'red to the purple degas?' by myra anderson painter of the ballerina sketch . . .

My dearest Helen,
if you recall, i rather boasted in my last post about how i was going to reinterpret - if you will - this degas.  well my dear, here is as far as my limited skills could take me.  it was a fun painting - but for now - i am done - or rather - done for . . .

oh Helen - i don't care how simple a degas sketch or painting looks - it's very hard for me to copy my beloved degas. 

i got a bright idea!  my idea is to paint modern day women in dresses and heels using degas' colors and composition.  i got so excited about this idea that my pulse began to race - or maybe it was . . .

chocolate salad?

because the other day someone gave me some unsweetened chocolate . . . it tasted nasty . . . so i got the bright idea to add sugar, cinnamon,  butter and raisins to melt and blend with this chocolate.  it was soooo good - but maybe next time i should eat a salad. 

with love for all of  yall,
myra

'little pencil portrait' by myra anderson painter of the ballerina sketch . . .

Dear Lee;
thanks a lot!  i was minding my own business eating 'butterfingers' and 'peanut butter cups' until you reminded me about how much i love to draw and paint degas!

now i am in my studio drawing and painting my own version of his painting below.  because of you i am now painting - not one, not two, not three but five ballerinas!  i hope this painting comes out okay lee!  i'm using creativity and everything! 

love myra

'pink power walk' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

what's happening inside my studio 
look at all of that 'pink power'!  whenever i take a delightful trip thru my art supplies i will always think about the artist janettmarie.  she would be one of the first ones calling me, texting me, and maybe even sending a passenger pigeon to encourage me to get busy in 2015 crayon-ing, pencil-ing and marking-ling . . .

'hey lee - it was not peanut butter and jelly' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

if you met me - you would see that I know my way around a '2 piece chicken and a biscuit'.  with that being said - the older i get the less inclined i am to eat three meals a day.

i saw a television show where this woman only ate one meal a day and yet she was not losing weight.  the doctor said that by eating one large meal instead of eating several small meals a day - she had very slow metabolism.

with that in mind i thought that i had better change my own eating habits and eat at least two meals a day.  so i fixed myself a nice little brunchy sandwich with a lovely cup of coffee with hazel nut creme.  it was so delicious!  but right when i was about to enjoy. . . that. . . last. . . delicious bite - my sandwich fell on the floor - so i . . .

'hey julie ford oliver - i don't even like bread pudding!' by myra anderson painter of the runway sketch . . .

so, i had a lot of bread and i decided to make a bread pudding.  i didn't use a recipe.  my philosophy is 'if you toss a bunch of good ingredients together - something good should happen!' 

i decided to make a 'pumpkin pear' bread pudding.  hey i was shocked when i tasted the pumpkin and it was not sweet.  only later did i find out that pumpkin is a squash and not a fruit!

anyhoo i put together my 'squashed' pumpkin with my milk, eggs, cinnamon, butter and a little brown sugar, a pinch of salt and some pear juice. i put in the bread pieces and stirred it so that it could absorb all the goodness. 

i glazed my pears in pear juice, cinnamon and brown sugar.  i put the bread mixture on top of the glazed pears and baked it in the oven until it was done. and boy was it good!!!  AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE BREAD PUDDING!!!

"talking 'bout red?" by myra anderson painter of the runway sketch . . .

Well, I didn't think that this painting was larger than the scanner - but alas it is!!  Still - in the second photo the top of her head is still out of the picture - so I will have to photograph the whole painting later!  

I wanted to do another 'table top' painting like the one in the previous post and - while I was surfing the internet I came across this little gem of a painting below.  I don't think that you can guess who painted this  - even tho I left you a (kinda bad) clue in the post title - or can you - cause there are some smart cookies out there!  It was surprising to me . . . would you like another clue!

Hint #2 - A more modern day painter - a man - born 1922 to 1993 . . .

'35 cups of coffee' from the book 'janettmarie's coffee' by myra anderson painter of the table top sketch . . .

when janettmarie makes coffee -
and it's piping hot -
i drink 35 cups of her coffee
'cause i really like it a lot . . .
i called her at 2 o'clock - 3 o'clock - 4 o'clock in the morning and said "i'm still walking about!"
she said "tap your head with a mallet and knock yourself out!"
'thonk!' 'zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!'
disclaimer - i do not condone violence of any kind - this was written in what I thought was humor after drinking said title . . .

