Art in My World

Christmas Night 2012   Sitting in church last Sunday, surrounded by my husband,children and by my possible future daughter in laws, I was overwhelmed by God's goodness to Glenn and I. He has been faithful to protect our family by keeping us in a church that has taught the gospel faithfully to us and our children. Most of our children have come to know Jesus Christ who left all and humbly came to be born in a manger to save us from our sins. God has kept Glenn and I together for almost 25 years, an anniversary we will celebrate this February. My precious gift this Christmas was seeing all those beautiful faces singing hymns written long ago to celebrate our Saviour's birth. No, I do not deserve such blessings or such a Saviour....but I humbly thank Him who gives so freely and say I have enjoyed opening such gifts this Christmas season! 

Anise Seed Cookies When I set out a plate of cookies, of course I want them to taste good, but I also want the plate to be colorful as well. These cookies are one of my favorite, because they not only taste like licorice, but they are one of the only white cookies I bake. One day I will upload a picture of a plate of cookies I might set out for guests, but for now if you want to bake up a batch of these here is the recipe: 2 eggs 1 cup of sugar 1 1/4 cups of flour 1 teaspoon of anise seeds Beat eggs and sugar together for 20 minutes with an electric mixer at low speed. Add the anise seeds and gradually stir in the flour. Drop by 1 teaspoon on parchment paper sized to fit your cookie sheet. Let stand uncovered overnight or for 8 hours. Bake in 325 degree oven until light yellow in color: about 7-9 minutes. 

Rum Balls There is nothing like the smell of baking during the Christmas season. Baking brings back memories of my siblings and I licking the bowl, rolling out cookies, and icing them. We each had our favorites and we each have collected the recipes. With each Christmas season that rolls around and each batch baked the tradition continues...     Rum Balls   2 1/2 cups vanilla wafers 1 cup pecans 2/3 cup rum 1 cup confectioners' sugar plus additional for coating 3 tablespoons cocoa powder 2 tablespoons light corn syprup   Pulverize the wafers in a food processor and put in a bowl. Grind the pecans and add to the wafer crumbs. Blend the remaining ingredients (except coating sugar) 10 seconds and add to the mixture. Mix well.   Roll into balls 1 inch in diameter and roll in confectioners' sugar. Store in an airtightcontainer for at least 24 hours before serving. 

On the Road to Death Valley #2 Thought I would take one more stab at this before I leave it for another day. One of my artist friend says that he paints three paintings each time he sets out to paint---the first two are just scraped off. Yeah, I can believe it! 

On the Way to Death Valley   We were heading away from Las Vegas to spend the night in Death Valley, (little did we know we wouldn't arrive until around 2:00 in the morning) when we were treated to a beautiful sunset full of color. I didn't quite get what I wanted down on the canvas this first try, but fooling around with the colors was fun and educational!     

Gluten Free Banana Bread! This summer my mom gave my sisters and me a wonderful cookbook by Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Deliciously G-Free. It took me awhile to gather her ingredients in the book, all the various flours and odd ingredients like xanthum gum and guar gum, but now that my pantry is ready, I have begun to try her various recipes. None of my family has celiac disease, but I don't think wheat is doing us any favors either. My family (the Alexanders) don't seem to do so well with our weight, and I believe wheat might be a large part of it. These recipes are not low in calories, but they do digest so much better. Last night I made the waffles, which turned out great. I froze up the leftovers to toast up for a quick breakfast. I also baked up this banana bread recipe as well. Both of these recipes make a wonderful breakfast rather than that sugary bowl of cereal. Like Elisabeth's promise, you would never know that these recipes do not have flour. Banana Bread 5 tab

I took one more stab at this sky before I will move onto another type of sky. I think I like the clouds just a little better than the first try. Clouds are a challenge all their own. They need to be randomly placed and shaped, they probably have more color in them than you think, and they need to receed back into the distance as they get closure to the horizon.  Havn't quit figured all that out yet... 

