There and here

Yesterday we went to Paris -- well, to the Sarasota Opera House for a wonderful production of La Boheme - but then when isn't Puccini "wonderful"?

And today it was up and down the swimming pool for my daily (well, most days) laps.

Then finishing my practice drawings for tomorrow's class. We are supposed to bring "something we're working

on" for "the crit" -- I'm working on drawing straight lines and symmetrical curves in "Five minute drawings." Check back this time tomorrow and I'll tell you about "the verdict."

All the while I'm trying to let go of Chapter 2 in my graphic novel in favor of worrying on the CM-7 piece Jeanie and I plan to present in Naples in June. I'm not being very successful.

Slogday

It's been a day of "slogging", working on the layout of Chapter 1 and continuing my drawing practice. Neither had a very successful outcome -- several of the design decisions I made for the graphic novel did not look right when out into practice, and as for my drawing ability -- just when I think I'm getting better, I find that the next attempt is beyond awful. Neither activity warrants a photograph; both require at least one more iteration. I'm not discouraged, it's no different from struggles when writing a text-only paper. But I do look forward to having more success -- maybe tomorrow.

A long way for information

We finally walked as far as the public beach today -- 4 miles roundtrip. Our reward was learning that the Gulf water temperature is 65 degrees F.

Children of all ages ...

The only thing that wasn't great about our Circus Sarasota experience today was my photos - I just can't capture the excitement of the acts! One shot I thought would be great - then the spotlights swung round, right into the lens! And the last act was so daring that I just grasped the edge of my seat and couldn't let go to use he camera!

This is the third year in a row that we've seen the annual show, and it was interesting to see how some acts were similar, and others different variations of classics. It's just one ring, with a couple of animal acts -- horses and dogs -- plus lots of aerobatics. I was surprised how few clowns there were-just one roaming the stands, plus a couple of clown acts. It got a mixed review in the local paper, but we certainly had our $15's worth! I've nominated "the American Circus" as an example of the "confluence of art, design, and organization" in chapter 4 of my graphic novel, and I haven't changed my mind after this evening. That's a good thing!

Yummy

Ready to draw - ready to learn

I don't think the next 10 Thursday evenings will turn me into Leonardo - but I do expect to have a lot of fun. And to learn in new ways. I joined 8 other "mature" students (7 women, 1 man), of varying competences and experience, though I am the only one who has never drawn before. The instructor, Brian Haverlock, is great! Today, after everyone had introduced themselves and he questioned us about our interests and goals, we worked on shape, line. placement, movement, and figure/ground relationships, first using examples from some contemporary artists (pictures projected on screen) and then in drawing a still life of a box, vase with flowers, and jug. We did two 5-minute drawings, then two 2-minute drawings, with a line-up of output and crit after each. Highest praise for one of my efforts was that it looked Matisse-like. You could have fooled me! We have to bring in "something we're working on" for next week. I'm not sure what that will be.

Which happening was more important?

1. I finally mastered "selection" in Photoshop, so I could at least make a trial panel for my chapter on examples of confluence of art, design, and organization. Don't worry if you can't see the relevance of this composite - that's what words in bubbles are for!

2. We found an electric kettle we liked at Bed, Bath. & Beyond - along with a whole cart of other items we couldn't do without - despite having had no idea that we needed them before entering the store!