Becoming Regulars

We've started a regular Friday night tradition lately. About a month ago, we decided to try a new place that we hadn't tried before. The place we tried wasn't new to the neighborhood - it's been here since we've lived here at least. We'd just never been (& I'm not really sure why). 

We are turning into regulars at Scalino's every Friday. We are even regulars down to what we order (even though our waiter said we had to mix it up next week... not sure that's going to happen.) We essentially order a spaghetti in meat sauce, and for me to order this at a restaurant (I mean - I can make this at home, right!) says a lot! It. Is. Aaaaamazing! 

(I kind of like the idea of having a Friday night tradition - reminds of growing up and how we ate pizza every Friday night!)

Painting

Tuesday night, I took a Color Theory class at the Brooklyn Artists' Gym. It was originally scheduled to be an Acrylics Still Life class, but I guess they had some scheduling changes. I went ahead and took it, because I had been waiting for my break in order to be able to enjoy the class without extra work exhaustion. The class was essentially a basic color mixing class, and while I feel like it was a bit common sense, I might not have actually sat down and done some color work without the class. 

After class, as I was falling asleep, I was inspired to use one of my drawings from the class I took last summer as an inspiration for a painting. I used the charcoal transfer technique that many artists use (including deKooning - but on a much smaller scale - 6 inches by 8 inches compared to a 6 foot by 8 foot canvas). I included the photos of the progression through the piece (I know it's not a masterpiece... I just like to see it for myself... and it's not so scary showing on my blog ;) 

Using some of my new color mixing techniques, I created a small painting. I don't love it. The one above is not the final version - the orange is screaming too much in that version! The head is kind of wonky and I didn't get the shading correct for her to look like she's leaning back. Maybe I'll make another one. I'm thinking I need to start going to the drawing sessions at BAG once or twice a week for a while. (It's just pushing myself to go to something new and outside of my comfort zone...) 

MIA

I have been pretty MIA this month. It's not that I've not been on my computer - trust me, I've spent more time than I SHOULD on it. It's just that I've lacked motivation to post. Seth and I haven't been to particularly exciting lately. We haven't been completely boring, but it's pretty run-of-the-mill kind of stuff. It's nice when things are just regular - you know what to expect, it's low-key, not as much of an emotional roller coaster... But it's also a bit blah.

I'll try to be a little better with updates (family who reads ;)

One of my favorite places

This week I am off work, but I have spent the days being quite a bum (in my books). I had such grand plans for this week, but somehow I cannot seem to get motivated. I have, however, downsized my wardrobe by 5 bags. I have also cleaned off a shelf of papers that I thought I needed to hold onto (all the lesson plans from my first 3 years of teaching are hard to get rid of, but they are waiting to be taken out with recycling - I don't need them, I don't use them. I merely have them for sentimental value.)

This morning as I walked Seth to the subway he convinced me to get on it and ride with him to work. A spur of the moment ride into the city for a spur of the moment walk through Washington Square Park (a FAVORITE place of mine - wish I could spend every sunny morning here!) My final destination is the art store and then home to maybe paint.

This morning would be complete with an ice coffee, but I gave up coffee in the beginning of January (what a sad parting it has been).

A little afternoon snow