mARTa's Art

Oasis in the desert

2008-09-05T12:08:00.001-07:00

Oasis in the desert, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Self portrait in coffee pot

2008-09-04T17:54:00.001-07:00

Self portrait in coffee pot, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

It's 110. Degrees in the shade so that is why the day spa at the La Quinta Resort is void of people eccept for one crazy woman in a back malliot and her Tilley hat. Oh, that's me!

2008-09-04T14:11:00.001-07:00

It's 110. Degrees in the shade so that is why the day spa at the La
Quinta Resort is void of people eccept for one crazy woman in a back
malliot and her Tilley hat. Oh, that's me!
Rudy is here on a gold tournament and I tagged along. I've had a nice
pedicure, lunch and will finish off the afternoon with a 'celestial'
shower outdoors. No cameras please!

I know I should be painting this fountain, but it's more fun to wade
in it.

Okay, time to go dip again.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

No,I have not gone on my adventur yet

2008-09-04T14:04:00.001-07:00

No,I have not gone on my adventur yet, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

in 18 days........

2008-09-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

I am leaving on an adventure. This is the title page of my new hand made sketchbook for this trip.

I spent the day with my Annie and we did a lesson on color theory. Go check out her blog 'Annie's Adventures with Nina'

Fast Track

2008-08-29T13:06:00.001-07:00

Fast tract, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

I 'scribbled' this while my husband and I were coming home from Long Beach. I went in today to pick up my new glasses which I had been waiting for, for over a month! And they didn't do the trick; even worse vision. So I left a bit disheartened. While we were in the fast track lanes of the freeway the other cars were all bumper to bumper....so this is a scribble of the empty fast track lane and on the other side of the yellow barriers all the red tail lights! Scribble is an application on my iphone.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Some sketching I did while on the train:

Commuting with Mona today

2008-08-29T06:44:00.001-07:00

Commuting with Mona today, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

I stopped at the local coffee shop early this morning on my way to catch the train into Long Beach. This is the cup I was handed, way cool huh? I was going into the city to meet Rudy for a nice breakfast and then over to the opthalmologist office to pick up my new glasses!

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Sunset on Mission Bay

2008-08-25T12:29:00.001-07:00

Sunset on Mission Bay, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

Friday evening Rudy and I went to San Diego and had Amy and her Seth join us for an evening kayak paddle on Mission Bay. We paddled the bay past Sea World and over to Vacation Island where we docked and had a lovely dinner on the patio overlooking the bay. I got this sketch in while waiting for dinner to arrive. Then we got back in our boats and paddled to the fisherman's barge to see all the pelicans. On the way there we were delighted to glimpse the phosphorescent plankton floating in the water. Amy was startled by a sea lion who popped his head out of the water right next to her!!! The guide assured her she had never lost a paddler to a sea lion! As our night was ending we were entertained by the fireworks display from Sea World. It was a fun evening and one we hope to do again!!!

Life Session at RAM

2008-08-22T09:27:00.001-07:00

Life Session at RAM, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

Finally got to return to the art museum for their monthly life drawing sessions. I'm very rusty after 3 months of no practice!

¡Baila Señorita, Baila!

2008-08-20T17:15:00.001-07:00

¡Baila Señorita, Baila!, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

pastel on sketchpaper.
My daughter brought me this souvenir back from Spain some years ago. I was cleaning up in the studio today and sat to take a break. I glimpsed the doll on one of the shelves and thought I'd try it in pastel.

Fear No Art ~ A new Handbound Sketchbook

2008-08-19T17:04:00.000-07:00

Last October I found myself in Florence with my family on a month long vacation in Europe. While in this most inspiring city I met up with fellow blogger and EDMer Robyn from Have Dogs Will Travel I had asked her to take me to two places I most wanted to visit: The old art store and La Farmacia. After a nice lunch we headed to the art store only to find it closed for the day. I was disappointed since it wouldn't re-open till Monday and we were leaving on Sunday! Another time perhaps.

But to help with my disappointment, while on our way to the Farmacia St. Maria Novella, Robyn took me to a wonderful little shop where they sold hand tooled leather books and other lovely things. She warned me that we were just going to look because everything was way too expensive. But I fell in love with this beautiful leather sketchbook/journal which had the book seperate from the leather cover. The clerk told me I could always order more inserts. So I dished out many euros for it and have loved it ever since!

