Dog-sitting
Morning - hope it's a good one and that all is well with you and yours.
I am dog sitting today - our two both had to go under anaesthetic yesterday - one to get spayed and the other for a teeth clean with subsequent extractions. We were worried all day but thankfully, we got them back from the vets last night and today we're just chilling! The little one is on the couch beside me and she's wearing a dog baby grow to stop her from licking her wounds (preferable to the 'cone') while the other one is snoozing in her basket.
I have much to do at the moment. As far as art is concerned, I'm working on a self-portrait although it's quite big and a bit stary-scary so I don't really know where I'm going to put it once it's finished. I am loving the process though - it's in oils which I really enjoy working with - it's just the bloody mess I make with them that I struggle to deal with. A wee studio would make such a difference but, right now, I paint in my living room and so everything has to be very controlled in such a small space. That's one of the reasons I enjoy watercolour painting -it's much easier to deal with - take out - put away.
I've been doing a lot of sketching at the moment too. Usually faces but sometimes feet, hands, dogs - I can sketch while we're watching reruns of Line of Duty. I'm on season 6 but my husband is currently catching up. Mind you, I usually fall asleep and don't get much done. I'll put it down to my age!
The other thing I need and want to do is get on with my garden. I'm not the best gardener in the world. My dad was a great gardener though and I spent a lot of time with him in his greenhouse when I was a child. I have many plans but executing them is the problem for me. I dawdle and think about stuff rather than getting on with it. I am a procrastinator of the highest degree! Anyway, I have a couple of David Austin Strawberry Hill roses I bought last year in memory of my mum - they need fed and I have various clematis around the fence that need feeding to improve. My hope is to fill pots to make wild and spirited displays at either side of my front window. Sunflowers, sweet peas, nasturtiums, ox eye daisies, lobelia. Lots of colour andf flowers that will grow erratically, smell nice and attract the bees and butterflies. I tried it before but had too many species in one big pot and the more demanding plants took all the goodness leaving the others looking a bit sad.
Finally I need to promote my website which is where my failings are evident! I could stand up and sing in front of you without much persuasion - I could paint you a picture but, getting me to market my music or art, is such a hard thing for me! I do not like putting myself or my work forward which is a biggie if you're trying to make any kind of living from it! I'll carry on in my small way regardless but any social media shares or advice would be welcome.
Before I go, here is a portrait I painted of myself from a photo of me doing my thing with 'The Fever'
