I was surprised to wake up at 6:00 a.m. to a sunny day today since my neighborhood near the San Francisco Bay is foggy most of the time. When I looked out the window, this grand old tree was brilliantly glowing. I ran outside in my pajamas and took a few photos and then painted the tree standing at my dining room window watching as the shadows changed minute by minute. I think I overworked it, and should have stopped earlier but what a great way to start the day!
In 1987, at the ancient age of 39, when I was still married and had two little kids, I thought, as I shopped for a new bike, that I was buying my last one because certainly I would be too old to ride anymore by the time I was, say 50. It was one of those newly invented mountain bikes. Here's my farewell drawing of her from my sketchbook:
Now at 58 I'm again shopping for a new bike…and again thinking this one will be my last. It's weird to think something will be my last…but it's been true before…my last baby for example, who's now 25.
Approaching my birthday always makes me think about my life and how much I enjoy it, especially when I'm painting or drawing, and how important it is to enjoy every single day since there's only so many I have left (how many? glad I don't know).
Here’s this weeks IF illustration, done in my sketchbook with ink and watercolor and then scanned in. When I think of cake I think of cinamon crumb cake donuts, and all of my other favorite donuts. I love donuts. They are my medicine and my poison. I’ve also painted my favorite donut shop which can be seen here.
I’m so happy to be well again! And I have four whole days to paint and play and hang out in the studio and mess around.
I’ve been listening to an amazing CD that Robin gave me…the soundtrack to the movie Everything is Illuminated which was also a wonderful book that I listened to while painting for about a month. Now I’m listenening to the music while painting. It’s sort of Klezmer with a jazz, hip hop punk twist with songs by lots of different Eastern European groups. I love it!
I did this little sketch for Illustration Friday's topic of the week: SORRY. I've been sick in bed for days and the sorriest thing I could think of was the sight of me still in bed.
I'm hoping that the antibiotics will finally kick in and I'll quit coughing and having headaches and will again have a life. I'll remember to be grateful for every minute I feel good!
To amuse myself while I've been sick I took my laptop to bed with me and looked at other people's art for inspiration. I found a Weekend Drawing Event on Wet Canvas where a moderator posts a dozen pictures–this weekend of her trip to the zoo in the Netherlands–and members spend 2 hours on a piece and then upload their artwork in any media in response. I was delighted to find a couple of ringtailed lemurs in the photos and did a couple of quick ink and watercolor sketches (below).
It felt so good to do a teeny bit of art again instead of just sleeping, coughing and feeling like crap.
Jana Bouc, Artist 
