February 28

I love this photo. It was taken in August 1950. I don't know who she is, or where it was taken, but I love the look on her face, the angle of her body and the waves, the bird just caught in frame, the clasped hands. I make up stories about her. Like: "As Jack took Mabel's picture, little did he know that she was wistfully remembering the time, more than forty years ago, that she and Jack's best friend went skinny dipping in the moonlight at this very beach."

February 27

Drawn from on old photo-postcard dating from the 20s. Alethia was Josh's mother, Lena his grandmother. Someone wrote their names on the back, with a caveat! Alethia grew up dirt poor in Alabama (and went on to become Miss Alabama). I love that this mother and baby are dressed in their best clothes, including a pristine white embroidered gown for the baby, outside their shabby wooden house, posing for a professional photograph.

February 26

Doodling in Illustrator. Thinking about summer. I know we southern Californians are real wusses, complaining about weather in the 50s ... but I'm tired of winter.

February 25

Took everyone to see the Magritte exhibition at LACMA this morning. We really liked it. It was the first time all four of us had been to an art museum together. Normally Lauren's my art-buddy. But Ian expressed an interest (one of his friends is into Magritte), so Josh joined us too. I've found that getting the audio tour for Lauren really helps to keep her interest -- she just dashes around all the artworks that have a number, but at least then she has to stand at each one for a minute while she listens to the commentary. Hopefully she's learning something, but even if she isn't, it gives me time to examine the art without feeling rushed. When we're done I always ask her to show me her favourite piece and tell me what she liked about it, and I do the same for her.

February 24

The series continues.

February 23

These little flower cards are giving me just what a need -- ten minutes of respite.

February 22

I spent the morning at the USCIS office this morning, waiting to be fingerprinted along with a room full of other resident aliens. I amused myself by guessing at their nationalities while I waited.

February 21

So little art time lately -- working full time sure cuts into my studio time. But enough to make a little flower card each night of late.

February 20

February 19

February 18

More inspiration from the McCallum book. My life has been filled with a zillion things besides art of late; it's been nice to hold a pen and draw again.

February 17

I bought up this book the other day. Heaps of inspiration.

February 16

When sorting through the mountains of stuff from our storage units tonight, in preparation for tomorrow's garage sale, I came across a couple of polaroid cameras that still had film in them.

Tomorrow's going to be a doozy. We have So. Much. Stuff. I sure hope people come and take it off our hands.

February 15

I created this library catalogue card here. What fun!

February 14

I don't know where yesterday got to ... but here's today's offering. Happy VDay!

February 12

A week or so ago, Lauren was grumping about her breakfast choices. She was angling for us to buy her a donut on the way to school (which was never going to happen) so was professing dissatisfaction with all the food in the house. I turned her mood around by scrambling an egg and arranging it with some cut fruit -- and thus was born the breakfast funny face. (This is not be confused with a pancake funny face that is served at IHOP. Mine is much healthier and more delicious.)

Every day it's different, depending on the availability of the fruit and the ingenuity of the food artist (me). All are admired then eagerly eaten. Here's this morning's presentation.

February 11

I sketch the sketcher.

February 10

Evie and I did Walk 9 from Walking L.A., exploring downtown Culver City. I didn't think I captured an interesting shot of the Sony Studios until I downloaded it and saw the reflection. Turned out pretty cool! You can see all the pics here.

February 9

Lauren's in training for a spelling bee. Rather than just drilling her on the Round One list, I'm trying to teach her some rules and principles that she can apply on subsequent rounds. She appreciates the help :-)

February 8

February 7

February 6

A corner of my studio.

February 5

A quickie greeting card while a larger piece is still in progress.

February 4

I posted this one a few days ago (see Jan 29). But when I lined it up with the others in the series, it looked too bare and sad, so I added leaves.

February 3

February 2

I've got a bit of a series going. More tomorrow.

February 1