I am almost done with the insert which has paper that is not very good for sketching. So today I made a new handbound sketchbook with nice Fabriano Artistico 90lb hot pressed paper, covered it with Canson pastel paper in bright orange-yellow and decorated it with an ATC on the cover. I added a ribbon as a place holder and it's now ready for next month's adventure to a far away land..............

Leather Bookcover Sketchbook/Journal insert

Insert easily removed from bookcover

My new handbound sketchbook/journal

What if my Tilley Hat were Red?

2008-08-18T17:08:00.001-07:00

What if my Tilley Hat were Red?, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

MY REDS

2008-08-17T20:05:00.001-07:00

MY REDS, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

This watercolor brush went for a walk around my palette......

Kayaking in Newport Harbor, Ca

2008-08-16T20:08:00.001-07:00

Kayaking in Newport Harbor, Ca, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

Stopped for lunch on the beach and while my sister prepared our sandwiches I quickly sketched the scene before us and included her beautiful purple kayak and her hubby's yellow one!

Watercolor and copic marker; grey shade

Pink Lemonade and Cotton Candy Snow Cones!

2008-08-13T17:33:00.001-07:00

photo.jpg, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales. Sent from me and my cool iPhone

We had a great time in San Diego the past few days. Annie loved the Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art and the Eleanor Antin Historical Takes exhibit. We had a nice lunch at the Prado overlooking beautiful gardens. Later, Annie had fun watching the koi in the lily pond in front of the Botanical Building while Shon and I sat and sketched .

Casa del Prado Theater, Balboa Park

We grew weary after the long day, deciding to skip the zoo and instead headed to Amy's apartment, which she so graciously offered while she was having fun in Las Vegas with her Seth. We soon fell asleep and woke to a beautiful summer day on Thursday.

Shon and Marta

The morning was cool so we skipped the kayaking and went to the tidepools at Point Loma. Oh what fun we had splashing in the surf and picking up sea shells. Annie a bit disappointed that we couldn't bring them home but satisfied to take photos of our treasures to later sketch and then return them to the ocean.

We finished off the adventure with a drive over the Coronado Bridge and a drive through the area, stopping at a lovely park for lunch under massive trees. Onto Seaport Village for a short shopping trip before heading home.

Sharp turn in the road

2008-08-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago I realized I had to stop working because of my impaired vision. I felt like I had been on this road where things mostly went smooth, a few bumps here and there, but really no major obstacles in my way. That last day of work was not planned as my last day but I came home that night knowing I just couldn't do it anymore. Thanks to the wonderful doctors I have I am now in the process of filing for disability and retirement.

When all this came about that road I was on hooked a sharp turn and since then I have been trying to find my way. All has been good so far. I am enjoying my time at home, cooking, cleaning, some travel and little else. So my art has taken a bit of a hiatus past few months. That's ok, because the road hasn't smoothed out yet!

I was in the Social Security office today to present documents and while waiting I realized I don't carry my sketchbook and pen with me anymore. What a fool I am! I missed a great opportunity. I will rectify that immediately. I am pleased to say that come the fall term in September I have registered for a beginning painting class (hoping to learn to work in oils) and French 1. I might not be able to drive in a few months so I better take the painting class now! So, soon this blog will be overflowing with new art work I hope, or at least oil studies that I'm sure will be assigned. I adopted a new look to the blog as well. One that is more casual and laid back, like ME! I hope you like it!

Right now I just take a day at a time. Yesterday I watched the grand-nephew and I delighted in his world for the day. I can't wait to let the little guy come paint with me when he is older. Tomorrow I am taking my grand niece Annie and my dear friend Shon to San Diego to the Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit, to night time at the zoo and kayaking in Mission Bay. Of course sketching supplies in tow for all three of us! I will present when I return.

I've spent most of my online time filling out forms for disability but also perusing my favorite art blogs. When I changed the layout I lost my list of blogs so if you come by here and would like to be added, just let me know! Everyday, you my online art friends, continue to inspire me as I glimpse into your daily world. Thanks for visiting!

For you Gracie

2008-08-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

Gracie, I put this little movie of us together just for you! We sure had fun together didn't we? I love you little girl! nina

What a glorious day!

