Merry Christmas from the land of Buddha

Our daughter Tracey called at 7am to say Merry Christmas from Cambodia.
She is at the ancient temple site of Anghor Wat, an amazing Buddhist site of hundreds of temples and stone sculptures deep in the jungle which were overgrown with foliage, and then when rediscovered, brought back to almost original splendor. Now as a very huge tourist destination, thousands of people go there to view the temples and watch the sunrise and sunsets.
Tracey has been on a 4 month photographic pilgrimage, and has had some incredible experiences, and met some amazing people. She will return to the states in about 3 weeks or so. I'll be so glad to get her back, and hear and see all the things she has done!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas- at least in the diningroom, where the table is covered with presents to wrap, but find BOXES for them first. !
I can't paint today. I'll just keep telling myself that! I'm going to coffee with a neighbor this morning- it's a monthly thing- then it's Finish the buying and Wrapping, NO MORE TIME

Last night we had dinner at a new restaurant in Kirkwood with some friends. It used to be a furniture store, converted to a restaurant, and it goes on forever. Huge. We caught up on some stuff, and that was fun. Today WRAp, WRAP,WRAP, and buy a few things that I forgot. Oh yes, food for Christmas Day, too. We have stollen from Schnucks every Christmas morning, If I forget to buy it I'm in big trouble. Happy Christmas to you......

Final Mary

The Completed Mary, except for the hightlights in her eyes, which I must put in after the iris' dry a little bit..... Finishing a portrait, for me, is like finishing a book. I don't want the enjoyment to end, it's somehow hard to part with the experience. Oh well, just thought I'd pass along that thought. Gotta get out there and finish my Christmas shopping, it's already after 12:00 !!

Mary -part 1 and 2

Mary is so beautiful, physically and spiritually. She wears the Amish attire for her mother. They left the Amish community, and no longer practice the Amish ways. She is also very bright, and is a junior at our school.

Angela

Since I was off school today I was able to get some shopping, visiting with my sister, AND a painting almost done, too. Hooray.. Here's how far I got on Angela, one of our English teachers. She always has a smile on her face.....

Students- altered book pages, 2006

My students started Altered Books the first day of the semester. They learned many techniques, formats, collage skills, etc. along the way. They turned them in for their final time and here are some pages to enjoy..... 

Native American Dancer

This colored pencil drawing is done on a spray background. I learned the technique from my favorite art teacher, Alan Handler, at Webster University when I was getting my masters in 1991. !!!

Here's the final Janet-

Two days of finals and the semester is already OVER !! Hopefully there will be time to paint during the 2 week Break!!yeah!!!

Janet - stages

Just couldn't resist, since I had Janet's pic started. I should be grading papers, since finals start tomorrow. Always waiting til the last minute- I'll never change!! 

Lisa and her twin

I thought maybe the likeness I got with Lisa was a "fluke", so I was apprehensive about trying to do it again. Actually, by looking at the first painting, I was able to get a better likeness with the second. Here's the finished second painting.....

Janet

Janet- here's her stage #1--
Janet and her friend did two Vietnamese dances for the global coffeehouse. Janet is such a doll!!

Since Lisa's parents want to buy her portrait, I've given it quite a bit of thought. They haven't even officially seen the portrait in person, they are going by the internet image, and word of mouth from people who came to the art show at school. I thought I'd go after that "likeness" again, well, here goes.........

By the way, the Global Coffeehouse was held at our high school Thursday nite, and was a great success with food, entertainment, and booths set up complete with all kinds of native wares from over 22 countries from which we have students. The art show featured works by our students, related to other cultures, as well as teacher's work. My portraits hung in groups of three from pillars in the upper commons with all the gallery of works. It was fun and exciting for me for everyone to view my work.

Lisa #3

Here's #3- it's done

Lisa

Here is Lisa, stage 1 and 2.. I've tried a new technique, and I like the results so far.

Now it looks like Meho, I think

Now THAT'S more like it....
After changing the color and darkening the shadows, hubby Buster's suggestions, with shapes and highlights ,were beneficial.

always good to get a new "eye" and a fresh perspective, after working so long on the same painting. Thanks, Bus...

Different Version of Meho

New start on a painting of Meho- gotta let it dry a bit and go back darker

Solemn young lady

I was taken by this picture from a magazine of this girl from a Slavic country, with her babushka...She's done in colored pencil.In this version, she's not quite finished.... I did finish her, but didn't get another picture.

Hanifa and Alyssa

Finally we have power, and HEAT ! wow, makes you appreciate all the simple things we take for granted.


Here are two new starts- actually Alyssa is finished, but Hanifa still needs minor adjustments, ha ha

iCE sTORM In KIRKWOOD

NO Power, after the Ice Storm...
We're at Ted and Diane's house tonight, They were nice enough to have pity on us,we're been the last 2 days with no power, so, No HEAT..

We had a roaring fire in the fireplace, and managed to heat water for tea, with a sterno and a saucepan balanced on top of two small metal loafpans. Doing without surely makes one Creative!!!!!!
I was determined to work on an oil painting, so went down to my studio, in the basement, and had enough light to sort of see what I was doing. It eventually got too cold, though, so I brought my canvas and paints upstairs where I had a bit more light. I'm pretty sure the painting is done, its one of my students, Alyssa. I can't post it yet because I've got to get on my computer and upload the pic..

Right now I'm on Teddy's laptop, and I kinda like it. It has no mouse, and it takes a little getting used to.

Their
house is so cute, and they have done so much, I'll have to take some current pictures and post them, too...