I am still finishing a stealth project, so no photos there.
I am trying to concentrate on paintings for the Equine Art Show (in July), so I started one based on this photo.
Here’s step 1. [image removed]
We’ll see how it turns out…
Author Archives: Tara Choate
Remember the knitting when loosing weight: Volume 2
A few of you might remember my original post “Remember the knitting when loosing weight.”
Last week I finished my sweater “Zora” and I have been prancing around showing it off; last night at Weight Watchers was no exception. I showed it off and bragged about how all the stitches represented the many (MANY) changes I’ve made in the last 10 months to loose 82lbs.
With the completion of that sweater, I am starting a new project, and with this project I am learning a new skill: continental kntting.
“Continental knitters hold the yarn in their left hand, which allows the knitter to simply scoop, or “pick”, the yarn with the right needle. The primary challenge with the Continental style is its corresponding purl stitch, which requires agility and practice to execute comfortably.”
The benefits of this, as opposed to my old method of “English” knitting is that it is a faster method of knitting.
My good friends JJ (check out her yarn touring business The Traveling Ewe (with the logo that I made for her!) and Suzie (who is simply awesome but doesn’t have a business to brag about) have been coaching me through this learning curve and I have just one thing to say: THIS STINKS!
It’s fiddly and hard. It’s difficult and pointless. I already know how to knit! Why am I relearning?
As I’m sitting on the couch, tongue between my teeth, cursing whatever urge caused me to learn this (I mean, so what if it takes a year to finish a sweater. It got done, didn’t it?) it occurred to me that this feeling is familiar. It’s the same feeling that happens whenever I have to develop some new weight loss skill (slicing an apple instead of snarfing a chocolate bar for an example.)
So as I’ve been plugging away on my project, I’ve been telling myself it’s for the long term good. DAMMIT!
The other day I though things might be getting a little easier. I’m still not sure it’s faster yet, but things seemed to be coming along. Then I had to start purling. What was working before stopped working, so I had to develop even more new skills. Frankly, I’m still working on this skill and hope I get a version soon. I’m sure I’ll get better… just as I got better about eating breakfast and have had to adjust that routine three times and counting.
So it seems that knitting has more to teach me and remains a metaphor for the weight loss journey I’m not even halfway through.
And I thought that sweater took a long time…
Resolutions vs. Goals: Looking forward to 2015
I’ve been working on this post, off and on, for the last week. My main concern is that it has grown somewhat… comprehensive. When I started this blog, I wanted it to be about my art; what I’ve learned is that I write about everything around me. One goal I’m making this year is to try to narrow down my focus.
However, after reading some other blogs (including several that are far more focused than mine), I’ve decided to post the entire list. Gulp.
Painting
- Keep painting
- Write more exclusively about art in my blog
- Enter both WSO shows
- April
- October
- Do both Open Studios of Beavercreek shows
- June
- October
- Do the CC Artist Exhibition show
- Unknown
- Two two rotations at the TRAG Gallery
- Unknown
- November & December rotation
- Enter OSA Shows
- January – volunteer show
- February – ensemble
- March – juried
- April – nautical
- June – Rose Show
- July – not just black & white
- September – juried
- October – not just portraits & figures
- November – 200 for under $200 (I will consider)
- December – Urban & Rural Landscapes
- Do an Artbiz course
- Enter the Equine Art Show (Emerald Downs)
- July
- Submit to the AAEA Show
- June Deadline
Continue to work on my lifestyle improvement project
- Go to Weight Watchers regularly
- Eat more vegetables
- Eat less sugar
- Eat more fiber
- Drink water
- Participate in walking challenges (particularly with the dog)
- Continue going to yoga twice a week
Reading
- Goodreads 2014 Reading Challenge: 100 books
- 2014 Goal = 80 of 90
- 2013 Goal = 118 of 125
- 2012 Goal = 111 of 200
- 2011 = 56 of 50
Pets
- Walk the dog as much as possible
- Continue volunteering at SEO
- If possible, join VEEP
- When I loose enough weight, start taking riding lessons
- Play with the cats
- No new pets this year
Knitting
- Go on a yarn diet (after January 1)
- Learn continental knitting
- Process (clean, card, & spin) my fleece
Money
- Get credit card debt back to $0
- Build savings (including property tax money)
- Live on a budget every month
Home
- Do a better job keeping up with weeding
- Finish painting window surrounds
- Clean garage rafters
- Declutter more
- For Lent, do this: http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2014/
Environmental
- Continue 2013 goal of not taking plastic bags at the store
- Continue 2014 goal of using coffee cups at coffee place
- Use doggie pick up bags even when hiking
Random
- Remain employed
- Go camping
- Go to Chinese Garden
- Go to Japanese Garden
- Go to the Oregon Zoo
- Go to the Portland Art Museum
- Don’t drive on Sundays / take Sundays as a day of rest
- See 150 species and keep track
A good start to the year
My New Year’s tale, actually begins very late in 2014. December 31 I stayed up late to finish the sweater I have been working on the better part of year (since February 28 to be specific.) My goal was to finish it in 2014, and I did… if I had been in Hawaii. Actually, I finished it at 1:30 am and I’m calling it a 2014 finished project!
