Egret - Work in Progress

I worked on the bird itself for a bit today. I drew the bird in after debating forever on where I wanted it. Then I could barely see the pencil marks so I just roughly painted in the white so I could tell what I was doing.

I started adding some of his detailing. Now you can see the pencil marks on the wings so I have a lot more painting to do. I think you can just make out his legs and feet. I have to give the water reflection some thought on how to proceed with it. I'm a long way away from the reflection though.

Egret - Work in Progress

This is the start of an 8 x 10" painting of an Egret. It's part of a swap I'm doing with a fellow artist. She collects egrets. I've never seen one in person, but after researching them, they seem to be truly beautiful birds. I am an avid bird lover so I want to really do this justice. Doesn't look like much now, but this will be an egret in flight! (oops you can see part of my messy messy cardboard that I place under the canvas when I'm not using a tabletop easel..... I was using those disposable plastic cutting boards and then wiping them off when I was done (a great thing to paint on) but somehow I adopted this sheet of cardboard and it stuck with me now for over a year....not that you care...

This will be an autumn scene (fitting because I will be sending it to her this fall) All the background is done without brushes. Just dip balls of plastic wrap in the paint and dab it where I want it on the canvas. This stage kind of panics me because it really doesn't look like anything but a mess.

Dab, dab, dab....then smear, smear, smear :) All of a sudden the background appears. I haven't decided where exactly I'm am going to place the bird. Either large, in the foreground, or a bit smaller in the background. Either way it will be of full wingspan and landing. Stay tuned.....I will be working on this off and on for the next few weeks.

More photos of food....I may actually get back to painting some day!

Apple and Rice Salad (pretty as a picture)
I am going to a potluck supper tonight. We are to each bring a salad. I like taking "different" salads to these things so I made this today. It's delicious! (and healthy)

Start with 3 cups cooked brown rice (I cheated and used minute brown rice) To the rice add 2 cups chopped apple, 1/2 to 1 cup of dried cranberries, 1 cup chopped celery, and 1/2 cup slivered almonds (you could probably add pecans or walnuts) Dressing: 1 cup low fat cocunut/pineapple yogert (I use Source 35 cal per serving) and 1/2 cup lo fat mayonaise. Add dressing to rice mixture, keep chilled till serving.....enjoy

I swear I will get back to art soon.......

clouds

" I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down and still somehow,
It's clouds illusions I recall....I really don't know clouds
at all" by Judy Collins

It was one of those beautiful hot summer days where the blue sky is blue blue blue and the clouds are fluffy and white......no rain clouds here to dampen the day!

It's all in the rub - slow cooker pulled pork (Artful cooking)

Normally you would barbeque a pork roast for pulled pork, but I had heard you could get the same results (or nearly the same) with a slow cooker. While we are in an apartment while we build our house I can't barbeque so I decided to try this. First for the rub.........equal parts brown sugar and paprika (I used 1/4 cup each for a 3 lb pork blade roast) freshly ground sea salt and pepper, and 2 tsp of dry mustard. Rub the pork roast with this then wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate over night. In the morning put in crock pot...slow roast for 8 hours. I poured half a bottle of barbeque sauce on it mid way through the cooking (at 4 hours)

Now pull apart......It will literally fall apart....I love the dark sugary hard bits....Served on a fresh bun, your favourite coleslaw on the side. Perfect for summer! (my husband and I like ours Memphis style with the slaw on the bun too!) Enjoy!