Refuge in Art

I have fallen in love here with drawing and painting.  I found an amazing studio where I take weekly classes and attend monthly workshops.  I am learning both techniques and how to think more creatively.  It feels like an escape from the dull, formal city.

I have been learning about light by working on black and white pieces - this is phase two of an abstract painting. 

I love how oil paintings can have endless layers.  I learned how to collage my canvas and use the collage to add both texture and life to a still life.

In one class, we focused on different types of brush strokes.  She taped a huge piece of canvas to the wall, divided it into quadrants, and used left-over paint to just look at different types of marks you can make with paint.

In one workshop, we did 45 different drawings - each one, just a few minutes.  I loved when we used a straight edge and only had a certain number of lines to represent the essence of the figure.

Good - Bye London

We ended our trip at Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guards.

We even glimpsed the Queen in her beautiful hat!

We had one last meal at Borough Market before we headed back to Vienna.

London Day 3

We took the Tube to the British Museum to visit the Rosetta Stone and the impressive Egyptian collection.

We hit Borough Market for Lunch

Along with the incredible donuts from Bread Ahead

which we enjoyed in Hyde Park.

We ended our evening watching an incredible production of Matilda!

London Day 2

We spent the morning exploring London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London then the afternoon on an amazing food tour of Borough Market

We ended the day at the West End laughing to "The Comedy of a Bank Robbery Gone Wrong" and eating ice cream in the theater!

London Arrival

We decided to spend ski week in London.  I wanted the kids to see one of my favorite cities and everyone dreamed of Chipotle and Five Guys (seven months without a decent burger or burrito!)