Weaving

 While walking through a neighborhood knitting store, I stumbled upon a weaving kit which included a wooden loom, yarn and other simple tools.

I used the over and under method and with practice hope to make some fancy designs in the future.

~JM

In the beginning...

No perfect, but I was getting the hang of it and found weaving to be very relaxing

Dust Off That Musical Instrument!

 I think it has been over 4 years since I last practice the guitar.  Poor thing just sits in the corner and collects dust.   A friend convinced me to dust it off and play a duet while she plays the violin.   In searching for songs, I came across "Greensleeves" (same or similar tune as "What Child Is This?").   Below is a video of me playing along a recording.  ~ JM

 

Color Pencils

 Earlier this month I participated in a virtual studio with the National Gallery of Art.  The focus was on color pencils and we discussed the color wheel, blending, and textures.  We studied Sumac by the artist Ray Euffa and concentrated on one portion of the picture. Click here for more information about the artwork. Below is my interpretation of  one of the leaves from the artwork. ~JM

Sumac by Ray Euffa

Bill Traylor

 I first learned of the artist Bill Traylor when there was an exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in 2018.  When I read about his story, I immediately wanted to know more.

Luckily,  the National Gallery of Art recently posted a film on Bill Traylor on their website called, "Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts".  To view the video, click on this link.  I'm unsure how long the video will be posted, but definitely explore his art and learn his story. ~ JM

Bill Traylor Exhibit at SAAM in 2018

Follow the Grain

 Using the natural design of the grain of wood as guidance, I created this unique colorful painting.  I used watercolor markers and a piece of wood from a craft store.  I imagine any type of paint will work, but acrylic paint may work best.  I saw this idea on Pinterest. ~ JM

Fill In Those Frames!

 I have used postcards to decorate my home.

I also thumb through interesting articles and cut out pictures that catch my eye to be placed in frames.

Additionally, I have used interesting fabric or designer paper and glued on materials such as buttons, felt and ribbons to be placed in a frame.

Below are examples.  ~ JM

Architecture: District of Columbia

Washington, DC has many different types of architecture styles.  The area is rich in history which reflects the look of the buildings from neoclassical structures to brutalist government buildings.  Below are some pictures I took throughout the years when exploring DC. ~ JM

Bunshaft conceived the Hirshhorn as “a large piece of functional sculpture” among the shrine-like structures of the National Mall. The hollow-centered, elevated cylinder—primarily a gallery for paintings—floats above nearly four acres of landscaped grounds for sculpture.

A new language museum that once was Franklin School, designed by Adolf Cluss.

Red vertical steel supports made a dramatic exterior statement on the new International Spy Museum, which was designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

Designed in 1963 by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster, the Kreeger residence was built on five and a half wooded acres.  The residence turned into a private museum.

The ceiling of the Post Office Museum. The architectural firm of D.H. Burnham & Co. designed this building in classic Beaux Arts style. 

The glass pyramids of the East Building of National Gallery of Art designed by I.M.Pei.

A lockhouse near the C&O Canal. The C&O Canal Trust has renovated six of them for overnight stays.

The Arts and Industries Building is the Smithsonian’s second oldest building

Dupont Circle's rowhouses, primarily built before 1900, feature variations on the Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque revival styles.

Union Station is a soaring neoclassical masterpiece designed by famed architect and planner Daniel Burnham.

Haiku

 In celebration of poetry month and cherry blossom season, I attempted to write a haiku below.  Composed in three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables. "A haiku often features an image, or a pair of images, meant to depict the essence of a specific moment in time." The Poetry Foundation is a great website to learn more about haikus.  ~ JM

Branches hold pink blooms

swaying in the new spring day,

admired by all.

Cherry blossoms in 2019 near the Tidal Basin. Because of Covid, the viewing of the cherry blossoms is limited.  But I hope to get an opportunity to take pictures of the blossoms in 2021.

Winter Photography in the Garden

 Visiting the Enid A. Haupt Garden, it's interesting to see the garden in its winter state since the visual contrast in color between winter and summer is quite striking.  Learn more about the garden here.

It was literally raining ice the previous day, which lends itself to unique pictures.  ~ JM

A Walk Down Memory Lane

 I've posted museums visits on the blog before, but there are so many more experiences I want to share.

Living in the Washington, D.C. area for over 10 years, I had the pleasure of visiting many museums in the immediate area and also in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and beyond.

With little or no access to the museums during the pandemic, it is fun to look at old pictures.  ~ JM

Art Museum of the Americas (DC)

Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC)

Whitney Museum (NYC)

Freer | Sackler Gallery

Museum of Arts and Design (NYC)

Smithsonian American Art Museum

   

Museum of Modern Art - Jackson Pollock (NYC)

 

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Gallery of Art  (The only Leonardo di Vinci painting in N. America)