Went swimming in a pool the other day

Visited a 4 bedroom 4 bath house with a pool on the Gulf. Kids loved it. It was nice to sit and relax while they played in the pool. If all our family came down I would rent both of these 4 bedroom houses that are right next to each other from http://www.accentkeys.com .

Saw a batfish while snorkeling off Fat Deer Key, a Private Island in Florida

We got to snorkel off Fat Deer Key, a private island that's available with a houseboat rental through http://www.rentmyhouseboats.com/ . It was so cool we saw 2 different types of batfishes. They look like they have feet and they crawl along the bottom. Also did a quick sketch after we returned of leaves + shadows. The light is so incredible here how it shines translucently through the leaves.

The Njorth Yacht at Little Russell (Dolphin Jump Key) and Great Snorkeling

Met Ruth & Mac who were staying on their Yacht at this great island before heading to Belize. Their yacht called the Njorth has been in service since 1955 and is famous in the Lake Erie area. They told me that there was going to be an article about them in an upcoming Lake Erie Yacht Club newsletter. Found this site for an Erie Yacht club, http://www.erieyachtclub.org/ . We visited with them and snorkeled around the island.
If you scroll down to the bottom of this web page you'll see some pictures of this great island http://www.rentmyisland.com/2brWaterfrontHome.htm .
There were so many different types of coral, fish, urchins and other sealife. Mac freaked when he saw me giving the olympus waterproof camera to the kids swimming in the water. I love that camera. We spent a lot of time in the water and the kids got some great pictures. I took some pictures of the Njorth yacht and Little Russell Key - Dolphin Jump Key as we were driving away.

A quick charcoal sketch at Florida Keys Island

I'm on holiday right now on a Florida Keys Island with my sister and nieces. (Check out www.rentmyisland.com then click on Private Island Home in the the left menu bar if you'd like to check out where we're staying.) The water is so nice and there's a special quality to the light that you don't have up in Wisconsin. This island home is so cool. The kids have been in the water practically all day and me too but I thought I quick post this charcoal sketch. Trying to learn the medium and also capture the pattern the light and shade made on the tree trunks. I've taken some pictures with my cameras and I've lent my water proof olympus stylus 1030SW to the kids. They take really excellent pictures, closeups of the sealife and each other. I love that camera. Well, back to the water fun

about.com July/August 2008 painting project possibility

The purpose of this project is to convey the essence of an urban scene without the detail, an abstraction but not a pure abstract. The new deadline for this is now August 22.

I did an expressway tunnel bridge. The pattern of light and the ceiling was what caught my eye. I love bridges but I don't know if it's urban enough to meet the requirements so maybe I'll do another painting.

http://painting.about.com/od/paintingforbeginners/u/painting_path2.htm

Milwaukee Sketch Club Plein Air at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

5 of us showed up this morning at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, http://www.schlitzauduboncenter.com/ . Free parking but $4 if you walk the trails. Pretty cool place. I was fascinated by the way the shadow fell across the window and grass so I did an oil pastel piece. I'm trying to concentrate on seeing values so I experimented by drawing in the values with a white, gray and black oil pastel, then going over with the general colors and scraping with a plastic card. It's difficult to lighten an area in oil pastels once it's dark, so may have to save the lights. Here's my painting, may work on it some more.

I really like our group, we're loosely organized, spend our time together painting and give each other feedback and tips. It's interesting to see all the different paintings made at the same place. Utrecht is having a sale on paints, etc. http://www.utrechtart.com/ and a good place to buy sunnyside odorless thinner for oils is Greenfield News & Hobby shop, http://greenfieldhobby.home.att.net/

Milwaukee Sketch Club at Angelica's garden

A lot of interesting stuff to draw. I chose this copper bowl. Experimented with oil pastels and basically a single color (green) because I wanted to concentrate on values. I love water and reflections. I think the front block turned out pretty good.

Opening night at One Way Cafe was fun. A lot of people showed up. We got to vote on the paintings (not are own ones). Marie and Rhoda tied for Best of Show. Very cool. Excellent paintings.