I couldn’t think of many options for the letter U in this A-Z Challenge. Although I’ve always wanted to try underwater photography, I don’t have the equipment for it. Consequently, today I decided to show off a rare piece of traditional artwork. I say rare because I’ve not indulged in a lot of non-digital artwork because I’m not a fan of the mess, the storage, the stink of paints and turpentine, or the cat footprints in paint across the carpet because she walked across my palette while I took a break.
I did this piece in gouache paints on paper. It’s a self-portrait.
Should I make this image my new official author photo (chuckle)? Have you ever gone snorkelling? Have you ever dabbled in art?
Note: For the month of April during the
A-Z Challenge I am pausing from my usual blogging theme of writing and social media tips. Instead I hope to share with you my photography. Much of it is inspired by the fabulous and helpful site,
The Bookshelf Muse. Please check it out and enjoy.
.
That's amazing Lynda, you're so talented. I've dabbled in many art classes and have absolutely NO talent. Still find it fun. I usually play with watercolor because it's less messy and washes off the hands easily.
ReplyDeleteI started painting in oils, but that changed to gouache, which changed to pen and ink (my favourite form of traditional art). Of course, that all changed once I discovered the joys of computer generated art.
DeleteI doodle alot! Does that count? LOL! I can't swim either! Yikes, I feel totally useless now! Ooh U word!! Yay! Take care
ReplyDeletex
absolutely it counts!
DeleteThat's a great piece of artwork! I'm not much of an artist, I'm afraid: got a very low C in my O-Level Art. And I'm with you on hating the mess from a painting session. But I have been snorkelling, and absolutely loved it! We did it in Malaysia at a marine reserve with a lovely coral reef. Tempted me to take up scuba-diving, but I worry about having to rely on a tank for my air, and my ears are very sensitive to pressure changes.
ReplyDeleteJ.C. Martin
A to Z Blogger
Snorkelling in Malaysia would have been awesome!! I tried a brief reef dive once, but my ears also were sensitive to pressure so I never tried anything deeper.
DeleteThere is some stunning underwater photography out there. As I can see, you've been underwater. Just need the right camera!
ReplyDeleteThat is really good, Lynda! Excellent colors and shading.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of the physical messy stuff anymore either. And if I had to deal with footprints on top of it, I'd be even less of a fan.
That's good! I'd love to try snorkelling one of these days! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! That is fabulous. Nice work.
ReplyDeletewow....is this glasses you are holding in the portrait?
ReplyDeleteI'm not holding anything in the image (could just be my dodgey artwork)
DeleteI was wrong it was just blue shade.very nice.
DeleteGoogle "words that begin with__". There's a great site with Scrabble words that can give you ideas. Some of these last words of the alphabet are tough.
ReplyDeleteI have gone snorkeling. In Hawaii. Loved it.
gah! If only I'd known about that sooner!!! lol
DeleteWow! That is really good!! You have talent girl!
ReplyDeleteGreat picture. An underwater camera would be amazing. I hope you get one - I'd love to see the photos.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's really cool. I'm always blown away to learn that my fellow writers are also accomplished artists as well. So cool.
ReplyDeleteAnd, no, I don't believe in going in the ocean. There are things in there that will eat you.
The movie Jaws has a lot to answer for ;)
DeleteOh wait, there's also those stinging jelly fish, and other nasties in there. I try not to think about it ;)
I am both impressed by, and jealous of, your artistic talent. Think I'll stick to the snorkelling ;)
ReplyDeleteNicely done. I would use it! And we've been Snuba diving in Maui. Its a combo of scuba and snorkeling. You dive attached to a floating tank of compressed air for about 30 minutes. Very fun.
ReplyDeleteoh! That sounds like lots of fun!
DeleteI am fascinated with art and I like to pretend that I can actually paint. The kids and I do it about once a month (get out all the paints, brushes & canvases etc.). We have a really good time and I am forced to always paint something very abstract because it is really just a mess of mixed colors and textures. I love your artwork. It really is awesome, you have another talent.
ReplyDeleteI loved snorkeling in Hawaii at Hanauma Bay in Hawaii. The fish swim right up to you at eat pees out of your hands. I tried scuba diving in Mexico twice and both times I suffered a panic attack.
Swimming with the fish and feeding them is so much fun! I did that near the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, once.
DeleteStriking resemblance there,Lynda!
ReplyDeleteSnorkeling has always been a desire of mine!
