The Artful Life

  • Stringfellow Farm Studio

    Stringfellow Farm Studio

    We are very grateful for this wonderful studio that my husband built in 2012. Over the last 14 years we have continued to work on it, recently adding a patio cover and stonework for protected outdoor seating. The city calls it just a workshop, because to qualify as a studio it needs to have running…

  • Easy? The Challenge of Water Color Washes

    Easy? The Challenge of Water Color Washes

    Success has no shortcuts. This is the start of an artistic adventure…in watercolor. Other than the little watercolor tins we used in elementary school that had a row of primary and other useful colors, I haven’t tried watercolors since then. On my first attempt, four out of six washes were OK (red, yellow, blue, and…

  • Peace, be still

    Peace, be still

    May all eyes be open to see May all ears be open to hear May all hearts be open to love     la femme et le mot   agtG

  • Reading Between the Lines

    Reading Between the Lines

    Ask and it shall be given 396 hz Open Door ;417 hz Desert Sojourn; 444 hz The Key of David; 528 hz Transformation; 639 hz The Bridge; 741 hz Great Awakening; 852 hz The Majestic. From Michael Terrell.

  • Synchronicity with Dave & Deb in the Morning

    Synchronicity with Dave & Deb in the Morning

    Originally written on August 18, 2016 Recently my reading started leaning toward history rather than fiction, especially history of the American revolution. After much prodding my husband finally persuaded me to listen to the writings of author David McCullough (through Audible recordings). Stubbornly, I actually started with his book “1776,” rather that the suggested book…

  • Adventures with Lucille

    Adventures with Lucille

    When we think of Lucy, most often we think of her as the zany, wacky “I Love Lucy” from early television and never knew that she was a stunning model before she found her niche as a redheaded comedian.

  • M’Lady Wanted a Rose Garden

    M’Lady Wanted a Rose Garden

    What I am up to right now? An art project, of course! This is a rose study I just finished using the 5-Pencil Method (no blending stumps allowed!). M’Lady Wanted a Rose Garden M’Lady Wanted a Rose Garden

  • Astral Radio?

    Astral Radio?

    A 1935 Temple Art Deco Wireless Radio [Queue theme to The Twilight Zone:do-DO-do-do, do-DO-do-do.] On Saturday we had a perfect day hanging out with good friends and meeting new ones at Hone Studio. Eventually, I needed to make a “pit stop” and hustled outside into the 20 degree air to take the short jaunt out…

  • The Basics of High-Speed Carving with Tamaree

    The Basics of High-Speed Carving with Tamaree

    Review of Tamaree Littlefield’s getting started carving and engraving class About two years ago my husband gave me my own Turbo 300 high-speed hand piece for carving and engraving. I was very surprised that he did this because my only carving experience up to that point was when Keith Hone put me to work carving…

  • First wood carving project

    First wood carving project

    This is a low relief carving on walnut (under 1/2″ in depth) using an air-driven, high-speed carver. With this project I learned a lot about wood, grain, and different types of burs. Thanks to Craig Hone for his guidance. Also, thanks to Tamaree for being the eye model!