tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29628044443319941522024-03-13T04:54:07.388+00:00dog-eared journalsart and observations
from a dog living in PortugalKrista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-84315484862676950632015-03-11T11:51:00.000+00:002015-03-11T11:54:28.643+00:00working like a dog<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been working like a dog lately (is there any other
way?) to create pieces to sell at an art & craft show here in Burgau on April
4<sup>th</sup>. I’m raising funds for my friends at the animal shelters in
the Algarve. I hope that if any of
you are in the area you'll drop by and say hello. The show is at a fabulous café called Tomik. There will be many vendors with splendid wares on offer including stained glass, handmade soaps, homemade chocolates and more. You will even be able to get a manicure or pedicure (or in my case, a pawdicure). At the bottom of this post I've put a link for more information.</div>
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Here are some of the pieces I've been working on:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ijBNlSKtmlg/VQAmi9qWNRI/AAAAAAAADPc/19ccw3-cRX4/s1600/moopstcrdjan%2B17%2B2011%2B093adjbrighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ijBNlSKtmlg/VQAmi9qWNRI/AAAAAAAADPc/19ccw3-cRX4/s1600/moopstcrdjan%2B17%2B2011%2B093adjbrighter.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">postcard<br />
4" x 6" (10 cm x 15 cm)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nv3zMcg-EHU/VQAmqnuqK-I/AAAAAAAADPk/LlTkne-Qd0Q/s1600/Scottie%2Bon%2Byellow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nv3zMcg-EHU/VQAmqnuqK-I/AAAAAAAADPk/LlTkne-Qd0Q/s1600/Scottie%2Bon%2Byellow.JPG" height="400" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scottie<br />
acrylic on board<br />
8"x 8" (20 cm x 20 cm)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-db0IgCbzeos/VQAmt4jyhBI/AAAAAAAADP8/0klFjNI6PWs/s1600/red%2Bsillouette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-db0IgCbzeos/VQAmt4jyhBI/AAAAAAAADP8/0klFjNI6PWs/s1600/red%2Bsillouette.JPG" height="400" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red sentinel<br />
acrylic on board<br />
8" x 8" (20 cm x 20 cm)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'll have a variety of work for sale including paintings
and illustrations; Dogs & Cats of Portugal (Cães & Gatos de Portugal)
photographic postcards; relief print cards; hand printed t-shirts; and handmade
books with original art on the covers. Prices will range from €1 to €50 so just
about everyone can afford to help the hounds.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JkRD50JNY5Y/VQAmrEU2fnI/AAAAAAAADPo/2UdRtH6oEN4/s1600/boris%2Band%2Bbird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JkRD50JNY5Y/VQAmrEU2fnI/AAAAAAAADPo/2UdRtH6oEN4/s1600/boris%2Band%2Bbird.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boris and the bird<br />
acrylic and ink on board<br />
8" x 8" (20 cm x 20 cm)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-swyqraflRWk/VQAmrSosvjI/AAAAAAAADP4/1HPt60Zw11I/s1600/dreaming%2Bof%2Bparis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-swyqraflRWk/VQAmrSosvjI/AAAAAAAADP4/1HPt60Zw11I/s1600/dreaming%2Bof%2Bparis.JPG" height="400" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dreaming of Paris<br />
acrylic and ink on board<br />
8" x 8" (20 cm x 20 cm)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After the show I may have unsold pieces available to be shipped to folks in Europe and North America. There will be a small window of opportunity for these pieces so check back here after April 4th but before April 14th. I'll post images of the available pieces and payment can be made through Paypal.</div>
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Here's the link for more information about the show: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/785698321512556/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/events/785698321512556/</a></div>
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Tchau-wow!</div>
Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-85490606512797447352015-01-21T17:55:00.000+00:002015-01-21T17:55:01.376+00:00(R)egrets, I've had a few<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8xQ_8buxudM/VL_dBUqYfgI/AAAAAAAABpA/YzO0JVqwT-M/s1600/egrets%2Bsketch%2Bwebsz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8xQ_8buxudM/VL_dBUqYfgI/AAAAAAAABpA/YzO0JVqwT-M/s1600/egrets%2Bsketch%2Bwebsz.jpg" height="210" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">colour pencil sketch from my journal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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(R)egrets, I’ve had a few. Should I start to list them all? I think not. No point
crying over spilt <i>Milkbones</i> ™. Let me
just say that I regret not posting more often on my blog.</div>
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I enjoy the exercise of putting my thoughts into words, and
documenting bits of my life. But sometimes life actually gets in the way of
documenting. It’s a <i>catch 22</i> of sorts. If I had nothing going on, there would
be nothing to document. But when I am busy involved in things that might be
worth documenting, I have no time or energy to do so. Ah, well.</div>
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So here’s a bit of catch-up (not to be confused with
ketchup, which would be quite messy if I actually tried to feed some to you via
the computer screen). </div>
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My book, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DOG-EARED
JOURNALS – art and observation from a dog living in Portugal</b>, has been
available since November of 2013. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYjoXsp5hq0/VL_e2byemtI/AAAAAAAABpM/LXJ9lN7Dsu8/s1600/DOG-EARED%2BJOURNALS%2BblurbCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYjoXsp5hq0/VL_e2byemtI/AAAAAAAABpM/LXJ9lN7Dsu8/s1600/DOG-EARED%2BJOURNALS%2BblurbCover.jpg" height="196" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back and front covers of my book</td></tr>
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Wow, how did I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> make a big post about that?! Mainly because distribution is the
problem. Since it’s self-published, there are tricky bits to work out if I
don’t want to give it away for nothing. I could list it on Amazon, but until I
fill out some complicated forms (which make me tuck my tail between my legs),
listing it there is out of the question. I would receive about 82 cents per
book if someone were to buy it through Amazon. The U.S. government would make
about six dollars and then Amazon would pocket the rest. </div>
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So for now, my dog-loving Canadian friend Krista sells them from
her studio in Nova Scotia (and by mail to North American customers). Go to <a href="http://www.kristawells.ca/" target="_blank">www.kristawells.ca</a> for more info. For my
local friends, she recently re-stocked it in my favourite Portuguese bookstore,
Livros da Ria Formosa in Lagos (home of my best friend, Rita). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also available as a digital book
from www.blurb.com.</div>
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Speaking of my dog-loving Canadian friend, it’s time I made
a confession. She is actually my alter ego. I know, I know, some of you have
probably already guessed this by now, but I just wanted to set the record
straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mind and soul is
split: half human, half dog. For the sake of continuity and the suspension of
disbelief, I will continue the charade of writing this blog from my dog’s eye
view. It forces some interesting perspectives, which might never happen if I
simply write from my human point of view. Just play ball, okay? Thanks. </div>
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So that’s it for now. My two selves are working on a
fundraising event to be held here in Burgau early in April. The proceeds will
benefit dog shelters in Portugal.
I’ll let you know details in my next blog post. Tchau-wow!</div>
Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-64208639551774897562014-01-24T13:14:00.002+00:002014-01-24T13:14:18.988+00:00extending a helping paw<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Well well, time flies like the wind! (And fruit flies like bananas.) Once again it’s been a long time since my last post. This will be a quick one, just to tie up the loose ends of the previous one about the dirty tricks being played by a deceitful dog-shelter here in Portugal. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The shelter in question is called Lizzy’s Haven. The conditions there were deplorable. Dogs were not being properly cared for, money was mishandled, etc. (to put it mildly). The police became involved and eventually most of the animals were removed from this shelter. There are still ten dogs, two cats, four horses and two goats on the premises. The police continue to check on it every few weeks. The owner is not permitted to have any more animals.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For more information on Lizzy’s Haven, please have a look at the Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lizzys-Haven-Save-the-Animals-Salvar-Os-Animais/309489915862904?fref=ts" target="_blank">Lizzy's Haven Save the Animals</a>, that has been set up to inform the public about it and to find better situations for the animals that had been at her place.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One woman who stepped forward to help some of the animals who were removed has set up a registered charity shelter on her own property. It’s called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/C%C3%A3es-Sem-Dono-Associa%C3%A7%C3%A3o-De-Protec%C3%A7%C3%A3o-Dos-C%C3%A3es-Abandonados/542205259143842?fref=ts" target="_blank">“Cães Sem Donos” Associação de Protecção dos Cães Abandonados</a>. (There’s also one in Brazil with almost the same name, so don’t be confused.) I was there last week to check it out and I liked what I saw. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XiceOQRS1ps/UuJkmRP6BBI/AAAAAAAAAkg/m3kPABWAi40/s1600/1472885_678073108890389_841860550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XiceOQRS1ps/UuJkmRP6BBI/AAAAAAAAAkg/m3kPABWAi40/s1600/1472885_678073108890389_841860550_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(photo courtesy of Louise Coppin)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Louise has a very good facility with plenty of room for the animals and insists on giving each of them time in the house every day so that they are well socialized and fit for adoption. The dogs who were at Lizzy’s Haven were in very poor condition when they arrived at Louise’s a few months ago, but now they are flourishing under her care. It was heartening to see.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A couple from Germany visited Louise’s shelter not long ago and have made a short film about her work. It’s well done and is a good representation of what the place is like. Have a look.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efaHXnor7I0" target="_blank">Cães Sem Donos</a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I’ve learned my lesson to research very well before I make a donation or extend a paw to help. I hope this situation doesn’t discourage people from continuing to help animals in need. Just be sure you trust who it is you are helping. Do some research, ask friends if they have any first-hand knowledge of the organization you are looking into. After all, there are still animals in distress. We all just need to be sure our help is going to the right place.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-5129006496250717902013-03-13T14:21:00.001+00:002013-03-13T14:21:44.953+00:00old tricks, new tricks, dirty tricks<br />
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Well, it’s been so long since my last post that I almost
forgot how to do it. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but what
about teaching an old dog tricks that he’s forgotten? Once the trick is
forgotten does it become a new trick? Everything old is new again?</div>
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Speaking of tricks, I'm still working on the trickiness of
drawing on an iPad (or in my case, iPawed). There is much to learn. It isn't
completely different from drawing on paper, but there are some tricks, some
advantages and some disadvantages. It is thoroughly enjoyable though, and I
love learning new tricks, despite my age. </div>
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My friend Margi is creating a digital drawing per week (plus
one) for a whole year using an app called Paper53. You can see her weekly
drawings here. <a href="http://pinterest.com/margil/paper-53/">http://pinterest.com/margil/paper-53/</a></div>
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It’s a great way to really get to know the idiosyncrasies of
a particular app or program. I can’t seem to maintain focus (or a schedule) to
do this so I jump around from app to app whenever I have the impulse to draw
digitally. </div>
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For my own edification and for your amusement (I hope) I
decided to try drawing the same subject several different ways. The first
example is on real paper in my sketch book. I did a rough sketch in pencil,
then once I was happy with the lines, I went over them with a Pentel Pocket
Brush pen which has a black waterproof ink.
