Living on the road...

Well, It's been almost 2 months I've been away from home and I only have another 2.5 months to go... or around that figure.  Depends upon how soon spring returns to Michigan.  I've not been getting to work on my art projects as much as I have wanted, but every little bit helps.  I'm beginning a project drawing by a wonderful colored pencil artist by the name of Tina Sue Norris, CDA, TDA.  It is a pattern packet that I purchased at HOOT in Columbus, OH last year.  The ladies in my painting club want me to teach it to them (everything is pattern based in this club), so I am working on it, studying it, and am going to attempt to teach this to a group of ladies that normally use a brush for their art.  It does introduce watercolor pencil into the colored pencil project, so I think it will be a great learning experience for them.  I wish I could get them to expand their horizons and create a work of art 'without' a pattern from another artist, as I believe these women could create some beautiful pictures from just a photograph, or even by just looking at something and visualizing it on their surface.  I know they have it in them... they just won't step out of that 'pattern packet' comfort zone.  I did, and my red tailed hawk is the product of my desire to create 'my' art and not just 'reproduce' someone elses work.  I get so much satisfaction out of working from life and photos... I just want to create something new everyday.  And I do, in my head.  It doesn't seem to make it to paper as I just don't have much time for drawing out here on the road in a tractor-trailer... but I write my ideas down, and I have began a couple sketchbooks that I tend to doodle and experiment in when I get the chance.  Hopefully in a couple weeks I will get a few days off to see my son as he and his girlfriend will be on their way to Orlando, Florida.  I am hoping to get a day to spend with them, and a day to work on the project.  I will post pictures of my progress on it as I do it, and in the process, I will also be learning to use watercolor pencil which I haven't delved into yet... so it is another artistic adventure for me.  Wish me luck that my owl doesn't turn out looking like a chicken...