I slept in a little, then headed off to Knitted Wit‘s “New Year Shindig” to hang out and party. I saw friends and lots of yarn and broke a New Year’s Resolution to go on a yarn diet by buying more yarn. My plan is to use it for the Rose City Yarn Crawl’s Mystery Knit Along, so that’s my excuse.
After returning from this event (where I tried Hoppin’ John (it was excellent)), I took Finn out for a hike at Canemah, where I encountered “my” Great Horned owl. I was delighted to see him still in the area; he hasn’t been at his usual perch the last few times I’ve been looking for him, and I was concerned he had moved on or found a mate outside the area. But he was there; no sign of a mate, though. Of course, I’m lucky just to spot him!
I also noticed some insect scrolls on downed logs that caught my fancy. I wonder if there is a way to incorporate this in an art piece?
When I came back, I was feeling good so I took out a Christmas present, Veg Power!, and decided to try out a recipe. I selected lasanga and invited my friend JJ over for dinner. We ended up eating a good meal and watching sitcoms for the evening.
Two parties in one day! Now that’s a good start to the year!
The obligatory year end post
In the last year I’ve spent a lot of time looking at other people’s blogs, getting ideas about what I’m doing right, wrong, and everything in between.
If you read a lot of blogs, this time of year you’ll notice a pattern: EVERYONE is recapping their year and planning for the next.
To be fair, the entire country is doing this (there may be a few exceptions) but as a species, humans like these big, round number times to take stock and make changes.
Before I post my list of resolutions, I thought it might be pertinent to post my 2014 accomplishments.
1. I started a website.
Most popular posts (by month)
- January – no data
- February – no data
- March – Itchy and crazy
- April – How can I sell that?
- May – I’m not weighing my soul
- June – Remember the knitting when loosing weight
- July – Oh, not so happy day
- August – Plein air, finally
- September – Painting a day challenge
- October – Returning to regular life
- November – Don Wayne Choate
- December – Cold, windy, and bright
2. I removed 80lbs from my body!
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- January 2014
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- December 2014
3. I got a painting into the Watercolor Society of Oregon show!
4. I went to Kentucky!
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- Will Take Charge (again)
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- Exercising at Keeneland
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- Holy Bull
5. My dad died.
It was an eventful year… and I’m looking forward to 2015!
Stealth painting project #1
As I told you, I was doing quite a bit of painting in December, I just couldn’t show it to you; however, one of my projects has been delivered, so I can recap my process.
This project goes back to my September “painting a day” challenge (specifically my September 21 entry: opsimath (or me dealing with the aftermath of shopping). As I mentioned, my mom’s favorite flower is the rhodie and she really liked this piece and hinted (read told me in no uncertain terms) that this was her preferred Christmas present.
I didn’t make much progress on it in the month of October, and most of November flew by before I got down to business.
I started with a large scale drawing of my reference photo.