California Roadside #2     So, in this picture is was all about capturing the thunderhead. The lighting was beautiful, the hills were golden, the clouds a threatening gray, and in the corner, just a hint of blue. Just gorgious! My first try at the painting is below.....     

California Hills      A little over a year ago we took a family vacation out to California. Our goal was to visit as many of the National Parks as we could. California has eight of them! We were able to visit Death Valley, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Channel Islands and Joshua Tree. Like our last trip West, we were stunned by the beauty surrounding us. If I were taking the trip alone, we never would have been able to see so much, for I would be stopping every mile or so to take pictures of just the sites right along the road. There were a few shots I took while traveling in the car that I have been dying to paint. This month I am going to try and do just that.        Also, t his month, one of the painting sites I belong to, is having a challenge in painting clouds: puffy clouds, storm clouds, sunset clouds, clouds in all their various colors and shapes...Some of my pictures that I took have some stunning cloud formations so I thought I would mix the cloud challenge and

This is my favorite way to paint: loose, bold strokes and a simple composition. I find it hard to accomplish though. By nature, I focus way too much on details. I think the genious in painting is to paint your object in as few strokes as possible with bold lines and in so doing you create the illusion of the object and let the viewer fill in the details. Again, this is very hard to do, but what I am aiming for in my landscapes. This painting idea came from a painter in San Francisco. I had extra paint on my pallette one day and quickly gave it a go...my canvas had an underpainting of a yellow that also was extra paint one day...so I decided to paint two small canvases with it. I find this is a good way to paint because now you are not trying to fill up the whole canvas, you can leave a little of that color shining through in your painting. 

The weather here in Louisiana has been perfect for putting in a few flowers for fall and winter color. These flowers will even last well into May. The summer months are so miserable that gardening becomes a chore, but the fall? Well, these months are made for gardening. Besides flowers you can grow lettuce, tomatoes, brocoli, cabbage, and all kinds of herbs. We here down South love our fall gardens.   May favorite flower to grow during this time is the viola. Not only will it flower and flower for fall, winter and spring, it smells heavenly too. We have all but bread all the smell out of most flower, but not this little beauty! They now come in all kinds of colors, from bright yellow,lavenders, purples and oranges. Doesn't this cute little pot with yellow flowers make the cutest patio table topper? I fill all kinds of pots with these flowers and distribute them around my back patio and front garden. This year I even planted a whole row of them in my front garden in

Grand Canyon Morn I thought I would give this painting a try in Acrylics. There is much to love about acrylics. I love being able to paint over them until I get the desired affect. In oils the paint dries too slow and when I want to redo something the results are a bit mud-like. There is something to be said for laying down a stroke of paint and leaving it, but I am not that good yet. I lay down strokes, take them away, lay down some more and cover them up and...well, you get the idea. I am still at that phase where I don't know the medium yet and am not sure what it will do, or how far I can push it. Even though oils dry slow this can be a good thing too. I love the way you can blend them together in slight ways to gain wonderful smooth transitions. This is harder to do in Acrylics. Anyway, I like the result of this painting. This 9 x 12 painting took me over 10 hours.  I am so slow! 

The Lone Tree This picture was taken in 2010 during our trip to the Grand Canyon. I had just dropped off the boys to do their "little day hike" down to the canyon floor and then up again. It was early morning around 5:30 or 6:00 and I became fascinated by the changing light as the sun rose above the canyons. The sky was full of pinks and lavenders reflected off the canyons and the shadows were a deep burgundy color. The picture I took did not at all come out the way I wanted, but I remembered all those colors as I painted. Hiking around the canyon one would come across all these knarly trees beatifully sculpted by the harsh weather. I love this scene so much, I know I will revisit it many times. This is just the first of many paintings. This week I found a wonderful water-colorist in the UK who gives lessons online and I will be adding those to my already packed schedule. There are just so many wonderful ways to paint, it is hard to settle on just one medium! 

