Still Life with Zen, 9x9 Pen and Ink Drawing

Click to Purchase, $35

I haven't been doing much artwork this week, except for illustrations for a memoir I am working on. It's now time for me to paint the cover art, and that will be a relief, after sitting at the computer for three days straight getting the book laid out.

The drawing above was our challenge presented by Kathy Garvey to the Pieces of 8 last week. The challenge was to make everything look flat and one-dimensional. I think I slipped up with the zentangles inside the mango (between the glass and the teapot.) They are giving it some shape. I admit that's my favorite part of the drawing.

No. 10 on my list of things we should not put up with, yet we do:

Grocery products are getting smaller, yet costing more. There is either less in the package (like coffee and sugar), or the product itself shrinks (like toilet paper that is getting narrower and narrower in width), yet the cost is higher. You might say less is more.

English Roses, 6x6 Original OIl Painting on Canvas Panel

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This has been very hard to post, because the colors don't look exact on my monitor. I have spent a lot of time trying to get it exact, but it still doesn't satisfy me, and it may look different on your computer. At any rate, this is close, but the sky in the actual painting is warmer than it looks here.

I am putting my list of things that are incredibly frustrating here, as I am losing track of my numbers. My no. 9 is:

Telemarketers, especially the crooked ones with scams. The Do Not Call List is apparently meaningless.

1. Inadequate mental health care since mental health institutions were closed in the 80s (e.g., mass murderers whose parents tried to get help and couldn't). This is, shall we say, crazy in a so-called civilized country and fits nicely with proliferation of guns to form the perfect storm.

2. Pencils with erasers that don't erase, and will even make a brown mark instead of erasing.

3. The rule about not ending sentences in a preposition, as in "not put up with." The English language is being mangled and new words from pop culture are added to the dictionary every year, so the preposition rule seems quite outdated. I do hate the question "Where is he at?" though. It almost deserves to be #4 on my list, it irritates me that much.

4. People driving slowly in the left lane.

5. Airplane passengers who bring carry-ons so heavy they can't lift them into the overhead bin. 

6: Deceitful practices in retail stores.

7. Packaging that cannot be opened no matter how you try; its clear plastic taunts you with a view of the completely unattainable product inside, mocking your frustrating attempts at entry.

8. Negative political ads, especially the ones with the low-pitched, sarcastic, gossipy-sounding voice that sounds like they are sharing a nasty little secret about the opponent.

Madame X, 5x7 Pen and Ink Drawing on Paper

$35, click to purchase

The attitude of this haughty bird reminds me of the original Madame X, the masterpiece painted by John Singer Sargent. It's like she's saying, "Here I am; yeah, these are funky shoes. So what?"

No. 6 on my list of things that make me grind my teeth and want to scream:

Negative political ads, especially the ones with the low-pitched, sarcastic, gossipy-sounding voice that sounds like they are sharing a nasty little secret about the opponent.

Tangletree, 6x9 Original Pen and Ink Drawing

$45, Click to Purchase

This is a really good day, and that is because any day you are not having an intestinal virus is a really good day. I started my week in South Beach, a good way to start, but got sick after that. I still haven't the strength to stand at the easel, but I can still be creative with drawing. I did get to draw with my painting group today and that was really fun. Kathy gave us a good challenge, which we will finish next week.

Mary gave me a good one to add to my list of "why do we put up with this?":

No. 5: Packaging that cannot be opened no matter how you try; its clear plastic taunts you with a view of the completely unattainable product inside, mocking your frustrating attempts at entry.

Zentangle Tree, 8x10 Pen and Ink

$45, Click to Purchase

Getting all Zen with a pen. Sometimes the only thing I have time for is drawing at night, and I find Zentangle drawing very meditative. I need that, because I am still listing my most irritating things we put up with, and here is my latest: went to a furniture store, took pictures of sofas and their prices, then returned later for the "40-80% off sale" to find that the prices have been marked way up, then slashed to appear to be a bargain.  The worst part is, they cost more than they did two weeks ago when we took the pictures. Deceptive and disgusting. I'm not buying from them, period. 

So, No. 4: Deceitful practices in retail stores.

Girl in a Kayak, 6x6 Oil on Board

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I was standing on a bridge when this lovely sight suddenly appeared, and I was fortunate to get a shot of her before she sped away. I'm so lucky to live where there is so much water. In an interview I once was asked where I would live if I could live anywhere in the world, and I couldn't think of a better place than here.

I am continuing my list of irritating, teeth-gritting things we put up with (see previous posts):

From my son:

4. People driving slowly in the left lane.

5. Airplane passengers who bring carry-ons so heavy they can't lift them into the overhead bin.

Poinciana, 6x6 Oil Painting on Canvas Panel

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I just love this road, especially the Poinciana tree, which makes a canopy. It will be beautiful when all the petals fall and make a red carpet too.

I am adding to my list of unjust things we should not put up with.

3. The rule about not ending sentences in a preposition, as in "not put up with." The English language is being mangled and new words from pop culture are added to the dictionary every year, so the preposition rule seems quite outdated. I do hate the question "Where is he at?" though. It almost deserves to be #4 on my list, it irritates me that much.

In the new vernacular, a conversation might be:

" 'Sup?"

 "We are going glamping on our vacay."

"Where at?"

Psyche, 6x6 Original Oil Painting on Canvas Panel

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This flower makes me think of my grandmother, who could grow anything. She told me the names of varieties of hibiscus, and this one was called "Psyche." It is smaller and has a more interesting shape than the usual hibiscus. The bush will grow very tall. There is a pink version that looks similar in shape and it is called "La France."

I am starting a list of things that we put up with and really should NOT put up with. Things that make me grit my teeth. I mean things big and small, and to illustrate I will begin with these two, very unequal in terms of importance.

1. Inadequate mental health care since mental health institutions were closed in the 80s (e.g., mass murderers whose parents tried to get help and couldn't). This is, shall we say, crazy in a so-called civilized country and fits nicely with proliferation of guns to form the perfect storm.

2. Pencils with erasers that don't erase, and will even make a brown mark instead of erasing.

See what I mean? Erasers are a small thing, but why do we put up with it? If you can't make a functioning eraser, leave it off. Don't pretend it is there for erasing.

What injustices do you feel are foisted upon us? Do NOT send me anything political. That is a subject of irritation in a category all its own.