Greetings from Austin!

Well...kinda.

I mean, I'm not in Austin anymore- I am back now. 

I gotta say, it was another great trip.  Willie Nelson was amazing, as was Sturgill Simpson...the barbecue and tacos were delicious...the honky-tonks were fun...the art was EVERYWHERE...oh, and it was fun visiting out NC/NY friend Scott and his kitty Surfer Girl, too!  

​All in all, it was a great trip...and yup, I made art every day I was there!

(Here is a link to a post about last year's trip to Austin, there are tons of mural pics- and we still didn't see them all!)

...and of COURSE I worked on my daily art while I was in Austin!  

I planned my materials for this month knowing that I would be taking this trip- and also considering a visit from John's sister...a glass fusing workshop with my students...teaching a week of Fashion Camp...an Art Hive event...annnnnd an AP Workshop.  Let's just say it's gonna be kinda hectic- so I planned on using the graphitone pencils, watercolors and ink based on portability.  

What I guess I forgot was DRY TIME- yikes!  I reckon I could grab a hair dryer to speed up the process- but not while traveling.  So I had to start my pieces earlier in the day, even if it was in small spurts to allow for my dry time.  For example, it might take me a few minutes to lightly sketch out the image and then do the first layer of graphitone on the face- but then I would go back in with 1-2 more layers to build up value, each layer having to dry.  Same with the watercolor.  So working a little here and there has been my saving grace so far.  

I started my first piece on the plane. I used an ice cube for my 'water' on the face. Not ideal- but it worked!

At Scott's...sometimes I would work sitting on the bed in the AC (it was SO hot in Austin!) However, when it was cooler I did make use of the table outside on the porch- and used plenty of bug spray! His little cat Surfer Girl wasn't too interested in what I was doing- she just wanted me to brush her and watch her nap.

These are the finished pieces from our time in Austin (and traveling)

...and these are the two pieces from this past weekend, after getting a ton of sleep and unpacking.

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...oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sister, Morgan!!  Love you!