Painted Desert Inn One area that I will explore more is pen and watercolor wash. This method seems to go best with architectural subjects, but I have seen wonderful results when people do this with landscapes. It has a beautiful sketchbook quality which I find appealing. This is my first experiment. I took this picture a couple of years ago when we went on our first trip out West. I fell in love with the colors and simple lines of this photograph and always thought it would make a nicer painting. I think it did. This style has given me a new appreciation for architecture as a subject, and I will be taking more pictures for future paintings. There are hundreds of landscapes I would like to try from pictures taken throughout the years. God has given no end of subject matter for art!

My Mint Garden I love mint! I love the smell of it. I love the taste of it and I love the calming affect it has on me when I crush a leaf between my fingers. It makes wonderful syrups to add into drinks and a soothing tea for stomach and nerves. The plant is easy to grow and comes in many varietes. Peppermint is still the best for medicinal purposes and spearmint for drinks or syrups. So easy to grow and so many uses! I have grown mints in large pots for years, dividing them every so often when they become root bound, thus creating more mint plants. I put my pots in a sunny location and water daily during the summer. Since I am using these plants in recipes, I make sure I use organic fertilizers to feed the plants. I harvest them as they grow and when they become very overgrown, I harvest a large amount to dry for teas. I dry in my oven at 100 degrees and store in glass jars. I dont't crush the leaves until I use them. Here are a few recipes that are my favorites. Tea for U

My love for painting began as a young girl trying to paint with water colors, so it only seems fitting that I would try, on occasion, my hand at it. So here is my first attempt at it, on a subject that I have painted a lot lately. I have also seen a technique involving pen and water color wash that I hope to try soon, but with another subject. 

The Entrance Took another stab at the workshop painting :-) Trying for a simple approach this time. Now I think I will lay aside this subject. I do have some extra paint on the pallette which I will use to do some abstract works. I want to try my hand at some watercolor and some more pastels. So many ideas, so many things to try...so little time! 

Laniakea Beach, Oahu   This is another attempt at the workshop on Laniakea Beach. I am liking the composition better and I thought: yes, this is a much better painting, but now that I see it from "afar" I am not happy with the color contrasts--the fact that there are not any. It needs a bit more punch in the colors. In order to create my colors I think I am adding too much white, and it is dulling them too much. What this painting needs is a bit more vibrancy...ok, back to the painting board... 

Turtle Beach, Hawaii It's been a wonderful morning of painting. I am not really happy with the results, but I must be content with the learning process. Lately, I have spent hours looking at other's work. I know what I like, but I cannot seem to get there yet. Brush work is holding me back right now. I love the impressionistic strokes of the masters--I need patience and a master to teach me--so I struggle on. Many painting later I might see the results.   We have a workshop this month on a photo Richard Robinson took from Turtle Beach, Hawaii. No turtles, but plenty of Rock to practice on and palm trees!   This is my second attempt at this painting. I have a feeling this blog will see this subject again this month...when I get the courage and inpiration to try again...maybe in pastel...maybe in watercolor...      

While working on the beach photos for the annual album I couldn't help but laugh at all the faces people made while battling the wild waves this year, especially Jarmon's dear friend Kristin...priceless!

  Suffering from a cold the past few days, so I haven't felt like leaving my chair too often. It has been a good time to edit beach photos for the annual picture album. Somehow, one was never done last year, so I am going to try and combine the two years. The photo company Blurb has caught my eye of late so I am going to do a very simple format of just pictures and text. Things have gotten so fancy that it is so easy to want and design each page with all the bells and whistles. Been there, done it many of time, and I like the results; but sometimes you just want the simple approach. Sort of like the simple black dress--elegant. Less can be best when designing. Well, I got all the pictures edited, now it is time to place them on the page! The above group picture is our annual shot of attendees. Kayaking was our sport of choice this year. It was a wild ride....

