Summer Travels Part 1

Last Friday I flew to Baltimore with several friends, then met up with two more near DC, to attend a wedding of another friend's daughter in Roanoke, Virginia. The ride from the DC area to our destination was about four hours, and we had a great time catching up on all the news and drama of our lives.

The wedding itself was at a mountain top facility. We were chaufeured there in several school busses on a steep, winding dirt road that made for a hair-raising adventure. I was thankful the transmission held up, and hoped the brakes would also, for the ride down. The weather was perfect and the wedding was lovely.

The view from the venue.

Thirty-four years since college and we're still hanging out together!

Before heading back home, we managed a bonus day sightseeing in Washington DC. I hadn't been there in a long time, so it was a pleasure to visit the monuments and museums.

 Lincoln Memorial

 Washington Monument

World War II Memorial

We also visited the Museum of American History, the National Gallery of Art, and had lunch at the restaurant on the top of the Hotel Washington. The White House can be seen clearly from the restaurant. We didn't see any famous politicians during lunch, so hopefully they are doing something useful (or are on vacation)! 

    

This was a great exhibition!

 Andy Warhol "Marilyn" silkscreen

George Bellows "A Stag At Sharkey's" 1917, lithograph

 Martin Lewis, "Stoops in Snow" 1930  dry point etching

 Claus Oldenburg sculpture

Illustration Friday "Tornado"

Tornado

I couldn't think of a humorous take on this week's Illustration Friday's prompt, but I could envision the hope of finding what can't be replaced.

Summer Time!!

We are having a lovely stretch of summer weather that's in synch with my first week of school vacation! Enjoyed a pleasant day working on a project in my "summer studio." The yard is looking great, thanks to my husband's hard work maintaining the perennial gardens!

My sister had a young fawn resting in her yard last week, and I will include its picture just because it is so cute. The mother was nearby, and watching out for her baby. They even got to see the fawn nursing before the pair headed off again!

Enjoy the longest days of sunlight as we approach the Solstice! It makes up for those short, dark days of Winter!

Wheels

                                         A little sketch for Illustration Friday "wheels"

The heat has come back this week with temperatures in the high 80's! Beginning to feel like summer is on its way. Only a few more weeks of school, and I am definitely ready for the break!

Printmaking Workshop at MECA

I had the opportunity to go to a printmaking workshop at Maine College of Art in Portland on Friday.
One of my colleagues at work won the event in a raffle, and she brought me along. We had a good trip up to Portland Thursday night, and after finding our dorm, went out for dinner in the Old Port area.
The next morning we found a little diner, had breakfast and took another walk around town before heading over to the college for the day. We created a series of monoprints using oil-based litho inks.

Liam is demonstrating a reduction technique.

                   Working with the three primary colors of ink to make multi-layered prints

                                           A view of the studio space and presses

                     In the photo below, everyone is holding up their favorite print of the day.

Tattoo

Just a quick sketch for this week's Illustration Friday prompt,"tattoo." I'm not a fan of tattoos as my students will tell you. I'm always trying to talk them out of getting one when they turn 18. My argument is to wait until at least 25, when they might be a little more in touch with the image they  want to carry on their bodies for life. I've seen a few that I can appreciate, but many that are not going to stand the test of time! One girl had the "Four horses of the Apocalypse" from the etching by Albrect Durer tattooed across her whole back. The work was pretty incredible, and I guess if you are going to get one, go for it!

Happy Mother's Day!

     To Moms Everywhere--Happy Mother's Day!