Sunday Drawing Fun with Family

Sitting outside yesterday, in Walnut Creek, drawing with my 95 3/4 year old mother, and my siblings, in the warm California sun can be summed up in one word:  Delightful.  I was drawing birds with the aim of designing some new fabric on Spoonflower, then took a turn at drawing my mother (as she drew me) and finally drew one of the still life props set out for inspiration - a wooden artist model.

Indian People in Ahmedabad

From the start of our Textiles and Temples tour around Gujarat, I was amazed how friendly almost all of the Indians were who we met.  It reminded me of when I was first living in Spain, in 1969, when foreigners weren't that common there and the Spanish were very curious and friendly. Like Spain in the late 60’s early 70s, Gujarat today is still slightly off the beaten track for tourism in India.  I and my two travelling companions were constantly running into groups of students, wedding participants, villagers, and other strangers, who wanted their pictures taken with us, or were happy to have us take their picture.  Unlike the American custom of trying to smile for the camera, more often than not the friendly Indians put on more serious faces once the lens was focused on them.  The three photos here were taken at the Adalaj Step-well in Ahmedabad.  The students were clamoring to have pictures taken with all of us and the Rabari elders, with young girl, even smiled for the camera.

Indian Salt

On a Textile and Temples tour of Gujarat, India, in January, 2015, salt ended up playing an interesting role linking the Little Rann of Kutch’s wildlife sanctuary with India’s Independence from Britain.   A short jeep ride from our stay at the excellent Rann Riders Resort, led to a great sea of fabulous birds, including painted storks, black ibis, egrets, geese and flamingos (in the distance).  The magnificent birds were followed by wild ass sightings.  Driving on a bit led to a salt bed where I proceeded to buy about a pound of salt crystals.  What I did not know then, but know now, is that today India is the world’s third largest producer of salt, after China and the USA.  But back in 1930, the British had a monopoly on the salt trade and made it illegal for any Indian to produce salt.  This led to Mahatma Gandhi’s famous 1930 salt march, which eventually led to India’s independence in 1947.

New Funky Shoes Font Alphabets

Three versions of my new Funky Shoes Type Font:
Top to Bottom:
Photoshop version with screened back Korea boot drawing and Alien Skin Autochrome filter
Photoshop version with screened back Korea boot
Illustrator version with blown up font size, rainbow colored, somehow missing the funky Z.

Tic Tac Toe Brain Twister

Three versions of the same seven tic tac toe games - all ending in seven moves.   Two ending in a green win, two in a yellow win, and three ending in a draw.  Top set alternates black and white boards, second set is all on a black board and the third set is on a rainbow board.   Can you see it?

Wild and Woolly Quilted Wall Hanging

Experience the freedom of the outdoors with a Wild and Woolly (wool punched creatures on cotton fabric) quilted wall hanging indoors.  38 1/2" wide x 44 1/4" high.  Top to Bottom:  front, details and back

Playing with New AlienSkin Exposure 7 Software

A new take (above) on an old photo (below) taken at Limantour beach a few months ago.