Six Pen and Ink Bottles -- Friends Forever!

When I was just a little girl, I was fascinated by a lovely blue "pinch" bottle that my grandmother had collected.  By the time I was painting, she had given me that bottle.  I added a few glass bottles of my own and drew this still life.  I used a pen with ink and then laid in the values with an ink wash.

The Blond Tomboy

The kids at East Denver High chose my mother as the prettiest girl in school.  She was a tomboy and regularly chastised by her proper father.  "You'll never find a husband by challenging the boys to climb trees faster than you can."  However, her marriage to my father lasted 57 years.  He called her "my princess".  Here they are after their wedding.  When I drew this portrait, I must have been thinking of her.

I love Harry Connick Jr.'s rendition of "The Very Thought of You".

Are You Being Naughty?

In 1929 jazz pianist Fats Waller wrote "Ain't Misbehaviin'.  By this time it is considered a jazz standard.  Since this drawing has an air of naughtiness to it, I thought it would be fun to title her after Waller's song "Ain't Misbehavin'.   Hope you enjoy this rendition.  He wrote the music with  Harry Brooks and the lyrics are by Andy Razaf.

No one to talk with, all by myself

No one to walk with, but I'm happy on the shelf

Ain't misbehavin', I'm savin' my love for you.

I know for certain the one you love

I'm through with flirtin', it's just you I'm thinkin' of

Ain't Misbehavin', I'm savin' my love for you.

Like Jack Horner in the corner

don't go nowhere, what do I care

Your kisses are worth waitin' for . . . Believe me.

I don't stay out late, don't care to go

I'm home about 8, just me and my radio

Ain't Misbehavin', I'm savin' my love for you.

Are You In Love Today?

I can't tell you how many times I have listened to the Philippe Saisse Trio playing this song entitled "If I Ever Lose This Heaven". There are times when I find that I have gotten out of my chair and am dancing. Jazz is wonderful way to unleash the creative powers within.


This print expresses that feeling of being so in love with someone that the only way to describe it is "heaven". Here is the tune. It is for my pleasure and yours and it's okay with me if you dance!



 




This next video is up close and personal.  Saisse talks about making the music for the "Body and Soul" cd. Amazing that such smashing music can come from a basement studio, which is shown here in 2006. 

My Morning Coffee

I  have sketchbooks filled with mostly pen and ink drawings -- some are enhanced by ink washes.  This is a sketch of a coffee mug we have had for years.  Can't begin to count all the delicious brews that have been poured into this stout little clay vessel and sipped out.

I came across the sketch the other day and decided to give it a pop look.  Now it is trendy and modern and even has graphics. 

For your pleasure and mine, I have added an old tune performed by Frank Sinatra -- I remember hearing this as a little girl.  At that time, coffee was percolated.  You put water in the pot, filled up a small metal basket with ground coffee that had tiny holes in it, put on the lid and set it on the hot stove.  The lid had a glass dome so you could see the coffee percolating up through the basket with the coffee in it.  You could tell when it was done by the color of the coffee.