Stacy and the Giant Peach

sketch of "giant" peach

Inktense pencils in Moleskine watercolor sketchbook

©2011 Stacy L. Rowan

Yesterday I stopped at a farm stand in our area that I hadn't been to before. I knew it was there and had driven by it on numerous occasions, but it was just one of those places I was going to stop "someday".

Since I wasn't able to make it to our normal farmers' market last weekend and was nearly out of fresh produce, I decided to give this "new to me" place a try. And am I glad I did!

I was pleasantly surprised by their selection. Everything looked so fresh and delicious. But what stood out most were the containers of peaches.

They are some of the largest peaches I have ever seen!

Honestly the largest ones are at least 3.5 inches in diameter. I kid you not. That is a BIG peach.

I wanted to sketch the peach next to some other object that, by comparison, would give you an indication of the peach's size, but I couldn't think of anything that didn't seem totally random. So instead I sketched the giant peach by itself. Which doesn't make for as good a story, but it's all I got.

Not only are these the biggest peaches I've ever seen, they are also the best tasting peaches I've ever eaten.

This good news has me looking up peach containing recipes for something I can serve to my guests at the Open Studio. I found some contenders which I'll be trying out over the next couple of days. Nothing too fancy (because fancy can mean difficult). Just good, delicious peachy-ness.

Man I really hope this "new to me" farm stand still has peaches next week. (Keeping my fingers crossed.)

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About the sketch: This sketch was done in my Moleskine watercolor sketchbook using a small set of Inktense pencils. I really like how vibrant the colors are, especially after wetting them with a waterbrush. I added dry pencil on top to give the sketch some texture. I think I like these pencils better than watercolor pencils, but they do take a little bit more care when wetting them, because once they dry there is no moving that color!

About the Open Studio: You can find out more about my upcoming Open Studio here.

New Watercolor - Pears

untitled pears

watercolor on paper

©2011 Stacy L. Rowan

My children went back to school this week, and as soon as the house was empty and quiet I made a beeline up to my studio.

I loved the slower pace of summer and really enjoyed having fun with the family, but I also missed my regular studio schedule. I didn't realize how much until I was sitting back at my table surrounded by my paints and brushes.

The above watercolor painting of pears is fresh off the board. I finished it yesterday.

I started it a few weeks ago after buying our first batch of pears from the farmers' market. I grabbed three pears when we got home and took them right upstairs for a painting session.

The pears were long since gone by the time I got back to this painting on Tuesday, but luckily I thought to take a picture of the arrangement on day one.

I hope to have this painting matted in time to have it available at my 3rd Annual Open Studio on Saturday, September 17th.

Sketching on Vacation

Clock tower of Carbon County Courthouse

graphite in Moleskine pocket sketchbook

©2011 Stacy L. Rowan

Last weekend I went away with my family for some end-of-summer family fun. We spent three days enjoying nature and touring the small town of Jim Thorpe, PA.

Jim Thorpe is an interesting town for a number of reasons. At one point it was the number two tourist destination behind Niagara Falls. It is located in the coal region of eastern Pennsylvania along the southwestern edge of the Pocono Mountains. The Lehigh River runs through town and the combination of coal, canal boats and railroads made the town prosperous in the 1800s. At one point 19 of the countries 26 millionaires owned property in Jim Thorpe!

For us the town provided the perfect setting for a long weekend get-away. It's combination of natural and historical attractions gave us plenty to see and do.

During the first two days we went hiking and white water rafting. Day three was spent in town touring the Asa Packer mansion and the old jail. These tours gave the family members over the age of twenty (I won't mention any names) a chance to recover from the more strenuous outdoor activities of the previous two days.

In between the two tours my family allowed me a few minutes for sketching. There were many worth subjects, however, in the end I chose to sketch the clock tower on the county courthouse. Mainly because there was a comfy bench strategically located across the street.

You can see the resulting sketch above.
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Related Links
Jim Thorpe, PA
Asa Packer Mansion
Old Jail Museum

Sculpture Doesn't Have to be Stuffy

Glumpy (left) and Oliveia (right)

watercolor sketch ©2011 Stacy Rowan

sculptures ©2011 IG & DG

With the relaxed schedule of summer the kids have more time for the occasional sleep over. And what is better than staying awake til the wee hours of the night having fun and laughing with friends?

Okay, so maybe as the parent in charge of these late night soirees, I could name one or two things that I would like better, but that's alright. Sleep overs are a part of childhood that all kids must experience and all parents must endure.

One of the fun activities the kids did during their last sleep over was craft some colorful creatures using a Presto Dots kit. I love their creativity and the great details and expressions they gave the creatures so I decided to immortalize them in a sketch.

Meet Glumpy, created by my Inventor Girl, and Oliveia, created by my Dancer Girl.

Moment of Silence

Today and tomorrow the town I grew up in is holding services for an Army Ranger who lost his life in Afghanistan. He served three tours in Iraq prior to the three he served in Afghanistan.

So today, instead of my normal post, I want to say thank you to all the men and women who volunteer to serve and protect our country. Freedom is never free and without these brave people life could look very different for us all.

Can't Beat Beets

sketch - bunch of beets

©2011 Stacy L. Rowan

Beets get a bad wrap as a vegetable. I think it is because most people have only tried the red canned version, which I will admit don't appeal to me at all.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that beets come in a variety of colors from deep purple to the traditional red to a cheery golden color.

I found this bunch at my local farmers' market (of course). Before cooking them I plopped them on my studio table and had some fun with my watercolor pencils. The above sketch is the result.

