Stroke Update - "Not Leaving"

Rose Bush
11"x 14"
acrylic on gessoboard
$375
Click here to purchase

"The Book Thief", an audio book by Markus Zusak, takes place in the fictional town of Molching, Germany between 1939 and 1943. Often, a little girl in that town had nightmares and her Poppa, would come to her in the middle of the night and "not leave" her alone.....

A quote from the book:

                "A definition not found in the dictionary, 'not leaving'; an act of trust and love often deciphered by children."

I cried when I first heard this because, ever since my stroke, I've had to depend on people "not leaving" me. Everything I do, driving, walking and especially my one armed reverse double flip hand springs (just kidding!), requires having them near me.   

There have been many people in my life who are "not leaving": acquaintances, friends, 

but most of all my family. :)

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook: The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell, read by the author

Podcasts: The Nerdist, by Chris Hardwick

                 Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner

              Artist Helping Artist, by Leslie Saeta

                 Oh So Pinteresting, hosted by Cynthia Sanchez

Music: my iPod

Old Masters Atelier © ProTrack

I bought an Old Masters Atelier © ProTrack  recommended by my good friend, David Darrow..

It is a mahl stick . "A mahl stick is a stick or thin pole about a meter in length (three feet) with a ball-shape pad at one end, used as an aid in painting," (About.com ) 

Because of my stroke, I can't hold a mahl stick because my right hand doesn't work. (yet!)

The ProTrack  is essential for me because it has a metal piece that screws into your easel.....

and it has another metal piece that holds the mahl stick.

 I can move the mahl stick back and forth or simply remove it.

There is a screw where I can change the direction of the mahl stick.

 Then when I paint, I can add little details...

or draw a straight line!

Here is a video by David Gray and Old Masters Atelier  promoting the ProTrack.

Thank you David Darrow!

Listening to:

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. Excellent narrator Allan Corduner!

     "It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids - as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul."

Dr. Sheldon Nord

Here's what I have on the easel right now. It is a painting of Dr. Sheldon Nord to welcome him into the presidency of Corban University.

The canvas is 24"x 30".

I decided to use Golden Open Acrylics along with regular Golden Acrylics. The Golden Open has a slower dry time than regular acrylics.

I take a photo of it and remove the saturation, (make it black and white),

to see if I am getting the values right.

Here's one of the books that I use to help with values.

It called Exploring Color, by Nita Leland.

  

I will often paint it upside down. This helps me look at the shapes of the colors instead of telling myself that it is an eye or a nose or whatever! :)

I need to make some adjustments,
so,

back to work!

Listening to:

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me , host - Peter Sagal