Wrap Up for 2015 Fake Journal

Well, International Fake Journal Month is over, and I've completed my fake journal in time.    A little bit of info that I did not include anywhere in my journal.  My character is a woman (could even be myself in another lifetime) who won the lottery and bought a beach house in Hawaii.  I visited Hawaii about 13 years ago, and having a beach house there would be a dream come true.  (However, my real self would never just up and move so far away from my family, especially my grandkids). A few of the things that my character experienced were my experiences too,  but many were things that I didn't have the time, money, or the physical ability to do.

I used a Strathmore 6 x 9 inch watercolor spiral pad, mostly because it had exactly 15 sheets, which gave me 30 pages to work on.  Some of my previous fake journals were in larger books that have a lot of pages left, which I wanted to avoid.  I used watercolor pencils, something I've rarely worked with, and although I got a few really nice effects with them, mostly they strike me as either watercolor-but not as good as the real thing, or colored pencil-but not as good as the real thing.  I don't think this project changed my mind much on this.  I resorted to adding pen to a lot of my sketches because I couldn't get the definition that I wanted without it.  Shades of my real self overtaking my fake self???

As usual I started out with great enthusiasm, but sometimes I had to force myself to do that day's page, although once I forced myself to get started, I really got into it and had fun completing it.  

Did I achieve my goals?  Well, I kept my goals very simple.  To actually complete 30 pages (my 4 previous fake journals fell short), to use a medium that I wasn't used to working with, and to have fun.  So, yes, I think I achieved my goals.  As far as the fun, I really enjoyed my virtual visit to Hawaii.  I would love to go back some day  for real and sketch all of these places from real life.

My only regret was that I don't think that I made my character, and my art, different enough from my usual work - even with using a slightly different medium.

April 30 and Last day of this journal

To surf, or not to surf?  Every time I pass one of these surf shops I am reminded that learning to surf was one of the items on my "Hawaii bucket list."  But it looks scary.  I'm not sure that it's really for me.  I think that boogie boarding is more my speed.  I really enjoyed that, but riding waves at breakneck speed (breakneck???) while standing up on a slippery narrow board - I think not.  I enjoy watching them though.  Maybe I will take my sketchbook to the North Shore and see if I can sketch the surfers.

I signed up for a watercolor workshop at the end of May. I wonder if I can talk Joan, or one of my friends into joining me.

April 29 - Lomi Lomi Salmon

I just made some lomi lomi salmon.  It was easy, and it is delicious!  Here's the recipe:

1 lb. salt salmon, cubed
2 - 3 tomatoes diced
2 medium onions diced
3 green onions, thinly sliced

Put all ingredients in a glass bowl and gently combine with your fingers.  Refrigerate overnight.  Serve very cold.

April 28 - Plumeria cuttings

I volunteered again today at the botanical gardens.   This time they had me help one of the gardeners who was taking cuttings from the plumeria trees.  Some of them will be replanted, some will be sold in the gift shop, and they let me take a couple home with me.  They are just bare sticks right now, but I hope that they will look like this soon.

April 27 - Palm Tree Stamp

When I was at the "Art on the Zoo Fence" the other day, an artist was giving a demo on making stamps out of Fun Foam.  I decided to try making my own.  The result is this palm tree stamp.  I am so happy with it that I can see possibilities for many more stamps.

April 26 - Praise Hula

Many of the local Hawaiian churches have "Praise Hula" as part of their liturgical services.  This is a more gentle, spiritual hula, and colorful native costumes or hula skirts are worn instead of the typical grass skirt and coconut bras worn at the luaus and the ceremonial dances.  What a beautiful way to praise the Lord!

April 25 - The Zoo

I went back to the "Art on the Zoo Fence" today to browse some more, and to find out about how to enter the show.  It turns out that there is a waiting list to become a permanent exhibitor, and also a waiting list to be a one time stand-by which I applied for.   Then, since I was here, I decided to visit the zoo itself.  It is a somewhat small, but well kept zoo which houses 905 different animals in its 42 acres.  I haven't been to a zoo in ages, so I really enjoyed myself.  Will have to come back with a larger sketch kit.