From SAD to BAD and quickly back to SAD

Iris – watercolor on 140# Arches Coldpress – approx. 9″x12″

 

There were two days this past weekend when the sky was blue and the sun was shining and it was a balmy 50 degrees.  I felt my SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)  a/k/a winter blues slowly melt away with the warmer weather.  And my BAD returned (Bad Attitude Disorder).  While BAD is not recognized by the AMA or the Mayo clinic or even WebMD, I can assure you that most people in big cities have it at one time or another.   Suddenly the warm weather and the sunshine dissipated, the Polar Vortex returned as did the snow and so did my SAD combined with my usual BAD which can be a dangerous combination.

My remedy was to paint some flowers.  I found this blog called The Painted Prism which had a workshop so I went to town.   I didn’t have the exact colors she called for, nor did I use the salt for texture, but I am very happy with the result.   Can tulips and daffodils be far behind?

Sketching at home during the polar vortex

Beach scene from Paint My Photo – photo courtesy of Karina Robin

Winter.  I’m tired of it.  And what is the polar vortex?   I thought it was just called winter?  Since I was too tired and too cold to join the NYC Urban Sketchers today I decided to stay home, watch watercolor videos on you tube and play with my watercolors. Using a watercolor sketchbook given to me by my nephews, I did this beach scene using a limited palette, no more than 2 washes and no drawing first. I’d like to be there right now.

I moved on to this dog, again courtesy of Paint My Photo using ESP’s photo. No drawing first, only using a few colors and a few washes.  He looks a little sad. Why do all my painted dogs look sad?

And finally I did every watercolorists’ favorite subject.  Pears.  I did sketch the shape of the pears, but again used a limited palette and not many washes.

I’m off to do some weight lifting. My friend Christine and I were talking about how we can’t remember things anymore and she told me about how weightlifting helps to stave off Alzheimer’s.   And I hear curls keep you warm.

Prospect Park lake, the polar vortex and the no pants subway ride

Prospect Park Lake Work in Progress – on 1/4 sheet 140# Arches coldpress

Today was the 13th annual no pants subway ride.  Why would anyone want to ride the subway without wearing pants?  I have absolutely no idea.   I have seen unspeakably disgusting things happen on the subway and quite frankly I really wonder why we all aren’t riding the subways in HazMat suits.   My dog walking buddy who moved to Maine, Charlie, wouldn’t even sit on the subway even if he had an opportunity to sit, nor would he hold on to the poles. Obviously he was very good at balancing and would stand the whole way back and forth to work.  I will always grab a seat if I get one, but I make sure that any body part that is touching any part of the subway is fully covered.   I am not a germophobe by any means and fully believe that kids need to get a little dirty when playing outside and don’t need to be purelled every five minutes.  Based on my vast medical experience I believe this is why most people of my generation have few allergies and the young kids today are allergic to everything.  On second thought, maybe all the young’uns should go for a no pants subway ride to increase their ability to fight off  allergies and build up immunities.

You’re welcome.

The polar vortex arrived in NYC last week.  It was in the 50’s in the morning and the next morning it was 6 degrees.  Now I’m not complaining because I know it was brutally cold and snowing in other parts of the country.  The Husband wonders if nine months from now there will be kids being named “Vortex”.

The painting above is the start of a lake-side scene in Prospect Park.  I’m trying some new colors that I don’t normally use.   I’ll keep you posted.