Time Flies

It seems like  winter has been here for ever.  But now that spring has sprung, the grass is showing and the snow is melting.  The
temperatures have risen, and the socks have come off.  Yep the socks now will stay off until the snow flies again, in October.

Today I am linking to paint party friday......http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/2019/03/paint-party-friday-week-3-year-9-check_22.html

talk to you all soon

lee

Spring has sprung

Hello,

Are you welcoming the first day of spring.  I am, its really nice here, and the snow is melting.  

Did you know that I swim 4-5 times a week.  Well I do, I hate
exercise, but I do like to swim, so that is what I do.  I go for
an hour a day.  It gets me out of the house, and I see the same
old regulars at the pool, and we chat, and its just nice.  It helps
relieve any stress that i might have.

Had a birthday last week, and it was really nice.  Had the kids (ha kids there in there 30s) and the mother in law.  We ordered Pizza,
I made Cesar salad, and my daughter made cupcakes.  Very low
key and that  is what I wanted.  Not to much cooking, and just
being with the people I love. I received a great gift of new luggage, so beautiful, easy to push, and lightweight to start.  My old suitcase was heavy with nothing in it.  Will be great for the NYC trip.

Well should go, and put some chicken in the oven. Will talk soon.

lee

Swimming against the tide.....

Hello


Hey how are you all doing.  This week has really been a trial by fire.  I finally decided to quit Etsy. It was a big decision as how else can I sell my art online.  I am checking a few things out.  Though to be completely honest I hardly made any money.  I offered free shipping to attract customers.  I gave myself a year on Etsy to see how things were going and if they weren't going good I was going to quit.  Well the other day I made a small sale, 5.00 but it was in the city about 3 hours away.  Well by the time etsy had got there payments I had made .32 cents.  It was at that moment, I realized it was time.  Maybe my art is not up to snuff,but its mine, and I think
its worth more than .32 cents.

So its done.....I am thinking of  creating my own website and selling my stuff there.  Lots to think about

Anyway I am linking to Paint party Friday http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

just pecking along

Well hello, and if your reading this welcome.

I have been busy with Dr. appointments, when you get older thats
all you do is see the Doctor.

Sold another print, to someone in Calgary the other day, which
is a city  about 3 hrs away. Etsy as changed there account policy, I still have not figured it out.  The print was 5 dollars, and the amt I was pd was .35 cents.  So you do you think its worth my time and effort to sell on etsy anymore.  So in all the print I sent to Calgary, cost me money.  Because in part of the cost of the card
I offer free shipping.
So I thinking long and hard about just getting off of etsy.

so thats its for today, my thoughts on etsy

lee

International Woman's Day a day late

These are some of the women I have been working on for my
series "Women of the World"  they are all 5x7 , I have few more
that I have not included in this collage. I enjoy working on a series,  as you can just focus on that.

Just short and sweet today, as I just got in, and have to throw dinner together.  I am making stuffed mancotti, made the sauce yesterday,
so its half done already .

till next time 
 lee

OOlala

When I painted this little lady, I imagined her as a french
girl, running out with her scarf to buy groceries.  I painted a whole series of international women, so far I think 14.

I am linking to Paint Party Friday http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

My life in a nutshell

I like drawing kinda of wacky cityscapes and then put lots of color in them.

I like painting with acrylics instead of watercolor because the color is more intense with acrylics

I love the paintings of Bernard Buffet and Modigliani

I am really not a Picasso fan

I sell some art on Etsy   but don't know how people can say they make money on it

I  have a home studio in the basement

I have been married 45 years to the same man ----I know right yes some days I would trade him in

I have one child ---a girl----who is 30 and married

I have been to Europe, Mexico, USA, and the Caribbean.

I am going to New York for a week in May...I have never been there

I live in Canada, and its snows and is cold here in the winter

I live in a house which we own

I am retired after working at the same job for 35 years.....I know so adventurous

I have a few select friends that I have been friends with for over 35 years

I am on a perpetual diet

I love to cook, and I love to experiment with food

I love to cook low fat,,,,,,favourite website to cook from Skinnytaste

A few things about me,,,,,,you didn't know....or probably never wanted to know

lee

Technology sucks

 

Just got home from the pool, it was 1 degree in the pool.  Apparently there trying to fix it.  I would hope so.  I felt like one of those polar bear swimmers, I only swam for half hour that was plenty
long for me.

I sold another print, to someone in the next city over, which is a treat.  Since the post office
should deliver it in good time.  Our postal service in Canada is crap, it takes so long for
mail to get any where.

Tonight is a bit of a mish mash for dinner,ground turkey meatballs, rice pilaf, and vegetables.

So I have a fit-bit, this is the 2 one, the first one wasn't working correctly, so I took it back and got a new one, and this one the strap broke and I almost los it.  So this time I bought the hubster a Samsung gear fit2 just like a fit-bit, he goes everyday and exercises at the YMCA.  Well since we are not keeping up on the technology side of things, the fit gear wont work.  You either have to have a I PHONE, or something else.  Well I do have a iPad, and iPod, and none of these  will download what you need to get this thing working.  We dont have a I PHONE like the rest of the world, because we dont need one, truth be told, we are usually with each other.  So then my ipad  generation they are not updating anymore, my ipod is not the right generation.  So the hubster is not getting a fitbit.  I have to take it back.

