Our Neighbor the Fox

Our Grey Fox
handmade stamp on light grey paper

The Anderson family refers to our fox friend on Timberlake Drive as Mr. Fox. My drawing became more feminine when I tried to emulate the small nose and endearing eyes. Pyar and I have had the awesome timing of seeing him/her a couple of times in the late evenings near our driveway. This stamp is for Mary and Lewis, thank you for sharing so much with us.

Grey Fox study I
pencil in sketchbook

Drawing for handmade stamp.

Grey Fox Study II
pencil in sketchbook

Drawing for handmade stamp.
I used this version, since it was smaller and thus fit on my stamp making material.

Stamp Ideas Imagined Animals

Imaginary Friends
pen in sketchbook

I often draw animals from life or photos for making my handmade stamps. I have been thinking more about pattern and animal shapes and drawing from imagination. These may later be created by stitching on to fabric.

October 5, Date with Pyar

Carnation and Baby's Breath Study at Cafe 116
ball point pen in sketchbook

Pyar and I were enjoying a tea and chai date. While Pyar checked his email, I drew our table's vase of flowers using black ball point pen.

October Artwork, Mackenzie River and Proxy Falls

Mackenzie River, study for Pyar
pen in sketchbook

I started this sketch on another page, working from life. Later, at the cottage, I made this study from one of my photographs. The day was rainy and cold. At the time of this drawing, we were cozy in the cottage with a roaring stove fire.

Riding and Drawing
pen in sketchbook

Pyar at Rest
pen in sketchbook

Rocks at Proxy Falls
pen in sketchbook

The current along the rock shifted and cradled some debris in this crevice I found.

Proxy Falls Tree
pen in sketchbook

October Artwork

Riding and Drawing from Walla Walla to Portland
pen in sketchbook

Walla Walla Clouds October 1
pen in sketchbook

Whitman Campus Study
pen in sketchbook

September Clouds

Ashland Clouds, September 4

4" x 5"
acrylic on canvas

Ashland Clouds, September 5

4" x 5"
acrylic on canvas

September Artwork, Looking out the window of the Portland Airport

Farmland From Portland Airport Window
pen in sketchbook

Portland Airport Rain and Clouds
pen in sketchbook

September Artwork, riding in car and Walla Walla

Patissirie on Thursday
pen in sketchbook

Riding in Car, View of Mt. Hood
pen in sketchbook

Riding in Car, Two Sisters at Wallula Gap on the Columbia River
pen in sketchbook

Riding in Car, Trees
pen in sketchbook

Riding in Car, to the Left of the Columbia River
pen in sketchbook

September in Ashland, Oregon

Lithia Creek
pen in sketchbook

Pyar walked across these rocks and picked blackberries. He brought back a handful to share.

September in Ashland, Oregon

September 7
pen (sketchbook page)

Fabric Study
pencil

Birds at Feeder Study
pen

The feeder outside the kitchen window offers endless bird viewing and interesting drama.

Early September Artwork, Silver Falls

Silver Falls Study (in progress)
pen in sketchbook

Silver Falls State Park is amazing. Pyar took some great photographs while I enjoyed exploring and hiking. The area is serene and breathtaking.

Looking Up
pencil

Stretching to see up into a tree's life force is one of my new favorite hobbies.

August time, October thoughts, "My Re-Route"

Late posts are not my plan - posting my artwork from August and September in October was not my plan.
Reverse culture shock was not my plan, so I am calling it my 're-route'.

Pyar and I returned to the U.S. on July 27. I uploaded my July artwork in Japan, thrilled with my timeliness. I anticipated keeping up with my blog, art, life, friends and 'the must do's' while experiencing the return. I had no idea it would be as intense as it became. We were only minutes in San Francisco when we met our friends, Mick and Belen at the airport. It was a wonderful opportunity to immediately share and decompress. We toured the area and set out for Yosemite the next day. I was in awe. The beauty and life of the area and our friends had me entranced. We made our way north to our new home in Ashland the following day. We were immediately busy with moving and adjusting. We are staying with our family in a beautiful home surrounded by trees that overlook a lake and mountains. It is more than a blessing to call this place home - and with family. I was feeling easy and more in love with life. Within days, it hit me, hard. We were not returning to Japan. We were not just on a vacation. We had returned home, here, to stay. Japan was our home for two amazing years. I want a bridge to bridge the gap. Japan is too far away. I miss my students, my friends, our lives. My yearning had just begun.

August was packed with Jewel and Paul's wedding, a trip to Portland for sightseeing and a workshop (career informing). It was great, and full, and very busy. September brought many wonderful days of making memories and creating new traditions with family and new friends. Pyar and I spent some time exploring and visited some of his favorite spots, like Silver Falls State Park. (drawings in September post) I went to Florida September 18 - 28. Spending time with my immediate family was magnificent and made me feel even more at home, feeling more complete, somehow. Pyar met me at the airport in Portland for our next adventure, Walla Walla, Washington, for his college reunion. We enjoyed a fun weekend with dear friends. I like learning more about Pyar by experiences with his friends and favorite places. We left Walla Walla refreshed and exhausted. It was a raining Sunday when we dropped our Drew off in Portland. The weekend was etched with great memories and we were ready for our next adventure. Still raining as we entered the area that was to be our home for the next two days, I took in a deep, nature filled, clean, pine breath and exhaled, gently. Pyar took my hand and showed me to a lovely cottage along the Mackenzie River, his surprise. No tent in the rain, I thought, I could not have been more thrilled. With each day, we have new blessings, and new breaths. Memories of our friends and families in Japan and Florida and Oregon are mine to visit when I desire. I am more at home now than I have felt in a long time, in my heart. Thank you, Pyar.

August Artwork

Riding to Portland
pen in sketchbook (slow drawing)

Western Hemlock, Fesler Grove, Simpson Reed Discovery Trail
pen in sketchbook

This is a quick study, about five minutes. This trail is magnificent. We walked beside along many old redwoods was amazing. I just did not feel that I could capture the majesty of the redwood's grandeur. So, I started smaller.

Otter Point at Sunset, August 23
pen in sketchbook

I took some solo time to make a quick sketch at Otter Point, while the family was taking sunset photographs. I was startled when Lindsay came up to see what I was drawing. It was near the edge of the point, so she quickly grabbed my shoulders to keep me steady. There certainly was no real danger, but I am so lucky to have such a quick thinking friend, thank you Lindsay.

Drinking Tea and Listening
pen in sketchbook

Pyar, Tim, Lindsay and I had a great afternoon at the Portland Chinese Gardens.

August Artwork

Trees of Mystery (study)
pencil in sketchbook

Gold Beach, August 20
pen (slow drawing while riding)

I get extremely motion sick on anything that moves. It is annoying. However, I now take aneron for relief, and it works. It gives me so much relief that I can draw while riding in the car. I draw and only look at my paper periodically. I draw slow and allow the motion of the car to dictate the marks. Sometimes I make additions later, like in this drawing. The right side is the slow riding drawing and most of the rocks and water were added at a later point.

Fig Study
pencil in sketchbook

Sometimes, I pick up Pyar from work. On this day, August 17, he had to work late. Thus, I took the opportunity to make a drawing of this fig. Joseph gave it to me from his garden. He lives near Triangle Park in Ashland and hosts people for WOOF. The fig was delicious.
http://www.wwoof.org/