Sketching Practice

Sketching Again

How does time pass so quickly? It's been a while since I posted anything. There are two reasons for this: 1) I couldn't think of anything witty to write and 2) I didn't have any new artwork to share. Ashamed at my lack of resolve to keep this blog current I gathered some art supplies and set to work.

Picture me digging through my art room looking for the box with my drawing pencils. I felt like a dog who had misplaced his buried bone. The room looked like a spring lawn attacked by gophers. There were hills and mounds everywhere. It turned into a scavenger hunt as my semi-orderly room was tuned over pile by pile as I looked for my favorite pencils, erasers, and blending stumps. Eventually I found what I fondly call the essentials. Armed with my pregnant looking journal and a new book called "Drawing Portraits for Dummies" I set to work. My drawing skills are rusty but I did the first exercise before retiring for the night. I scanned the sketch for you to enjoy.

I made it through the Thanksgiving holiday and even managed to lose 4.25 pounds. This is my first big loss since joining Weight Watchers a month ago. I finally earned my 5 pound bookmark. I owe it all to Pumpkin Fluff. I love this stuff. I raced home after the meeting (okay so I always race) and made another batch to reward myself. I ate so much I feel like a pumpkin. Here's the recipe in case you want to give it a try.

Pumpkin Fluff

1 box vanilla sugar-free fat-free instant pudding
1 box butterscotch sugar-free fat-free instant pudding
4 cups skim milk
l large can pumpkin
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon nutmeg
4 0unces (1/2 small carton) fat-free cool whip

Blend the two boxes of pudding with the milk until thick. Blend in the pumpkin and spices. Blend in the cool whip

Scoop into a bowl and top with some cool whip and eat. Lick the spoon. Scrape some into a reduced-fat graham cracker pie crust and chill for Pumpkin Fluff Pie.

I can't believe I ate this stuff all weekend and still lost weight. I like it even better than regular pumpkin pie and that's one of my favorite desserts. The best part is my husband and daughter like it okay but they don't LOVE it like I do. More for me!!

I'd share the 1 point Brownie recipe but those turned out like shoe leather. My daughter hates them. My husband said it reminded him of chocolate jerky. He ate two squares this morning because he had a pot of coffee to wash them down with. I think that recipe could cure a chocoholic.

Collaged journal entry from the past.

It's Cold Outside

It's cold outside again. Warm. Cold. Comfortble. Cold. We're on a weather yo-yo. I opt for warm or comfortable or even hot. I'm tired of cold hands and feet and noses already and winter isn't even here yet. Bring on the quilts and sweaters and slippers.

I started a new diet. I'm three pounds lighter this week. I swing from hungry to full, seldom satisfied. I fill up on vegetables and fruit and wait until I'm starving again. I feel like a walking bag of mixed salad with a dash of low-fat ranch dressing. I should be drinking more water but there is nothing worse than water logged lettuce or squishy vegetables.

I haven't had much time for art or to write in my journal. I try to snatch an hour or so every couple of days. I'm using double stick tape and old photos or clipart or pages from swaps and writing around them. Not very creative but I have to do something. After art journaling for a few years now the plain old penmanship entries just don't get it for me. I long for a block of uninterrupted time to sketch or paint or play with my art supplies. Instead I surf the web and look at what others are creating thereby wasting the slice of creative time available to me.

My life reminds me of a song I learned in Junior High School called My Grandfather's Clock. The pendulum swings back and forth...cold...comfortable...hungry...full...busy...bored...thrifty...wasteful. There isn't much in between time...comfortable...satisfied...occupied...creative.

I'll Never Be Good Enough

I'll never be good enough. That's one of the lies my inner critic likes to whisper in my ear whenever I try to squeeze in a bit of art or writing in those minutes between the lull and the storm. I can think of hundreds of people who write or draw or collage better than I do.

Another lie is that is should be perfect. If it can't be perfect or at least very good then I'd better not waste my time with it. Or how about this one...It's too much effort to pull out all those supplies just for one page and then have to put them all away again or tip toe around the mess.

Here's another...I work better in a clean space and this space just isn't clean enough AND I'm not in the mood to clean it.

Today's entry is proof that I don't have to be inspired to just write. I don't even have to do well at it. I give myself 2 points for the effort. Now I have to go find something to eat that's worth 2 points.

Altered Playing Card

Scribbles

Beginnings

It's nice to begin again. I've been so busy with work and school and starting a new diet that I seldom have time for writing in my journal or creating art.

My previous excuse for not dieting was that I didn't have time. Funny how I find the time to eat though. Now to find time to create and write.

Rhetorical Question:
Why is it that going on a diet makes me so hungry? Usually I can skip meals until I'm starved and then get away with eating whatever I want. It takes less to fill me up that way. On a diet I feel hungry when I eat more food. There are some days I'm so hungry I'm tempted to gnaw my arm off. Therefore I am now officially into comfort foods. This week's comfort food is soup. We had chili a few days ago when it was chilly out. Today I made veggie soup for vegging out. It feels good to be full. It feels comforting. Nice hot soup is soothing and filling. Try some!