2008-08-02T12:12:00.001-07:00

What a glorious day!, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Today Rudy and I put my boat on top my car and headed out to Newport Beach to the bay. Rudy rented a boat and I took out my beauty for the first time this summer. We had so much fun! We paddled over to Newport Dunes and glided up on the shore and had a wonderful picnic lunch before getting back on the water. After a couple of hours we headed home with a stop at the kayak store to see the pretty new boats. Rudy is starting to want his own now so we are looking. Then we came home to the heat in Riverside, cleaned up the boat and headed to the back yard to have some more water fun in the pool. We are spent for the day but can't wait to go back out soon! I had time during our lunch to snap this photo with my iphone and draw my boat. I'll add color to it tomorrow!

Sketched on my iPhone

2008-07-31T14:50:00.001-07:00

Sketched on my iPhone, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

Drawn with my finger right on the iPhone screen using a free ap called Scribble.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

Pigeons and the Chinese Man

2008-07-31T08:47:00.001-07:00

Pigeons and the Chinese Man, originally uploaded by mmvgonzales.

ink and watercolor in handbound sketchbook.
I asked this pigeon to pose for me but just when I thought he'd agreed, a small child came and shooed him away. An old Chinese man sitting near by had been watching (and I suspect saw me talking to the pigeon) and walked over to me; pointing and laughing with a big toothless grin saying "China, China......" I didn't understand the rest but thought he might be referring to the fact that there are pigeons in China. I smiled at him and said, "yes, China, America, Europe, all over the world!" He continued to laugh and point at the pigeons as he walked back to his bench to sit and watch the world go by.

Flash, the wolf-dog

2008-07-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

Flash is a wolf dog. I was told that Flash had free reign of the neighborhood of cabins in Tres Ritos, NM. On my first day at the New Mexico cabin Grace wanted to show me the creek and to try my hand at skipping stones with her. On our way there Flash saw us and barked as we came close. He soon ran over to us to check me out. We immediately became best friends and he decided to join us on our excursion.

While Grace and I sat and sketches the wildflowers, Flash roamed the area, ever our protector. Once he was sure the area was safe and free of BEARS, he came and plopped himself down right next to me (smashing the flowers I was sketching). He sat until we were finished and then walked us back to the cabin, ever a gentleman, seeing us safely home.

I sketched this in charcoal from a photo I took of Flash when he sat next to me. I am hoping to get it into a mat soon and send it to Flash's owner, Shirley.

My Fireman Rudy

2008-07-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

Rudy's fireboat station was featured in the local Long Beach Paper with a video and article. Click HERE to see the video of my cute old guy. He is at the beginning of the video holding a hat. I'm very proud of him and try not too worry too much when he goes off to work for a few days.

Really Loud and Rumbley

2008-07-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

lots of noise from rattling windows and shaking house, but no obvious damage that I can see. Aaron and I were in the kitchen and were surprised at how intense this earthquake was. But soon it was forgotten and enjoyed the afternoon in the pool with the kids!

Rice Krispies Diva

2008-07-29T07:51:00.001-07:00

Hi, this is Grace's Nina mARTa guest posting. I think Grace makes the best Rice Krispies treats! I know I ate a lot of them while visiting with her. She is becoming a great baker and cook! I can't wait to try that sugar cookie recipe!

Go to her blog: Grace's Kitchen Adventures and check out all her great recipes and take her favorite dessert poll.

Our Girly Weekend in Long Beach

2008-07-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

You can go to Dianne's blog for a detailed description of our weekend trip to Long Beach, Ca. She is correct in that I got more sleep than she did but after joining her for lunch on Saturday I headed to the aquarium and while waiting in line I began to feel queasy. Unlike that hangover feeling, this was something I ate. I decided not to spend the money to sketch at the aquarium and instead headed for a restroom and then just tried to keep hydrated. I sat at the lighthouse and people watched and did a couple of sketches. Then I wandered to the bookstore and relaxed in the a/c till Dianne's class was over. We had a fun weekend and of course we didn't really get drunk, just happy! This is a photo of Dianne at the show; in case she's denying she was there:

Here is a view of the harbor from our hotel room:

and here is my sketch of the Queen Mary, as she sits docked for eternity it seems.