Inktober 2024 - 10 Marks and Color

Inktober 2024 Challenge

10 Marks and Color

Black Watercolor and washes on Canson Fluid Mixed Media 154lb paper.

I chose a fine, medium and wide brush to make my black watercolor marks. I penciled a grid then filled in the spaces.

I made a variety of marks to create some texture.

I wanted a bit of color so I put in 2 washes.

I regret adding the spattering at the end.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

My sister cooked turkey for my visit following our Thanksgiving here in Canada.  I am lucky that my brother in law will eat turkey anytime.  They were with their daughter for the celebrations so there were no precious leftovers so it was good to cook a bird at her house.

I am very grateful for the thoughtfulness and willingness to do it on her part.

Of course, it was delicious and I brought a take away meal home as well which was fortunate because I was caught in a traffic jam on our biggest highway and got home two hours later than anticipated.  Someone died in the accident that caused the jam I was again grateful to be home with just the gas tank a little lower than expected.

I have spent the last few weeks reading non fiction for at change, not deliberately but it was interesting.

I was intrigued by the title so I brought it home.  If They Say No Just Say Next! by John Fuhrman. It is a sentiment I have come to appreciate to live a happier life. A no is an opportunity to change directions, change my mind, rethink where I am at.  It's not fun but the quicker I accept and move on the better for my mental health.

This book was written for a multi-level business model so there were parts I just skimmed over.  There were some good life lessons I was reminded of so it was worth giving it a read.

 

Chicken Soup of the Soul - O Canada - Jack Canfield Mark Victor Hansen Amy Newmark was the next book.  These are always uplifting stories.  I knew for sure that I would relate to some of the stories but I have to say though after the 6th hockey story I just started skipping the hockey ones.  It was likely half the book but the other half was good as usual.

Dropped Threads - What We Weren't Told - Edited by Carol Shields and Marjorie Anderson.  Again, the title intrigued me so I brought it home.

Stories of Canadian women from various stages of life and many walks of life.  I did read all the stories but some I really could not relate to.

It broadened my understanding of the lives and struggles of women not like me.  Those who were mothers, those who had high profile careers, and those who suffered injustices.

Definitely worth a read as I am sure there are universal women themes which will likely be relatable.

I am ready for a great novel.

I picked up this pretty daisy shaped watercolor palette in my shopping trips for unique diffuser containers.  

It was very inexpensive and I did think of making it a diffuser but no inspiration came of it so it has been moved to the craft table.

I went to visit Mom on the weekend.  She is doing so much better.  She has a ways to go physically by I felt I had my Mom back.  

We had a good visit and played a few games which was really nice.  I ran the necessary errands and she had a nap.

I stayed over at my sisters and we woke to heavy frost on the world around us.  It made all things sparkly and bright.  It was cold at -5C.

One the drive home I saw fog for a while but then the sun burnt it off the the rest of the few hours was great.

I saw Snow Geese up close for the first time!  In years past, I have seen them in fields in the spring on their way up to the Arctic. Earlier this month, on a trip see Mom I had seen them on one of the lakes but it is a busy highway and there was no chance to stop plus I was due someplace.

I went for a walk while Mom rested and I heard this cackling and looked around to see the source.  Across the lake I could see a sea of white.  I hurried back to the car and drove around the end of the lake to the other side. There they were!  All bobbing in the water, some slowly descending to the water surface.  Their distinct white bodies with black wing tips. The sound was loud.  The flock stuck together as they have been traveling in a groups for days already with a long ways to go.  During the hour that I spent with them they flew up into the air en masse a couple of times.  It is truly amazing. I am so glad that after glimpses I was able to experience them up close.  

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I took a walk over the new Tawatina LRT Bridge on the weekend.  It has been open to foot traffic for a while but the train is not up and running for passenger traffic yet.  Testing is still taking place.

It is a beautiful bridge and I will take a ride across it on the train when the time is right.

The bridge is wide and leaves lots of room for quite a few folks.  Of course, I was there with the birds in the morning so it was delightful to have it mostly to myself.

The Muttart Conservatory is the stop on the south side of the river and the walk across brings one to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park in the downtown area.  For those downtown that want a quick trip to the Muttart it is perfect!

I walked the grounds of the Muttart Conservatory as it was before the pyramids opened at 10:00 am.

I found Maratagon Lilies which are also at the St. Albert Botanic Park.  

This one is named Fairy Morning which features yellow and peach colors.  There were several varieties in the flower bed.

I'm not sure when I will going inside the pyramids as there not much room to social distance.  I anticipate another wave of COVID 19 in the fall so I continue to wear my mask and social distance with strangers.

The LRT construction has had a big impact on the grounds so there are less flowers than before.

I added some pieces to my white dinnerware by Myott (1952) with some Snowhite Regency by Johnson Brothers.  These pieces came from my sister who received the donated card making supplies earlier this year. These had been in storage for quite a few years.  I believe these pieces are from the 1960's.  I was able to add 4 dinner plates, 4 cups and saucers, 6 dessert plates, and 2 oval serving pieces.  Super happy!

I finished this Nicholas Sparks - See Me books this week.

The main character is Colin Hancock who is making a real effort to change his ways.  He had psychological help from a therapist in coping mechanisms to keep him out of the trouble he has had in the past. Training his body, running to wear off energy, keeping his anger under control, no drinking of alcohol and practicing his listening skills are all working pretty well.  He meets Maria Sanchez on the beach.  As always with Nicholas it is a quick romance to spending days and night together.

Maria is moving up the career ladder as a lawyer. This current job comes with some relationship challenges with one of the bosses. He approaches her during a out of town conference and suggests a way for her to make partner.  She turns him down then struggles to keep out of his way.

It begins to be clear someone is stalking her and sending her gifts and threatening her - but who?  Is the boss, is it someone from one of her previous cases?   Of course, Colin now in love is having a hard time controlling his emotions and his behaviors.   I found the intensity of the story quite challenging, Colin is out of control a couple of times which did not sit well with me.  I did not really relate to this story very much.

I am really enjoying my small watercolors cards for Christmas and other occasions.

I have tubes of water color which have not seen the light of day for years.  These were acquired at sales and generally at price discounts.  My sister and I have done large sheet backgrounds in the past. 

I decided to pull these out and use them but I needed a way to make them available.  I did a search and there were several ideas for travel watercolor palettes.  I headed over the Delta Art and purchased empty half pans at over $1 each.

I placed them in this cough drop tin and filled them with blobs of color from the tubes I had. I was able to have several versions of the 3 primary colors - blue, red and yellow.  I will be able to mix many color from these.

It does not give me much mixing space but I can use a white dinner plate for that purpose.

I have written down the colors on the left and I did paint a sample of each color in the photo above. I think I have 2 reds which are very similar. 

I painted 2 small landscapes just to give the colors a go. I will make cards with them later.

I did come across a way cheaper option for this project which I will share the link here.  She uses a dollar store eye shadow box which I thought was genius.

Still scoping out salt free snacks.  I found a large 630gm bags of these a Sobey's store on my trip south a few weeks ago.  

Have yet to check them out here in the city but it is on the ToDo List

It is hard to find healthy options at a good price and easily available because that is not what most people want.   I will keep at it.