'her flowers in a pink vase' by myra anderson painter of the dress sketch . . .

i put out a call
and she answered me -
and i was not the only one . . .
she shared what she had
and gave what she could -
AND tho her troubles are her own -
still she has flowers -
we were her flowers -
her flowers in a pink vase . . .
'LITTLE' SWEET PEA YOU TOTALLY ROCK!!!!

'I will then give Lee a dollar' by myra anderson painter of the dress sketch . . .

 
Well, it's rare that I have not done any art for the last three days or so.  I have a few unfinished paintings like the one below . . .and the one above - well - I did this one several weeks ago.  I can't tell you when I am going to get back to work.  But I can tell you this . . . I saw this beautiful pattern on Lee's artwork and when I do get back to work - let me say this as delicately as I can - in my blue chiffon dress and apple red pumps that I AM GOING TO STEAL (I mean borrow because kids - stealing is wrong)  LEE'S PATTERN AND TRY MY BEST TO DUPLICATE THAT LOVELY PATTERN ON MY DRESS!!!! (cue title)

'the dressmaker's perfume #4' by myra anderson painter of the dress sketch . . .

'myra - on the runway?' by myra anderson painter of the runway sketch . . .

They were all 'abuzz'.  Oh no!  They were one person short and they needed someone to walk the garment down the runway.  Although I was in the back 'sampling' the pastries that I had catered - they said that I would look perfect walking down the runway in this beautiful dress.  Okay I said.  I don't have any experience in this field but because this is for a good cause I am more than happy to help you out.  What size is the dress I asked.  It's a size 10 they said.  Ohh . . . this is a dream I said - and then I woke up.

'the dressmaker's perfume #3' by myra anderson painter of the dress sketch . . .

Well, I have been practicing my interiors for the day that the painting will actually match the title  'the dressmaker's perfume'.  The painting that I am working on right now actually has a bottle of perfume!  I am sooo thrilled!

'the dressmaker's perfume #2' by myra anderson painter of the dress sketch . . .

Ahhhh!
finally . . .

I finished the red dress . . .

sat down on the green chair . . .

and looked out the crooked window at the Mondrian sky . . .

'the dressmaker's perfume' by myra anderson painter of the dress sketch . . .

It was a beautiful day. . . perhaps one of the last summery days of the year.  For once there was no important work left to be done that day - so I sat down to enjoy a large gourmet spam sandwich and a beautiful cup of hot coffee with just a dibble dauble of hazelnut creme.  Between the sunny blue sky and all that warm food -I could have taken a nap! But I rallied because I really couldn't wait to get to my other job - making paint make a dress!  And, I thought about the other artists and I hoped that they too were having such a day . . . . . . .

'project runway picasso and matisse - the faux fur challenge' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

 

myra anderson 'faux fur' collar

Heidi:  Lee you're in - you may leave the runway.  Myra if you want to paint couture - you must eat couture, drink couture, sleep couture and sneeze couture.  Your 'vintage style' dress based on 'matisse colors' is very nice but what happened here?  The surprise challenge was to also paint a faux fur collar.  While yours is very nice - Picasso added more detail and dimension to his garment.  What happened? 

myra anderson 'matisse colors'

picasso

Myra:  Well Heidi, I was so busy coughing, sneezing and wheezing couture that I ran out of time to complete the challenge.

Heidi:  Well, we are going to have a little chat and then we will call you back . . .

One of you will be the winner of this challenge - and the other one will be out . . .

'myra's matisse' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

Myra's Matisse

Oh wow!  So far I haven't been eliminated from the competition!  The last spot was between myself and an up and coming fashion designer named Matisse.  I don't know how he made it to the next round.  Clearly he copied my work!!!!

Matisse

'flirty red dress in a blue room' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

This week I painted a 'flirty red dress in a blue room'.  There was a guest judge at the judging table.  He loved my dress but he challenged me to use more color in the next challenge . . .

You know him - he has done hundreds of paintings - but did you know he was such a fashionista?  CLICK

'sketch the runway - autumn colors' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

This week on 'sketch the runway' the sketch artists were asked to show two of their looks coming down the runway.  I chose the theme 'autumn colors'.  (Please keep in mind that this all takes place in my head.) Despite what I said before - I will indeed attempt to watch another episode of 'Threads'.  However, I will also be watching the new series 'Project Runway All-Stars Season 4'.  Perhaps Lee and I will begin looking at other designers like Dior and Zac Posen and Oscar de Verenta for artistic inspiration! What did Nina say about my garments? 