From there I added colour with pan watercolours.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gzOfDCSM8Z0/UUCFBTHCliI/AAAAAAAAAVA/Ux3kbCnzLJU/s1600/sasha-sktchbk-photo-websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gzOfDCSM8Z0/UUCFBTHCliI/AAAAAAAAAVA/Ux3kbCnzLJU/s400/sasha-sktchbk-photo-websize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha sketch in ink and watercolour on watercolour paper</td></tr>
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The next one I did was using the Paper53 app. I've been
playing around with a graphic style with this app, breaking the subject into
blocky sections.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OUfuUPvB6A/UUCFfZzDZVI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Pntlj_n3838/s1600/sasha-paper53--websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OUfuUPvB6A/UUCFfZzDZVI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Pntlj_n3838/s400/sasha-paper53--websize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha digital sketch done using Paper53 app</td></tr>
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Finally I did another digital sketch using the Sumo Paint
app. I particularly like the natural looking ink lines with this app. It’s very
similar to the lines I get with my Pentel Pocket Brush pen.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5rBfXBil4Hw/UUCF3wa916I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/RG7qyBHScxs/s1600/sasha-sumo-paint-websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5rBfXBil4Hw/UUCF3wa916I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/RG7qyBHScxs/s400/sasha-sumo-paint-websize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha digital sketch done using Sumo Paint app</td></tr>
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Obviously I’m only licking the edges when it comes to all
the possibilities for creating sketches. Life is just one big bowl of kibble
and I’m eager to try all the flavours.</div>
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If you’d like to see more of my digital drawings, follow
this link to my Clibe journal. <a href="http://myclibe.com/marketplace/journals/77613/spreads/1#0">http://myclibe.com/marketplace/journals/77613/spreads/1#0</a></div>
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Clibe is an app for creating and posting journals of any
sort. Anyone can go to the Clibe site and browse the thousands of publicly shared
journals there. If you have an iPad and install the Clibe app, you can follow
the journals that you like and actually download them and read them offline, at
your leisure. Whenever one of the journals that you follow is updated, it will
automatically be synced to your iPad the next time you open the Clibe app when
you are online.</div>
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On a final note, I must thank everyone who voted for my
drawings in the Adonit contests last September and October. We managed to raise
a total of US$800 which I donated to several animal shelters here in Portugal.
Sadly, (and this is the "dirty tricks" to which I refer in the title of this post) it appears that one of the shelters may not be as worthy of our
donations as I thought. It’s through no fault of the animals, of course. When I
have more concrete news about this, I will post it. Let me just say that people
can be deceiving, their motives can be hidden, their intentions can be less
than honourable. With dogs, what you see is what you get. I really wish people
were more like dogs. The world would be a better place.</div>
Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-9958141782287451242012-10-10T00:29:00.001+01:002013-03-13T14:24:58.862+00:00hip hip hooray!Regular readers of my blog will know that last month I entered a sketching contest held by Adonit, creator of the Jot stylus for touch screens. The theme of the contest was "favourite movie scenes" and I did a sketch from Bombon el Perro, in which the main character is a dog (of course). Well, thanks to many artist friends and animal supporter friends on Facebook I was able to finish in second place which is worth US$300. Hip hip hooray! Originally I had said I would share any winnings with the dog shelter where many of my friends live, but in order to provide a greater incentive for people to vote I decided to give all the money to three animal shelters here in the Algarve. <br />
<br />
Now I've entered Adonit's October sketching contest and the theme is "monsters". My entry is called "Here Kitty Kitty".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64201873@N06/8071870314/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="375" id="blogsy-1349825307284.156" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8038/8071870314_76012c431a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Once again I will donate any money I win to the animal shelters. I may need more support from some other shelters in order to secure a win and if I do I will share the winnings with them too. If any of you have a connection to a particular shelter and you can rally the Facebook followers to vote, let me know. First prize is US$500. It seems that Adonit plans to hold this competition every month so it's conceivable that with strong, consistent support, I (we) could earn $500 each month to donate to needy animals!<br />
<br />
Here's the link to the voting site. <a href="http://a.pgtb.me/8vDc2D" target="_blank" title="Voting link">http://a.pgtb.me/8vDc2D</a><br />
<br />
You can vote once every 24 hours so bookmark the link or this blog post to make it easy to go back to each day. You can also hit the "share" button that is at the bottom of my entry on the contest page. It's a simple thing that you can do to make a big difference for many animals. (Sometimes it doesn't accept your vote even if you've waited the 24 hours, but when that happens to me I just wait a while and try again. Just keep an eye on the little box with the number and see if the number changes when you vote. If it doesn't, try again later.)<br />
<br />
<br />
So if you could work any Internet magic available to you (share this post, bribe your relatives, whatever it takes) we furry friends would be eternally grateful. Obrigado, thank you, gracias, danke, arrrooof, esker, tack, dekuji, dank u, kiitos, paldies, 'a d'anq, tak, salamat, merci, arigatō, and many more.<br />
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Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-29597602527765794812012-09-20T00:01:00.001+01:002013-03-13T14:23:53.724+00:00I'm BEGGINGI'm a dog and dogs are very good at begging. But before I tell you what I'm begging for, let me give you some background.<br />
<br />
I've been spending time using my iPawed to explore various drawing apps. It's quite an interesting exercise. Each app has its own set of tools and methods of use. Let me be clear. These are <u>not</u> apps in which you just open up a photo, press a button, and you have something that looks <em>somewhat</em> like a hand drawn (or painted) image. No, in these apps you choose the type of mark (pencil, brush, ink, spray, et cetera - all infinitely adjustable) and you physically draw with your paw (or finger) or a stylus.<br />
<br />
I've also been playing around with different stylii and currently my favourite is called a Jot Touch. Adonit, the company that produces them, is running a contest right now. They are asking Jot users to submit drawings of a scene from their favourite movie.<br />
<br />
My favourite is <strong>Bombon el Perro</strong>. It's about a man who is given a very special breed of dog but he's never had a dog and doesn't know what to do with him. The movie follows the two of them as they form a relationship and an understanding of each other. It's quite a beautiful movie, but not in a sappy way. This is the sketch I've submitted. First prize is US$500. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64201873@N06/8004491623" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="375" id="blogsy-1348095632434.804" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/8004491623_326cd5bdef.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So here's the begging part. Pleeeeeeeeeease please please vote for me. I've decided if I win I will donate half of the money to an animal shelter. If you'd like to vote for me, here's how:<br />
<br />
Click this link. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AdonitFB?v=app_356123317805804" style="text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/AdonitFB?v=app_356123317805804</a> Look for my drawing or my name, Ruca Cao. There are a couple of pages of entries. If you have trouble finding the contest or casting your vote, please let me know. Voting ends <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors="true">on September 30</a> but you can (please) vote once a day. To vote on the site you click the white box on the right, beside the number of votes I have received so far. I thank you and so do the animals in the shelter!<br />
<br />
<br />
My vote totals are creeping up so I think that with your help there's a chance that I could take away the prize. It would be really great if you could help to get people to vote by spreading the word among your Facebook community.<br />
<br />
Obrigado and woof woof!<br />
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<br />
<div id="blogsy_footer" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: right;">
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Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-90050920616287400572012-09-03T18:11:00.001+01:002012-09-03T18:41:02.107+01:00suicide squid = a bittersweet treatEvery now and then when I'm trotting along the beach, something out of the ordinary catches my nose. The other morning, following the <em>Blue Moon</em> (the rare occurrence of a second full moon in one month, in case you didn't already know), a delectable scent wafted my way. Upon investigation, I found a small squid on the sand. He (she?) was dead. Quite dead. Clearly he had committed suicide. I know that a full moon can provoke weird behaviour. The Blue Moon must have pushed this creature over the edge. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64201873@N06/7922694678/" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="375" id="blogsy-1346691664455.1829" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/7922694678_4d8e386779.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I truly felt sorry for the poor thing, but I'm not one to waste a culinary opportunity so I fetched a fancy plate (I felt I had to infuse the event with a touch of ceremony) and carefully placed the squid on it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64201873@N06/7922699072/" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="253" id="blogsy-1346691664494.4575" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8455/7922699072_0152d508b4.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I studied it closely for a moment and noticed a puzzling phenomenon. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64201873@N06/7922697540/" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="333" id="blogsy-1346691664523.1487" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7922697540_c58690d3cc.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Some of the little dots on the skin were pulsating - almost disappearing and then expanding, disappearing and expanding. It was very strange. I'm <u>sure</u> the squid was dead. The fool proof sniff test confirmed it. But this dot thing kind of put me off. Not for long though. I had one last look ... And then I ate him. R.I.P. in my belly, suicide squid. Yes, that was a bittersweet treat.<br />
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Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-64829466993936145842012-07-01T22:04:00.001+01:002012-07-01T22:04:10.237+01:00we aim to please<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">As you know, I'm a dog. And as dogs, we aim to please. Not so
our canid cousins. They aim to kill – to survive. Wolves, jackals, coyotes,
they've all retained the killer instinct that we dogs once had. The instinct to
survive is no longer our strongest. As we became domesticated we softened. Now
we aim to please. And that’s not always a good thing. Sure, fetching newspapers
or balancing biscuits on our noses won’t kill us, but sometimes the desire to
please gets us into trouble. Deep trouble.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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Time and time again we do things that are not in our best
interest. A person tells us to jump, we don’t ask how high. We just jump as
high as doggedly possible. Many a muscle or tendon has been torn in the effort.