The art work is great, Lynda! I'm sure if you do choose to use it as your official author photo it will be captivating!
I've tried my hand at art/drawing; I'm afraid that my poetry is artistic as I'm going to get!
Have a great day, Lynda!
http://bettyalark.blogspot.com
I love your painting! My creative side comes out in other ways. I couldn't wait to go snorkeling. I was so excited, it was all I could talk about. Imagine my surprise when I hated it. I was like 'what?' The only thing I can figure is that not only did I hate being forced to breathe through my mouth, I'm a little bit claustrophobic. And I felt a little trapped...because I was forced to breathe through my mouth. The underwater sights were beautiful, though :)
ReplyDeletehahaha yeah, it's not always easy. My goggles always leaked, I got water in my breathing pipe and constantly had to stop to adjust. But like you said, the sights are beautiful.
DeleteI love it, nice drawing. Yes I snorkel worms. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteI have family members who are very artist. They can draw and paint with very little effort. I always wished I could draw or paint. I didn't get that dose of talent in my DNA. I got the stinging-the-words-together talent...which suits me fine.
ReplyDeleteI love your self portrait! Awesome! You're just a bundle of talent!
oops...that would be the "stringing"-the-words
Deletetricky fingers this morning...lol.
Sheesh, someone is multi-talented :) Is there anything you can't do?
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
Math
Deletenice art!
ReplyDeleteI've never been underwater, and I praise God for that LOL
If you come to Australia, I might take you to the beach, but I promise not to make you go swimming.
DeleteI will remember your promise :)
Deleteexcellent!
DeleteThat's a great painting!
ReplyDeleteI've never been snorkeling; would love to try, but I think learning how to swim first might help . . .
That's often a good start ;)
DeleteWow, you are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I wonder what you are looking at in this painting. I have gone snorkeling before- it's so much fun and a great workout too.
ReplyDeletefanged fish, perhaps? ;)
DeleteWell, I'm impressed. I wish I could paint...but nope. Not even close!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great painting. Seems to jump out at you! I've been scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef and saw a giant clam and turtle. Wow, seems like every day I have a story from Australia to share with you!
ReplyDeleteThe Great Barrier Reef is the best place for scuba diving. Keep sharing! I love it!
DeleteGreat painting. I used to paint while in school in NZ but back home, I had to leave it to get serious about studies. Maybe later.
ReplyDeleteRiya
Is there anything creative you CAN"T do well? You amaze me, Lynda. I am totally envious!
ReplyDeleteYou are crazy talented. And yes, I have been snorkeling. Loved it. And I love to draw, when I can find the free time.
ReplyDeleteI love snorkeling and got my kids addicted too. They're 7 & 9 and do very well in the ocean. It was neat to see onlookers stare when they snorkeled as 4 & 6 yr olds:)
ReplyDeleteLast year I went snorkeling for the first time. I took one of those underwater (disposable) cameras. My pictures were terrible, but I had a lot of fun. I hope you get the chance to take some underwater pictures.
ReplyDeleteI love it! That's so cool and you are so talented!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynda! Great self-portrait. You are very talented. I've never been snorkeling, but have heard that it can be a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteLove the self portrait, Lynda! Yes, I've been snorkeling in Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and the Carribean. I'm awed at the amazing underwater life I have seen!
ReplyDeleteCool pic! Thanks for sharing that. We really did want to see. :)
ReplyDeleteSure, I've dabbled in art. And daubed and dribbled and drizzled. Never used gauche, though. (Never snorkeled, either.)
ReplyDeleteFun self-portrait. In my best one, I'm holding a rubber chicken.
rubber chickens are awesome
DeleteThat is a fantastic painting. Highly original composition, and I love the play of light.
ReplyDeleteI dabble in art. Tried oils years ago and didn't like the mess. I now use gouache, I like the clarity of color but I do find it tricky to use because it dries so quickly.
yeah, gouache works very differently to oils. I had the same problem when I went from oils to Gouache as well :)
DeleteLyn, I love this post! Thank you so much for sharing that image. You are not only talented but I just really appreciate this insight into you. Underwater photography would be a good fit for you, I think -- should you ever have access to the proper equipment.
ReplyDeleteAnd, in theory, I'm quite endeared by the cat padding a wicked mess of rainbow across the floor. (In theory.)
I will admit I laughed out loud when I first saw the footprints... but then I had to clean it up. Not so easy ;)
Delete