New Potatoes for Lunch Raspberries for Dessert

I had a chance to get out in my container garden today but forgot to bring my camera along. It will be a while before I figure out what I can and can't drag along with the wheelchair.

I trimmed up and re-arranged the Fairy Garden and then noticed my potato plants had more or less dropped over and were staring to shrivel up so I though I might as well pull them and make lunch.

When I've finished cleaning out that big pot I'll try some late season lettuce, radishes and maybe some peas.

That end of my driveway doesn't get a lot of strong sun so I think they'll be fine.

We've had enough black raspberries coming that I've been able to send pints home with everyone that's stopped by to visit.

I'm thinking about throwing some into muffins at tea time.

I need to be doing some drawing and painting but haven't quite gotten around to it lately

Next Step to the hearts Dala Horse

The hearts and other details are added in a darker shade of pink. (In this case it's #20346 Pure Pink) Use a round brush for the hearts and comma strokes and a liner brush for the eyes, bit and bridle (the parts around the face)

This part of the project goes pretty fast. Let it dry and finish with tiny white dots around the edges in the smallest round, liner or detail brush that you can find.

Back at the worktable

We found the key we were looking for and labeled some of the others before clearing them away and getting back to work.

I just finished sanding this and am ready to start painting. This one will be another attempt at a nice valentine's heart design. There's just one change I plan to make with it this time, the small heart below the saddle area on the first one seemed to throw the balance off so I plan to eliminate that and enhance the design of the larger heart. I'll add more  pictures as I go.

There's no need to use an expensive paint because these are going to be used as decorations for a Birthday Party next month so I'm using Apple Barrel Gloss Acrylic Pint by Plaid in a 2 oz bottle. It costs around a dollar at Wal-mart and the color I'm starting with is #20631 Pink blush.

Base Coat with pink blush and after it drys, sand anything that needs it and repaint it.

A fresh approach to the Sunflower painting

Sometimes it's easy to over think things. My plan today is just to relax and fall into it. I'm not even going to pick colors. I'm  just going to shake up the paint box and reach in like a prize drawing,  grabbing ten tubes at random and using whatever colors I end up with.

If nothing else I think it will be fun and interesting. Music would be nice too, I still find myself listening to Donovan and The Moody Blues all these decades later because of the way Donovan often mentioned paint colors in the song lyrics. It often helps me when I get stuck and can't decide what I want to reach for next. I'm not sure what it is about the Moody Blues but I've done some of my best work while listening to them.

Seeing Red

I continue to mix different shades of reds as I fill the 16 by 20 inch canvas.

It looks as though the balance has shifted and I've somehow lost control of the basic composition I was working with.

I find blogging helpful because it makes me stop to shoot photos and as I write about them it helps me get a better idea of where my project is going.

Having other opinions helps too so thanks again for all of your comments.

painting trees on anything with whatever you've got

I'm still experimenting with the idea of painting a landscape on these little wooden horses. Each time I do one, I use a different assortment of paints and brushes as well as choosing whether or not to show more branches or trunks.

Your choice of brushes and paints depend on the size and type of the surface you're working with.

Bottle paints or plain house paints are best on smooth surfaces and artist's tube paints are heavier and more likely to stay where you want them on a rougher surface. An added benefit is that thicker paints will cover or fill small flaws and make your work easier.

Use smaller brushes on a small surface and larger ones on the big pieces. Experiment to find which type of a brush is going to give you the effect you want.

Don't forget your hands, small sticks or anything else that will make marks in the sizes or shapes that you want.