I Finally DID IT after all these years!

Doing it right on the main highway in Portersville, PA! Yep,first time!  I have a studio and gallery/retail space outside of my home!!
After doing some deep thinking,making the decision to move out, I began my search. I had my eye on this place for a while but was out of reach. Looking at a couple of options ,I got an invite to this house. I find it confirming that I came full circle back to this. It's a 1830's farm house. Six rooms and a great little kitchen to boot.

 

This is going to be the classroom area. Yep,fireplace works.

One of  these rooms upstairs I believe will be my studio work space.

 

That blue wallpaper has GOT to come off, walls patched and painted,lighting fixtures....but not much heavy duty work.

I'm so EXCITED! I'll keep you updated as progress is made. :D

Small Art Size Easy to Create in Limited Time

Working in this smaller size it is something you can accomplish with limited time opportunities.Here some watercolor and ink but use any of your favorite mediums. I can sit in the garden,on a porch,  or with my reference photos and feel good about my small accomplishments, no pun intended...Perfect size for when your traveling for a souvenir or mail out as a postcard.  Give the small format a try in any of your favorite mediums.

 Bikes and Blooms on a 4" x 6" Canson watercolor block. I have a couple so I can work on another while one is drying.

Marking Your Journey

It's that time of year again BBQ,fresh fruit of all kinds, the heat, swimming and sleeping in a bit. Also the 'I'm booorrreedd" where I am trying to lure my kids away from the electronics, get out side and experience what is out there...beyond those screens!Maybe your like us,we do not have big travel plans scheduled this year. Just things around our area, a church camp with my triplets to VA -I'm a chaperone- and my HD to Canada with the oldest for scouts- during the same week. Or maybe you are headed to the beach, family reunion or another great adventure.
Journaling in all forms is a great way to keep everyone experiencing the surroundings whether big or small adventures.
This year we started one journal for the summer. We all are writing,drawing, clipping and pasting in it. (kids need to practice their 'putting thoughts on paper' the teacher said too.) It is about what we are doing most days, our goals for the summer are in it,bits and bobs from travels and restaurants, anything and of course-drawings. I hope it to be a great keepsake of the summer too. Mis-spellings and all.
We are keeping ours in a basket on the table so it is convenient to grab. I also have some markers and a glue stick.  We we run somewhere we usually just grab the journal and add color later.I already keep a glue stick with me and we are fans of tearing things out and so we don't even take scissors.

MATERIALS: Any acid free items you use will just last longer than we live they claim. :/
Journal of your choice. I recommend smaller than bigger. Easy to take with you and not so big you feel as if it is to much to fill up.
favorite writing pen ( I have so many it can be hard to decide for me.)
Glue stick
Optional: markers, Twistables or colored pencils, ( No crayons if you will be leaving it in the hot car)
scissors

All is fair in record keeping and memory making...so have fun and enjoy!

Ink and Watercolor Pencil Fushia

Ink and watercolor pencil in a Hand Journal sketch book.One of my favorite hanging basket types and two if my favorite colors. Together at that!

Ride Kids Ride and Sketch on the Rests

Taylor,my daughter, working in her sketchbook

Acorn she found and some experimenting with the Crayola Erasable Twistables (R)

Ride kids ride....yes we got out the only sunny day in WEEKS to put some miles on our new Easter bikes.Packed a few travel sketching items, water and snacks of course. First time out we did the full 14 miles  first time out for the season.We  made it  5 hours later...

This is a view at the swimming area. The water is high here with all the rain we have.The ramp to the dock covered, doesn't stop the kids from exploring out on the dock end.

Sketches by Susan Walkercopy right 2011 all rights reserved

The bike trail wonders close at times to the lake. Ending at one of the marinas that host many pontoons and sail boats. I look forward to making this ride again-though next time I hope it take less than four hours- to sketch some more as the season opens.

My basic travel kit we take. Micron pens (.03 /.05), Pitt Artist Penn xf

 Crayola ErasableTwistables(R) (reg or -they haven't melted in the car for us) Small sketch journals that I make myself but any small light weight drawing/sketchbook for dry media would be fine. Scissors with a blunt end as to not go through the bag so easy and glue in case we find some paper accents to glue-acid free of course, into our books. A double sided sharpie to right over slick brochures and papers.

I am usingparts  this as the basic kit for my summer classes.

Jacob and his new ride ,age 9

Zachary and his new barrowed ride,age 9

He did a great job considering he doesn;t have much strenght in 'lefty yet' .

hopefully by end of summer he can manage the NEW ride.

Taylor, age 8, in her new to her ride. she is not quite tall enough for the next size.

Next year!

I was so proud we made it all the way. what a great day too.