9x12 pastel, Joan D'Arch Chapel, Marquette University

Plein Air Sketching with MSC, 6/3/14 evening. I like how I rendered the doors.

Last indoor sketching session at MSC 5/7/14

I sat over on the undraped side. Here are two heads sketched in 20 minutes. The second head I had a little trouble with the angle and tilt.

Alisa Pastel portrait 18x24 charcoal paper from MSC sketching session 4/29/14

This is the 3rd time I've sketch this model and every year I am improving.

Here's from 2012, http://katsmishmash.blogspot.com/2012/02/pastel-18x24-on-charcoal-paper.html

Here's from 2011, http://katsmishmash.blogspot.com/2011/10/from-milwaukee-sketch-club-portrait.html

2009 Iris blossom for St. John's Raffle

Donated another picture last week from my 2009 Iris Blossom series http://katsmishmash.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-pieces-for-st-marks-exhbition-july-19.html . Now I only have the one 3 blossom picture left.
I think in April I donated a one blossom piece for some African Fund Relief? that Debbie took to the collection point for me.

I gave it to Joyce who is taking it for my for the St. John's Auction/Rafffle, http://stjohns-grfd.org/ . We meet there to paint on Thursday nights.

Plarn toddler's summer sun hat

How to make plarn: http://www.plasticbagcrafts.com/make-plarn/
Magic ring directions: http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/09/demystifying-the-magic-ring/

I have a crazy short hand for writing down patterns. I usually see what I want to do in my head. I'm not very good at counting the stitches as I crochet. I did try to count them after I crocheted them in some rows.

• 3/4" plarn
• H hook
• I used round rows rather than spiral.
• To turn at the crown to side and side to brim you crochet in back loops only. Everything else was through both loops.
• First row was single crochet, then rest was half double crochet.
• The infinity symbol (8 laying on its side) means slip stitch join together
• 8 or 2 circles on top of each other means chain 2 used as stitch for next row

12x18 nupastel portrait on charcoal paper from 4/2/14 sketch club session

FalconsView Estate 9x12 oil pastel on acrylic paper

Last Friday I went out with some friends from Milwaukee Sketch Club and painted.  It's been awhile since we've been here. It's starting to get built up but can still find views without houses. Lot of activity with people coming and going. Overcast, not too windy day. If I had my snowsuit I probably could have sat outside my car and painted.

I probably should have cropped the green tape out of the picture. I found a clear oil pastel to go over the paper before I started. I find that if I go over the paper with a clear or white pastel then rub it into the paper with a rag, later I can scratch back to get highlights or interesting textures. I think this is the last of the canson acrylic paper. It's more slippery than the strathmore paper which helps with blending I think. I used clear, white, earthy yellow, brown, purple, sky blue & gray. Of course I needed to go over the sky with white to lighten the colors. I use a lot of white to lighten and make milky or soften colors.

Here's a link to some pictures from when we went last time.

directions: from hwy I43, turn right onto hwy 83 go one block, Turn right onto Holz Parkway onto Hwy ES, drive past the gas station on the right. Turn left at the 2nd street Hilllview (there is a big white farmhouse on your left.) Hillview road turns 4 times, and at that point you will see a very straight Hillview. At the next turn you will see a small road going up the hill (till going straight). Go to the top and find a place to park for your view.

Pictures from

• Feb 2012 http://milwaukeesketchclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/falcon-view-21612.html
• Fall 2011 http://milwaukeesketchclub.blogspot.com/2011/11/milwaukee-sketch-club-at-falcon-crest.html
• Last February http://milwaukeesketchclub.blogspot.com/2011/03/falcon-view-estates-plein-aire-thursday.html
• A very windy April day in 2010 http://milwaukeesketchclub.blogspot.com/2010/04/milwaukee-sketch-club-at-falcon-view.html