If you want to try some tasty beets, grab a fresh bunch and give the recipe below a try. You will end up with a side dish that is colorful and a little sweet.

Roasted Beets with Feta
beets, greens trimmed off with 1 inch of stems attached
olive oil
feta

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Rub each beet with a little olive oil and wrap individually in aluminum foil.
3. Bake beets in preheated oven until you can pierce them easily with a sharp knife. Approximately 45-60 minutes depending on size.
4. Remove beets from oven and allow them to cool enough to handle them. Unwrap beets and use a paper towel to rub off skin. The hotter they are, the easier this is. (Warning: This is the most difficult step in the recipe and you may end up with red stained fingers.)
5. Slice beets and place them on a plate.
6. Sprinkle with feta cheese and serve.

13 Things I Love Best About Summer

Quick ink sketches of day lilies

©2011 Stacy L. Rowan

Here are some of the things I love best about summer...
- the slower pace
- vacations at the beach
- riding in the convertible at night with the top down
- starting my morning on the screen porch with a bowl of cereal or a cup of coffee
- ice cream
- seeing my kids enjoy their free time
- locally grown, fresh and delicious produce (especially tomatoes, blueberries and peaches!)
- blue skies and bright sunshine
- hydrangeas, day lilies, marigolds and all the other flowers
- not having to do the dishes (because we passed that chore on to the above mentioned kids after noticing how much free time they had - insert evil laugh here)
- not having to wear shoes, socks or a coat
- small summer purses (how come I carry so much more in my purse the rest of the year?)
- frequent trips to the library

I am doing my best to savor every minute of summer. I'd love to hear what you love about it too. Let's turn the comments section into a big list of summer love!

Sketching the Blue Summer Sky

watercolor sketch

©2011 Stacy L. Rowan

This summer I have started many of my days sitting out on my screen porch. On this particular day in June I couldn't help but notice the beautiful bright blue sky framed by our trees and the roof of our neighbors house.

I decided to make use of the slower pace of summer and enjoy a quick watercolor sketch. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Art Feels Good

While I'm busy enjoying some summer fun, I thought you might like to watch this short video on James Gurney's awesome blog that talks about changes in brain chemistry when people view art.

I know that I feel good and am happy when I am creating art. It's great to know that viewing my art can also make other people feel good.

Feeling down, make time to view some art!

Winning Title From "Name That Painting" Contest

First a big thank you to all the peope who sent me their title suggestions for the contest! I loved reading them all and they have started a percolation of ideas through my mind that I will be able to play with and use as I create new paintings.

The title I chose as the winner is "Worth the Wait" sent in by Marie C. As Marie explained the title has a two fold meaning since "we wait patiently for the peonies to bloom and you finally finished the painting!" And I do hope those of you who enjoy my art feel like this painting was worth the wait while I finished it!

I will be sending Marie a pack of note cards created from this image. Thanks Marie!!

"Worth the Wait"

20" x 16" watercolor on Aquabord

©2011 Stacy L. Rowan

Available

I also have to give a shout out to my friend Jackie for coming up with the most humorous titles! Jackie and I paint together on Tuesdays with about half a dozen other women.

This group of women made sure I kept coming back to this painting by asking me every week if I had completed it yet or not. Their gentle nudging reminder made sure I didn't pack it in on the days that it felt like the number of petals still needing to be painted were multiplying before my eyes! I firmly believe that every artist should have a painting group that gives them both a social outlet and measure of accountability.

Thanks again to all who participated in the naming fun! I am sure I will be holding more naming contests in the future when I am stumped for a good title. You are a creative and generous bunch!

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An administratvie note: Over the next month or so I am planning on focusing on having some summer fun with the family. While I am busy enjoying activities like eating ice cream and swimming, lounging with a good book and hiking, I may neglect some (or all) of my regular Thursday posts. But rest assured I will return to my normal blogging schedule relaxed and re-charged the first week of August. If you miss me while I am gone, feel free to browse the archives (organized by post date) in the right hand column of this blog.

Thank you for your loyal readership! I'll catch up with you again soon!

Name This Painting Contest!

So I have the good news. My watercolor painting of the white peonies is complete! After starting it, stopping it, setting it aside, starting it, stopping it, setting it aside, etc. it finally made its way to the top of the list.

untitled

20" x 16" watercolor on Aquabord

©2011 Stacy L. Rowan

The even better news is that you have a chance to help me.

I've thought of this painting for so long as "Peonies" that I seem unable to come up with a title that does it justice. That's where I hope you will come in. I'm looking for your best title suggestions and I'm giving a prize in exchange for it! The prize for the best title is a pack of note cards featuring this painting.

So if you are good with titles, please email me your suggestions - my email is in the right hand side bar. If I pick your title as the name for the painting, I will mail you a pack of note cards. It's that simple!

I will be taking entries through midnight (EST) on Wednesday June 15th.

When Someone Else's Words Speak to Your Heart

"Sunny Susans"

© Stacy L. Rowan

When someone else's words speak to your heart it tends to make you sit up and notice. Or at least it did for me.

These words...

"where do they all go? all the seemingly forgettable everyday moments? the thought of losing them all terrified... me. ... I wanted them. I wanted them all. I still want them all."

...are an excerpt of a post written by Andrea over on her blog Hula Seventy.

To me her words speak to why I paint and draw and sketch. What compels me to capture subjects which you might see on any given day of your life.

When I see my subjects shining in a moment of beauty, I want to capture that moment so it's not forgotten. I want to remind people that beauty is found in the details of the "seemingly forgettable everyday moments" because when I am presented with that unexpected beauty it makes me catch my breath, it lets me know there is still so much good in the world and it makes me happy.