Waterways Project Christmas Card 2009

Waterways Snow Globe
Watercolor and ink on paper

The card is finished so now all we have to do is mail it out! Is it just me or does the season seem to be moving at warp speed this year. Still have lots to do!

I want to wish all of you the very best this Winter Season. May you have peaceful moments, cherished memories, and lots of creative energy. Blessings to all.

This blog will be resting a bit while I finish preparations.

Waterways December Sketchbook

By the river, storm arriving
December 09 sketchbook
watercolor and ink on paper

Not much time for a fancy post but here are a few pages from my sketchbook. I'm working on the annual Christmas card and we need to get those out soon!
It snowed here last night and more is on the way so it's really feeling like winter has arrived.



Bare trees, quiet woods
December 09 sketchbook




Thatcher Pond beginning to freeze
Watercolor and ink
December sketchbook

A Better Scan

Here is a better scan of my new Flying Pictures Project. The colors looked really washed out in the photo below.

Animators Life Told in Sticky Notes

I recently watched this video about the challenges of a creative life. It is all told in sticky notes. I was inspired to think about sticky notes after seeing this exhibit post.

I'm thinking about starting a new(mini) project and wondering is so much fun.

Seems I work best when I have several things going at once. So much to create: so little time (sigh),

The Grand Finale for Flying Pictures

All the books have been packed up and are winging their way home across the Atlantic. The project is over now and what a great time we had.

Now that the show is over, I decided to re cover my book and finally attach the back. I like it much better now.

The days are getting so short now and the holiday's are approaching. Time to crack out the hot chocolate and seasonal music.

New back covered in an unfinished Waterways canvas


When cleaning out the studio, I found more of the blue paper and re made the inside envelope too.

Fire and Water: Waterway Matches?

I must have some sort of "making" disease because I really can't help myself. These are large kitchen matchboxes that my twisted imagination could not resist covering with some Waterways images. Yes Paste works great. My mother will probably laugh when she see them.

Happy Thanksgiving. And I'm so fortunate to have your support here! Thanks everyone.

Waterways Project: November Sketchbook

Mid November

I'm a bit behind posting my sketchbook for this month. We've had really warm weather this month after so much rain in October. Not much chance to see the fall colors...the rain washed all the leaves off.

Much as I love spring and the light of summer, there is something really compelling in the linear quality of the trees and the gray light.



Light Rain







Bright Day



Natures' Lace

And this one left over from summer. I almost abandoned it but after a bit of reworking, I thought it worth posting.


Left over from summer
Fox river

The Charter for Compassion

Waterways Project: Controlled Burn

Controlled Burn

Walking the trail a couple of weeks ago, I smelled a peculiar, acrid smell that I had never noticed before. As I approached this spot on the Des Plaines River Trail,
this was what I saw! Over the weekend, the County had performed a controlled burn and this is a great gift for the land. Next spring, so many native species will finally have the space to populate this patch of land.

The burn is also a rich metaphor for renewal in life after disaster has struck. Everything looks dead now but clearing away all the brushes and invasive species will make room for woodland flowers. It's also a fine metaphor for creative life: the times I feel empty and drained creatively are only a pause, a rest for the inner landscape. There will be plenty of room for new images, ideas and projects.


Posted Notice

All Sorts of New Work

8" x 12"
watercolor, ink and Japanese paper collage on
400 lb watercolor paper

I've been very busy here resurrecting the Flying Pictures Project. Last Thursday's talk went very well and I could almost feel the wing beats of my fellow flyer's somewhere in the room with me.

I've also been working on the Tools of the Trade project and you can see a new piece and read a book review here on the blog.

I'm having a job review this week too. Just when I think my life is nice and sane, stuff piles up. The semester ends in a few weeks and I'm soooooo ready!