A COLD & Lovely Day

 

 

The Eco-Museum in Montreal this week.   Ffffffffffreezing!    For those not in the know, it's a collection of animals native to Quebec, from the often seen to the hardly ever seen.    It's a wonderfully quiet place to visit and held in great affection by those who have small children.  In fact watching the antics of the 2 yr olds is quite as interesting as the animals.

The otter display is outdoors - you can see the top half of the window is iced up.   Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Saying Goodbye!

 

Taken at 9 am today - that long shadow is from my mother's apartment building.  It's 27 stories, her apartment is on the 22nd.

My mother is now in a superb nursing care residence (REALLY super!) where she is relishing her new room full of old things and a different (lower) view!   It's me that's in her 'old' apartment, packing up and closing down and saying goodbye to this view which will be very, very hard to lose.    Another view below.....

Puts things in context: the edge of her balcony with squirrels running thru crisp snow.

Below, looking to the right of the above...

St Joseph's Oratory with the sun coming in sharply from the right.  Very hazy.  I love the pointy evergreens!

For over a month now, not a pastel or pencil to paper.   I think it won't be too much longer.

ON VACATION?

I wish!

"Gone" until middle March!!!

DAISY GETS POSTED!!

Pastel 12" x 14"

My oh my, aren't I the lucky one!   Moving my Mum for next week so life chaotic and not much getting done...but I FOUND THIS which has never been 'posted' before, so she's getting her moment in the spotlight.   Dates to around October 2010.   Daisy shares space with 2 others of same ilk and Ariel, the shepherd.   She's the queen bee and the apple of Diana's eye.

 

Pure Gold

Color Pencil  8" x 10"

This afternoon's pooch.  A corny title!   

An exercise in restraint.

My rule was - no black, no white, no pastel highlights.  Anything else allowed.  It sorta achieved what I was after.   Eyes are tricky with color pencil since the catch light is not added, it's the white paper carefully preserved as 'white'.

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Homeless Bikes

Just three...

...examples of...

...homeless bikes...

Have you noticed how MANY bikes stand for weeks locked to no parking signs, railings, even parking meters?  You'll see them looking lonely in every season.    It's hard to figure out why someone would bother to lock them up so carefully, and then just, well, never come back.  Perhaps it's the "someone" (not the bike) one should worry about.   Anyway, here are 3 examples of homeless bikes.    After 30 days they disappear into whatever rehab system the city runs.   This is such a useless intrigue I'm surprised the Montreal Gazette hasn't run it as a front page feature.

It was a long day.....

 

Pastel 14" x 24"

IT's a SKETCH!    I have to change the name of this blog!   So like it for what it is.   My time has been scooped and so I guess SKETCHES RULE!   They're loose, often more telling than detailed work and (for me) fun - and fast.   

The Two of Them

Water Color Digitised 5" x 7"

My dreamy pair from long ago - Shugs ('shoogs') & Daise aka Shuggi & Daisy.   He was a lilac point Siamese, sleek, elegant, athletic and eternally loving.   She was a tabby mutt, a "munchkin" with regretably short legs!   He jumped, she watched - adoring and admiring.  Both purred on eye contact.

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MY BLUE BED

 

Pastel 14" x 16"

My cousin's pooch, a Staffie, name of Rocky.   He'd retired to his bed when I took the photo and I believe I was spouting soppy rubbish, which turns him dopey eyed and craving a tummy rub.   He lives in the UK, near Cambridge, fields all round for great walkies and (of course) he's superbly spoiled.

Portrait was done summer 2010 but never 'posted' - time it was!

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WHAT'S THAT?

Pastel 18"x14"

This has always been a fave of mine.  Brother and sister sphynx cats fascinated by fluff on a string:  the boy, Capo, is tentatively ready to take a swipe;  Lulu, for once, is letting her brother have first go - - then she'll take over!

They're about 7-8 months in this portrait - from spring 2010, it's never been 'posted' before, and is now moving into Gallery 2. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

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