The final page in Anna’s book is progressing. You can see just a tad of Cathe’s image to the right. The subject I chose was the stages of a Christmas Cactus(Schlumbergera) flower. This, the final page, holds a dried/shriveled flower. I stared out using colored pencils and shifted rapidly to watercolors. We shall see how it all turns out.
I was surprised at how intricate the flower becomes once dried. So much detail shows through the dried petals! It was this detail that stopped movement forward on the project. I couldn’t “dumb things down” in my brain and allow a looser flowing drawing. Somehow I managed to let go and take baby steps forward. Maybe in another day it will be finished!
Sticks, Stones, and Paper Stew Blog 
It’s a labour of love. Shrivelled flowers are gorgeous
So true!
There’s something weird happening when I click on your photo or name on WordPress, I get a blank page. have you noticed anything odd at your end?
It seems sluggish today. It might have to do with me being on my site? Who knows. One of those weird glitchy computer things I hope!
It’s still being weird
You probably can’t even see the ‘final page’ post from today. I don’t think it’s registering with any of my followers. Jeez!
I have been able to see your posts in WordPress Reader and the emails have been coming through, but when I click onto your name or photo it takes me to a blank page. Weird
So I can reply to you here but can’t connect to your blog when I click on your photo. I will go and check the emails.
Looking wonderful Gale – I love flowers at this stage of their life. So much character.
I’m so impressed with your delicate and intense work in the book. I keep looking at your drawings and wonder how you did them, what pencils used, how often you had to sharpen the points to achieve such detail. I continue to be in awe of your work!
Oh Gale, what a lovely thing to say! I do enjoy getting lost in all that detail, and it reminds me to do more … Off the top of my head I can’t remember the pencils I used, but I don’t keep them particularly sharp. Often for fine detail I use the 2mm clutch pencils as I can sharpen them to a murderous point!
Interesting comment you made about ” dumb it down”. There’s magic when your brain doesn’t get in the way.
Good reminder!
Danny Gregory would term it something like “shut your monkey ” since we all have those inner monkeys pushing us down. That constant inner battle is the hardest for me to overcome in order to produce anything. 😀