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6wpC_UuHEFM/T_CxWDpE_WI/AAAAAAAAASw/rIYJiedLmOE/s1600/dog+jumping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6wpC_UuHEFM/T_CxWDpE_WI/AAAAAAAAASw/rIYJiedLmOE/s1600/dog+jumping.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jump!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">*</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Samuel Renteria</span></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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We would die of thirst to please you.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YucTjlmtBY/T_CycTPi5GI/AAAAAAAAAS4/ohwOmnLdXfY/s1600/dg-dehydration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YucTjlmtBY/T_CycTPi5GI/AAAAAAAAAS4/ohwOmnLdXfY/s320/dg-dehydration.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">A working military police dog recovers from minor heat exhaustion</span>.*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppgyav2w9e8/T_CzUZTluvI/AAAAAAAAATA/q9uZ8QN53_c/s1600/thirsty-dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppgyav2w9e8/T_CzUZTluvI/AAAAAAAAATA/q9uZ8QN53_c/s320/thirsty-dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thirsty!<br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*photo by Tech. Sgt. Dawn M. Price</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Dogs trained to withstand extremely loud sounds such as
gunshots and explosions suffer permanent hearing damage or post traumatic
stress disorder. They overcome the urge to run from such sounds, all for the
goal of pleasing someone. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_bbKM7T1gY4/T_C0DpqrlVI/AAAAAAAAATI/NyHAyka2LTM/s1600/dog-and-guns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_bbKM7T1gY4/T_C0DpqrlVI/AAAAAAAAATI/NyHAyka2LTM/s320/dog-and-guns.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bet the people have ear protection.<br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*photo by Master Sgt. Scott Wagers</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Search and rescue dogs frequently work in hazardous
situations, subjecting themselves to everything from sliced feet and puncture
wounds to life-ending respiratory illness.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJNHUG-HE4Y/T_C1cFFVKsI/AAAAAAAAATQ/zKQxXP0bawY/s1600/rescue-dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJNHUG-HE4Y/T_C1cFFVKsI/AAAAAAAAATQ/zKQxXP0bawY/s320/rescue-dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">searching for victims after a truck bombing*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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There are countless stories of dogs rescuing their people
from hazardous situations, only to end up dying for their effort. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMl-39b0Hvo/T_C2a6VgkkI/AAAAAAAAATY/6H8z7Ji99oI/s1600/dog-Duncan-died-in-fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMl-39b0Hvo/T_C2a6VgkkI/AAAAAAAAATY/6H8z7Ji99oI/s320/dog-Duncan-died-in-fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duncan died in a house fire after he saved his owner.<br />(<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/dog-dies-saving-owner-fire/t/story?id=14866538" target="_blank">full story at abcnews</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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It all comes down to wanting to please, to be liked. I worry
sometimes about our future. If we continue in this vein, I fear we won’t last. With
that possibility in mind, think twice before you ask us to do something that
might not be good for us. We’ve shown that we will do anything for your praise.
People, you have great power. Use it wisely. You don’t want to end up with a
world without dogs, do you?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In an effort to please you right now, I would love to leave
you a juicy bone, but it’s not really possible over the internet. Failing
that, I leave you with my most winning smile. I hope you like it.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ugfJJwQF46s/T_C45ZviSsI/AAAAAAAAATk/1Re2TjAqR98/s1600/ruca-tightcloseupwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ugfJJwQF46s/T_C45ZviSsI/AAAAAAAAATk/1Re2TjAqR98/s320/ruca-tightcloseupwebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you like me now?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*indicates public
domain image.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-48153508990065109042012-04-20T23:34:00.004+01:002012-04-20T23:34:51.261+01:00dogtionary<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dogtionary</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve got some pretty tech savvy friends. My best friend
Rita, for instance, spends a lot of time at her person’s bookstore where she
meets many interesting people and learns about many things. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLs_ZpR7xoo/T5Hf0u4wuwI/AAAAAAAAASc/2Om4iE0KIPw/s1600/ritawebsz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLs_ZpR7xoo/T5Hf0u4wuwI/AAAAAAAAASc/2Om4iE0KIPw/s320/ritawebsz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rita</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rita is the one who introduced me to something called
Instagram. It’s an iPhone/iPod (or in my case iPawed) application that allows
users to edit photos in creative ways and then share them online. A whole
community of “Instagrammers” has erupted. I’ve been participating for about six
months and I’ve enjoyed connecting with many clever and creative Instagrammers.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One follower of mine (and whom I follow - hi @hiker083, oh and hi @rosselion who started the dogtionary thingie) suggested I
participate in a little Instagram game called dogtionary. The idea is to post a
photo of a dog and add the identifier “A is for Aussie” or “B is for Border
Collie” etc. Then write a description or definition for that dog. It’s a fun
exercise. If you are a registered Instagram user, just search for #dogtionary
to see all the entries. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is mine: P is for Podengo</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGwqVQk42NE/T5HRkPwSQ6I/AAAAAAAAAQs/AwIdtcCFjGw/s1600/podengo-dad-on-chairwebsz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGwqVQk42NE/T5HRkPwSQ6I/AAAAAAAAAQs/AwIdtcCFjGw/s320/podengo-dad-on-chairwebsz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">easy chair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here is what I wrote for the description:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Portuguese Podengo</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">this ancient breed</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">built to hunt</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">lightning speed.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">Wire haired or smooth,</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">large, medium, or small</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">ears like a donkey's</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">alert to all.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">Sharp of wit</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">but not of tongue</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">ages well</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">forever young.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">Loving and silly</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">watchful and smart</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">independent yet loyal</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">an incredible heart.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">Not one to argue</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">your reason nor rhyme</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">Portuguese Podengo</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">a character sublime.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately I can’t seem to track down any way for non
Instagrammers to see all the entries, but I’ve just put up a page (click on
instagrams at the top of this blog) of some Instragram photos I’ve done
over the past six months, so at least you can have a taste of what all the Instagram
hype is about. I will add more from time
to time, so check back every now and then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tchao-wow!</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-65478247918828358522012-02-20T23:40:00.000+00:002012-02-20T23:40:12.758+00:00afternoon quickie becomes marathon<div class="MsoNormal">How does an afternoon quickie turn into a marathon? Allow me to explain.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was mid-afternoon. 3:00. I hadn’t been doing as much sketching as I would like to have been doing. I thought “I’ll just do a quickie. Or several quickies.” Não é um problema. So first I looked through the stash of photos I’ve taken lately. "Hmm… here’s one of three friends in Vale do Boi."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zWpvSA2iJV4/T0K8ppCoJNI/AAAAAAAAAOA/Oz7Fg0sxj3c/s1600/3VdeB-hunters-untouched-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zWpvSA2iJV4/T0K8ppCoJNI/AAAAAAAAAOA/Oz7Fg0sxj3c/s400/3VdeB-hunters-untouched-web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">over-exposed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">But the photo was pretty crummy. Over-exposed. “Well, I’ll just do a quick fix on it. Perk it up a bit,” I said to myself. (No one else was there to talk to.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tt6TXxC9sTA/T0LWogPaNII/AAAAAAAAAOY/F_NJU5HIxRA/s1600/3VdoBhunters-ip+pse-altered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tt6TXxC9sTA/T0LWogPaNII/AAAAAAAAAOY/F_NJU5HIxRA/s400/3VdoBhunters-ip+pse-altered.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">touched up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">That’s a little better. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be able to salvage it, but it’s okay.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Now to get down to business. Hmmm. Pencil first? Or straight to pen?” Well, I started with pencil. “I’ll just rough in the basics, then switch to pen.” But I got a bit carried away with the pencil. Then I thought, “I’ve put so much into this it’s going to look strange if I ink in all those pencil lines. It’ll be too busy.” Some of the pencil lines were indicators for where shading or colour values change. “I guess I’d better use coloured pencil to take advantage of all the details I’d sketched out.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, three and a half hours later (yeah yeah, I’m slow) I'd managed to turn what was meant to be a quickie - or several quickies - into a full afternoon of cross-eyed, mind-numbing, pencil-pushing productivity. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JyD4xIo2Ol8/T0K8thGcLoI/AAAAAAAAAOI/5QLAHo0uPq4/s1600/1-0f-3-val-da-boi-sktchwebs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JyD4xIo2Ol8/T0K8thGcLoI/AAAAAAAAAOI/5QLAHo0uPq4/s400/1-0f-3-val-da-boi-sktchwebs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of my friends in Vale do Boi,<br />