You know i would get a iphone if i thought we needed one, but really we dont.  But it seems like
you cant do anything in this world, without being connected 24 hours a day.

ok enough bitching, I will talk to you all soon.

lee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

A mixed Bag of talking and cooking

This is a mixed media piece I did on board awhile ago.  I have a thing for birds who dont look
like the average bird.

I have been in a art slump the past few months, it seems like I will do anything but do art.  I go down to the studio with intent, but all I do is move stuff around, throw stuff out, and dont make any
great marks on paper.  I think alot of people go through this or I hope a lot of artists have moments like this.  Because it makes me want to just pack it all in and move on.

Today I am prepping for dinner tomorrow, I am having my mother inlaw and my daughter and her husband.  I am making Lasagna in the crock pot, I have made this before and its delicious.  Sure there is some prep work but when you make Lasagna there always is.  I am having Cesar Salad, and for
dessert the most delicious thing ever, Brownie Cheesecake, so easy to make.The base is actually a brownie mix, so easy. Tonight its back ribs and rice pilaf. I saw a online video of them made in a crockpot with a can of root beer, and some bbq sauce.  Now I was going to make these, but there is
so much fat on ribs, that I usually simmer them on top of the stove, to make some of the fat, disappear. and then cook them in the oven.  So i am going with my method.

Also I hope to make it to the art store, for some much needed inspiration.  I go in there and soak in all the art supplies and hopefully I will feel the need to paint, or draw.

I am linking this bird to paint party Friday which I am joining again http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com

Ok enough whining and talking about food, now that I have put you in a coma, dont forget to
come back for more exciting talk from me.

lee

Birds of a feather

Well its Thursday morning and the last day of February, where has the time gone?
Today I am off to the pool for my daily exercise.  I love going to the pool, but in winter I am telling you its a pain in the butt.  Coming out with wet hair, and your hair freezing is not nice.
Last night was Art Club, we have a core group of about 10 that meetup at a COFFEE Shop and
we bring something to work on.  Twice a month we meet, and one of those weeks we have
something that set to learn.  Its a fun way to meet people, get some art done, and just chat.

When I made this drawing above I was working on a series by my favorite artist Bernard (bernie) Buffet, he made over 1000 works of art in his lifetime.  I just really admire his work. I have also
been working on a series of women of the world, I think I have finished about 10 so far.  I enjoy
working on a series as it keeps you motivated to continue on.

 I have been trying to lose a few pounds, as when I go to NYC in May.  Lots of walking to be done,
and I want these old legs in working shape.

Okay should go, talk to you soon
lee

Send in the Clowns

well this is my second try to post today

lets see if this one works

I have been busy making homemade soup

the weather is cold really cold

hence the soup

I have been trying to fix up my ETSY site

adding and deleting

I am giving myself this year to  sell more on ETSY

and then that's it

You need to generate traffic to your site, using phrases and some other crap

and its all really confusing for an old girl like me

I need to clean the art room today

I cant work if its a mess, I can make it a mess and be okay, but I cant start in a mess

I have a whole set of clowns that I drew in Black and White this

is one of them, these are not happy clowns

ok should go

keep reading

and hopefully this blog will get better

to blog or not

Well I have come back  to the blog.  I missed it, and it is kind of a journal about me.  So if nobody reads this is it shouldn't matter.

Well lets see what have I been up to since I last blogged, the same thing I always do my life is
one big bore fest.  I thought when I retired a few years ago that my life would be just be one long
happy fest.  Don't get me wrong retirement life is really the best,, I cant imagine  working again, in my lifetime.  I worked for 35 years people, and for the same company, I guess you can tell I don't like change.

Today I went to lunch with my best buddies, two women who I have been friends with for over 35 years.  We all worked for the same place.  One of my friends winters in Arizona ,but she was home
because she became a grandmother for the first time.  A baby girl, so sweet.  So my other friend and me and her had a great lunch, full of laughs and catching up.

Okay are you watching the Oscars on Sunday,  I am going to but if its anything like the Grammys I will be turning the channel.  Am I getting old or what, the Grammys was  out of control, what happened to having a host who could entertain you?

Ok I am wrapping this up, and I hope you liked my first post I promises they will get better as I
go along

lee

happy easter

Well I hope you all have a great Easter .  We are having family
over, about 8 of us.  Having turkey, and all the works.  So I am
looking forward to Sunday.  Made the desserts today, and they
all turned out a big plus, because I am not a big baker, but I
like to eat them.

I have been working on about 3 canvases in the studio, and doing

them a little different than my style.  I will be showing them off

here in a few days.  