Texas Wildflowers 9x12 Water Color and Pastel   When I was young, around high school age, I began painting in water color. All through high school and college I struggled to learn that medium on my own. There were a few times I could afford lessons, so I took them, pleased to make a little progress. When photography took center stage in my life, I left painting behind. When my children came along and homeschooling entered into the picture I tried to paint again in journals documenting the flowers along our country road. But life kept getting busier and busier and the paints went away again. Now that the children are all but grown I find a little window of opportunity opening up and I am taking it!    What I love about this new world we live in is that we have access to all kinds of knowledge and tools just a click away. We can shop for supplies, watch a video or two about a problem we may encounter in our work and just spend some time learning! One thing I have discovered

Death Valley Reds 8x10 oil in canvas board  Death Valley was a beautiful place. Full of many extremes, it was loaded with color: red hills against white sand. Lavender mountains against sage green bushes and yellow dirt--all begging to be put in a painting. We only spent a day there, but I took many pictures that I hope to add to my collection of paintings.    

Taco Pie   Taco Pie has been a family favorite of mine growing up. I am not sure where this quick dinner originated, but I keep bringing it back into my family's life when we want a little Mexican treat. Here is a rough recipe. I say rough, because it all depends what size pie you want to make and really, how much of each ingredient you would like to add. With each layer of this pie, I just keep adding the ingredient until it covers the pie circle. So here goes... Taco Pie 1 pound of ground beef 1 packet of taco seasoning sour cream salsa grated cheese (choose the cheese of your choice) crescent rolls fritos Brown ground beef and then add taco seasoning according to package directions. Line the pie plate with the instant crescent rolls. Crush some of the fritos and line the bottom of the pie plate. Add the cooled ground beef and then on top add a layer of sour cream, then salsa, then grated cheese and top with some more crushed fritos. Bake in a 350 degree oven u

A Gardener's Tools  I love gardening. I love getting my hands in the soil. I love potting plants. I love the potter's shed where one can go and be away from it all, and plant a few dreams. There is something beautiful about the tools, the pots, and all the extra's that I collect in hopes of using them "one day." Today I spent a couple of hours potting up some herbs for fall use: a little mint, some rosemary, chives, and even some lavendar. I haven't had much luck with lavendar, but I keep trying. I read somewhere that if you add gravel to the soil, since lavendar likes dry, rocky soil, you will have better luck with mold. Mold seems to get my plants each time. Or I think its mold.   I dream of building a real shed/workshop/painting area one day and so my present shed has a collection of various items I have picked up over the years in hopes of using them in my new place. I also hope to build a small kitches garden in my backyard, there rea

Art can be found in many forms. I always admire a person who can capture a sunset, or a mountain scene in a well crafted painting or photograph. I love a writer who can tell a good story where I fall in love with the characters in such a way, that I miss them when the story ends. But what is most beneficial to my soul is a preacher who can open up the scriptures and bring Jesus Christ to light my heart. Mike McKelvey is an artist preacher indeed. God has gifted him with a rare talent in crafting a sermon. Here is a link to a sermon he preached to First Baptist Church, Clinton, LA about two weeks ago. Mark 4:35-41 "A Clearer Picture of Jesus"

Death Valley Abstract Photograph taken in Death Valley, 2011  This is not a painting yet, though I think it begs to be painted. When I see things like this, I take a picture, knowing I won't be happy until I do paint it. The photo is nice, but a painting is better. I have hundreds of such shots begging to be put on canvas. It is now time to try.     I was going through various painters blogs recently and one caught my eye. Looking at his paintings, I say, "Now that is how I would like to paint--how ever does he do it?" He lives in Vermont, but i would love to visit and take a course or two. But then I think, "Can you teach abstract art? Or is it just a "part" of you?"     Here is his link and an example of his work: http://www.spgoodman.blogspot.com/               I can't help it! I love the abstract quality, color and expressive brush strokes in his work---beautiful!        