coloured pencil, 17cm x 16cm</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Now I really need a nap! Then a coffee.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vacxhX7cebU/T0K8xT_OV9I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/kZehX3R1ymw/s1600/ruca-asleep-on-stepswebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vacxhX7cebU/T0K8xT_OV9I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/kZehX3R1ymw/s400/ruca-asleep-on-stepswebsize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can fall asleep anywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-13447470111666042972012-02-09T20:10:00.000+00:002012-02-09T20:10:28.990+00:00Sundown<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sundown is one of my favourite times of the day (or night). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Not only is it a visual feast, it’s also an aural feast. It’s the time when we dogs pass on our news. But this news need not be particularly eventful. Just as people use status updates on Facebook, we (dogs) like to make our voices heard, however insignificant what we have to say may be. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QffCDwwKNWY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click on the video above to see what I mean.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It’s just a way of connecting to the community of canids, of adding to the pulsing pandemonium. The barking, yelping and baying ricochets down the valleys, dozens of ruff voices overlapping and mingling in an odd dissonance that both excites and sooths my doggy soul. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0dA5tEZyDA/TzQnvttbyhI/AAAAAAAAAN0/PY9xuITQgLM/s1600/sundown2websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0dA5tEZyDA/TzQnvttbyhI/AAAAAAAAAN0/PY9xuITQgLM/s400/sundown2websize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another beautiful sundown in Portugal</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-68701323350937841202011-11-25T14:46:00.000+00:002011-11-25T14:46:13.577+00:00Coffee with a Canine<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is just a quick post to bring you up to date on a bit of news. My dog-loving Canadian friend was interviewed on a really neat blog called Coffee with a Canine. The interview was about our relationship. Well, mostly it's about me.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTD_wAvAlB4/Ts-oAFCpEGI/AAAAAAAAANY/qTehUc6fzag/s1600/ruca-and-kw-at-varandaswebs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTD_wAvAlB4/Ts-oAFCpEGI/AAAAAAAAANY/qTehUc6fzag/s400/ruca-and-kw-at-varandaswebs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">outside Varandas Bar, journal sketch, ink and watercolour</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I contributed this sketch from my journal. There are also a couple of photos with the interview. You can check it out here. <a href="http://coffeecanine.blogspot.com/2011/11/krista-wells-ruca.html" target="_blank">Coffee with a Canine</a>. While you’re there, have a look at some of the other posts. You’ll be introduced to a variety of people and their canine friends. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Tchao-wow!</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-25336381343764115842011-11-16T22:20:00.001+00:002011-11-16T22:40:17.579+00:00and the award goes to...<div class="MsoNormal">I’ve been given an award!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUUA7Puj1Oo/TsQzxaIyTDI/AAAAAAAAANI/xUXAjxQt9bQ/s1600/graffiti-with-award-text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUUA7Puj1Oo/TsQzxaIyTDI/AAAAAAAAANI/xUXAjxQt9bQ/s320/graffiti-with-award-text.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Petra of <a href="http://www.indivisualism.com/">http://www.indivisualism.com</a> has given me a blog award. I’ve never gotten an award. I’m suitably humbled and tickled. Or tickled and humbled. Or tumbled and ….. Okay, I’ll stop. But I must say “Thank you Petra!” and encourage you to visit her blog for some fantastic eye candy and inspiration. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, I had to ask what the protocol is after winning a blog award. Petra says one version is that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">“<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 115%;">you have to share seven things about yourself and then pass the award on to seven bloggers. Another one says you have to pass it on to 15 blog(gers) with less than 200 followers. I think the important thing is to be happy about it and pass it on to whoever you think deserves it :)"</span></span></span> Or I can do what Petra did and throw out the “rules” and do whatever the hoopity-hoop I want to do. So. Hmmmm. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Okay, I’ll play by the rules for a change. I’m choosing to award 15 bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers. It was really tough to narrow it down to 15! I’ve come across so many enlightening, creative, silly, fun, and inspirational blogs these past few months. But here’s my short list. Check them out. There’s something there for everybody!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://arwenspack.blogspot.com/">http://arwenspack.blogspot.com/</a> This blogger knows how to embrace life as dogs do.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://callingcrowstosea.blogspot.com/">http://callingcrowstosea.blogspot.com/</a> Nancy is an up and coming blogger with a sensitive perspective on life. Only five followers so far, so show her some love!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://danscanvas.blogspot.com/">http://danscanvas.blogspot.com/</a> He’s never afraid to try something, always willing to examine his methods, and he’s got a sense of humour to boot.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://diondior.blogspot.com/">http://diondior.blogspot.com/</a> She’s bursting with creativity in the face of adversity.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.dogfostermom.com/">http://www.dogfostermom.com/</a> She’s a guardian angel!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://thehappypainter22.blogspot.com/">http://thehappypainter22.blogspot.com/</a> She’s a painter. She’s happy. Need I say more?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://jean-townsend.blogspot.com/">http://jean-townsend.blogspot.com/</a> Check out her great series of mug shots.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://joneri.blogspot.com/">http://joneri.blogspot.com/</a> Jonas looks at the world with eyes wide open.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://katerinademianiuk.blogspot.com/">http://katerinademianiuk.blogspot.com/</a> This animation student has a sweet and goofy style.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://lorraineshirkus.blogspot.com/">http://lorraineshirkus.blogspot.com/</a> Her oil paintings have a lovely dreamy quality.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://michelemeisterart.blogspot.com/">http://michelemeisterart.blogspot.com/</a> Michele has a great series on the go. It involves wolves. It’s mysterious. ‘Nuf said.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://penspaperstudio.blogspot.com/">http://penspaperstudio.blogspot.com/</a> A fun sense of humour really comes through in her quirky illustrations.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://pincelesrabiosos.blogspot.com/">http://pincelesrabiosos.blogspot.com/</a> He has great variety in his drawing style.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://real-life-journals.blogspot.com/">http://real-life-journals.blogspot.com/</a> Her books on journaling are some of my favourites. She doles out inspiration to create with both practicality and poetry.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/">http://tomsarmo.blogspot.com/</a> He calls his studio Cranky Bird Studio, but you’ll feel anything BUT cranky after visiting here.</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-50313279116652034852011-11-06T17:37:00.000+00:002011-11-06T17:37:39.533+00:00Start the presses! I’m publishing a book!<div class="MsoNormal">Start the presses! I’m publishing a book!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eSEXogRZA8/TrbBaMnRkqI/AAAAAAAAAMw/1aHllYYbWEU/s1600/book-cover-draft-websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eSEXogRZA8/TrbBaMnRkqI/AAAAAAAAAMw/1aHllYYbWEU/s400/book-cover-draft-websize.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the cover, a self-portrait.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s right. I’m going to be a published author! I’ve always LOVED books – all sorts of books. Books that tell a gripping story, books that introduce me to a different point of view, books with luscious illustrations, silly books, serious books, true books, false books. And now one of those books will be my illustrated journal!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course I couldn’t do this on my own. I have always depended on the kindness of strangers and for this book I had the help of a stranger who has become a friend. I’ve mentioned her on this blog once before. She’s the dog-loving Canadian and it was actually her idea for me to publish my illustrated journals. Let me tell you, when she first suggested it my tail almost wagged right off my butt! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to see more about my friend, she has her own website you can visit. <a href="http://www.kristawells.ca/">www.kristawells.ca</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Obviously this isn’t something I could have done on my own, even if I had thought of it. I <i>am</i> a pretty resourceful dog but there are just some things I can’t work around, the principal one being money: In order to publish a book there are expenses and I don’t think they take bones in lieu of people money. So not only has my dog-loving friend come up with the brilliant idea of publishing my work, she has also very kindly offered to deal with the money and logistics of it all. