When seated, they become your lap. As is the case with these women. Taking in the throngs of people at Ag Fair last February and maybe sharing some thoughts about the changes they’ve seen over the years.
Aside from the one hand ( er, claw, ) in dead center, there was no erasing. You could C.S.I this canvas with a team of forensic experts and not find an erasure. Just that hand ( claw ). I didn’t intend for the sketch to : #1 come out so well, and #2 get this detailed. But it wouldn’t stop so neither did I. Getting to the painting phase next.
There are many, many legs here on St.Croix this week. We host the infamous Half Iron Man Triathlon which translates to this: A one and a half mile swim, jump on your bike and ride 50 miles part of which includes a 21 degree incline that goes on interminably, and then run a 13.1 miles. That hill is known as The Beast. I offer my CAR a sports drink when it takes me up that road.
Check out the survivors’ humorous description of this event- ( I suggest you sit down and pour a cold one first ):
Unbelievably this event is up to 1,300 + entrants. It’s been unusually hot/humid and will make this course more horrific than it already is.
I’ll be folding my legs into lap formation, myself. Running my own game at the easel.
This guy never has to worry if he sprains an ankle during athletic endeavors.
With forgiveness, Pat , really I am so sorry you had to look at this and I know you’re asking yourself why would she even bother with her name and copyright as if someone would want to HAVE this thing!
Chili Peppers’ languid leg layover is one stretch away from careening him off the precipice of his perch. I couldn’t catch him and grab the camera. He remains to all of you, dignified. And aloft.
Tags: art blogs, drawing, Endurance, Half Iron Man St Croix, humor, The Beast
Asheville: The North West of The South East 
April 30, 2010 at 1:59 am |
Cool drawing, Bonnie! You had me laughing about the triathlon. Chili Pepper is the greatest model I have seen in forever! Now I am going to get a cold one and watch this video.
April 30, 2010 at 12:11 pm |
Leslie- glad you liked the drawing. And the trouble with cats as models is that the minute you take out the pencil/or camera, they sense it and then bolt the hell away.
April 30, 2010 at 2:26 am |
You’re hilarious. Your drawing is abfab. Your cat is the bomb (before, during and after flight).
April 30, 2010 at 12:14 pm |
Thanks Sam- hilarious coming from YOU is like give me an Oscar. Jala and I need to pool our kitties for a group shot, don’t you think?
April 30, 2010 at 2:54 am |
I love your drawing and don’t look at that hand as a claw, but rather that you caught it while it was moving. She’s probably of Italian descent and talks with her hands!
Is Kelly doing the half iron man triathlon? I’ve been on The Beast! I’m glad I was in a car at the time.
April 30, 2010 at 12:18 pm |
Carol- why didn’t I think of that! I’d never have to draw hands, ever again if I made the pre-emptive statement that all of my models were of Italian / Crucian descent and cannot ever hold their hands still.
So funny.
Kelly is doing his own half iron man on rooftops installing solar hot water systems although, without a bicycle. Not because he couldn’t……..
And you know what that Beast is like. The road, I mean. Not Kelly.
April 30, 2010 at 3:57 am |
Oh, I can already tell that this sketch will be a FABULOUS painting! I can hardly wait to see it… I love how the one lady is leaning into the other, and how the woman on the left (with the not-a-claw-hand) has her other hand draped over the chair. I’s beautiful already, Bonnie! Enjoy all those legs running around your island… aren’t you glad it’s them and not you “running” up that Beastly incline? But I would take heat and humidity over the snow we just got. HUGE storm – snowed in this morning. It’s now melting – good thing! Have a great weekend.
April 30, 2010 at 12:22 pm |
Joanne- you noticed the same thing that I felt right about in this piece: the way the two ladies are really relating in their body language. The hurdle for me when doing more than one figure is to have them look genuinely integrated and not pasted into. I thought that was believable here. Our friends in Vermont just got the same two feet of post season suicidal snow. Almost May……hmmmmm. I hope you’re done now and that it didn’t ruin any of your newly planted crops.
April 30, 2010 at 6:04 am |
You always have such wonderfully engaging posts! I absolutely love your drawing–the energy, line quality and the yummy smudges–are fantastic.
Will wait patiently for the painting.
Loved, too, the mental image of you giving your car a sports drink. Too funny…
April 30, 2010 at 12:24 pm |
Melinda- great comments like yours keep me blog dedicated. Please do other things while you wait patiently. I’d hate to be responsible for your lack of illustrious production of gorgeous solar plates and illuminated commentaries on Arizona. Your comments spur me on.
April 30, 2010 at 7:15 am |
This is a completely amazingly great drawing. Brava!
Ahem, I would also like a personal apology for having to look at that bug. Ughh!!
Chili is such a cat.
The Half Iron Man competition, huh? It must be creepy to see torsos running around without legs, and legs running without torsos. Wow. What a place you live in!
April 30, 2010 at 12:27 pm |
Oy Jala- what was I thinking when I posted that photo! Now you’ll NEVER want to come here for a paintstravaganza. I promise, that bug was so microscopic that I had to employ the Hubble just to get an accurate portrayal of it. No, really……
Chili begged me to put his photo up for Cleo but darned cat forgot to type that into the caption. Hea Culpa ( not Mea ).