'sketch the runway' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

wrong wrong wrong wrong. . .yesterday I was wrong about everything that came out of my mouth.  Sean DID in fact win.  Sorry for not saying spoiler alert BEFORE.  I think that I believe that Kini should have won but quite frankly I need to see his collection again!  I was also wrong about THREADS.  It may or may not be a good show - at this point I don't know.  The kids are sewing along with their parents.  My opinion is that these talented group of  kids should be able to sit down and sew a beautiful garment on their own.  They should not be thrown all these curve balls.  Therefore I did not find kid angst enjoyable.  May try it again - may not! 

 

Lee rocked the runway with a snappy pose and beautiful color and patterns!!!!   You go girl!

'project runway - the end and the beginning' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

Tonight is the season finale of Project Runway.  Here I am giving my best 'on the runway' look.  Who will win PR tonight?  I don't know!!!!!!  I don't think it will be Sean - so if he wins - I will be surprised!!  Anyhoo - tonight is also the launch of the new series Threads - where kids will be designing clothes.  Some people think that they can't learn anything from kids.  I say that if a kid can do it - then maybe - just maybe - I can do it too!  So I will be keenly (?) watching this new show.

Can't do it without food - so tonight we will have virtual champagne and virtual horderves - many of which will be wrapped in bacon of course (the real thing would kill me) . . .

Lisa, Lee and Me 'project runway get on board - project runway sketchy poo' by myra anderson painter of the fashion sketch . . .

Last night PR did not disappoint.  The designers got to go to ROME in order to be inspired for their final runway collection.  For the first time - as far as I know - the judges wanted to see a preview of everyone's collection.  The person who was the most confident about his collection was the one who was totally ripped apart by the judges.  I agree with them.  He over-designed each piece and needs to go back and edit his work.

I actually painted the first painting on cardboard while watching PR.  Heidi said it was 'nice but please get off my runway'.  The second one is a sketch of the outfit Char did last week.  If I could - I would 'untense' her shoulders. . .ah well









This week the foxy Lee did the swimsuit challenge.  Heidi said that she would totally wear that swimsuit!

The fabulous and creative artist Lisa Graham painted this beautiful painting below.  This girl can 'virtually' sew my 'virtual garments' anytime!

 Beautiful Lisa!!

'tomorrow - party on the runway' by myra anderson . . .

Sometimes you have to forget about all of the wears and tears of life and have a party - a runway party.  Speaking of which - this is how we will be dressing for the project runway party tonight.  It will be difficult but we will be balancing a sketchbook in one hand and eating tender honey barbeque riblets, steak fries and creamy cole slaw with the other hand.  How do we stay slim and fresh. . .lean and clean?  We just do . . .we are sketchers of the runway - that's just how we roll . . .

'project runway party' coming soon . . .

pencil practice!

'you, me and lee and project runway par-tee' by myra anderson . . .

Well, it was a great party!  The food was good and the show was excellent.  All of my favorite designers are in the season finale.  Here, my first painting is really just an idea borrowed from designer Samantha Black.  My second painting is an outfit designed by Mondo.  The skirt he designed was actually plaid - but I don't know nuthin' bout paintin' no plaid!!

The second painting posted here is actually the first one I painted of a model walking down the runway.  She looks a little stiff so I'm working on looser paintings. I tried to step out a little with this third one.  It's a work in progress - I'm about halfway there.  I need to finish the garment and my model needs her hair!

 

The fantastic artist, illustrator and colorist Lee designed this fabulous garment and illustrated the feminine form in a beautiful way.  You go girl!  What you got up your sleeve over there missy!!!!!

'tomorrow's the party - girl!' by myra anderson . . .

Well, Project Runway comes on tonight and it promises to be an interesting show.  If you recall, I told you that the person who said that they had 'the least respect' for their fellow designer (Char) was in a head to head competition with said designer - and was eliminated.  Tonight they are bringing her back and pairing her with 'Char'.  She appears to walk off the set in dismay over this pairing.  We will see. 

But, that's not why we are here.  Get out the martinis with the olives stuffed with blue cheese, the honey barbque chicken wings and the 7-layer salad girls and get to sketching.  That's why we are here . . .