Easter Weekend - March 2016

Most of my paintings are created digitally and not always from my memory.  So many beautiful items of all kinds of art work out there.  The ideas are endless, therefore, I don't have to paint from memory anymore.
My hands are shaky now and a straight line eludes me all the time.  Thank goodness, I have my two favorite painting applications, Gimp and Paint.  I can cut, paste and copy anything off the web, as long as, I change the arrangements/pictures to my liking.  I realize this method has been around longer than my seventy-one years.  However, it is more fun to try and paint online pictures from online pictures.  Mine always turn out
like my own style: "impressionistic".

I cannot paint something that looks like a photograph or looks real to save my life. Unfortunately, all my art work comes out looking like a cartoon drawing instead of a painting.   Of course, with my eyes fluctuating between blurry vision after I eat, and double vision most of the time due to diabetes,  my paintings turn out many times,  flat and a one-dimensional version of what I am looking at.  Forgive me for being a bit color blind and  near-sighted as well.  It is so much fun and keeps my hands and eyes busy nicely.

 Oh well, lol, give me an interesting picture of something easy to draw and wham! My impression of what I see, with my eyes, is very do able.  And did I mention, it is so relaxing and such a fun hobby, it comes highly
recommended by me and so many others as a super hobby.  There are a lot of hobbies out there, but painting  is my drug of choice so to speak.  Like the picture below that, I did yesterday. It reminds me of my hubby and I, when, we lived in the northern neck river country and went sailing and fishing often.

Keep The Faith and Happy Easter to all.
Your friend, Lora (aka cooky) :)

Latest Digital Paintings - March 2016

March Madness - 2016

March madness is about many things.  However, weather, Easter, st. patricks' day and birthdays are top on my list. Politicians running for president is next.  Then there are birthdays to get through.

     

 The weather jumps from being a snowy, cold day to a hot, air conditioner day in just a few hours.  

We now have our air conditioner running with the rise in temperatures.   It was over sixty-five degrees many days in the beginning of the month.  Now its mid-month and feels like we skipped spring and went right on in to summer.  On the other hand, I have experienced a snow fall of some kind in March and again in April. One never knows until it actually comes what will happen to the weather.  Other countries are experiencing floods and hurricane type weather.  Tornado's are prevalent, as well, in our own states.  

Easter weighs heavy on my mind. It is a time of our Lord's rising from being crucified.  That should be happy, however, Easter was named after a pagan god.  It is now so commercialized.  Still it is awesome to be able to make candy baskets and watch old and new religious movies on television.  In addition, old memories of cook outs in the park or in my grandmother's back yard come to mind.

 It was an traditional event every year for our family.   I remember my grandmother would make a beautifully mixed pastel-colors of sweetened, cooked rice.  She called it glorified rice.  I never could make it like she could.  She would make all six of us kids, some sort of an Easter basket or box or container.  Only now do I realize how nice it was for her to have us to do crafts for and vice verse.  I remember that we used to go to the nearby park during Easter weekend for our cook outs and Easter egg hunts.    Hot dogs were roasted over an open fire and tasted so delicious.  I also remember being cold and shivering in my new Easter outfit that was basically a short set of some kind.  Easter was supposed to be warm weather, but it wasn't always warm.  As my grandmother and her daughter, my aunt, got older we continued the Easter tradition of roasting hot dogs over an open fire in her beautiful back yard at the edge of her flower garden. It was nice and because we were older, we enjoyed it more and dressed warmer if it was cold.

My aunt initiated wonderful trips to the zoo in the summer for our family. She would pack everyone a lunch and say it tasted better than the stuff sold at the zoo for exurbanite prices.  Once our bellies were full, we didn't care.  Plenty of water fountains around for cooling off and of course, the animals were spectacular to look at.

Speaking of birthdays...my youngest daughter and my grandson share the same birthday date.  She is thirty-eight and my grandson turns sweet sixteen.  My does time go fast.  Then on St. Patrick's Day, my daughter-in-law was born.  Green punch and paper leprechauns along with Easter decorations are plentiful in her home on that day.  

All in all it is a promising month with spring just around the corner. I am so glad that I have survived another year to enjoy the earth and traditions. Only a couple more weeks of March to get through before we jump into April.  take care and Enjoy,

Always, your friend, Cooky. :) 

Burrrrrr - February 15, 2016

We are now experiencing more snow falling on President's Day.  We have another foot or more of the white stuff on our deck.  Although the snow is beautiful as it lays white across the land, it is a nuisance and a downer.  Can't get outside and don't want to go anywhere for fear of falling on the ice.  I still have that knee injury from long ago.  It happened when, I was scraping ice off the car to go to work.  The bad knee from this fall on the ice, still plagues today as it did  most of my adult life.
    Can't believe that, I actually loved the snow when younger. My mother and I would look out her picture window and say how beautiful the white snow looked.  We all played in it and did not come in to the house until we were nearly frozen and our fingers needed heating up over the heater.    We ran out of clean, dry gloves every time we played outside.  We used socks on our hands instead.  Mother didn't mind.  Maybe this will be the last snow fall for winter 2016. Hubby and I are ready for spring.  Stores already have Easter items on sale and inside, it feels warm and cozy.  Inside is great except for the furnace always coming on and off.  The electric bill will be extremely high for this month. 
I guess we will be complaining about the heat before long.  Never ending seasonal grief.
Well, guess I will just have to paint and draw Easter bunnies in memory of warmer days that will come around then.  Keep the faith, Your friend, Cooky :)

Valentine's Day - Feb 14, 2016

Receiving a special gift  from a family member, or a significant other, is always a pleasure anytime during the year.  However, on Valentine's Day, there is a particularly display of romance and friendship that is celebrated by all. 

      On Valentine's Day, you could receive or give a token of affection from someone or another, that could brighten his or her day.  

Flowers, a beautiful greeting card, stuffed toy and/or a decorated, red or pink,  heart-shaped box of an assortment of delicious chocolates or hard candies are particularly welcomed by most of us.  Take a few minutes of your time to partake of this lovely tradition on February 14th and make someone happy by extending your greeting of  love and warmth.  You can even treat yourself on this special day.  Buy yourself some flowers and candy that will brighten your day,  especially, if you are alone on this day.  Make it special for yourself and perhaps for a neighbor or mail person, bus driver or an elderly person, who might not have anyone in their lives.  Remember, a smile is always free.  Keep The Faith and God Bless You.  Your Friend, Cooky.