April 30, 2010 at 8:45 am |
O, for God’s sake!!! It’s 4:40 AM, I woke up early, made coffee, checked in on the world of St. Croix to see this mahvelous drawing darling but that THING, too! No pre-apology can make up for that creature before I’ve had my morning java.
But, the thought that you drew that whole detailed drawing without erasure does fascinate me and makes me believe in spirits that guide us sometimes when the creative muse is not freaked out my creepy crawly creatures.
As to cat?
Seriously, I even had a nice thought about a cat.
You are a miracle worker.
April 30, 2010 at 12:32 pm |
Pat, I’d like to accentuate the positive. You had a nice thought about a cat. And isn’t that a start.
I had hoped that for the sake of maximizing the thematic connectors of this blog, that some of you ( I guess I overestimated ) would allow me the editorial license to show a millipede without having your day ruined.
I beg forgiveness.
Now, go back and have another look at that innocuous drawing. It would be like topping off a dinner of liver and halvah with a piece of chocolate. Cleanses the visual palette. Please say you’ll still come back here?
April 30, 2010 at 11:50 am |
If I cannot type it’s because I’ve not yet had my coffee and my (claw) is not awake – but you made me laugh out loud – a rare occurrence in the early am.
The drawing is beautiful! I’d have that one on my wall for constant study and stimulation. (Claw indeed..) heh.
And how I adore red tabbies. Chili is a beauty! Bon Matin!
April 30, 2010 at 12:38 pm |
Patrice- hi and thanks for your sweet comment. I only feel successful if I can propel liquids from unsuspecting nostrils. Your comment made me laugh too. I loved your Alter pieces and your Alter egos. Very creative and clever in the best of ways. So glad you came by.
I see by some of your themes that you really do like kitties. What hold they have over us.
April 30, 2010 at 1:52 pm |
Great feeling in this drawing, Bonnie. But what IS that lady going to do with her hand? Guess that will become apparent when the last stroke of color is laid down, right?
With all the road closures, the Half Iron-Man event creates sort of a forced quiet day at home for many of us, unless, of course, one feels compelled to go down to the course and cheer them on! I liked the video for its portrayal of the island scenery along the course. The only ringer was when the guy says how the roads are in “really good condition” for the race. Ha!
April 30, 2010 at 2:06 pm |
Don- yeah, hopefully her hand will disappear and not be the focal point.
We can see the bikers as they race past Off the Wall. Reminds me of watching for the elite runners in the NYC Marathon. It’s goosebump inducing. As I watch from my deck with coffee in hand.
Actually the roads right before the event are good, if not patched just to last until the last racer passes and then they once again become the sinkholes that they’re known to be.
But have you been up the newly paved Scenic East? Like glass.
Just ask Kelly, who now, like a good adolescent Social Security wannabe, has packed a skateboard in his car so anytime he finds himself on that road, he can sluice downhill and give me coronaries. I haven’t watched yet.
April 30, 2010 at 3:59 pm |
Hi Bonnie..
So good to read you again. I swear.. one of these days I’m going to meet you in person… If reading your words and seeing your work and photos can make me smile so much then imagine what a non-viritual encounter would do… (NO worries… I am far away and it is unlikely I could come.)
Anyway.. Can’t wait to see how this one comes out… You always inspire me.
May 1, 2010 at 1:46 pm |
Hi Ho Marian, you may be far away but that’s why we have airplanes. You don’t worry me in the slightest as I still hope there’s a time when you’ll decide to visit this place. I think we’d have a great time.
Always glad to know you visit the blog, at the very least.
May 1, 2010 at 2:02 am |
A great drawing. I really like those old legs!
May 1, 2010 at 1:48 pm |
Thanks Bill, but I didn’t think MY photo was on this post. Which ol legs are you referring to?
I’m grappling with transitioning a good ( ok, you said great ) drawing to a painting.
Listen……do you hear the sound of grappling?
May 2, 2010 at 2:59 am |
A Hubble, huh? Yeah, sure… I know when someone’s pulling my (ten thousand horrible) leg(s).
Only Rumi could (possibly) save me from that thing. He eats most bugs but fortunately (for me) I don’t think he’s ever seen anything like that one. I wonder what he’d do. Do your kitties do bug disposal for you? And do yours find moths as mouthwatering as mine do? They must taste like little flying chocolate tortes.
May 2, 2010 at 1:50 pm |
Bug dispatch is a popular feline sport here. I fear going into further detail as it might dissuade you from that sometime planned trip here.
Take comfort in the familiar flying chocolate tortes- we have them too.
Between the dogs and the cats, ( and Raid bait traps ) we’re really keeping the population of unwanteds to a minimum. Not to sound like Arizonas’ governor…..
May 7, 2010 at 2:20 pm |
without legs, arms would be lower in my opinion. hee hee!
I saw a millepede like that in Brazil. I didn’t squeal or freak out or anything. I have cool points in reserve now.
I’m glad your cat has remained alooft.