MB challenge May 2013 "Rodent"

Well, I can't whine too much about Rodent (this month's challenge creatively supplied by Diana Moses Botkin) after my March idea of "Ides of March".

I decided to do another in my drink series, and searched high and low for a drink with 'mouse' in it...finally did a wikipedia search for rodent and learned there are all manner of members of the rodent family. Beavers, squirrels, and I stopped there. Found a drink called the "Pink Squirrel" and I was on my way.

Recipe:

• 3/4 oz creme de noyaux (almond base)
• 3/4 oz white creme de cacao (chocolate base)
• 1 1/2 oz heavy cream

don't substitute Amaretto because it doesn't have the red color...and you need that for the pink.

The only other issue I had was a business meeting the entire week of the challenge, and the little fact that I have a 300 page 8.5x11" full color book deadline two days ago :) I'm proud of Wicki that she was able to manage everything.

Welcome, Julie, to our merry band of humorous artists!

"Pink Squirrel"

16" x 12", Pastel

© V.N.Ross

"Mr Beaver at Home"
6"x8" Oil on RayMar canvas board
©2013 Julie Ford Oliver
 













"Really?"
12"x16" Oil on linen
©2013 Suzanne Berry 

“Of Mice and Lego Men"
Oil on hardboard, 5"x7"
©2013 Diana Moses Botkin

Suzanne Twins update

After 6 weeks, 24/7 (well not quite) of working on Urania Christy Tarbet's book, Dare to Dream, I took an afternoon off to paint. WOW, was afraid it would take longer to get in the groove, but surprisingly it all came back. All I had to do was change my hat!

This painting has a solid grisaille in raw umber. I've pretty much taught myself this process...I think the old masters used more glazing, where I got more opaque around layer 2. This is layer 3...and I was amazed at the difference! I tend to fall in love with each stage and am reluctant to keep working, and THAT is why it has taken so long to complete this painting. Other than a major downsize move that took 3 months and this book project.

WOULD YOU JUST LOOK at the difference? And I was in love with the under version! I can do alla prima skin tones, but sometimes I like the 'slowdown' of doing the grasaille (grey) so I can really enjoy the process of bringing it to life.

 

The book will be available for sale at IAPS 2013, June 5. It is a compendium of Urania's colorful life as a child, through her art studies as a young mother, her famous ancestors, to her founding of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) in 1995. Over 50 pastel artists from all over the world have contributed pictures of their art and stories about their personal journey to pastels and memories about IAPS conventions. The art is portrayed full page size so you can really 'see' the methods that are as diverse as the artists' locations and styles. 8 1/2" x 11", full color, 250+ pages. Soft Cover. Will be available through Amazon. Watch for date!

PS: don't tell Urania I leaked the news :)