Digital Painting

Lynn's Orange Flowers
Digital painting about 6" x 4"

Thank you Skip, Lynn, Christy, and Jerry - for the absolutely beautiful flowers. When I say I am enjoying them - I really mean it. The flowers you sent are GORGEOUS - the colors are astounding and perfect and I wish I could keep them forever. I can't - so this is my second best option. Looking at the colors of these flowers is almost medicinal - it's like getting a shot of some kind of wonderful, energizing, happiness drug. Thank you.


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Elephant Painting

Tonight we met Mark Fangue, the man who actually took this video. The people (Kim and Bruce) we have purchased some of our furniture from in the past recently bought the store they worked at (in San Marcos on furniture row) and it is now called Sacred Space Imports. They will be carrying items from Exotic World Imports and tonight was their opening reception. It is a very cool store to visit if you get a chance. But this video I was not ready for. I knew there was going to be something about elephant painting - I expected a bunch of abstract, smeary colors. I did NOT expect this! Astonishing - amazing - incredible.



If you can't see this in your email - go to my blog by clicking here - or by clicking on the title of this message - it is so worth watching.

You can see more elephant paintings on their web site Exotic World Gifts. The elephant that does this painting is very special. Her name is Hong and she is about 8 years old. It took about 6 months to teach her to paint by rewarding her with sugar cane and bananas. I think he said there are about 8 elephants at this camp that paint. The rest of them just try to eat the paint brushes and have no interest at all. Before she painted Hong would draw in the dirt with a stick and that is what gave them the idea to see if she would paint. Watch how she retraces some of her lines with incredible exactness. She is so sure of her marks. Amazing. There is an attendant that dips the paint brush in the paint and hands it to her. Also the paint brushes have been adapted with a "t" handle so she can grip it and control it better. Hong is the only elephant to paint pictures of other elephants. He also said that the elephants will only paint when they are very calm.
Enjoy!








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I May Not Be A Genius, But...
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Too Cute!

My brother sent this to me and it is just too cute not to share! If you don't see it in your email be sure to visit my blog to check this one out!



Did you watch those hand gestures and eye contact? Don't you wish you knew what she is trying to communicate? It seems to be rather serious business!


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I May Not Be A Genius, But...
Nathalie Davis web site
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A Little time in the Studio

Well, I disappointed myself today. I have been working hard at my friends house and have been absolutely bone tired. Progress is being made. Her walls are painted, the floor is in and my handyman has started on the built-ins. There is still quite a bit of trim work and details to take care of, and a lot of organization, but it is shaping up beautifully and I sure appreciate the extra income.It makes me happy to see her so happy with everything too. Today I had the day off and I had planned to spend time in the studio painting. So I wasted some time playing computer games, then went to the studio and there sat a big box in the middle of the room. Oh yeah - I have been so busy and distracted I forgot I even ordered the drying rack that I had been wanting for so long. I spent time assembling the drying rack instead of painting. Technically I worked in the studio, right? But I am bummed I didn't paint. Putting together the rack wasn't difficult - but I have to say that the instructions were among the worst I've ever seen. Very confusing, incomplete and time consuming. I also learned an extremely important lesson - I must remember to put paintings in from the bottom up, as I found out by fooling around with dry paintings that they slide off those racks faster then I can blink if I don't watch it! I have been out of the studio for too long - I felt fear and intimidation hovering around me. That old fear of the blank canvas - Oh no! I will no be having that!


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I May Not Be A Genius, But...
Nathalie Davis web site
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Checking In for Just a Minute

I can see the end of my painting job nearing, and then back into the studio. I am really feeling the loss of my painting and studio time and looking forward to returning.

I have been bone tired - so exhausted about all I can do is sit and stare at the TV for a little bit and go to bed. Thank goodness for my wonderful husband who never complains, and just picks up the slack, brings me dinner and continually encourages me. I am so blessed.

In the meantime check out the following links from one the blogs I follow called
Cre8it Whatever... Whenever blog http://web.me.com/jwesolek/cre8it/Blog/Blog.

The first is a hand made book show - very cool
Santa Fe Book Arts Guild
http://www.santafebag.org/2009rotundasubmissions.html

And then go see what some people can sculpt with just one sheet of paper - amazing.
See what can be done with one sheet of paper http://www.santafebag.org/exhibitsandopportunities.html

Thanks for hanging in there with me - I will be painting again very soon. I am so eager to get back to and finish the Joyful Project as well as get started on the portrait wall in my banos de los muertos - which I do not think I have told you about.

Talk to you again soon.



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I May Not Be A Genius, But...
Nathalie Davis web site
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A Quick Update

It is amazing how fast things can change. There I was going along painting nearly every day, having a good ol' time and wham - everything spins out of control!

I am still working for my friend. I got her office area painted, and now onto the hallways. I really enjoy doing it - but my goodness it is tiring. I appreciate the extra money - I was able to purchase a drying rack for my studio. Something I have wanted for a very long time but I have been too tired to get it out of the box and set it up yet, let alone paint anything to dry on it! LOL.

My daughter found a new apartment and needed help moving over the weekend so the family gathered together and went up on Saturday, packed her up and moved her from L.A to Pasadena. Thank you Lord for my wonderful son in law. What a wonderful help, and such a generous, giving, loving attitude too.

Oh my gosh what a cute little - and I do mean little! place she has found. It is a 12' x 17' studio apartment with a private little patio and itty-bitty garden space, a tiny little kitchenette and a bathroom. TINY!! But no more coo-ca-ra-cha taco trucks, or bell ringing bicyclists selling pork rinds and horchata, but especially no more gangsta's hiding on her car port roof and no more police helicopters with spot lights flying over every night. Her commute to work will go from an hour on the freeway to about 10 minutes by bike...and it is a safe enough area that she can actually go out and jog in the evening, and she can walk to anything she needs if she wants to. Old - but so pretty. It really feels like a vacation cottage. There wasn't any place to park the Uhaul - except on the street and down a ways, so everything had to carried. I think every muscle in my body hates me right now. I ended up staying 2 extra unplanned nights to help with the last few loads in my 4 runner and to help her unpack a bit.

It's great to have family when you need a hand. I grabbed a few pictures of her new place -


This is her entrance to the complex - there are several entrances - but this is the main one


There are a lot of old trees - this twisty old guy is just to the right of her entrance gate



View once you step inside the gate. She lives in the unit under the 2 red chairs and behind the fountain. It is just covered in jasmine - the fragrance is wonderful

We went to The Corner Bakery to grab some lunch and I thought this picture just captured the ambiance of the neighborhood. I love the jacaranda trees in bloom.

This is right outside her apartment and adds such a pleasant sound of water

Thanks for hanging in there with me through all of this. I know I haven't responded to your comments and I feel rude and am behind in absolutely everything. But I want you to know that I appreciate your comments - and they keep me going. Actually - knowing that you guys are out there and bothering to look at my blog keeps me going. I will be setting aside at least one day a week to paint pretty soon - as I am beginning to feel the loss of the creativity. I already know July will be a lost month too, as I will be returning to Toledo for a week or 10 days again.

I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.







Have you visited me here?

I May Not Be A Genius, But...
Nathalie Davis web site
Nathalie S Davis Blog