Time to Relax!...a little.

Now that the rush of getting ready for Christmas, traveling to visit relatives, and having relatives over for Christmas day is over, I finally have a little time to relax...a little bit. There is plenty to do around here. I have to put away the decorations that were so carefully put out only a few weeks ago. I also need to get organized for the new year. But I am taking a few days to just relax and take it in. That is what Radar, the Papillion in the photo, is good at...just taking it all in. Here he is perched on the back of my mom's couch, in the sunshine, just watching everyone...so he doesn't miss a thing!

I did spend some time yesterday organizing my art studio clutter. I actually filled a trashbag with old items that I never use. I should probably get rid of a lot more, but...you never know when I might need a few hundred envelopes, or three jars of paintbrushes, or half a dozen plastic tubs to put water in for painting! Or some of the old Artists Magazines from the last 5 years. Why do I keep them? Honestly, I don't know. Sometimes I do take a years worth of old magazines to work and let my students look through them, but I don't think they get as much out of them. Maybe I could donate them to a local doctor's office and inspire someone to paint or draw. Well, I better get back to my...relaxing.

Latest Pen and Ink Portrait

Home Portrait

Pen and Ink

18" x 8"

As I mentioned earlier, I had two pen and ink home commissions to finish before Christmas. Well I finished Wednesday and delivered them Thursday. I had to get them delivered Thursday, as I was going out of town this weekend. This one also had to be framed, so I ordered a frame online, so the frame was delivered and ready to put the drawing into it. I ordered the frame from pictureframes.com and was very pleased with the results. All I had to do was put in the size of the drawing, pick out a frame, pick out a mat color, choose the backing material, and order. That is great for when you are in a rush. The frame was delivered within a week.

Now all of the pre holiday rush is almost over, I hope to work on some colored pencils pieces soon. I need something to enter into the CPSA competition, so I need to get busy with the colored pencils.

Old Red Barn Commission

Old Red Barn

Prismacolor Colored Pencil on Stonehenge

Beth S. Macre © 2005

While I am working furiously on my current pen and ink house commission, I will post a colored pencil commission that I did a couple of years ago. The highway is being widened next to this property, so the owners house had to be torn down. The house was located next to where I took this photo. The barn is still there, but the house has been torn down, so the yard has been changed. Although the barn is pretty old, the owners (farmers) have taken really good care of it.

Latest Pen and Ink Home Commission

18" x 8" Pen and Ink

on Stonehenge

I just finished this commission of my neighbor's house. (Those pine trees are in my backyard!) I have done several architectural study drawings over the last few years. I guess the people in my little town know my pen and ink work more than anything else. I've only had one architectural colored pencil commission requested so far. I drew a barn a few years back with colored pencils. I have one more house to draw before Christmas. I will be starting that one tonight.

Drawing Partner

My Painting Partner

This little cutie sits and waits in my chair at my drawing table when I am on the computer. Here he is all decked out in his Christmas sweater. He wants to sit in my lap to see what I'm doing, but I don't get much accomplished with him in lap. I'm trying to finish the drawing that is on my table. It, and one more, have to be finished before Christmas!