Traveling vicariously by Art Journal #2

Since coming back from vacation in March in Iceland, I think I am ready for someplace with warmer temperatures. Don't get me wrong, Iceland is GORGEOUS, and like no other place on this earth I am convinced. But sideways rain, and having to wear snowboots on spring break wasn't as comfortable as the places I would be listed below. 

Despite the giant pythons and alligator-eating-children in Florida, I would love to see Key West. Something about all of those pastel buildings and islands that scream tropical vacation, without leaving the states!

What's even better than Florida? Tuscany Italy! While it may not have warm sandy beaches and cold fruity alcholic beverages, the vineyards and rolling hills seem romantic and dreamy just as well. This is my husband's dream vacation, and I really hope to get there with him for that honeymoon we never were able to take.

Dandelions

Seeing those giant dandelions in my yard, I usually will struggle to pull them. They are easy to break at the root, and just grow back! But then, after doing some reading up on the benefits of this plant, I have a little more respect for it! I still will pull most of them that are invasive, but will definitely make a wish while blowing the delicate seeds.

Memories Journal #4

Southern Oregon is a place like no other. Golden hills, pear orchards, volcanic areas to the east, coastal mountains to the west, and the Rogue Valley is deep. I spent 8 years of my childhood here-from age 6 to 14, and feel like it is truly home. It does not have the rain fall that Portland does, and it can get hot. What is really unique about Southern Oregon is there are not one, but TWO table rocks very close by. I hiked one during a 6th grade field trip, and was amazed by the unique nature there. This sketch shows one of the table rocks. I truly love this area with my whole heart, and feel complete when I go back to visit.

Memories Journal #3

In October 1978, I was almost six years old, and with my 25 year old mother, she drove us from North Carolina cross country to Oregon. I recall spending days in that old car looking out the window, but don't remember much except one place-Texas. This is not one of my good memories. Our car had major trouble and we were stuck. I remember the fear I felt from my mom, and I didn't like the landscape of where we were. There were these ugly 'hammer machines' everywhere, and later I learned these were oil pumps. It was so vastly different from the trees and lushness of where we had come from. To this day, I still see Texas as a negative place. I have only been there once since, and that was on another cross country trip in 2012. No breakdowns then.

Memories Journal #2

Living in North Carolina in 1977, we lived near the beach. I would dig my own little pool in the wet sand, but couldn't figure out why the water would disappear when I poured the seawater from my bucket. When the waves came crashing in, I screamed in terror fearing that I would be swept away. Maybe I perished in a tsunami in a former life?

Memories Journal #1

My watercolor sketchbook collection won't stop growing. I just purchased another Bee Creative watercolor book now made with 100% cotton. This is far superior (IMHO) to the 25% cotton paper. It is an 8 X 8 book with 30 sheets, and feels very high quality for the price.

This new journal will focus on haikus that describe memories I have of various places traveled or lived in. Some of these memories aren't necessarily good ones, but definitely shaped me. Most of us are trying to forget those less than perfect memories that bring back pain, but as time goes on, we realize that pain made us better, stronger, or happier. 

#1 in my book takes place in 1975ish, living in rural North Carolina in an old single wide trailer with my mom, grandma and uncle who was just 10 years my senior. Money and space were tight, but I just remember having my family.

Traveling vicariously by Art Journal #3

I have been slowly filling up the Pentalic journal with places of travel that I have visited, hope to visit, or probably will never visit but still capture my fascination. 

This first image is of the Tjornon pond in downtown Reykjavik and is sketched from a photo I took in March while in Iceland. Yes, I made it there and you can see all of the beautiful places I visited on another one of my blogs. This pond was very peaceful with so many water fowl such as ducks, geese and swans. 

I don't find Australia particularly enticing to travel to especially with all of the reptiles and spiders it boasts, but I do find the Uluru rock amazing. It would seem like being in another world to see it.

The Faroe Islands are similar to Iceland without the volcanoes and tourism. It also appears to be much more isolated, which is intriguing to me. This is one country I would like to visit to see sights such as this waterfall.

Last but one of my favorites is this caldera with an acid lake that is located in Kamchatka Russia. Yes, it is this greenish aqua color due to the sulphur in it. There are a lot of places in Russia that I would like to explore by sketch.