Craigsville Beach, Cape Cod

Just a quick sketch of the Craigsville Beach. Pen & Ink, Micron pen 05; Strathmore Bristol vellum paper.

Living in a world of possibilities

I am living in a world of possibilities now
leaving the working world soon for another focus
the world of retirement

I don’t think I’ll write as much
perhaps more haiku instead of poetry
the art world has caught my attention
always something new to learn
another verse to illustrate

more time to hike or walk
watching for the heron at the pond
the mallards still there in winter
there’s always another mountain or hill
to climb, the views inspiring
I say a prayer each time I reach the top

so thankful to live here, to be alive,
to see the beauty and feel all the possibilities
open to me as I approach the autumn
and winter of my life

copyright Linda H. Feinberg 2010


Photo taken on Cape Cod (Massachusetts) this past weekend while on havurah retreat. Amazing not to have any snow yet. We had a wonderful time with the group and would recommend the retreat (or a similar one) to anyone who needs a weekend away from their every day life. Havurah

Running Horses

Just a quick acrylic sketch from a photo of Joe's horses last spring. I think I like this one enough to actually make a real painting on canvas. Hopefully I'll have more time to do this once my business is sold next year and I retire. This was acrylic used like watercolor (used with water, not medium) on acrylic paper instead of canvas or board.

Joe's horses live in California with his daughter Sharon. Desert area, all sand. There are more photos of them on this blog (use filter on left for horse). They are beautiful animals (and no, I don't ride them). I love to watch them run. They are Missouri Fox Trotters, trail ride type horses, not show or race horses.

Leaves

Another attempt at learning to paint with acrylics on canvas. I didn't like the background on this one so I used oil pastels on it to give it a textured look. This may not be a good idea since I found out from my teacher that I can't put varnish on it yet since it takes oil pastels a long time to dry. I think I need to work more on composition, but I was just trying to get the paint on the canvas and struggling with it.

I used a photo I had taken a few years back from Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City, Utah. That is a botanical park that is beautiful that I've been to twice while visiting my daughter. Of course, there's snow at this time of year, but I was out there in spring/summer.

Grizzly

Just a little pencil sketch done over the weekend. I'm glad we don't have these bears around here.

Chanukah-new cards

Chanukah begins at sunset on Wednesday, Dec. 1st and concludes at sunset on Thursday, Dec. 9th. These two are new card designs I will be putting up on my website today. I also will put up some generic happy holiday cards, some with art, some with photos. Obviously, the pen and ink card was created from the photo I took in Jerusalem in 2006.  This is the "cardo" - the excavated market place from Roman times. My design from last year is still up there as well.

I hope my readers had a happy Thanksgiving. I had an enjoyable time with my current and former family, who insist that I am still "family". It was nice to hear after all these years. I have much to be thankful for in my life even though some of my life's lessons were difficult at the time.

The Hebrew letters at the top are from a song we sing on Chanukah "Al Hanissim" which is about all the miracles God has done for us at this time of year. The holiday is about religious freedom, the freedom to worship as we choose.

Craft fair yesterday

Good fair yesterday. This was the most popular card design. I ran out and took orders. Met lots of nice people with positive comments on my cards.

Clarks Pond/acrylic painting

Small acrylic painting done in my class with Jeanne Lachance. I will probably use this one for a holiday card. All that's left is to have Jeanne show me how to varnish it. I'm finding the acrylic painting very difficult, but challenging. This image was from a photo I took during the winter at Clark's Pond, Auburn, NH. There is a snowmobile trail on the abandoned railroad bed, also lots of hiking & biking trails there.

Sunset

Last week's craft fair went well. Doing another one on Nov 20th. No time to write much, but these were our views of the beautiful sunset last night. Our house faces west and we enjoy the view even though we are in the city. Lots of leaves to rake. The pretty colors are mostly gone, but the oak leaves are still a beautiful russet color, especially when the sun is shining on them.

The top photo was taken by Joe. He is just starting to figure out Photoshop. I took the bottom one. It is the view from our house.

Craft show Saturday Nov. 6th

All set up for tomorrow's craft show at Brookside Church, Manchester, NH. The ladies have been cooking and it smells wonderful in there!