Traveling Time

My wings have been clipped and I have not been out and about much since having the lower back surgery in January. Journal 52 2014 has kept me in art projects. I had fun doing the travel page for week 22.

The world map in the suitcase is a maybe dream, as is taking a cruise. The map shows my current travel area.

Sailing ships or large crusing ships would be nice, but my boundries are much smaller currently. I have only been roaming from DeKalb (home town) to Lake County IL, Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee in WI, then toward Chicago. That is what inspired this journal page. My travels had been mostly by car early in the year after surgery during the recovery period. Back to work full time May 1st took the wind out of my sails! See the Windjammer on the page? Work, home and a few days of therapy after work before getting home. Now I am doing aqua therapy in the pool at the apartment complex with a friend to "babysit" and enjoy the pool with me.

My travels had been mostly by car

1st GOTB trip north to Racine and Milwaukee

I took my first Get On the Bus Trip with the Friends of the NIU Art Museum to see the Frank Lloyd Wright newly opened tower at the Johnson Wax campus in Racine. Closed to visitors for decades we could only view the structure from the outside on a previous visit when I went on the Brut-Art GOTB trip mentioned in a previous post. This time the tower was open to visitors and we had the full tour.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/frank-lloyd-wright-designed-sc-johnson-research-tower-finally-goes-public-b99252995z1-256287561.html
TOUR info
http://www.scjohnson.com/en/company/visiting.aspx

In November my horizons will expand to visit Brown County IN on another GOTB trip. I do love to travel see the stamped hearts. This trip my body will do much better. I still tire easily and stamina is at a low ebb, but we have pain on the run!

Celebrate 75 Years with Us...

Celebrate 75 Years with Us...     Prismcolor products I use
                                Below is an oil monoprint enhanced with color pencil

Below:Watercolor pencil used for 3rd Street Park DeKalb, IL and

 preliminary sketch for NIU Huskie Pup Project

If you have not tried this product do it now. I absolutely love them. The color is true and the pencils are so nice to work with.

Sunflower Series On Display

He we are folks! The three works of my sunflower series are on display in the Kishwaukee Valley Art League Group Traveling Show in "the gallery in the making" at  Home Bound Healthcare located on Bethany Road, Sycamore Illinois open 8 to 5 weekdays. The work is not traveling; various KVAL artists will rotate work in or out every three months. Current work is on display until the end of August.

Sunflower From Sue's

 I am very excited to be showing all three pieces in the same venue.  I like each composition for different reasons, but a common factor is the interesting shapes in the negative space. Other Images are lurking just under the surface as in some of my other paintings, but have not shown themselves clearly.

Two Sunflowers from Sues's

Sunflowers Three

 "Sunflowers Three" finally made it to an exhibit and has been declared done. These three paintings may provide a launching pad for derivative works and I may continue on to four, five and six flower groupings. Actually sketches are in the beginning stage. Like many of you my full time job limits my time for my art work. I always laugh and say I am like a turtle crossing the toll way. Just keep trucking along one foot at a time.

Reference Photos from Ellwood House

Last Sunday a group from the Kishwaukee Valley Art League gathered to do a little sketching, painting or photographing at the historic Ellwood House a National Register historic site located in DeKalb, IL. I have included 2 of my spring reference pictures of the tower and the children’s play house located on the grounds. I often use reference photos to work from when in my studio. I will be adding some current Ellwood sketches soon. On Sunday fall color was really nice, but I am afraid most of the pretty leaves were blown away in the winds Wednesday night.

Web cite http://www.ellwoodhouse.org/
A FaceBook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ellwood-House-Museum/230983890530

The mansion offers tours Tuesday through Friday at 1 PM and 3 PM and Saturday and Sunday 1 PM, 2 PM and 3 PM which meet at the visitors center. Local floral businesses usually decorate the house for the holiday season. Holiday Open House, December 9, 7 - 9pm; Dec.10, 1 - 5pm; Dec. 11, 1 - 5pm..
Location:
Ellwood House Museum
509 North First Street, DeKalb, Illinois 60115
Phone: (815)756-4609