Grapefruits anyone?

So it's 2013, January 1st - and I have not gone out of the house at all! However, my "tall" bro-in-law helped pick grapefruits off our one lonely tree in the backyard. Now we have grapefruits all over!

Looking back~

It's a new year 2013~ I am sitting by myself in my studio/dining room. I have been trying to reflect in this past year and think of all that has happened. I only think of my papa. He passed away January 4th of 2012. No warnings nothing, it felt like how before going to bed we shut off the house lights - probably starting from the kitchen and through the living room, maybe a hallway and then the bedroom. That's how my papa went - his life went out- click. Click. Click-his whole system shut down, and he was gone.
I had done this drawing in my sketch book sometime later, I can't remember when... But all I remembered were the many tubes and machines trying to revive him.
Time went on ticking and they kept trying to revive him but papa was gone. I miss my papa so much!

STORYTELLING

Sketch booking is a great tool to use for story telling. Just drawing is fine, but to add a little bit of story, a little tale behind the drawing gives it an added life! Many times the drawings come about because of a story. So, give it a try, fantasy, reality, myth or legend! What makes those cog wheels turn?
Sometimes, I create a story after I draw something too- so what story can you create from the pictures below?

What's in your bag or pocket?

It never ceases to amaze me how surprised people get when they see the contents of my bag. Like a photographer, I don't want to get caught without a camera and miss a great shot.
You never know when you come across a moment that needs to be memory stamped into your sketchbook! I always have several pens and pencils, brushes and watercolor set or two, some paper towel and of course The Sketchbook!
So what's in your pocket or bag?

Visiting SanAntonio

Last week went to San Antonio for the Texas Art Educators Association (TAEA) annual conference. It's really a beautiful city with the beautiful river walk, trees, markets and arts! Since I was presenting too, did not quite get the time to see as much as I would have liked to. However I did get to do some sketches in and around the hotel and convention center. I really need to get more organized about recording my travels.

Catch up Time

If HAS been ages since I have has time to write! Not that I stopped sketching, just busy getting the classes going. l have been doing small, random sketches around the school - and now I realized it is already time to do the first progress report cards!
So I have been playing with the ballpoint pen and these are what I scratched up- I think the speak the way I feel- 1) too many things to do, 2) working to the bone, and 3) now ready to jump to the next session!!

Kitchen Stuff

Ok so school started and I have been bogged down this whole month with all kinds of "teacher stuff"!! So what happens when I'm stressed out? Food, cooking and kitchen "stuff"! So.... I thought I would share my sketch done of a "Bangladeshi kitchen" - during my recent trip to Bangladesh!