Old Cactus Garden Balboa Park

This is a fabulous video I just found on Jane LaFazio's facebook page...:) Here's to all our fellow sketchers out there...enjoying the artistic "good life" and sharing their art! Woo Hoo!

"Flying Solo 2..."

...for the

21st International SketchCrawl

January 10, 2009

Since

I had a previous commitment

on the other side of the valley today

I was not able to meet up with the Phoenix group.

So, I "flew solo" again and

just sketched

what happened during my every day life today.

Click on the image to enlarge if you would like to read my notes :)

Today

was exceptionally clear here in the Valley of the Sun...

67 degrees, sunny...paradise-like...

we even saw the Four Peaks Mountains

from our home here in Surprise!

That would be close to 80 some miles away!!!

I love when that happens!

Now...

I can't wait any longer...

I am off to check out all the sketches

made on this one day in January

all over the world!

Click here to see SketchCrawl results for yourself!

“Life is the art of drawing...[sketching...:)]...without an eraser.”
~John W. Gardner

"56 Hours and Counting..."

Above Photo:

Desert Wildflower Towers-Dale Chihuly in the Garden-November 28.2008

Photo Credit: DBG

...Until

my Desert Botanical Garden...Chihuly: The Nature of Glass

mini sketch crawl Saturday morning!!!!

I sit at the keyboard dreaming,
visions of pens and brushes dance in my head,

sketchbook open wide and waiting with anticipation.

I feel

like a child

awaiting the arrival of Santa on Christmas morning!

Tic toc...tic toc...56 hours...and counting! :)

"The key that unlocks energy is desire.

It's also the key to a long and interesting life.

If we expect to create any drive, any real force within ourselves,

we have to get excited."
~Earl Nightengale

"It All Started..."

...as all good things do..with a song in my heart,

...and with a bag full of art goodies,
mostly still packed from our day trip to Yarnell...

(ABOVE PHOTO CREDIT: Desert Botanical Garden Website)
...And
the promise of a delightful gathering of blog friends
Saturday
for the Phoenix version of the 20th Worldwide Sketch Crawl!
The plan was to meet at the Desert Botanical Gardens
around 9:30 AM at the outdoor cafe.:)

All would be well! Such a fun day we would have!

Um...that is until...

...Friday night, when
an unexpected encounter with a "Check Engine" light stopped me cold...
and then
a fairly hefty Saturday morning caution from the dealership to
"Not Drive The Car"!
DRATS!
I was GROUNDED...without a plan "B"!
Wings clipped...I sat...bottom lip stickin' out...all pouty and all...
A big ole raincloud a hangin' over my head...
disappointed and GROUNDED...blah, blah, blah!
Geesch!
do I ever take a lot for granted!

"If you have time to whine and complain about something
then
you have the time to do something about it.'
~Anthony J. D'Angelo

"Flying Solo..."

19th Annual Sketch Crawl Today!

However...

I was required to spend the morning in

defensive driving school for a photo radar enforcement

speeding "event"

which clocked me 1 mph over the "legal limit"

on the Loop 101 in Scottsdale

back in May.

Anyway...class was interesting...to say the least.

Hmmm...

So,

since the Phoenix sketch group had already met this morning

at the Heard Museum

I treated my happy little self to lunch at AJ's

"Purveyors of Fine Food."

My solo sketch crawl effort above documents my day

...of which one of the best parts

was a veal bratwurst (grilled outdoors)-yummy, yummy...

and a slice of Cherry Garcia chocolate crust cheesecake

which I am about to savor

directly

after

posting this!

Oh, I almost forgot...

the coconut macaroon was "delish" too...

but that was just a "wee little bit" of a

"snack"! :)

Uh...

Did I "mention" it was 115 degrees in Phoenix today?

That bratwurst wasn't the only thing cookin' out here! :)

"We Had It All..."

Butterflies, hummingbirds, rabbits, and hawks,

Wildflowers, and sculpture, and brick-covered walks.

A day of delight and a feast for the eyes,

'Twas the beauty of Nature under sun-brightened skies.

Tucked inside "our" Garden were trails here and there

With hideaways perfect to paint "en plein aire".

We drew and we sketched and our brushes did float

Over sketchbook and moleskines-making memories of note.

Time was ours to explore, or to find the right spot-

To journal or fantasize or shoot our last shot.

What a gem of a place for our Phoenix Sketch Crawl.

Art, colleagues, and nature...yes, "We had it all!

Of Special Note:

I dedicate this post to "Jordan"

a former student of mine...now in high school...

who loves to write, paint with watercolors, and raise butterflies.

Remember always... follow your dreams!

"Aloha...?"

A crown? or a lei?...hmmm...you be the judge!

Mammillaria melanocentra

Seen at the Phoenix Botanical Garden

During 18th Annual SketchCrawl

and

Inspired by the Schumann botanical print circa 1900

Pretty to look at...but... you better not touch!

Happy Cactus Monday!

See the rest of the group's art at:

Cactus Monday Flickr Group

Enjoy!

"18th Annual SketchCrawl..."

Desert Botanical Gardens

Phoenix, Arizona

A glorious day,

A wonderful group,

Memories to last forever...

Aaaah...it's awesome to be an artist! :)