Rockin' Out!

Bahaha!

The top story of the witch's castle which is roughly 28 square feet and since I painted it from black to that in about 7 hours...means I painted 4 square feet an hour.  Colour me happy!!
I'll have to line up the blocks once they're in place but that shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

Close up of the rocks and blocks o' stone.  I found a couple photos of old British castles that were this random and ramshackle which is nice because it means I don't have to paint well crafted, precisely laid brick or stone.  Cause this is waaaay more fun.

What We Don't Know...

Pen and Ink/coloured pencil illustration by TwinB

TwinB left a comment on a blog we both read; it explained the cause of death of one of her friends in the fall of '09 that I had not been aware of to that point.  What a waste...what a waste...

the stars have always been there for me in moments where the cold indifference of nihilism was a frigging relief. you go for years clinging to a life you just want to end, you come to some sacred, inexpressable conclusion about its inate value, and then your friend from back in the day chokes on her own vomit and dies on a camping trip because the guys who got her drunk couldn’t just turn her onto her side. abra-cadaver, two little boys don’t have a mom, the stellar atoms of amanda go into the ground, and you’re still here with your precious life.
the night sky smirks and whispers “life is fucked. you’re welcome.”

Wizard of Oz Updatie Thing

Cornfield set piece for the scarecrow; it consists of a flat with a 'truck' and fence posts which I just faux wood grained today ...in less than an hour. (sorry...I have been taking great pride in my speed)

Detail from the hay wagon; it's on the reverse side of the gypsy caravan.  Been trying to compose the large backdrop of the Yellow Brick Road leading to the Emerald City today and got good input from my one and only helper Gail...pretty sure we got it figured out so that was a gigantic plus.  Next time might be the finisher!
*woot*woot*
Also got a fairly good jump on a very challenging commission so that's good ...but...don't know if I can actually pull it off and TwinB had a most depressing comment on someone else's blog regarding one of the deaths of last year.
This shit is so up and down.

Chunking

When we get a type of snow that I've termed 'chunking', large clumps of snow fall from the sky to form a bumpy surface.  No deep and crisp and even for us, no sir!
We had 40 cm of snow yesterday which fortunately wasn't followed by too much rain.  Some Kitimites told me they saw clumps of snow the size of their palm falling yesterday which is actually a minor form of this type of snow fall.
Put your thumbs and forefingers together: now pull them apart by 2 or 3 centimeters; this is the size of 'flakes' that I've seen falling from the sky during some weather events.  You should see the speeds these ...well...I guess snow bombs wouldn't be too strong a term...can reach and yes they really do appear to explode on impact.
By the end of such winters I dream of entire clouds falling in quick succession from the sky.

Burying Aladdin

I don't know why I'm actually smiling. 
Spent the afternoon obliterating the market scene from last year's production on Aladdin beneath the next layer of paint, blocking in the yellow brick road leading to the Emerald City.  I was about halfway through when the musical theatre class traipsed in and gradually lined up side by side to mourn the passing of the previous scene; their reaction and empathy for my having to kill previous work was very gratifying.

Oldie But a Goodie

The Alcan Christmas sets have been installed at Mount Elizabeth Theatre.  I took a couple of photos of my areas which is Santa's toy shop.  This was my very first paid Large Painting. from about 15 years ago and I'm still rather pleased with the results.  (The chair, tree and toys on floor are set in place: the rest is painted which I fervently hope look like part of the scene)

Off To See the Wizard...very, very slowly...

I'm back in the old theatre/set painting harness.  On Cue community theatre has been recruited to assist with every aspect of the high school's musical theatre production of The Wizard of Oz.  There are at least 9 of us on board - that's how many people it takes to replace former theatre technician John and his lovely and talented (slave) wife Heather.  It feels so much nicer knowing how many other people are lending their abilities to the production since I normally am the only one to get snagged.

That's my partially completed corn field.  Actually don't have that much time invested so far.  Maybe...3 hours??  Kind of shocking how unfamiliar I am regarding what corn looks like...probably one of the most alien and exotic plants I've ever depicted!  I even have way more experience with tropical foliage.

Coming in at a much heftier investment of time at 20 hours is the gypsy caravan.  I have a commitment from the Drama teacher that this will live on, so the helper and I took a bit more time on it.  She had studied tole painting and her skills really brought the perfect feel to this.  Incorporating authentic wagon wheels shipped all the way from Winipeg (which is where a former techie happens to live.)