Trying Out Some Things: Beer Coaster Ornaments

~3 x 5" ink and gesso on cardboard beer coaster

~3 x 5″ ink and gesso on cardboard beer coaster

I thought I’d try my hand at creating ornaments out of paper coasters. This is odd for a few reasons:

1.  It is rare that I EVER focus on Christmas before Thanksgiving.

2. Hmm. I guess that is the only reason.

I certainly don’t feel these are finished. I do enjoy the designs on them, but they need more to be done. What that is, I don’t know just yet. Good thing I have a few more months to figure it out. Or to ditch the idea altogether.

3.5 x 5" Gesso and ink on paper coaster

3.5 x 5″ Gesso and ink on paper coaster

Ornament beer tree

Over-Watered

~3 x 4.5" watercolor and pencil on pierced paper

~3 x 4.5″ watercolor and pencil on pierced paper

Blades of grass reached deep into the soil

And searched for anything that might quench their thirst

While the farmer looked to the sky and asked for a break

Then the rains came

And the grasses strain was eased

And the farmer turned her brow to the cool, cloudy sky

She was calm in the moment

Until the water rose

And covered what had been in need

of only a few glasses of water

Uprooted

~3 x 5" Watercolor and pencil on pierced paper

~3 x 5″ Watercolor and pencil on pierced paper

I took a jog beside the river yesterday – down a path I had not been since before the flooding. Tall, thick trees who had, prior to the floods, seemed so strong now leaned or broke. Masses of roots were exposed.

Here and there were trees and unsuspecting plants that found there way out of the mess and continued to grow.

Uprooted side shot

Work in Progress: I Call Them Antelope

10 x 10" Acrylic and ink on canvas

10 x 10″ Acrylic and ink on canvas

I told a wonderful organization, the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, that I would donate a piece of art to their silent auction. Initially I began a watercolor of an antelope’s (aka pronghorn’s) head, but that quickly got painted over with acrylic.

Step 3 WYWF

The original image did not feel like something I would create and to be honest, it was pretty bad. I like to think of it as my warm-up for the day. The piece above is what I am much more happily working on now. I hope to have it finished up tomorrow!

The Water

~3 x 5" Watercolor and ink on paper

After the Sun ~3 x 5″ Watercolor and ink on paper

The water

Came

It swooshed down hillsides

And waved a quick hello along the way

Its itinerary

Called for a tour of homes (unbeknownst to certain owners)

A local bar was visited

And nearby lake

Before the water winded down its vacation

In the low plains

The Water Comes ~3 x 5 Watercolor and ink on Paper

The Water Comes ~3 x 5 Watercolor and ink on Paper