The original September painting was 8″x10″ and I wanted this to be a 12″x16″ (between 1/2 and 1/2 sheet) painting. Once I laid down that drawing, I created a strong, dark background.
Next I added my darkest darks to the background then added a light wash over the flower itself.
Next worked on adding the shadows, detailing the petals, and coloring the stamens to the flowers. (Note: For whatever reason, the color of the photo in this step is very off.)
At this point I took it to my critique group. They suggested adding darks to the flower and changing the shape of the upper left green leaf. I also added my signature.
I matted it, wrapped it, and took it to its new owner. Who says, “I love it.”
So… it’s a happy ending to a hurried story. Whew!
A very birdy Christmas
For obvious reasons, this has been a very low-key holiday season for me and that trajectory continued in my Christmas celebration. I arrived at the beach to spend the holiday with my mom late on Christmas Eve, and then we got up on Christmas Day and drove to Yaquina Head to do some birding.
It was an excellent day; while it wasn’t a clear day, it refrained from raining until we were heading back home, and admission to the park was free.
Our first stop was Quarry Cove.
Upon arrival, we spotted a mother seal and her yearling pup sunning themselves on the rocks.
She definitely kept an eye on us, and when a few more people arrived, she and her pup slid into the water. We counted a total of eight seals “bottling” in the water.
We also saw a flock of Black Turnstones and a cormorant (probably an immature double crested.)
As we left the cove, we spotted an immature bald eagle (we would later see another immature and a mature, leading us to believe it was hanging around waiting for a handout from mom or dad before another breeding season starts.)
Next we stopped by the interpretive center; Mom had gone on a walk here with the Lincoln City Audubon Society and wanted to show me where the peregrine falcons had nested. We didn’t expect to see them, but as I was looking up at the cliff, both adults came swooping by. It is a little early for nesting, but peregrines mate for life and keep the same nest site from year to year, so they must have been inspecting the site for later use.
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- The male.
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- The male.
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- Female landing.
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- Female inspecting.
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- Female preening.
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- Female leaving.
After this exciting turn of events, we went to the lighthouse proper. The lighthouse was closed for painting, so we walked down to the cove. We saw a few more seals, a few more birds and talked to an on-duty ranger.
Before leaving, we hiked up to the top of the head. The light to the south was interesting as little squalls were coming in.
Online Studio Sale Day 14 (last day)
I originally sketched this as part of the SYD series at the Fall 2012 Watercolor Society of Oregon convention; in this case SYD stands for simplify your drawing. When I transferred my sketch to a bigger sheet of paper, I wasn’t sure how I would handle the piece. Fortunately, I was trying some new paint and things took off from there.
“Age” – 2013
approximately 15″x22″ on 140lb Arches
$50
This piece is matted, but not framed, so I can offer it at a 20% discount at $40.
This will be the last day of my online sale. If you are interested in anything, I will honor these prices through January 1, but starting in 2015, all pieces will go back to “normal.”
In the meantime, Happy Holidays!
Online Studio Sale Day 12 & 13
[image removed]
Trackside Discussion I
The reference photo for this was also taken at Emerald Downs during the 2013 Equine Art show. This horse was being lead back to the barn by his groom; the horse had been hosed off and was very shiny and obviously still feeling the excitement of the race.
This piece started as an experiment; I used hot press paper, and my idea was to do a rich underpainting on the horse to indicate the emotions the horse was still feeling. Then I added the body color, trying to preserve the slickness of the wet horse.
This piece is matted in black with a custom frame; I can offer a 10% discount for $90.
[image removed]
Distaff Divas
This painting turned out almost unrecognizable from its inspiration. I took the reference photo in 2013 at Emerald Downs during a big 3-year-old-filly race. But when I got it home, I thought it was so similar in composition to “Stride for Stride” that I decided to experiment and then decide what I wanted to do.
I underpainted the horses in purple/red and orange/pink, then over painted in burnt sienna and a golden Daniel Smith color that I can’t reference. I loved the results but didn’t know where to go next. So I did a tissue paper pour and crossed my fingers.
This piece is matted in white with a custom frame; I can offer a 10% discount for $135.