Fudge Slinging

One of the jobs performed at the aquarium gift shop is selling fudge. I have a knack for it and enjoy luring people over to try a superb product. The other day, I wrote a poem about it. Just for fun.

Slinging fudge could be a drudge
Unless you're at the Aquarium
Employees sell with glee
But only at the Aquarium
No pouts or sulks, just smiles you see
From employees
Who sell Fudge
At the Aquarium
So come and see,
The employees
who sell the Fudge
At the aquarium

The trills of birdies
The glimpse of squirrellies
All pale, next
To the employees
Who sell the Fudge
At the Aquarium

They sell Ice Cream
But those held in Esteem
Are the Smiling Employees
Who sell the Fudge
At the Aquarium

The Lunch Meat

My neighbor and friend looks after my dogs when I'm working. (Yeah!!! I have a job!!!!). Anyway, this is a missive she left me the other day. I love her writing and wish she would do more.

Karen:








Your sandwich meat is no longer edible. Though I did manage to salvage a bit of it.

The event happened this way:







I got the boys out for a potty break and then went into the living room to read so

they could have some out of the crate time. It was very quiet, I soon noticed. As

a parent, I learned early on that too much quiet is probably a problem. I called

Paker and he did not respond. I put down my book and went to the kitchen. He had

the package of sandwich meat in his mouth and was trying with all his effort to eat

the sandwich meat, package and all. Red was observing.







I grabbed Parker by the nape and told him to drop it. He clamped his teeth down on

the package and gulped trying to swallow it before he had to really drop it. I

reaffirmed my grasp of the nape and tried with the other hand to prize his mouth

open. The harder I pried the more clamped his teeth became. I kept prying and

telling him to drop it, but it was not very effective because by now I was

giggling and nearly wetting my pants. Red was observing.







Finally I got a little bit of the meat out of Parker's mouth and it dropped to the

floor. Red ceased observing at this point and lunged for the scrap of meat. Parker

let go the package and lunged for the scrap, too. By then there were several scraps

of the meat on the floor and both boys were sucking the scraps up as fast as they

could.







When the scraps were all eaten and what remained of the package of sandwich meat was

put out of harm's way. Red walked regally over to his crate and got in. Parker

looked around for more scraps and then looked around for what was left of the

package. I assured him that (1) there was no more sandwich meat for him and (2) I

was definitely telling on him. During this conversation, Red was observing from his

crate. His halo firmly in place.







Parker cruised the counter top a bit longer --- hopefully, no doubt --- I told him

to leave it and he came into the living room and lay down on the skins and went to

sleep. Obviously tired after that struggle.







At any rate you have no more lunch meat, unless you are into eating the shards.

New Business Card

A photographer I know took this picture at a recent show we were at together. I absolutely love it and think it will be perfect as my new business card. I had just created another which was a small montage of my work and a photo of me in the middle, but I think this one says it better.

Silver Scratchboard Continued

The Wolf didn't come through.
Both of these are available for purchase. Please contact me at obedec@gmail.com

Silver Scratchboard

 This is a fun toy, but I just cannot take it seriously although I remember one time doing a silver English Cocker with a brushed aluminum frame...it was extreme dramatic. However, I'm just feeling the need to do something and am working on a complicated board right now, so whipped these two up in the last two days, they don't take long at 21/2 x 3 1/2inches and it's very hard to make the shaded so I don't try, I let the lighting do the work.
Best
Karen

16th Century Canvas

Today I was able to get up close and personal to a 16th century canvas. I've never looked at an oil portrait so closely. The depth was spectacular. The individual that was painted had the most beautiful eyes. On close examination, you could tell that the hands were done by two different people. The right one was a good size for the body and face, the left was deformed and smaller. The feet were also too small.  It's covered with a lot of dirt and grime, but at one time was a beautiful piece of work. I'll dream about those eyes tonight.

The Princess Dress Finished

I think I'm calling her done.

The Princess Dress

A different piece for me. I really liked the drama and swirl of the dress.

Procrastination. Prespiration, and Presentation

> The room was lovely and crafters and artists were allowed to take whatever spots they wanted. Lighting and visibility were perfect for any of them. You backed onto windows which, in the evening with the reflection, showed you how big your butt is, or how many rolls you have, and how messy you may or may not have been behind the drapes of the table, total exposure. There were volunteers there to help if you needed someone to watch your table while you ran out for a minute. Parking was a dream.


>

> I made business cards, forgot the holder. I made a little flyer, did not proof (last minute you know), and left out a crucial word. They did not get put on the table when I spotted that. I dressed very nice, wore make up, curled hair. Got there way too late, should have probably been there an hour earlier (was busy make business cards and bad flyers).