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1oBWmyQIcw/TrbB9urbdHI/AAAAAAAAAM4/g1PIkiCnltw/s1600/5eurobillwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1oBWmyQIcw/TrbB9urbdHI/AAAAAAAAAM4/g1PIkiCnltw/s400/5eurobillwebsize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've never understood why people value this ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-debLIyU6Bwg/TrbDsZsJ7zI/AAAAAAAAANA/XwlVrQ41N7M/s1600/fish-on-sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-debLIyU6Bwg/TrbDsZsJ7zI/AAAAAAAAANA/XwlVrQ41N7M/s400/fish-on-sand.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... more than this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If it was <i>dog</i>istics rather than <i>log</i>istics I could have taken care of it. But there were contacts to be made, people to confer with. Other people-y business-y stuff. Now, I’m pretty good at communication, but it <i>is</i> a two way street and there are some people who just don’t know how to communicate with a dog. This could have been a problem, but my friend was the interpreter when necessary. I just kept doing what I do and she took care of the rest. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“So,” you ask, “what’s going to be in this published illustrated journal?” Well dear blog readers, you will recognize a few of the illustrations but most of it will be all new to you. You’ll read more about my everyday wanderings, including a couple of very cool road trips, a close encounter with a famous movie star, observations on the absurdities of people, doggie soul searching, recipes for delicious snacks, sightings of rare birds… all illustrated in my mish-mash style of watercolour and ink, relief prints, collage, scribble, photographs, gouache, acrylic … Hmmm, is there a medium I won’t try?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Part of the published journal covers an intense period in my life, a period of searching for my roots. I’ve always known who my mother is, but until recently I didn’t really give much thought to who my father is. It’s not a question we dogs spend a lot of time chewing over. Readers will be able to follow my quest to find my father and consequently, the meaning of life. Intrigued? Stay posted and I’ll give a very loud bark when it’s available. Aurrrrrrrooooooooooooooooo!</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-16391191616504805272011-10-22T20:00:00.000+01:002011-10-22T20:00:59.728+01:00the art of fish<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs25aDhYS4E/Tp8sFpVue2I/AAAAAAAAAKY/GAftZb2i5ZU/s1600/fish-stamp-detail-in-journa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs25aDhYS4E/Tp8sFpVue2I/AAAAAAAAAKY/GAftZb2i5ZU/s320/fish-stamp-detail-in-journa.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">relief print in journal (detail), ink </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The feast that Rita and I were treated to a few days ago got me thinking about fish. Fish and art, that is. You see, the person who cooked the fish was an artist with food. And the subject was fish. I was thinking about this and started to notice that fish inspire many artists. I see examples all around me. And I have been inspired by fish as well, and continue to be so. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I thought I’d give you a little taste of the variety of fishy art to be found here. Some of it is mine and some is just what I’ve stumbled across in my local wanderings. Unfortunately I don’t know who to credit for every piece, but if anyone out there reading this can give me information I’d be happy to add it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSWD0nnoKS0/Tp80MZK1zwI/AAAAAAAAALo/1J7RTJxT1NQ/s1600/milreu8adjsmallerwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSWD0nnoKS0/Tp80MZK1zwI/AAAAAAAAALo/1J7RTJxT1NQ/s400/milreu8adjsmallerwebsize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mosaic on wall of bath at ruins of Milreu (click image to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">This is just a taste of the many incredible mosaics found at the <a href="http://www.top10portugal.com/milreu-roman-ruins-estoi-algarve">ruins of Milreu</a> near Estoi here in the Algarve. These were made by Italian artists about 2000 years ago. Each little stone that makes up the mosaic is only about the size of a piece of dog kibble. They must have worked like dogs to make this!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CUbKVza065s/Tp8tCZJyuyI/AAAAAAAAAKo/3fOhI6EUp48/s1600/liz-fish-mosaic-adjwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CUbKVza065s/Tp8tCZJyuyI/AAAAAAAAAKo/3fOhI6EUp48/s320/liz-fish-mosaic-adjwebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">broken tile mosaic on wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">This is a much more recent fish mosaic found right here in Burgau.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2E5N4EDh44/Tp8tbNrzIII/AAAAAAAAAKw/xRI5hwEAhHc/s1600/carvoeiro-fish-signwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2E5N4EDh44/Tp8tbNrzIII/AAAAAAAAAKw/xRI5hwEAhHc/s320/carvoeiro-fish-signwebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sign outside restaurante in Carvoeiro</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">This one isn’t a mosaic, but it <i>is</i> made of many bits. In this case the fish are cut and shaped pieces of metal.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgJitAnVKUk/Tp8t4VJCQLI/AAAAAAAAAK4/yHrB2yQlS0E/s1600/fish-with-bubbles-doodleweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgJitAnVKUk/Tp8t4VJCQLI/AAAAAAAAAK4/yHrB2yQlS0E/s320/fish-with-bubbles-doodleweb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">journal page, ink, watercolour and crayon</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Fish are fun to doodle. There is such a variety in the colour, shape, and texture. I think you could draw a fish a day for the rest of your life and never repeat yourself.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3RhoeOwwSks/Tp8ui0ja67I/AAAAAAAAALA/Bhx4424hYZQ/s1600/pereira-wrkshp1adjwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3RhoeOwwSks/Tp8ui0ja67I/AAAAAAAAALA/Bhx4424hYZQ/s320/pereira-wrkshp1adjwebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">painted platter (work in progress)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">I was visiting my friend Lotte in Pereira. His person rescued him from a garbage bin when he was just a pup. Lotte and his person live in a house that also has a tile workshop where people go for lessons. This is a platter being painted by one of the students. The subject? Fish of course.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z6JLvIuH0E/Tp8u8VnA-BI/AAAAAAAAALI/E2YPh3XgIJ8/s1600/fish-on-sugar-pkgswebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z6JLvIuH0E/Tp8u8VnA-BI/AAAAAAAAALI/E2YPh3XgIJ8/s320/fish-on-sugar-pkgswebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">interesting fish graphics on sugar packets</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">For some reason fish appear on these sugar packets. I’m not sure what fish have to do with sugar, but they did catch my eye. I think sometimes that's the sole purpose of an interesting image - simply to catch your eye. Well, I guess it worked.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uTbO4avFbaQ/Tp8vWid9aEI/AAAAAAAAALQ/KhNGrXHS7cA/s1600/bossy-pants-at-ancora-websi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uTbO4avFbaQ/Tp8vWid9aEI/AAAAAAAAALQ/KhNGrXHS7cA/s1600/bossy-pants-at-ancora-websi.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend (er, aquaintance really - he's a bit too grumpy for me) Bossy Pants at Ancora</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Well all this talk of fish has made me hungry. I’m off to the back door of <a href="http://www.ancora.burgau.co.uk/index.html">Restaurante Ancora</a> where the owner Rex is always eager to feed a ruggedly handsome dog like me.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tchao-wow! </div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-17099986376627246102011-10-18T21:39:00.000+01:002011-10-18T21:39:25.888+01:00A fish in the pan is worth two in the sea.<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgU5Kn7MtpY/Tp3ez-TcoYI/AAAAAAAAAKA/ZjSPtF3gBAg/s1600/lagos-fish-headadjwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgU5Kn7MtpY/Tp3ez-TcoYI/AAAAAAAAAKA/ZjSPtF3gBAg/s320/lagos-fish-headadjwebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes the smell of fish makes me lose my head, but not quite like this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Rita and I were at the fish market in Lagos this morning and we were seduced by the lovely smells. I hopped up on a stack of chairs that were near the counters to get a good view of all the tasty ocean treats. One particularly caught my eye so I did a sketch of it in my journal. The sign said it’s called <i>azevias</i>. The name in English is <i>flounder</i>. <span> </span>But I think the sign is wrong. It didn’t smell like flounder to me. And besides, all the azevias I’ve known have their eyes only on one side of the body, except the very young ones whose eyes haven’t migrated yet. Boy, that’s a whole other subject though. Imagine being born with your eyes in a certain place and then one of them gradually moves and the whole shape of your body transforms. It’s weird! But I digress. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6hcB7X7hGk/Tp3fLGd2V3I/AAAAAAAAAKI/-uiF_VMjJpI/s1600/fish-market-wc-adjwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6hcB7X7hGk/Tp3fLGd2V3I/AAAAAAAAAKI/-uiF_VMjJpI/s400/fish-market-wc-adjwebsize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">journal sketch, watercolour</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">While I was drawing, Rita ran into a person friend from Burgau. He could see how much Rita wanted some fish so he invited both of us back to his place for a feast.<span> </span>He let Rita choose what she wanted so she pointed to the cavala (mackerel). He had the seller pick two of the best, had them wrapped up, gave the man some coins and off we went. Before we left Lagos we stopped by the bookstore to let Rita’s person know she was going for a visit to Burgau.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lNpF4CUnaJY/Tp3fktDKyqI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/jUa92Fm9zKI/s1600/burgau-M-cleans-mackereladj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lNpF4CUnaJY/Tp3fktDKyqI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/jUa92Fm9zKI/s320/burgau-M-cleans-mackereladj.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friend didn't waste a bit. The guts were the appetizers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Our friend set up a couple of stools for us to perch on and supervise the preparations. He carefully grilled the fish over a fire and it was delicious! This man can cook! Rita and I had the appetizers and one fish, he and his friend shared the other fish. I think Rita and I were the perfect guests. We happily allowed the man and his friend to pat us much as they wanted. We courteously licked their hands clean after they had finished eating, and we cleaned all their dishes too. With any luck we’ll be asked to visit again soon. In the meantime we have other fish to fry.