Illustration Friday - Ahead

Ahead by a Head

ATC 2.5 x 3.5 inches

mixed media

There is a certain futility about racing around in circles, and yet that is what I seem to be doing most of the time.  I never really get ahead even if I feel like I do now and then. 

Lindale Students Attend State VASE

I apologize for being slow getting these up, but as we get closer to the end of the school year I only seem to get busier and busier.

This year five of our students advanced to state competition in art.  We traveled to Seabrook, Texas and the University of Houston - Clear Lake for the event.  Due to the distance, we arrived on Friday, April 9th and spent the afternoon visiting the Museum of Fine Arts - Houston and the Menil Collection.  This was my first opportunity to visit both of these institutions and I must say that they are now some of my favorite art museums in the state of Texas.  In addition I was able to visit the Rothko Chapel.  While not my favorite example of Rothko's work, it was still a serene experience and worth the visit.

 Left to right - Walter James, Katherine Trevarrow, Brenda Arzola, Matthew Sutter, Brittany Hudspeth, and Carianne Starling

Our students at the Flavin Installation - part of the Menil Collection


We spent Saturday at the State VASE competition where we viewed a staggering amount of outstanding high school art.  Our students were able to participate in studio activities as well as watch some fantastic demonstrations by working Texas artists.  All in all it was a successful and inspiring trip.   We made it home safe and sound by about 9:30 Saturday night. 

A chalk artist working with high school students for one of the demonstrations.  I apologize,  I have  forgotten her name.

Participants viewing some of the 2D art.

The 3D work was shown on multiple levels of the building

I can't wait to go again next year.

Illustration Friday - Detective

Just Follow Your Nose

The scent detection abilities of the bloodhound are unparalleled in the dog world.  They can follow a trail that is days old.  Despite being intimidatingly large, a bloodhound is far more likely to lick the person he is trailing than bite him.  Bloodhounds - Detectives Extraordinaire!    

Illustration Friday - Linked

Linked:

To the past

To the future

To each other

Thursday night submissions are becoming a habit for me.  I have had this image in my head all week, but I have just been too busy to sit down and get it done.  This is exactly what I did as a teacher last weekend, only with high school students instead of little ones, and we didn't hold hands. :)  I have pictures to post from our trip, but it is late and I will have to wait till the weekend to find a little free time to get them off my camera and edit them.   I promise more soon.  Good Night!

Illustration Friday - Dip

 “I dip my pen in the blackest ink, because I'm not afraid of falling into my inkpot.” 

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I hemmed and hawed over this word all week and finally ran out of time, so here is my rather late (again) submission.  I thought about ice cream and guacamole and skinny dipping and all of the other possibilities that have already been done, but in the end decide to go with an image based on the quote that came in the e-mail for this week's word.

I am leaving for Houston tomorrow to take 5 high school students to the State Visual Art Scholastic Event competition.  This will be the first time for my current school to attend this event and I am really looking forward to it  I will post photos from the trip when I return.

Illustration Friday - Rescue

Colored Pencil

APC 4 x 6 inches

An eleventh hour submission from me this week.  The rigors of being everything to everyone has left me a little more than overwhelmed and I only just finished this quick cat portrait.  Todd and I literally rescued her out of the middle of the road on a cold, dark, and stormy night back in late February. This beautiful Himalayan mix kitty is obviously someone's house cat because she doesn't have a clue about roads or strangers or cars or anything out of doors.   We tried for several weeks to find her owners, but so far no one seems to be missing her.  She loves people and doesn't mind dogs, but she is not terribly friendly with our other cats.  As beautiful as she is, I would like to find her a home if we can't find her original owners.  She would be happier as an only cat.  If you live in East Texas and want to adopt a cat, email me.