It’s been a long and lovely several days since my last post. On Thursday at our class i finished my first-ever oil painting, which i’m pretty proud of.
Again – i know it’s not perfect. The cloth in the background makes no sense because the still-life shifted from week to week and by the end i was just guessing at how the light had fallen on it when i did the under-drawing. I’m not very good at imagining that sort of thing, which is why i don’t draw from imagination.
On Friday Nathan and i drove to Chicago to celebrate Valentine’s Day away from home. We stayed at a lovely little B&B in Oak Park called Harvey House and took the L into the city. I did a bit of shopping but didn’t procure much. We had pizza at Gino’s East and Nathan decided that he prefers Felix & Oscar’s pizza here in Des Moines. I’m pretty sure i caught something by not using my hand sanitizer until after my first bite of the baked ravioli appetizer. Zicam is helping me fight it, though. I’m drinking a lot of tea, too, and will probably become addicted to it as a result.
Saturday we went back into the city to see Millennium Park and the Art Institute. It was awesome to see Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, one of Van Gogh’s “Bedroom” paintings, and some really beautiful Monets. But the painting that struck me the most was this one:
Nouvart Dzeron, A Daughter of Armenia by Ralph Elmer Clarkson, 1912
IT LOOKS JUST LIKE ME. WTH? Even my Mama agrees. But she says i’m prettier. 
We had a lovely dinner at a little place called Francesca’s Fiore in Forest Park and Nathan made me drink most of the wine since he had to drive back to the B&B. I ended up talking his ear off about Rome, my family and various photographic film formats. Best Valentine’s Day EVER.
On Sunday we visited IKEA and picked up some awesome stuff for the new loft before driving back to DSM. We’ll be moving in nine days!! I began packing yesterday. I know i’ve got a long way to go, but it’ll all be worth it in the end.
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 4:18 pm • art, relationships, road trips, shopping
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February 18th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
holy crap she does look strikingly similar to you, but I agree with your mama.
Great painting! Are you going to be doing more now?
February 19th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Yay, I’m glad you had fun in Chicago. Sad I didn’t get to catch up with you though. Hopefully soon. You knowI am always a fan of your artwork. Great job! It looks so….milky. I just want to run my fingers across it. lol That picture of you is creepy. I think it’s the nose that sells it the most. But yeah, you’re much prettier.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
You’re WAY prettier. I’m excited for your new place, I’m jealous. I’m glad you had a good V day.
It’s called the “El,” which is short for elevated railway.
I like Chicago.