>

> A few things I forgot....change, cash box, credit card machine, bags, guest book, receipt book. I did bring a piece that was almost finished and finished him in about 15 minutes. So, since I work mostly in scratchboard, I basically engaged customers by taking a poll as to whether he should have color added or not. (It's a singing kitten and would have colored eyes, nose and tongue). The border collie picture got a lot of discussion too. I did work my conversation skills on the very limited audience, yet an audience that was there specifically for pet portraits. I did not get names, addresses, promises of future work or commissions.

>

> I berated myself all the way home, did the "get out of art conversation", "you should have been prepared conversation", but one thing I did not doubt, what I had there WAS beautiful work. I donated a t-shirt that I've never been able to sell and it was bought.

>

> So, this morning, in the harsh light of day, I say to myself, did I enjoy myself...yes, was I prepared...no. But I have a two day show coming up next weekend...will this all be rectified...most of it, and will I have a better handle on things, you bet, I'm still smarting from this one.

Another White Board

This board is near and dear to my heart. It's of Red, aka Merrydown Mr. Persistence, CD, CGC, my current heart dog. I was thrilled on the 20th because he was 12 years old and I thought, cancer free. I took him in today and his cancer has come back. It also looks like it has metastasized to his lungs. He's doing fine at the moment and the vet says he can do lazer surgery to get the bulk of the tumor burned off. I'm opting for pallative care. I didn't know this when I started the picture, was just doing a batch for boutique for the National, guess I have to start over because I don't know if this picture will leave me. It's only a 5x5, done on white ampersand claybord using derwent Inktense colored pencils, graphitint pencils and watercolor pencils.
Karen

Outside the Box

It's a new year. I'm thinking outside the box in a way to get funds in and my sweet, smiling face out there. I have several ideas for art and put one of them onto clayboard the last two evenings. Here is my ATC sized elephant (2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches) on a white claybord (it's still a scratchboard) using graphitint pencils. I have more ATCs to put up also, later, after I cut them (I used a big board) so stay tuned.

New Year's Resolutions

I did my New Year's Resolutions differently this year. My neighbor, Linda, no longer drives so I take her wherever she wants to go. On Sunday's we do the grocery store in Newport. It's about 20 miles away. For the drive, we take a notebook and discuss ideas, and plans. So, I broke up my New Year's resolution to, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. My weekly goal is to do three atcs (artist trading cards 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches). I finished my three tonight. They're of a juvenile pigeon guillemot (an Auk and type of Murre), i.e., a seabird. I also try to start a different size board that I do not give myself a time limit for. Next week, it's either wolves or pelicans, I'll decide in the morning. Here's the "extra" piece I'm working on. The guillemot photo did not come out tonight so I'll re-photograph it tomorrow after I've sprayed it.

I Love Border Collies

I love Border Collies, especially the Hob Nob BCs. I know I don't have the temperament to live with one properly (unless it's extremely elderly), but I do enjoy their intensity, energy, and personalities. A BC person posted a photo she had taken of her BC and granted me permission to draw it. It's magical. I'm doing a 5x7 on an 8x10 board. Here's the first work in progress.

New Years Resolution-Alison Stanfield

Today is the second. Last night, I did take the time to open Alison Stanfield's book "I'd Rather Be In the Studio" and read the first chapter. Tonight I will take action on it.

Wire Fox Terrier and Commissions

My commissions are gone, all winging their way to their new homes. I learned a lesson while working on these. An artist is always learning, changing. I took nearly a year to do these and my style changed, subtly, but it changed. It left me not as pleased with my art as I originally had planned. I couldn't put my finger on what I disliked and another artist said something about dusting off a two year old board and it came to me, your style is still there, but you change.

Anyway, I got to meet one of the dogs that I had drawn. Her name is Molly and she is a 17 year old Wire Fox Terrier. I love this piece, but did spend every spare moment (and a few not so spare moments) on it this week. I'm very happy with it and am gifting the original to the owners for Christmas. Prints will be available for sale.

Emma

Just a few more tweaks and she's done. It's been a long time since I blogged, life has been lobbing cannon balls at me. My little store is hanging in there and all I can say is I have a multitude of wonderful people that I can call friends, who show interest and support in what I do...more than I can say of family.

I recieved a personal invitation to participate in the Boomer Bash. It's a fund-raiser for medical expenses of the local shelter animals. It's quite the event. I've never been able to afford to attend. This time, I'm an invited artist.

Emma is the first of a bunch I'm going to make for the Bash and have available for sale. She's the neighbor's cat, quite a looker and very communicative. I also have prints available. She's an 8x10 and the only things colored are her eyes and nose. Everything else is pure scratchboard.

Karen

Toby The West Highland White Terrier

Toby brought his owners into the shop today. He's a "first" dog for them. What a champ and ambassador for the breed. He was so friendly and outgoing and so absolutely adorable for a four month old puppy. I got some great photos and hope his owners contact me for high resolution copies. Not soon, but this year, I'm sure he'll be a portrait.

Karen

Lion Fish wip 6

Lion Fish Wip 4

Lion Fish