</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-62403133936455032412011-09-23T23:15:00.000+01:002011-09-23T23:15:24.724+01:00something to chew on<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTgMwOq07oY/Tn0DeRuB4fI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/bRCDT6MZLkE/s1600/sneakers-sketchwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTgMwOq07oY/Tn0DeRuB4fI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/bRCDT6MZLkE/s1600/sneakers-sketchwebsize.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">journal sketch, ink</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I want to talk a bit about shoes and my shoe fetish. Actually, it’s not so much a <i>shoe</i> fetish as it is a <i>chew</i> fetish. Now, apparently, many of you reading this [particularly people, as opposed to my readers who are dogs (hi William!)] also have shoe fetishes. Some people are more specific and might call it a heel fetish, or a brogue fetish but call them what you will – shoes, sneakers, plimsolls, pumps, runners, trainers, hikers – whatever you like, they’re all chews to me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">And that brings me back to my point. <span> </span>Nothing beats a good shoe chew. And each shoe has its own merits. For instance a well worn athletic shoe has a certain <i>je ne sais quoi</i>, and I don’t know what it is. Certainly there’s the nearly overwhelming dark sweaty odour coupled with a pervasive lingering dampness that just doesn’t present itself in a fancy dress shoe. And the texture begs to be torn at with a certain degree of vigour. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But then a dress shoe has different qualities that demand equal attention. The leather is of a texture and resilience that begs a more leisurely chew. One needs to gnaw slowly and steadily in order for the saliva to really have a chance to permeate the leather, releasing the subtleties of the flavour.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">A sturdy work boot is an enticing combination of an athletic shoe and a dress shoe: It has the mysterious sweaty flavours perfectly combined with the subtleties of leather, although usually a somewhat heartier leather than that found in a dress shoe. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Really, what it comes down to is personal taste. And for me that changes with my mood. Some days I have a craving for that lively Nike, whereas on another day I just want to mellow out with an Italian loafer. My motto is “never eschew a good shoe chew”.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pax2kcVI1A8/Tn0D0uytc0I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/bqzw0LvDqY0/s1600/boot-relief-printwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pax2kcVI1A8/Tn0D0uytc0I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/bqzw0LvDqY0/s1600/boot-relief-printwebsize.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">journal page, relief print, ink</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-88479917028738725162011-08-28T18:42:00.000+01:002011-08-28T18:42:15.108+01:00Love is better than anger<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I have a few Canadian friends through Facebook and it’s from them that I recently learned about an extraordinary man. His name was Jack Layton. He died on Monday.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1XuLkNyvKQ/Tlp75T9sXUI/AAAAAAAAAJg/miS01xWoi5c/s1600/jack-layton-journalpagewebs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1XuLkNyvKQ/Tlp75T9sXUI/AAAAAAAAAJg/miS01xWoi5c/s1600/jack-layton-journalpagewebs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">journal page with ink, watercolour, inktense pencil, torn paper</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He was something called a <i>politician</i>. I’m not familiar with this word. I asked my friend if it came from the word <i>polite</i> and she assured me that it’s unlikely, given the way most politicians behave. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But Jack was a different sort of politician. In fact, it seems that Jack differed from other politicians in more ways than this. He was kind. He was sensitive. Mischievous, affectionate, loyal.<span> </span>Energetic, empathetic. Selfless. Determined. Hmmm, I thought: These words can be used to describe most dogs. From what I can tell by reading about him, he had the goodness of a dog with the vision of a humanitarian. He was a perfect hybrid of human and canine.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I realize that some people reading this might think this is a demeaning comparison, but keep in mind what I am. I am a dog and I know dogs. I trust dogs. I understand dogs. Dogs are pure and kind and good in a way that few people are. And any dogs who aren’t have a reason, and that reason is usually the fault of a human. <span> </span>We aren’t perfect. There are elements of our nature that I’m not proud of. But as the generations pass we are working at becoming better.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I see Jack as having possessed all the good characteristics of a dog combined with all the good qualities of humans, including a formidable human intelligence. He used these strengths to work at making Canada and the world a better place for all. He respected people, animals, the earth. He worked for a better future. <span> </span>Even as he was dying he looked to the future and wrote a letter to Canadians which concludes with a few powerful lines. If we all believe these words and live by them, indeed the world will be a better place.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.</span>” - Jack Layton</span></span></div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-77410328372627350952011-08-10T17:56:00.000+01:002011-08-10T17:56:09.828+01:00wind in my fur<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Driving back from Lisbon a couple of weeks ago it was quite hot in the car. Crème and I were in the back seat and Crème’s person put the windows down for us. I stuck my head out the window on my side and Crème stuck her head out hers. It felt good to have so much air blowing through my fur and making my ears flap. And with so much air come so many scents and of course we read the messages in the scents. We get so much information so quickly it’s almost too fast to process it. It’s dizzying. I think the closest equivalent experience for humans might be speed reading. They read extremely quickly and absorb a lot of information.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1zkWoKtCCjQ/TkK1ut3M8_I/AAAAAAAAAJU/klkvsLojAkc/s1600/oliveoilbottlesandegretwtex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1zkWoKtCCjQ/TkK1ut3M8_I/AAAAAAAAAJU/klkvsLojAkc/s1600/oliveoilbottlesandegretwtex.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">journal sketch, ink and watercolour</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Crème’s person asked her why she liked to stick her head out the window but didn’t like it when someone blew in her face. What a silly question! Who (person or dog) likes to have someone’s hot stale breath blasted right up his nose? Not me, that’s for sure! </div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-32592500384514380962011-07-23T02:07:00.003+01:002011-08-10T18:24:48.951+01:00more sneaking around in Lisbon<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6tuouMs9Qk/TioNBN2SZNI/AAAAAAAAAI4/fxTr4g5yor0/s1600/lisbongraffiti3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6tuouMs9Qk/TioNBN2SZNI/AAAAAAAAAI4/fxTr4g5yor0/s400/lisbongraffiti3.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more Lisbon graffiti</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, Crème and I have been having a great time in Lisbon. There’s a whole street that’s almost nothing but restaurantes and they all have outdoor seating so it’s easy for us to pick up tasty morsels here and there. Sometimes we’ll do a little melodrama to get some extra nibbles from gullible tourists. Crème has a bit of a bum back leg and she really knows how and when to play it up to her advantage. I do a good impersonation of dog-tired and since I’m pretty skinny they think I must really be starving. Little do they know that I just have good genes. I’m a lean, mean snuzzle machine!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One woman from Holland actually invited me to sit at the table with her which was fine until the restaurante man shooed me away - but not before I got a good mouthful of perceves. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VqdwyK62wS0/TioOCxTfrkI/AAAAAAAAAJE/ziuT3rN4eU8/s1600/perceveswebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VqdwyK62wS0/TioOCxTfrkI/AAAAAAAAAJE/ziuT3rN4eU8/s400/perceveswebsize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">steaming hot perceves</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I think these are called goose barnacles in English. They’re a very tasty shellfish, but a little awkward for me to handle with my paws. I have to trap the sharp end between my paws and nibble and chew the meaty end to get all the good bits. It’s a bit of work but it’s worth it!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I mentioned yesterday, Crème and I continued our stealth activity by joining the Urban Sketchers at Praça do Comerçio. I did a sketch on the way there first though.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBbNaMf6b3M/TioNFu6aGqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/yRLBO-FyIn8/s1600/lisbon-approach-to-praca-do.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBbNaMf6b3M/TioNFu6aGqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/yRLBO-FyIn8/s400/lisbon-approach-to-praca-do.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a street leading to Praca do Comercio, ink and watercolour</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once there it was easy to stay in”dog”nito while the people sketched. I might as well have been invisible! It was much like yesterday with two men (different ones than yesterday) doing a lot of talking and pointing, and about 20 people absorbing everything they had to say. The men spent some time walking around looking at the sketchbooks and making comments. It was such a fun atmosphere with everyone sharing in the whole sketching experience. I was so tempted to do something to attract the attention of one of the men. I wonder what insights they might have had for me and my sketching.