How can July be over?!?! The last school year JUST finished for summer break, and here it is over already. School starts up again in two weeks, Ugh!
July’s calendar page for The Kathryn Wheel’s challenge…
When I wasn’t in my new classroom trying to unpack 103 things (STILL unpacking by the way) I was able to spend some time working in my journal. I’ve been using acrylic a lot this summer to build layers, but have been left a little frustrated with the waste. We are so dry here that I can’t keep the paint wet on the palette or the paper for more than a minute or two. With watercolor it takes much longer to dry up and once it does, it can be used again. I’ve tried adding some acrylic mediums, and although they do take longer to dry they feel sticky and I can’t get them down as smoothly as I’d like.
That was my long winded way of saying I’m not as pleased with some of the pages as I’d like to be. More cards were needed this summer, so I hammered out a few more this month. 
And on a final art note, all of Monday was spent in Laguna Beach visiting the Sawdust Festival and attending the Pageant of the Masters. 
Last year a bunch of us went for the first time. The Pageant was truly great, and this year it was even better. It probably has a lot to do with being more familiar with the art in this year’s show. We were also a whole section closer so were able to see the “paintings” very well even without binoculars. The Pageant doesn’t allow photographs, so I found some online at the OC Register and The Beverly Hills Film Directory. Both links have nice articles about the event and how it’s pulled off.
HAAAAA, I was thinking of you over the weekend while contemplating that it was the end of July, ALREADY.
ReplyDeleteWith the acrylics, you can dilute them to the consistency of watercolour, with water. The flo-improver is useful to hold them to a fixed consistency. It prolongs the time, but a damp cloth will do the same if you work from a shallow dish.
I like what you've done and you certainly had a grip on the blue tube.
Beaches are good anytime. Can you bring the dog. I seem to remember that the SoCal's are freaky about dog poop. And that painting tableau is just magnificent. A bit weird, but still magnificent.
I've done the water acrylic thing which I like a lot because of the brightness I can get with the colors, but with the familiarity of watercolor. I found adding anything to them made them streaky-like and sticky, but that could very well have been user error. Looking at them in a row like that I was kind of into blue this month. I really prefer warm colors, but I've been decorating my classroom with greens and blues this summer, so I must have it on the brain.
DeleteWe've got some dog beaches where they can be off leash, but most of the busy ones require dogs to be on and owners must clean up after them. The Central Coast is a lot less strict with it. When we go there, they can be off pretty much anywhere, probably because it's much less crowded.
This year's pageant was a bit less creepy than last year, probably due to the theme - last year's was make believe. They did a couple of Michelangelo's sculptures that were incredible.
Try a little washing-up liquid in the water. And try a stiffer brush. And a dryer brush as well. But you are correct it is far moodier than other medium. It's never as thick as oil or as free as w/c.
DeleteOdd, I'd never noticed before, but is sunbathing a collective chick thing. We wouldn't see such in numbers. The sun more or less makes it mote.
During the summer, you can pretty much bet that the beaches in LA and OC will be chock-full of guys and girls laying out in the sun. Even if it's cloudy, like it is often at the beach, there will be people "sun" bathing. But they aren't necessarily locals. The tourists from non-beachy places tend to do it more since they don't get to where they come from.
DeleteWashing up liquid? Is that like liquid soap/dish soup?
Ha ha! Soap, not soup!
DeleteYes but are they in groups of chicks or guys. Or mixed. I ask as that shot of the beach has two such of women. And as I thought about it, it isn't something that really happens here. You'll have mixed groups and families.
DeleteAnd yes the stuff you use to hand wash dishes. ;-) In my house it's rarely used for that.
Oh ya, girls will go to the beach together like they would go shopping at the mall or go to the movies. But I'd say it's mostly younger girls - high school/college. My group of girl friends and I used to ditch our last couple classes to go to Zuma Beach all the time when I was in high school. Realizing that lathering up with baby oil and sitting in the sun for hours isn't so good for the skin changed my ways. I haven't been to the beach to lay out in years and years. You wouldn't see many groups of 30 or 40 year old women like that. Anyone older is usually coming with their family.
DeleteThat pageant does look amazing. It seems to me that I remember you posting about this last year. Did the painting look almost lifelike or am I remembering something completely different?
ReplyDeletem.
I did post about it last year. Yes, they "act" out the paintings/sculptures. Pretty much every single one was spot on, just life size. Every so often you'd get one that you could tell were real people, but most of them looked like the real deal. They did a quick overview of how they set it up, lighting of course has a lot to do with flattening out the piece, but they are truly works of art in themselves.
DeleteIf I lived closer I'd love to be a part of it.
You have made so many wonderful things Kimberly, love all your pages, and the colours! I was teaching for 35 years, so know how much work it involves! Enjoy the rest of your vacation! Valerie
ReplyDeleteThanks Valerie. Yes, so much work. This year especially with moving schools.
DeleteFabulous calendar and journalling too! Cant believe its August already either!
ReplyDeleteThanks Clare!
DeleteLove your July pages and all of your journal pages! Summer art shows can be a lot of fun...this one looks to have had some interesting art.
ReplyDeleteThanks D&D! The show is always very interesting.
DeleteWow super creative!!! I love your cards they're beautiful....:)And I love the birdy design bordering your blog...did you design it?
ReplyDeleteThank you Fi! The cards are mindless fun and save me money at Halmark. I didn't design the blog background, that would be fun though wouldn't it. They are from Cutest Blog on the Block - free backgrounds.
DeleteHere I was thinking it was one of my favorite months of yours EVER : ) I love it! I can't believe your school is starting in just 2 weeks. That is crazy quick. You used to get out WAY before us. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteNo, we got out WAY after you did and go back WAY before you do. Our longer breaks throughout the year make the summer shorter which is great then, but not now. :(
DeleteNext year though, we have one less week at winter and one less at spring so we'll get out 2 weeks earlier, which will be wonderful, especially because I won't have to move classrooms next year (hopefully).
The pages in your journal are STUNNING!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mami!
DeleteYour journal is gorgeous! I love all the different colors and styles. I have to get on to some card making too. It's been a while.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I go in stages with the cards. I've got the supplies for them coming out my ears, but I only pull them out once every couple of months or so - make a whole bunch and then put it away again. All the clutter cardmaking makes kind of stresses me out.:)
DeleteI can't believe you left out the best part of our whole evening at the Pageant! HAHA!
ReplyDeleteOh hush you!
DeleteI love your calendar!!! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteLovely calendar! So what was the best part of the evening?
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't the best part of the evening it was the worst part of the evening, which I why I didn't talk about it. :)
DeleteI came to see your calendar and ended up reading lots of entries. You have a great sense of humor, an honest and friendly way of looking at life, and a down-to-earth attitude. This was a fun, fun visit.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice compliment. Thank you! I'm glad you stopped by.
DeleteSuch colourful and vibrant pages, gorgeous
ReplyDelete