Friends Through Time

Inspired by a friend having their first baby and wanting to symbol of love & support (mine for them and the parent's for their new little one)- I made a rare abstract painting, in slightly cartoon style.  It represents a passing of the baton to the next generation as well.

Background, nice and bright to stimulate young eyes

  

Kiddo Appropriate, made with love: 

 

All kids love dinosaurs, right?  And both myself and friend love elephants :)

Getting some details of the dino and ellie

And the finished piece "Friends Through Time" for a brand new babe.  Best wishes to the family!
 

Dalmatian Gift Commission

 When COVID-19 quarantine shut downs started, a dear friend of my mother's and all around lovely person had a sorrowful loss.  This elder lady's old sweety dog was sick and taking her back from the vet where the diagnosis was only a short time left for her, this kind small lady fell carrying her big old sick pup.  And she broke her collar bone on the sidewalk.  She then had to suffer that pain, with the bone stabbing into her muscle now, and the pain of having to put her companion to sleep soon.  Not to mention the misfortune of timing with getting treated at a doctor and having surgery during a pandemic.  I was so happy she at least had my folks for friends just down the block to help her out through it all. 

Many months later my mother escorted her friend to several animal shelters to find a new companion for the very isolating times.  Her age-old favorite dog breed is a Dalmatian but that breed is unlikely to be at a shelter and they are famously high strung and bounding with energy.  Not the best breed for a spunky lady in her later slower years, especially after a major injury.  As luck would turn out, a kindly extra sweet pit mix bonded with her at a shelter and they became instant friends.  They go out for walks everyday and with time the big pup's coat began to reveal a lot more spots than they could first see.  Maybe it was a dry shampoo from the shelter?  Or maybe the pup's true coat coloration is emerging now in a happy loving home?  Whatever it is, my mom and her friend suspect there could be some Dalmatian in this much more calm cuddly mutt after all.  And she will gladly sit on your feet while you visit on the couch so you can get a good look and good petting in.  

So with this heartwarming story of sorrow, pain and new companionship and love, my mom had a brilliant idea.  For a holiday gift, we could combine our efforts from afar (living in different states as we do) and make a Dalmatian sketch to frame and gift for her, to reclaim more happiness from 2020.

So I set to work on a few trial sketches. Didn't like anything with color.  And then I thought "Duh!  Charcoal for a black & white doggie drawing.  Obviously!"  And that with a younger reference photo (Dalmatians are hard to get to hold still for models I think) was what we needed.  

With that super sweet puppy face, I felt like I could capture what Dalmatians mean to this friend; their endless energy and curiosity and joy.  I will always like them for their history of use at fire stations really as horse-dogs, helping guide and guard the horses that drew the water pump wagons to a fire, barking loudly the whole way down the streets as an alarm to others. "Keep back, make way for the horses!  We've got a fire to get to." I had always wondered why they were linked to structural firefighting. 

This was a fairly quick commission for a dear family friend to welcome her new sweet companion home to stay.  

"Always a Pup at Heart"

Shi Shi Beach Sexy Nude

 I am eager to return to Shi Shi Beach & the  Point of the Arches for an actual beach camping trip.  I haven't camped on a true beach since childhood (sandbar of a river does NOT count, but still fun, do not attempt in the rain).  But it is a long drive from me.  I savor the trip I made a few years ago as part of some hiking therapy for a tough time, conveniently planned after a work trip that would take me half way there.  The drive back was looooooonnng, determined not to stop for a pee break but also sip on stuff to keep awake.  Every play that will-power game?   

 Intentionally staying out on the very long lovely beach at the northwestern tip of Washington and the continental US ("Hi there Canada!") gives a truly special sunset.  There's nothing in the way except the cool rock formations of the Point of the Arches.  Then you walk back with a flashlight, carefully trekking through large deep mud patches in the forest between the beach and the road.  All still fun and engaging.  

Only one of the significant mud wallows among the trail.  Next time I'm back, someone is getting wrestled in one of these!  Such luxuriously fluffy mud!!

 

Of course I captured plenty of photos and knew I would want to paint at least one.  I started that painting about a year ago but got held up by all the 'life' stuff.  It will be full of many fun little details while of course looking like a simple beach sunset painting at first glance.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whole beach panorama

I started with a sketch of course, then wanted to tackle the sky.  I didn't love it but didn't feel like changing it yet.  I find sitting with such 'flaws' can give you a better fix after more work is done.  Never know what else I may want to change too.   So I soldiered on into the beach.

I really loved this little stream that was gently trickling right out of the forest and over the beach, ambling and cutting a wandering path directly to the salty ocean waves.    Shi Shi Stream?  Shi Creek?

