Paper and Threads

I had a few minutes on Tuesday after my meeting at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington DC ended and walked up Connecticut Avenue to the National Zoo to see and sketch the Giant Pandas.  More than 20 years ago, I sat with my young daughter and sketched a Panda eating bamboo - and it didn't move for 20-30 minutes.  The Panda Habitat has been recently renovated and there is a baby that was born in July 2007.  I was able to see Mom, Dad, and Baby (who appears fully grown) and they were all in perpetual motion!

Here are a few quick sketches that I did when they stopped for 30 seconds!

There are 3 cameras in use at all times to track the pandas and volunteers (working in 3 hour shifts)move the cameras around continually to keep the Pandas in view on the screen.  If you Google Panda cam you can see the 2 from the National Zoo and the 3rd that is sponsored at the zoo by Animal Planet. 

I still love watching them - and was thrilled to have the time to walk up to the Zoo.

Posted by Shirley at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

I was playing with Photoshop and my scan of the "Hopper" house painting I did one week ago at the National Gallery of Art - and suddenly this appeared!  I have no idea what I did, but it looked alot like a Halloween haunted house.  Happy Halloween to everyone.  I'm off early tomorrow morning to International Quilt Festival in Houston and then a meeting in Washington DC, leaving my husband home to be with our grandchildren for Halloween "trick or treating."  After one week away from my computer, I will have a full week of catch-up to do. 

Posted by Shirley at 6:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

EDM Challenge #142:  Draw Something Hot:

When I looked for something "hot" all I had to do was look at the small burns on my fingers.  I toast English muffins and bagels in a toaster oven daily - and as often as I remind myself that all parts of the appliance are HOT, I burn a finger or two! 

EDM Challenge #143:  Draw Spices or Herbs

I love cinnamon, even mixed in with my vanilla ice cream.  And I love anise - and the fascinating shape of star anise.  So it wasn't very difficult for me to quickly find spices for sketching.

Posted by Shirley at 6:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Last weekend we visited our son and daughter-in-law in Washington DC and went to the Edward Hopper exhibit at the National Gallery East Wing.  It is a spectacular exhibit - including etchings, watercolors and oil paintings.  I was incredibly impressed, once again, with the contrasts he achieved between light and shadow and decided to copy the master.  This is taken from an oil painting entitled Captain Upton's House.   The exhibit is excellently captured on the National Gallery website

Posted by Shirley at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

We have accumulated many unused Virgin Atlantic travel toothbrushes from our trips between London and New York last year.  They are all in the cabinet in our guest bathroom in case one of our guests forgets a toothbrush.  I love the many colors - and the toothbrush was always accompanied by travel socks and one pen in the same color in the travel pouch. 

Posted by Shirley at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)