I worked it out in miles, but I didn't right it down and I don't remember now. I do remember it was a bunch! Maybe KJ will remember?)

No matter where you are in San Francisco, you cannot help but notice all the things green, growing and blooming!
This is one of two cats I managed to photograph during our entire stay. I have 100's of dog photos and two cats—hopefully, all the kitties were just inside, safe and sound, snoozing away.
Something I've recently discovered about myself is that whereas I can paint detailed architectural structures, I don't much like to....I get bored long before I get done! In the future, I will probably pick a doorway, a pretty window, etc. rather than the whole darn thing! This is quite simplified but you probably wouldn't guess it without seeing the photo reference.
You could spend a lifetime painting just flowers and gardens or just houses or just doors or just....you get the idea!

And then, wouldn't you know it, but we stumbled into the cutest little restaurant (11 blocks away from the Painted Ladies, so yes, I do mean stumbled!)....

French made macaroons, no less! These are caramel and they were soooooo good that we had to go back down the block to their bakery to buy a box of these little gems. Now, you know if we had to go back down the block, they were good!
I've even forgotten what kind of coffee we had, but I remember it as being very tasty whatever it was! I will also mention that I had a couple of macaroons from a different bakery—and I was not impressed. In fact, I'm glad I had these first or I probably wouldn't have been tempted to try any others.
 Kay, I think it was you who asked if we found any pralines and/or beignets...at any rate, someone asked, and no, we didn't find any, but we did find these delicious little bites of joy! Soooooo yummy! And trust me when I tell you those will not be my last macaroon.

Lunch revived us so off we went in search of Japantown.....

Fried Corn Fritters

No, this is not becoming a food blog! However, I feel compelled to share that I have met and overcome a lifelong fear of...................hot grease!

Yeah, I know....not all that thrilling, but true, all the same. I have been afraid of hot grease since I will big enough to know what hot grease was and I wasn't even big enough to reach the stove yet!

My mother doesn't understand it nor does she know where the fear came from. She doesn't remember me ever getting close enough to the stove to get burnt by a pop of grease. Mom even wonders if she may have gotten burned while she was pregnant with me, if you believe those kinds of things.

Still, when my hubby asked me to make deep fried corn fritters for Valentine's Day, I knew my moment had come to face down my fear.

Failure was not an option.

After realizing I fully intended to try frying the fritters, my husband casually suggested that perhaps I should wait until he got home from work! I guess I should have been insulted, but it was actually a pretty funny comment at the time.

I carefully heated the grease in the kitchen kettle my mother had given us a few years ago and set about mixing up the fritter batter. When the grease reached 400º, I started dropping in the batter.

It took a several attempts and testing a few different tools before I had the nice round, puffy fritters you see in the photo.

But let me tell you, I was the domestic diva last night when Chris popped one in his mouth and pronounced it excellent! (Mind you, he hasn't had his mother's in 6 or 7 years, so I didn't have any real stiff competition.)

I had finally bested my fear of the hot grease. Yay me!!!

Corn Fritters
P.S. This is a "special occasion" food unless you're looking to fast-track yourself to a heart attack!

White Velvet Cake Buttercream Frosting Pink Sugar Sprinkles

Whether baking or painting, life can provide lessons in unexpected places.

I decided I wanted to try a recipe I found on the web called White Velvet Cake because we absolutely love Red Velvet Cake! Besides, I thought it would be a fun treat for Chris. And Leott. And Paul. And Mom and Dad.....and anybody else who can grab fast enough!

White Velvet.....doesn't that just sound like really good cake?

It is.

So where do the lessons come in?

I don't know how much baking you do from scratch, but I can tell you I don't do a lot.

Sugar, sweets, bread and pasta are the bane of my existence. I have no willpower whatsoever when it comes to anything in the sweets category.

I find it best to simply avoid them.

Therefore, I don't bake them.

Because then I will eat them. ALL of them. Until they are GONE.

Hmmm, I digress.....

In preparing the batter, I learned my mixer is not big enough nor strong enough (it's as old or older than I am!) to prepare the batter as they describe in the recipe.

Next time, I'll do it in batches and then combine it together in the end.

The cake was suppose to be light and fluffy....instead, it's rather dense. It has a fabulous flavor though—almost like wedding cake if you happen to be a fan of really, Really, REALLY good wedding cake! (Yes. I am.)

White Velvet Cake Valentine's Day 2012 Watercolor Pineapple Journal

Like most new recipes and new art styles, it takes a little practice and a little tweaking to make it your own.

I am not a loose painter.

I am determined to become one.

This was done without pencil, going in direct with paint.

Sometimes, having a plan (pencil lines) can be helpful. Other times, it can be restrictive.

Like the cake, this didn't quite turn out to my expectations.....I have no idea why it looks like it's sliding downhill.

But like the cake recipe, I'll keep tweaking this new style of painting until I get closer to what I see in my mind's eye.

Will it ever match?

Not likely.

It might be even better!

I hope you have a fabulous Valentine's Day!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear a piece of cake calling my name..........

Strawberries (No pencil) Watercolor with ink for the text only Double Spread Pineapple Journal

I spent the day in the technological world of web sites yesterday.

All day.

It made me cranky.

The best antidote I know to getting over crankiness is to paint.

Here's the results of my "fix." And just like painting outside on location, painting live in your own kitchen can be an adventure.

Midway through, the clouds covered up the sun and I lost my shadows.

So what does any good artist do when the shadows leave?

Make up their own, of course.

After looking at the photo, I've decide this spread needs a "surprise" element added to it.

Wonder what it will be.........

Some days I wonder what I was thinking about when I look back at my sketches because it's obvious I was not thinking about what I was sketching!

IHOP Coffee Carafe Watercolor and Ink 5 x 5 Inches

Yesterday was errand day and I had about a half dozen places I needed to visit. I wanted to make it home in time for lunch, but it was not to be. Running around in the rain (finally!) seems to slow things down a bit.

Anyway, I stopped off at Panera as it happens to be right next to the book store. I moseyed through there first and picked up a couple of magazines with the intention of reading through lunch since I didn't have my usual partner in crime with me.

As I sat looking at my lunch, I thought, "well, gee, that kinda looks like a picture....."**

So, what is one to do with a pretty-as-a-picture salad? Why, draw it in their sketchbook, of course!

I drew out the main shapes of chicken, tomato, pecans, blue cheese crumbles and some of the purply lettuce. Once I had enough down on the page, I started eating. By the time I finished my lunch, I just about had the sketch completed.

After looking at it at home, I realized I needed to go back and throw in some darker greens and darken the bowl too.

This was one of my more successful "sketching food" adventures, I'm pleased to say.

It was kinda fun. It was even more fun when I saw the one guy leaning over the banister to watch what I was doing. He never said anything though. Bet you didn't know that sketching in public is another form of performance art!?!

Pen and Watercolor in a crummy sketchbook

And this is where I finished.

This is a "sketchbook" that came with a leather portfolio I purchased several years ago...for the portfolio. The paper in this sketchbook is not worth a plug nickel! Ink, watercolor, even ballpoint pen all show through to the other side. If it didn't say sketchbook on the front cover, I'd wonder....

However, paper is paper and 'tis good for playing around!

**Side note: With the rain, comes lots of really bad headaches for me from the drop in barometric pressure and allergy flair-ups.....which leads to a rather slow reaction time otherwise known as "doh!!"