 

Rocks time

 

 

Its got a long way still, some lumps to smooth out, but it will be in great shape come February.  

Stay tuned.  And yes, there will be a sexy nude model ;)

 

 

 

And the last changes are DONE!

 

If you look real close, you can spot the nude beach dweller I decided to add for a giggle.  It's still PG13 though, because their back-lit.  Hard to see... anything. ;)

Up next.... oil painting

Time to take on another oil painting.  DAMN I love oils!  They make art sexy.  Or is that just me being weird?  Like how I think mulch is sexy...?  Whatever, bring on the creamy dreamy oils!

Canvas is prepped and sketched.

Can you guess what it will be yet?  Hint- not a portrait.  Or fruit.  Haven't painted fruit since probably middle school.  Maye if I find a really really cool apple or something.  But no.  Keep guessing.  Or stay tuned.  This should be a fun one.

Adventures of Dino Car

The efficient lil car that thinks its a Jurassic Jeep, the sweet clean gal that likes to get dirty, a classy lady who scares the lesser-willed.  And she does like to get around...

Dino Car's first outing, to Staircase trails, Olympic NP


Someone wants to be a dino-park tour car, can you tell?

Only car in the lot at Lower Big Quilcene!  Woot

 

Dosewallips River Trail

 Tucked into the make-shift parking area nicely.  Trying out the new comfy and super light pack.  And super light tent.

Trial runs!!

 The pack is a little sweaty but super comfortable and well padded, well made, and very functional.  Love it already!  Go Gossamer Gear.  Not too expensive and very light, even customized fit.

And Tarptent has not disappointed either.  Yay for successful upgrades!  

Now to put them to lots and lots of use.

TO CANADA!!!:

  Dinos on the ferry.  We were making a bit of a scene
















Botanical Beach. It was fairly botanical indeed.

 Camping at China Beach along SW coast of Vancouver Isld past Sooke.

   

 

Climbed little Mount Finlayson in Goldstream Park

For a special treat- world famous Butchart GARDENS

Camping again at kinda-outa-the-way Cowichan Lake

                                           

Honeymoon Bay, on Lake Cowichan. Disappointing.

Tiny park with a nice view of the Honeymoon bay.

                                                       
                                                   

 Driving through central Vancouver Isl to get to Pacific Rim Provincial Park on dusty unsigned logging roads.  Bit of an adventure and time to get dirty :)

             

East entrance to Pacific Rim Provincial Park

                    

       

Other entrance to Pacific Rim Provincial Park.  And no parking, so have fun with that...

One of the famed ladders on West Coast Trail.  Just sampling it a bit, not doing the whole 47 miles (75km). And yes, there were bears.  Really prevalent.  O_o

Birthday excursion to a heavenly lake.  Mid week and almost no other cars around.  

My babies!

Opening b-day cards at an alpine lake with not a sole around.... priceless!

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Snowpacalypes PNW style

Snowperson became a snow owl when it was lopsided :)

                                                                                                                                                                           

 New work mascot:

Loppers, the dog that roams around Glacial and apparently hops right into any dinocar she finds. 

Helping (wo)man the burn pile at the end of the day. Good Loppers!

Uuhhmmmmm, glad we got here before all these people.  Dang that's a long parking line for a small trail!  That's what happens when you go closer to Seattle.  The droves find you.

Leaving Pratt Lake near Seattle.  Yeah...

Pratt Lake, early September


"Lemme tell you about the time I ALMOST died....." (Fallen, Denzel Washington)

First time to Sunrise area of Rainier NP (there are loads of cars at the lot, this is ranger station to grab camping permit)

 So I had to cross this raging ice cold river.  Rangers were all- "Just find a log or somewhere easy to cross, no big deal."  1st of all- there is NOTHING to use.  YES- go as early in the AM as possible to get lowest water flow and use two (not just one, but 2) walking sticks for balance.  2nd of all- an unfortunate lady was swept away in this very spot and died literally the day before I crossed and was probably still in the river down stream when I took this (saw the rescue chopper overhead later that day & read the news article later).  So yeah, it is kinda a big deal!  When in doubt, turn back.  Not worth it. 

That being said, I poked around in the river a bit above stream before seeing another dude cross.  He didn't look that much taller than me, so I went for it.  Water was up to almost midthigh at the very highest and I would guess an hour later I would not have made it.  Almost got swept off my feet.  But....

MADE IT!!  Now to dry off my pant legs and socks.  And maybe change my underwear. :-/

 My heart goes out to the lady who didn't make it, and the people who saw and tried to run after her. Very sad.  Be safe.  And enjoy the gorgeous world we live in.