RVA Street Art Festival

Another gorgeous day
in Virginia
here at the
RVA Street Art Festival

I decided to volunteer for this event
through
Hands On RVA

Lots of street artists
applying their talents
to this relic of
a depot station

Virginia is for Lovers

Lots of folks turned out
for this week long gig.
It started earlier in the week,
however the massive crowds showed up
on this weekend!

A Video of the happenings at RVA Street Art Festival

A short video log of most of the mural art

Another video clip

I was not able to capture the whole scene
on camera
so you can
Click this link for a you tube video of it...

Another cool sight
was this vintage
war plane
that was flying over head a few
times from
the nearby air show that
was taking place
this very same weekend!

Time laps of festival. My fav of all videos!

Chris Milk's mural
Click for his web site link

Studio two three's work at the festival and link

I really liked that his print was from first
a wood cut out and secondly
from being ran over with a motorized roller!
so cool

Inside where all the artist, vendors were selling their wares and goods!

A Career Upon the Sea

This is the United States Coast Guard Cutter
Barque Eagle
I was afforded an opportunity to
tour this beautiful ship.

My son-in-law just happened to be visiting
Virginia for a week long class
and just happen to be staying nearby the port where
the Eagle sailed in the very day I was to visit!
Neither of us knew of this prior to this day!

This ship is was so clean and orderly.

This is my son-in-law
who is serving in the Coast Guard presently.
He and my daughter are stationed/living on the west coast
so this was a special treat to visit with him
here in Virginia.

This day was a lovely day too.
 A break from the sweltering heat and humidity.
Today was a cool 75 degree with little to no humidity!

I love how the rope lines are so precise. 

During rough seas, many a crew person
may man the addition wheels to help
steer the ship!

A view of the Eagle from above.

I really liked the golden eagle!

To see the Barque Eagle in action click here

Lime Green Kinda Day

I've had a love affair
with the colour
lime green
for many years.

I simply love the bright burst of energy
that lime green gives.

I especially enjoy seeing it
appear naturally.

Happy Wacky Wednesday!

I bet they would,
if they could...

Ok, I'll admit it,
I love this
and
actually make this sound
around the loft sometimes!
:)

Just By Chance

I made this pink cording 
A week ago...

I wasn't sure what I would use it for
at first

then after goofing around with it
I came up with this...

this actually works pretty well too

nothing fancy
just pushed the arms of
my glasses in
the cording and that was it

I'm very pleased with this
fun little
stumble upon!

Sketching Tools Pt 6

Some people wonder why I consider
bone folders an important tool
with sketching and I tell them
it's because most times
when I'm sketching, I'm making
some sort of card.
I like to have these tools very near
at all times.

Another important tool
are my Honey Bee's

They are extremely sharp and have a very nice fine tip
for tight cutting.

My clear ruler is another tool
I must have on hand.

I really like having smaller sized scissors and ruler
so they fit nicely into
my travel sketch kit.

Sketching Tools Pt 5

I really enjoy using this mechanical pencil
for clean lines and very fine work.
Staedtler has many fine products I enjoy using!

This pencil uses different gauged lead
but I use HB lead.

The nib is very fine
which is my fav to work with.

Cheapie alternative is this Metrix 0.7 Staples brand pencil
the only problem...

The metal nib casing always comes unscrewed
during use.
I hate this too...

because I like how this pencil sits in my hand.
If I glue it, then I can't open it up to fill with new lead.
So, I am always having to screw the nib back on
periodically during use.

This OLD eraser holder
has been in my art box for so many years,
I can't even remember where I got it.
I use it allot with graphite sketches.

I had 10 refill erasers
when I first got this...the eraser in it presently is my
very last one. 

And last but not least
the Ticonderoga number two pencil.
I love these pencils for doodling or
just to have around for school work.

Every fall season I pick
up a nice big box (on sale)
of these bad boys
and use them throughout the year.

Everything about this pencil I like
right down to the useful eraser!