The Dregs

Woefully behind on so many parts of my life at the moment, but ahead of the game on the parts that put bread on the table, so I can't complain/apologize/agonize too much.



I couldn't tell you exactly the day or hour I drew this gentleman, but I could tell you the morning light was warm coming in from the left side of the train. I could tell you there was something about him that reminded me very much of my maternal grandfather. I could tell you that he really wasn't as old as he ended up in the drawing—less is more, and my pencil got away from me, so he ended up looking older than he should.



Ah doodles...who doesn't love a good doodle session. On the train again, and you might not believe it but those two heavy black dots were a couple of puddles. It had rained that day, and the pavement was drying. The squiggly line is the border between the wet and dry pavement and there were these two puddles, you see. Speaking of seeing, the knot in a particular piece of wood ended up as an eye. Need I go on? It's a doodle. It's the stream of consciousness of the artist. I couldn't tell you when they were put on paper, but I remember each moment they were put there because of the poignancy of the moment.



An Illo Friday gone to neglect. It seemed like the idea at the time, but is a bit macabre upon review. Still true though, just because it's a bit dark doesn't make it any less true. You know that moment of anxiety, when you look yourself in the mirror and have to shock yourself into a different frame of mind with the cold dash. This is that, just the nth degree.

Anyhoo, this is kind of the dregs of what has been coming out of the pencil and pen lately (not that there is a lot more), but there is something coming. Don't get you hopes up, but it'll be a little different.

Thanks for stopping by!

25th Anniversary Party Pics (and 200th Post)

Sorry it's been such a long time, but I finally have something worthy of a 200th post.


Gimli was a very good host for the evening. "Hurry up! They're coming!"


Liquid refreshments on the back porch.


Mixin' and minglin' in the back yard. View 1.


View 2.


View 3.


Phil & Maddie and Dad & Connie—feelin' a photo comin' on.


Phil & Roger have had a very happy 25 years together...oh, uh...that's Connie & Roger...yeah, right.


Note to self: Time to get back on the bike. Or switch places with Erin next time, chucklehead. Oh, **ahem** hi, family photo taken by Tom Tarpey—expert photographer currently moonlighting as gardener.


Our fantastic, talented entertainment for the evening: Heather Broadbent, violinist (stringswi.com), and Andrea (I'm ashamed to say I didn't get her last name), cellist. They played music near and dear to us all, and were indulgent and patient with us when we asked them to play those pieces again. And, happily, the neighbors reported enjoying the music as well!


The cake, obviously. The credit goes to Chef Julie White of Gourmet Everyday for this beautiful creation in addition to dinner and appetizers (in reverse chronological order). It was mighty tasty too!


Chef Julie created a wonderful presentation for all the food as well. It was reeeeeaaaalllly nice not having to lift a finger—we were all very spoiled. Thanks Julie!


Chef Julie giving the Suthards (and a Bolton) the low-down on her biz, for future reference. Sorry, I didn't get pics of the table before everyone tore into the eats.


Alas, there was no mushing of cake up each other's noses. They might pride themselves on a remaining silliness in their relationship, but it's a moderate and appropriately distinguished silliness that does not, I repeat does not, include smeared cake. Awwwww...Okaaaay.


Finally the warm wishes of loved ones, and some **ahem** other "entertaining" material.

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Post 199...What Will the Next One Be?!?

A few sketches from the train ride home. As you can tell from the dates, I've been rather lax in keeping up with my journaling. Work has been sucking up all the creativity, and creativity usually flows in spurts for me anyhow so there you have it.



It took me a couple of tries to get the perspective on her face correct. I was seeing ponytail lady from above, but the first time I drew her, I drew her face in profile. He was sitting across from me, so profile was just the thing.

Ever noticed it's easier to draw people who wear glasses? At least, it is for me. I start with the glasses, and work from there. When glasses aren't available, I start with the hair.



You can see confirmation of my claims on this spread. The lonely hair here belongs to the woman who took the seat of the ponytail woman. She was reading the paper when I started, but like mine often does, her mind wandered and she chose to look out the window instead. I wonder if she was contemplating something she'd read, or if her mind was just wandering.

The hand on the lower left was attached to a man who chose to move before I was finished. I think I did fairly well with the foreshortening of the thumb before my model wandered.



This hand was the accomplishment of the evening. Hands are a dog for me, and her forefinger is not altogether right. However, I was able to fix an earlier pinky funkiness and the outer edge of the hand bulge, and the result is pretty on the mark.

It wasn't until I got home that I realized the significance of the wedding ring on the right ring finger. The ring was the first thing I drew, but I was entirely focused on what I was seeing (I was in my right mind, as it were), and didn't think of the significance. I've done a little research, and I think I know the answer, but I wouldn't like to assume anything.

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