So don't eat to much and have a great day

lee

No attitude adjustment needed

Hi, how has everyone been?  Its been a great week so far.  The weather is great and I can see spring on the horizon.  I have been shopping and bought some new spring clothes. No drama involved

the buying of the clothes they all fit.  Its a big birthday coming up on Saturday, and my two closest friends went all out on me.  I got

a homemade birthday cake, so delicious its melts in your mouth.  Sorry WW but I have to eat it.  I went out for lunch and a Movie with my friend, and had a great time.  We got new windows installed , and they make a huge difference in our house.  I think .  18 windows and some are huge, triple pane.

Today I am making a ww dinner called Lemon Chicken and asparagus, it looks delicious.  Friday I am going to pamper myself

and get a pedicure, and a manicure.  Saturday the hubster and family ,we are all going out for lunch, couldn't get everyone together for dinner, so lunch it is.

I have been down in the studio painting my little heart out, results on the blog soon.

lee

  

quack quack are there

Hey, I know I said I would post more, but unfortunately, I don't
live the Kardashian lifestyle.  Mine is just plain old boring.  The
highlight of my day, is getting an idea to paint.

I have been busy making art prints out of my original drawings
and paintings.  They are turning out great 5x7, which I thought
was a good size.   I am also turning some of them into Birthday
Cards, etc.  

We have had workmen here installing all new windows in our house.  So its been ski coat weather inside.  Because people its
still winter here, a lot of snow of the ground, and cold temps.
But should be done by Thursday, we have a lot of windows in this house.

My niece has twin  boys, about 3 months old, and I have been helping out.  You forget about how to care for a baby, after
30 years, but it comes back as soon as they cry. (lol) .

Okay got to go, hope you have a great weekend, and talk to you soon, I promise.

lee

A little of this and that

Well how are you all doing?  I have been busy down in  the studio, creating a mess, but accomplishing a lot.  I have started a series of swim art.  This one is an old one I had done awhile ago.  I love swim art, I am trying to collect it all on my Pinterest page.

The new website still under construction, what I need is a techie angel, to come and finish it for me.  But since its just me, I am plodding along.

I received an email back from the lady who owns the stationary store that I would be put on her list to display my Art Cards in her store, so I am excited about that.  Now it just has to happen before I am to old to paint anymore.

If you read this blog you will know I hate exercise, but this girl got to do some.  So it is either swimming, or join an exercise club, where they have machines and stuff, eh I really don't want to do any.  But this engine isn't getting any younger.


I have a big birthday coming up, so I am trying to think of a big present the hubby needs to get for me. (lol)  Okay enough of this, so boring is my life I know. 

talk soon

lee

cross your fingers and toes

Well its been a wild and crazy ride around here lately.  Creating your own website has many trials you have to go through, and lets just say I am experiencing them all.  I am no techie that's for sure.  But I have the website up and running but not all things are running correctly, one being the blog.  So I am still going to post here until all the bugs are gone.

Today I sent out a email to a small stationary company in my City.  They have an artist a month featured in there store.  So since I have just created a bunch of art cards, I thought they would be a perfect fit for her store.  Lets just say, I cannot just go out and pitch my art. I am not like that, I wish I was but I am not, even emailing her

was enough to get my heart pumping.  Its not rejection that I fear

because if your an artist you have to prepare yourself for rejection.  Art is very subjective.  Anyway cross your fingers, I am gonna need all the help I can get.

lee

new website up and running

 https://pat54lee.wixsite.com/artleekreations 

I hope to see you all there.

Lee

Studio Woes

Hello, how have you all been.  Been busy around here, just
doing daily life stuff.  You know the stuff you have to do, but
really would rather being doing something else.  Like I finally finished cleaning out all the cupboards, in the kitchen and taking
stuff to goodwill.  I could have got rid of a bunch more, but the
hubster, kept bugging me saying, do you really want to throw that out.  I will have to get rid of that stuff when he is out of the house.

I have been busy working on a bunch of sketches.  The way I work is I also sketch an idea, then use markers to show colors, (like the lady above) then when I want to do more I have sketched the idea.  
I am working on a couple of painting at the moment.  I try to work
on a bunch at one time, then when one is drying, I have something else to work on. 

Being trying to blog at least 3 times a week.  One problem being I live such a boring life, I don't have much to say.  Just me and the hubster are not that exciting. 

Bought a few storage things for the studio, I am always in the process of trying to organize the studio.  I make a mess while

painting, do you? I try to be clean but it seems the more I try the messier I am.  But after I have finished I always clean up,  because I can't function in a messy studio.  One other problem is I want to paint really big, but I can't, no room in the studio to do that.  I thought about using the garage, but that is only in spring, and summer and little bit of fall.  And if your garage is like mine, its full of garage stuff on the walls.

Ok enough these crappy problems, hopefully I will have more to
say in the next post, I am off to the paint store, to get some paint and to get out of the house.

lee

Brrr

Yep its cold out and the forecast is cold for awhile. It seems
that if your Canadian you talk a lot about the weather eh.  (lol)
We also say eh a lot.

lee