Pounders Beach, Hawaii     It is a wonderful new day where we can learn to paint using some wonderful websites. This past few months I have been using one done by Richard Robinson. He is an artist who lives in New Zealand and for a small fee you have access to his monthly workshops. Each month he has a new skill for us to try. He will paint a painting for us and provide a video of this along with reference material and pictures. Then we upload our paintings for others to critique and we get to see how others painted. This month we are working on a scene from Hawaii and our skill is how to vary our brushstrokes to add interest to a painting. For me another challenge is painting waves! I have never painted waves thus far and so I spent a week or so watching various artist paint waves... and then I took the plunge. My goal for my work is to be able to paint landscapes in a impressionistic-abstract style. I want it to be very loose. I want to create an image that you know is a lan

We can find friends in the strangest places. While uncovering my herb garden today from several bags of weeds and overgrowth he wasn't all too happy that I was leaving him exposed. But after three hours of hard work I can see my rock path again! After the sun went down he was still there, ready to eat his weight in bugs.

The Yosemite we saw the day we were there was cloudy and full of threatening storms, but the grass seemed to have a glow about it bathed in the pre-storm light. There was a meadow walk that had you meandering through the grasses towards a bridge over the Merced River. It reminded me of home a bit with the marshes. The river was not  rushing so much here, but still and quiet.  Yosemite Valley The hardest part about painting large spaces is what to do with it to make it interesting. I cut the meadow short because of it and regret it, but I just couldn't figure how to break it up. Maybe one day, after many hours of doing landscapes and studying thousounds of paintings.... This month, with my online painting group, we are doing a seascape scene. I have been watching videos and trying to get up the nerve to give it a try. All that green and white and movement!

This basil has begun to take over my garden so...      I have found something wonderful this summer: Basil Pesto! In our household we began using a Panini Press and a Quesadia Press to make sandwiches for lunches, and we found adding pesto to these instead of mayo gave our sandwiches a wonderful new flavor and aroma. We now add it to not only sandwiches but pasta, french bread and even eggs! So, cut down some of that basil and let's make some pesto.   Basil Pesto 2 cups of basil leaves, packed 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 1/2 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts 3 garlic cloves   Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse a few times. Then scrape down with spatula and pulse a few more times until it looks like this:   You can store pesto in glass jars in the fridge. A little note: pesto will turn dark when exposed to oxygen, so as you use it, the top layer will turn dark brown. Don't worry! This does not affect flav

We are fortunate here in the South to get a second chance at our gardens. If your garden dies in the heat of the summer, you can bring it back to life again for the Fall. That's what I did a little of today. I repotted my lemon grass, added an oregano plant--I lost my favorite Italian oregano plant in the midst of a summer vacation--and I watered and fertilized some of my pepper plants. It was a beautiful bit of an afternoon. I also noticed my nice looking poinsetta plant all green and full. It survived hurricane Isaac. I need to look up how to get it to bloom for Christmas!

Joshua Tree Rendition There was something strange about the trees out West: they seemed out of place and from some other planet. Joshua Tree National Park was full of these odd cactus like trees, each with a story to tell. This whole landscape begs to be painted in the Impressionistic style with carefree brush strokes and plenty of color. From our 2010 trip and 2011 trip I returned with thousands of photographs. There are at least a hundred of them that say: "Paint Me!" 

  Colors of the West Discovering the West a few years ago was an amazing adventure.  I loved everything about that wild land.  But the artist in me loved the colors! Oh, the colors! The artist in me wanted to photograph them, paint them and bottle them to take home with me to the South. It hasn't been until recently that I have a little time to begin my painting journey. Pictures were ok, but there was something missing in them that only paint could capture. This idea was not my own, but the old masters copied from the best and so why not me? Without a teacher, and only the internet for a guide, I begin to paint.....     

It is a wonderful world we live in: to be able to share our lives in words and pictures with others around the world. Documenting my life has always held a fascination for me and as far back as I can remember I have kept journals (lots of them), taken pictures and created albums, and kept notebooks full of magazine clippings, favorite quotes, ideas....oh it is endless! So I think blogging should be the next step for me. I know I am late getting into the game. I have seen blogs for photography, and painting and gardening and cooking and just about every aspect of life.  Which blog type to use? Where do I concentrate? What will be my focus? I do all those things and more! And so I thought, why not just blog my life like I do my journals? And so my blog will be eclectic, like I am eclectic. Life is a journey, so come alone and join me on mine.....