Red-Eyed Tree Frog

In honor of my trip to Costa Rica last month, I decided to paint this Red-Eyed Tree Frog, who, yes, lives in Costa Rica. I'm really quite happy with how this turned out, and I very much enjoyed sitting down and painting it while listening to Top Chef Masters in the background. It was fun to use so many great colors and I like how the background has an unfinished look to it, even though it is absolutely COVERED in blue paint. I've never painted a frog before, and I think this was a pretty good first try!

Materials: 8x10 canvas panel, acrylic paints.

Update! Item is now available (with nicer pictures) in the shop!

OMG, I did something creative!

Yes, for the first time since February, I picked up a paintbrush, sat down at my artist table, and painted. It felt good, although somewhat awkward since so much time has passed. I'm not crazy in love with the image, but it's a good start. The painting is actually of a stack of bangles, although I suppose it kind of looks like a layered cake as well. I painted the lower layer in acrylics, and then did the outlines and gemstones in puffy T-shirt paint, to give it a nice three-dimensional look. Maybe now I will be inspired to do more.

Materials: 8x10 canvas panel, acrylic paint, t-shirt paint.

Hollow

I wonder
If you ever think of me
Late at night
When your eyes are a bright reflection
And your mind is cataloging
Your life.

You have hollowed me out,
Carved a hole in my chest
That still
Somehow
Manages to ache.

Costa Rica Pics 5

Costa Rica Pics 4

Costa Rica Pics 3

Costa Rica Pics 2

(Because I can't figure out how to get more than five photos in one post.)

Costa Rica Pics 1

Costa Rica

I leave for a ten-day trip to Costa Rica this Sunday. I will explore the rain forests, lay on the beach, dip my feet in hot springs, visit museums, and hopefully catch a glimpse of a volcano. And that's in addition to all the other lovely things scheduled for our tour. You can see our itinerary in the above picture; it's a lot to pack into ten days, but it should be worth it, even if I do have to get up before the crack of dawn on a few mornings. I hope to come away with lots of good pictures, some color in my skin (although I have bought SPF 85 sunscreen for my pale, delicate skin so that is unlikely), and the desire to continue traveling the world and broadening my horizons. I am going to miss Mister Bingley very, very much, but I know that he will be in good hands, with friends stopping by every day to play with him and take care of all his needs. I think one of the hardest things about leaving is the fact that I won't have access to the Internet, which will either kill me or make me a better person. (Yeah, right.)

I will hopefully post some pictures upon my return, and who knows? Maybe I'll even get the old tubes of paint out and be productive.

Still Here, Just Lazy

Yes, I'm still alive. Just haven't felt much like drawing or painting, I suppose. I've been spending a lot of time with Mister Bingley and have gotten back into reading. I also got a swinging new laptop and have been spending my evenings cuddled up on the couch with it, playing various computer games. And of course I went on vacation last week and am going to Costa Rica for ten days in just over three weeks. All of which is to say I haven't had much time for anything else. I feel only slightly bad about it. I've been through the emotional wringer these past few months, and it's good for me to change up my routine and try to regroup and refocus. I'm sure I'll be creative again and the urge to draw will hit me like a bolt of lightning.