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDy67CxtWBY/TioNLRvusGI/AAAAAAAAAJA/2_4L8hOv9IM/s1600/lisbon-pracadocomercowcwebs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDy67CxtWBY/TioNLRvusGI/AAAAAAAAAJA/2_4L8hOv9IM/s1600/lisbon-pracadocomercowcwebs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were lots of people milling about in Praca do Comercio. Ink and watercolour.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I happily sketched away while Crème did a little scouting for a place to get a good café com leite. I must say that’s been the only disappointment with Lisbon. The coffee is not nearly as good as it is in Burgau. Hmmm. Must be the water.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So it’s back to Burgau for us tomorrow. I’ll have to catch up with Rita in Lagos and tell her about our adventures.</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-45050440076160876422011-07-22T17:02:00.003+01:002011-08-10T18:26:10.832+01:00making marks in Lisbon<div class="MsoNormal">I’m back in Lisbon again. I came up with a person from Burgau who travels here for work quite often. She lives another person and a lovely dog named Crème whom they took back to the village from Lisbon a few months ago. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mkqD-1OwRHw/TimVr2Xz7PI/AAAAAAAAAIo/dmLCJ4bZKio/s1600/Creme-and-her-peepswebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mkqD-1OwRHw/TimVr2Xz7PI/AAAAAAAAAIo/dmLCJ4bZKio/s320/Creme-and-her-peepswebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creme and her peeps</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">She still takes Crème to see a vet in Lisbon though, and that’s how I got to tag along. Crème has to check in with the vet but while her person does some work things I’m keeping Crème company.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cy0fhjUbpr4/TimV0x97ffI/AAAAAAAAAIw/5MGB-Dor0Mo/s1600/lisbon-graffiti2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cy0fhjUbpr4/TimV0x97ffI/AAAAAAAAAIw/5MGB-Dor0Mo/s1600/lisbon-graffiti2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of cool marks are being made all around this city.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">It seems that any blank surface is a good place to make a mark here in Lisbon. Walls, columns, windows, doors, telephone boxes, bus stops, all are targets for creativity of all sorts. Some of it has a message, some seems purely for fun. Either way, there's lots to see.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMNwiStCIkQ/TimVxXD-GrI/AAAAAAAAAIs/uB1kfrxmGtQ/s1600/lisbon-graffiti1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMNwiStCIkQ/TimVxXD-GrI/AAAAAAAAAIs/uB1kfrxmGtQ/s1600/lisbon-graffiti1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These laughing top-hatted characters seem to be everywhere!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yesterday Crème and I were wandering around the busy streets and praças when I saw a group of people all carrying sketch pads. Of course I followed them. They made their way to a praça where there is a beautiful building with two big curved entrances. The group seemed to be lead by two men. There were about 20 people listening very attentively to what they were saying. Occasionally one would point toward a building and twenty necks would swivel around to focus 20 pairs of eyes on the object of interest. People were busily scratching away in their sketchbooks. I was eager to see what they were recording, so I managed to slip in among the group unnoticed and peek over the shoulders of a few sketchers who were sitting on some steps. They were so absorbed in their work that they paid no attention to me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">They were drawing the buildings all around them. Some people had sketches of the two men as well. And many people had pages of notes but I couldn’t really read the handwriting from where I was.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Watching all the industrious drawing going on gave me the urge to draw as well. Here’s a quick sketch of the beautiful building I mentioned above. It’s called Estação do Rossio and it’s a train station that was built in 1887. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x_jenUazE1o/TimV4mZFXmI/AAAAAAAAAI0/r8DSfjypR0A/s1600/lisbonrossiostationwcwebsiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x_jenUazE1o/TimV4mZFXmI/AAAAAAAAAI0/r8DSfjypR0A/s1600/lisbonrossiostationwcwebsiz.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Estacao do Rossio, pen and watercolour</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">There's another really impressive building across from it. It has huge columns along the front. It’s the National Theatre. I might try to do a sketch of it later today. But right now Crème and I are off to Praça do Comerçio because I overheard some of the sketchers yesterday talking about going there this afternoon. It turns out that it's an organized event going on with all these sketchers and workshop leaders from all over the world. That’s what I had stumbled onto yesterday. You can read more about it at at the <a href="http://symposium.urbansketchers.org/">event site</a> or <a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/">www.urbansketchers.org</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s funny, I’ve been on their site looking at the sketches but somehow I’d missed the talk about this big event. I wonder if they would have allowed a dog to attend. Oh well, I’m here now so I’ll just eavesdrop a bit and enjoy the company of other sketchers, even though I’m probably canis non grata.</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-21877257698171543452011-07-16T03:42:00.001+01:002011-08-10T18:06:29.334+01:00Lisbon or bustLISBON OR BUST<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4q_ASPQFHU/TiD2wdsA2tI/AAAAAAAAAIc/qKYb3W4ZeQY/s1600/3bldg-busts-lisbon-colour-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4q_ASPQFHU/TiD2wdsA2tI/AAAAAAAAAIc/qKYb3W4ZeQY/s400/3bldg-busts-lisbon-colour-p.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sketch of busts on buildings in Lisbon<br />
Derwent Coloursoft pencils</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve been trying out some Derwent Coloursoft Pencils. The sketches above are of buildings in Lisbon. I had the chance to sneak a ride up with my friend Charlie's people a while ago. So, I did the sketches first very lightly then I went over them with a different colour for each bust. I used Mid Brown and Brown Earth for the regal lady, Indigo for the bearded man and Yellow Green for the ferocious lion. I was looking at them today and decided to add some watercolour wash on them to see if I could perk them up. The brown behaved as I expected but when I got to putting blue wash on the man, the Indigo pencil lines started to bleed. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-el8XX2PiU64/TiD2xFheBRI/AAAAAAAAAIg/-wGXifvoZGg/s1600/3bldgbustlisboncolourpencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-el8XX2PiU64/TiD2xFheBRI/AAAAAAAAAIg/-wGXifvoZGg/s400/3bldgbustlisboncolourpencil.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">same sketch as above but with added watercolour washes</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hmmm. I thought these were wax pencils and assumed they would resist the watercolour. Looks like I need to do some experimenting.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TflycWZ4W24/TiD20hqFozI/AAAAAAAAAIk/RC_XpPbWZzc/s1600/derwent-colour-swatcheswebs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TflycWZ4W24/TiD20hqFozI/AAAAAAAAAIk/RC_XpPbWZzc/s400/derwent-colour-swatcheswebs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derwent Coloursoft pencils on pale yellowish paper</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first two columns are just the pencils. The third and fourth column have clean water wash over the swatches. So there you have it. Some of the colours definitely bleed, others bleed just a bit and a few don't really at all. What does this mean? I don't know. I'm just a dog. I do something and it pleases me, I wag my tail. Is my tail wagging now? Sure, why not? Messing around with art supplies sure beats barking for a living!</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-1005809605985672232011-07-09T17:18:00.000+01:002011-07-09T17:18:26.062+01:00nose to the ground<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I’ve noticed over at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/artists.journal.workshop?ap=1">Artist’s Journal Workshop Facebook group</a> that I'm not the only one who likes to draw bugs. People seem to as well. Here’s a page from my journal.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E5qrWjNYrsI/Thh3S1SzebI/AAAAAAAAAIE/cAK-Sh2Artw/s1600/bugs-and-caldas-w-textwebsi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E5qrWjNYrsI/Thh3S1SzebI/AAAAAAAAAIE/cAK-Sh2Artw/s400/bugs-and-caldas-w-textwebsi.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You might not be able to read the text because I try to keep the size of images here fairly small so that the page loads faster. Here’s what I wrote on the page:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I can’t get over how much more I appreciate things now that I take the time to draw or document them. I look at things more often and more closely. I mean <u>really</u> look. Slowly. It has to be slowly, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to draw. I’m still working on my eye-paw coordination. When my paws get tired I use my mouth to hold the pen, but I find that even harder because I can’t focus on the paper very well when it’s so close to my eyes.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I love the way the sunlight hits this yellow wall. I feel warm and sleepy just looking at it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’d never really looked at bugs so closely before. What strange creatures they are. What are they thinking as they scurry along in the dirt, climbing over enormous (at least enormous to them) twigs and leaves? Do they fear massive wind storms when I put my nose close to them to smell their iridescent colours?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here's what I see when I put my nose close to the ground.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh_JGc8p4mA/Thh8wnsD0ZI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ZnQ55enJ1UA/s1600/bugs1cuwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh_JGc8p4mA/Thh8wnsD0ZI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ZnQ55enJ1UA/s320/bugs1cuwebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are you bug-eyed?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7q7w8rcRuU/Thh8-iIETuI/AAAAAAAAAIU/brV-NyR7VDg/s1600/bugs2cuwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7q7w8rcRuU/Thh8-iIETuI/AAAAAAAAAIU/brV-NyR7VDg/s320/bugs2cuwebsize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do these bug you?</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">How close do you get to the things you draw?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
