About 4 days before we left on our vacation to the Smokie Mtns., we were eating Supper at Mitchell's Seafood in Northville, MI and this "mature woman" was sitting in a booth by herself--just finishing her dinner. She had on this matching hat and sweater and had longish gray hair--a bright combination which took my eye. The way I drew her, it looks like she is driving a bus (?) Sorry about that!

They Draw and Travel Blog

My Granddaughter did this poster of Ann Arbor for the "THEY DRAW AND TRAVEL BLOG". She is a very talented Graphic Artist and Illustrator--and I just love her Art.

Light makes a difference

I photographed this picture of my w/c/journal outside at our picnic table. Contrasted with the same picture of the Dutchman's Britches (below) it is bright-looking. The photograph below was taken in our Motel Room under those ridiculous (I think) corkscrew-shaped flourescent lights that the motels are all using. It makes the pictures all yellowish--Ugh! Also, it takes them a few minutes to get to full power so that you can read, etc.
We are winding up our vacation and leaving for home tomorrow. Had a wonderful time keeping my watercolor journal of our trip. Lots of wildflowers, mountains, etc.

Smokies Scenes

We stopped at a Scenic Pullout for a waterfall, and while I was there I spotted a Magnolia in the Woods in full bloom--made a dash for the car and got out my watercolors and put a few strokes on the paper and then finished it at 'home.' Tried a picture of Mingus Mill (where we always buy our ground cornmeal and ground grits). The Miller pointed out a couple violets and some showy Orchus in abundance around the Mill. Also took a drive on the Foothills Parkway and stopped to photograph these "Pinks" which look bright red (there's a history behind the name Pinks--but they are red :-) Saw this Horse mounted on the roof of this home--for what reason??? Doesn't everyone have a horse on their roof???? .....And just a reminder!!! I saw this in a store window in Gatlinburg, TN--and thought it made perfect sense. We all need to remember!

Doing our things in the Smokies

We (my husband and I) spent all day Saturday sketching, painting, and HE taking pictures. We enjoyed every minute. I sketched and watercolored a picture of a Showy Orchus (they are coming up everywhere here now. The "map" is of a motor tour we love to take called "Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail" It is so picturesque and there are many historical sites, and lots of wild flowers everywhere along this one-way (very narrow, hilly) drive along the Roaring Fork Creek (River). Lots of Dogwoods are blossoming now all through the woods and it looks so lacy. The Azaleas are blooming everywhere in town.

Wildflowers reposted

I'm trying to repost these pics (right side up :-) We are using another Wi-Fi (staying at a new place) in the Smokies. The first picture is of the ferns in the woods just starting to open. This picture is in Oconaluftee (South end of the Smokies). I sketched this from the new porch on the brand new Visitor Center. This is a "right side up" picture of a Wild Geranium. Lots of these blooming these days.

Posting Watercolor Wildflowers from the Smokies

I hope this works...tried to post pictures from Picasa, but I''m not on my cable computer at home...I'm on WiFi at this "resort" where we are staying--and it is very tempermental! (and it's not free!)
The wildflowers are just starting to pop up all over the place.  We took a ride to Roaring Fork Nature Trail (even saw a bear on the way) and the flowers are quite beautiful. 

I did try to sketch/watercolor a couple of them and hope to have more in a few days.

April 1st Great Smokie Mountains NP

We arrived on April 1st and it was rainy and cool, and a little windy.  We could see lots of white in the high elevations and drove up to Clingman's Dome.  What a sight!  Everything was covered in hoarfrost. It was like a fairyland.  Here are a couple of pictures.  It has warmed up and now we are taking photos and sketching wildflowers.