Inktober 2024 - 14 Lighthouse

Inktober 2024 Challenge

14 - Lighthouse

I penciled my composition on the 5x7 inch piece of Mixed Media 154lb paper.  Went over it with a fine black marker.

Watercolored the sky warm blue then the sea cooler.  Mixed a brown color for the rocks in the foreground.

Darkened the dome and lantern house. Added light to the upper windows. Painted the glass of the gallery. I added a bit of shading to the windows in the tower. I thought it needed a red door with a smidge of grass at the foot. 

 Birds in the sky is a must.

Inktober 2024 - 06 Grain Elevator

An Alberta icon for today's drawing for Inktober 2024.

06 Grain Elevator

Black marker and watercolor.

I know the color is off but I did the best I could with what I had.

These are disappearing across our prairies.

Made up a ground cover and yes there should be tracks very near this building but I missed them in my creating.

I used a photo for reference so I think my lines are better on this one.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I took a visit to the St. Albert Botanic Park this week.  The flowers are all looking good. 

This is a White Geranium.  It may get overlooked with the dahlias, roses, and other garden flowers.

I think this one turned out really wonderful.

The light purple veins with a subtle green center and the light play on it was really good.









This shell chime is one that my sister made for me many years ago.  It hangs in the corner of the bedroom by the window.  It lets me know if the wind is picking up outside when the window is open in the summer.

It clinks away quietly when there is a small breeze and I really enjoy it as I lay in bed in the morning before I get up. 

Filling my gratitude journal today.



This shot reminds me that the large light in my kitchen is working again.  It was not cooperating for several days this week and with no window it was dark in there.  I have the light under the stove fan but it was not the same as the large light.

I put new daylight fluorescent tubes in the fixture and it is bright again. Yeah!

I last replaced those in October 2009 so I think that excellent value for the $10 it cost me.

I take things for granted so much.  That when I flip the switch light will appear.  Again, grateful.

A new deadbolt in the door. 

Yes, I replaced it in January and the locksmith drilled it out yesterday to get me back into my place.   They have you over a barrel and instead of picking it drilling means they will sell you a new deadbolt as well.  It is what it is.

I had purchased the door knob in the satin nickel on Saturday to match the deadbolt. This type of handle matches the ones I put on the inside doors about 10 years ago. I was intending to put it in myself but the young locksmith offered to do for me.  It was a quick and easy job for him as he chose the pieces he needed from the package.

Again, I am so grateful for the good people in the world who extend themselves to help others.

My mosaic this week is downtown buildings.

I took a long walk downtown this week as well.  I captured some of the architecture of the buildings.  On the left is our Art Gallery.  Randall Stout, the architect chosen to design the Art Gallery of Alberta building, took inspiration from the city’s unique northern environment and urban grid. Stout juxtaposed angular windows against a winding 190-metre steel ribbon that references the forms of the North Saskatchewan River and Aurora Borealis.
In the center is the Gibson Block Building built in 1913. The Gibson Block Building, also known as the Flatiron Building, is a large wedge-shaped four-storey brick building constructed for commercial use on four city lots at the eastern edge of Edmonton's pre-World War One commercial core.
On the right is the Double Tree by Hilton hotel in the Quarters area of downtown.  I love the glass facade which captures reflections beautifully. 

The Flickr Macro Monday challenge this week was Numbers. The acceptable ones were Roman or Arabic.  On the left, I have chosen Rummikub tiles in three colors. 

Check out my Flickr Photostream SMDPics to see the one I submitted.

 I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #89  and Mersad who hosts Through my Lens #249   

Have a safe and healthy week.

Cityscapes Photo Calendar

I've completed my black and white 4x6 photo calendar for 2017.  I was given some feedback last year that street photography and black and white photos would provide more variety to my the calendars I was offering.  Taking that to heart I started looking outside my comfort zone of macro photography.  I thought they would be landscapes and wide open spaces but I chose some cityscapes instead. The calendar includes buildings, bridges, parks, lighting and doorways.  I meant several trips to the downtown core as well as some early morning trips to get good contrast in my shots. I chose to also make it black and white.  It was a stretching experience and I am better for it. 

Share Your Cup - The Bs

These are the blues that came to me this week.

I found another dish that matches my blue dinnerware.  I'm not sure who makes it because there is absolutely no markings on the bottom at all.

I needed a bottle brush for my travel mug and my yellow tea pot so I was on the look out.  I found this one at IKEA the other day and look at the color!!! The price was great as well.

These are the birds I saw this week.  I was working at the dining room table which faces a large window and movement caught my eye. I checked and saw this bird on the tree outside.  It had a red throat/chest so I'm not sure what type it is.  The other was a bird of a different kind.  Again, as the late afternoon sun hit the plane it stood out in the clear blue sky.

During my late afternoon walk I caught the sun on the dome of this government building.  The shine as it hits the edge, the completely still flag, and the trees in the foreground all contribute to a great picture.

That's some of my week.

Submitting to Share Your Cup hosted by Carol at Art & Sand.

Christmas Card Challenge - May - Christmas Buildings

The challenge for May is Christmas Buildings. Some ideas are; a stable, church with lit up windows, small cottage in woods, house, grand mansion, castle, igloo with lights, or general store.  What comes to your mind?

I chose several different buildings.  The first, is eastern looking buildings which may have been in Bethlehem with stars in the sky. This is a recycled Christmas card which I mounted to a green card.



The second is a snow covered cottage in the deep woods.  The lights are on as the sun sets.  There's a snowman in the front yard near the path in the deep snow to the front door. It is a recycled Christmas card which I mounted to a green card.  I added a gold Stampin Up! Modern Label in gold with a Word Window greeting.  This was mounted on 3D foam tape.


The third is a large house dare I say "mansion" with a wreath on the front door.  The lights inside create a welcoming and inviting feeling to those approaching.  It is a recycled Christmas card mounted on golden yellow card stock then onto deep green card.  I added a SU Modern Label punch with a color printed greeting.