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</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-19533176440677817342011-07-03T20:20:00.000+01:002011-07-03T20:20:03.334+01:00Two dogs. One bone.<div class="MsoNormal">I've been up to my dewclaws in paint lately but I took a bit of a break to hang out with Rita at her person's bookstore yesterday. When I got there she was in front of the computer howling with laughter. She was watching a video on YouTube so she replayed it for me. It was pretty funny and it reminded me of a sequence of drawings I'd done in my journal a while back so I thought I'd share them with you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrUfLrOW2KA/ThC5L-HxRfI/AAAAAAAAAH4/a3N9AEUBuTk/s1600/twodogsonebonep1websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrUfLrOW2KA/ThC5L-HxRfI/AAAAAAAAAH4/a3N9AEUBuTk/s1600/twodogsonebonep1websize.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bAN4cYe3DNs/ThC5egjdxwI/AAAAAAAAAIA/iM7ROTdF2jU/s1600/twodogsonebonep2websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bAN4cYe3DNs/ThC5egjdxwI/AAAAAAAAAIA/iM7ROTdF2jU/s1600/twodogsonebonep2websize.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GY8VMDBBh9A/ThC5ePW_hXI/AAAAAAAAAH8/yUwV1lMrGIM/s1600/twodogsonebonep3websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GY8VMDBBh9A/ThC5ePW_hXI/AAAAAAAAAH8/yUwV1lMrGIM/s1600/twodogsonebonep3websize.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">But sometimes even one dog, one bone can be confrontational. Here's the video. Have a look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2O15DXv3Vwg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962804444331994152.post-53538029195003801522011-06-19T21:21:00.000+01:002011-06-19T21:21:31.358+01:00Why do I keep an illustrated journal?<div class="MsoNormal">There’s an interesting discussion going on over at Cathy Johnson’s blog (<a href="http://artistsjournalworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-do-you-use-your-journal.html?spref=fb">Artists’ Journal Workshop</a>) about how we use our journals and what form do those journals take. For me, this whole adventure into art started simply as a way to pass time with my friends. We would be on the beach just hanging out and one of us would start to run around, taunting the others into chasing him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would go crazy running in circles and dashing off left and right, jumping, diving, digging.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLus_8lAduI/Tf5PUhgaw9I/AAAAAAAAAHU/XaLt2D8aijg/s1600/diggingwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLus_8lAduI/Tf5PUhgaw9I/AAAAAAAAAHU/XaLt2D8aijg/s1600/diggingwebsize.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddy digging his afternoon at the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Eventually we would lie down and take a moment to catch our breath. The patterns in the sand that our playing had made would be fascinating. We could read the patterns as if they were images, sometimes quite recognizable, but created all by chance. Soon I began consciously to make images in the sand. And I started to notice that I wasn't the only one doing this. People seemed to have the same impulse.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TeNy8k4A10Q/Tf5Q1eTZt-I/AAAAAAAAAHY/ssVTKwtLNM4/s1600/Tim-drawing-in-the-sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TeNy8k4A10Q/Tf5Q1eTZt-I/AAAAAAAAAHY/ssVTKwtLNM4/s1600/Tim-drawing-in-the-sand.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not the only one making marks in the sand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Then I found that I could make more controlled marks if I used a stick in the sand. I could drag it and actually draw with it. I also used stuff I found on the beach to add to the composition – stones, bits of plastic, shells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this was so much fun that I wanted to be able to make marks or drawings wherever I was, not just when I was at the beach. I started to work on scraps of paper or cardboard I’d find in the rubbish bins. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQUgCzpnlR0/Tf5RgdpKPYI/AAAAAAAAAHc/UEUxMF4mQmQ/s1600/mud-drawing-websize1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQUgCzpnlR0/Tf5RgdpKPYI/AAAAAAAAAHc/UEUxMF4mQmQ/s1600/mud-drawing-websize1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my first drawings on paper</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">I used sticks that I would dip in muddy water or in my café com leite. I loved that these images were more permanent than the ones I did on the beach.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fgOeVJHCNY/Tf5SBROIzvI/AAAAAAAAAHo/zswR_gtD-gg/s1600/mud-drawing2websize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fgOeVJHCNY/Tf5SBROIzvI/AAAAAAAAAHo/zswR_gtD-gg/s1600/mud-drawing2websize.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a drawing of my friends under a palm tree</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I enjoyed looking at them later, or showing them to my friends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first actual journals were made from scraps of paper I found – mostly old paper shopping bags. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3v0ZgGtXDBQ/Tf5R62dpr3I/AAAAAAAAAHk/LDjR6z9-n5U/s1600/scrap-paper-journalwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3v0ZgGtXDBQ/Tf5R62dpr3I/AAAAAAAAAHk/LDjR6z9-n5U/s1600/scrap-paper-journalwebsize.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">journal made of scrap paper with a coffee bag cover</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">After a while I got my paws on some ink pens and eventually real paint and decent paper, although from time to time I still use sticks and whatever is at paw.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYKoYQJEcvE/Tf5Sx472hSI/AAAAAAAAAHs/o1wzOuluO8g/s1600/assorted-journalswebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYKoYQJEcvE/Tf5Sx472hSI/AAAAAAAAAHs/o1wzOuluO8g/s1600/assorted-journalswebsize.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some more recent journals</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Eventually my drawings became more refined as my coordination with my pen (or stick or brush) improved. What I record in my illustrated journals are things that give me pleasure– the object and/or the feeling of the moment, the way I feel as the sun slants through the buildings and warms me as I sit with my friends, or the smell of the colour of the fresh orange blossoms.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-93L50-8dO5c/Tf5UaxfSYsI/AAAAAAAAAHw/BNsl1qYpGjo/s1600/caldaswebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-93L50-8dO5c/Tf5UaxfSYsI/AAAAAAAAAHw/BNsl1qYpGjo/s1600/caldaswebsize.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caldas de Monchique</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I touched on this topic a bit in a previous post (<a href="http://dog-earedjournals.blogspot.com/2011/05/yes-im-artist-but-im-dog-first.html">Yes, I’m an artist but I’m a dog first!</a>). I said that when I do a sketch of someone, I feel like I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am</i> that someone in a way. I get under his or her fur. I walk a mile on her paws. There’s also an element of ownership when I paint or draw someone. Although I’m totally against the idea of owning someone, I do have a desire to have the ones I love be with me all the time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wkc6AkmONiU/Tf5V3qz6vjI/AAAAAAAAAH0/-AGYHfbjyAQ/s1600/Rita-paintingwebsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wkc6AkmONiU/Tf5V3qz6vjI/AAAAAAAAAH0/-AGYHfbjyAQ/s1600/Rita-paintingwebsize.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my best friend Rita</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">If I have a drawing or painting of him or her, then in a way he or she is always with me. Does anyone else feel this way or am I one pup short of a litter? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I sketch something I really take time to look at it, to notice nuances that I often overlook normally. The very activity of drawing something makes me appreciate it more, both for the simplicity of it and the complexity of it. But it’s also a bit strange because while I’m drawing I’m unaware of anything around me, like all my senses are focused on just what I’m drawing. But when I look back over my drawings later - months, even years later- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my senses are flooded with memories. I can feel the sun warming my back, I can hear the cats yowling around the corner, I can smell the sausage frying at Brizze Bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like I’ve put that moment of creating the drawing in a jar (or between the covers of my journal) to be opened and enjoyed later, over and over again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course I can’t draw everything. There's just not enough time so I do take photos too and they have their place in my journals. They’re great if I see something I want to draw but don’t have the time to do it or the image itself is fleeting, or if I want to make a record of something that someone else has made, or to simply document something quickly. And I find when I look back over my journals my eyes appreciate the variety in the types of images I’m looking at.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In response to Cathy’s question, others have said that they use their journals for writing notes about everyday events. I do this too, sort of as a reminder of both the good and the bad, like “I had a really nice walk on the cliffs with the lady from Scotland who treated me to a cup of café com leite at Varandas afterwards.” Or “I ate some Frango Piri Piri from the rubbish behind Restaurante Castelejo last night and I got really sick. Note to self: DON’T eat food that smells brown, grey and green all at the same time.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I apologize for such a rambling post. It’s kind of hard to describe why I keep an illustrated journal or how it makes me feel. When it comes right down to it I get more out of every experience now, even if I’m not recording it in my journal because I now experience everything around me more intently. It’s like I have super dog powers to see, hear, smell and taste more than the average dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just call me Superuca!</div>Krista/Rucahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.com10