Pages

▼

Monday, July 4, 2011

Summer Break, Summer Fun

"The Beggar" ACEO



I can’t ride rides.  I get sick and it’s not a pretty sight.  I know my limits and I haven’t sat my derriere on a ride seat ever since I was little and my dad  (who loved rides by the way) convinced me to ride the scrambler with him at a local fair.  After the ride was over I reeled over to the nearest trashcan and unloaded my cotton candy, hot dog, funnel cake, and popcorn into that receptacle, albeit slightly used.

Everyone else in my family loves rides and we are within driving distance from several nearby Amusement Parks.  Summer comes and Amusement Parks are always on the agenda.  I am nothing if not a trooper so I tag along and Amusement park myself on a bench.  I bring a book, and I people watch. 

I think that watching people is the most enjoyable way to spend a summer day. Especially when you are just sitting on a bench in an Amusement park.  Everyone is busy having fun and no one is going to stop and say,

 “Hey Buddy, take a picture it lasts longer.”

You can people watch with abandon. 

You can count how many people are wearing sensible shoes. Would you believe there are quite a few wearing four inch heels?  Ouch!

You can count how many are wearing flip-flops (it’s a very large number, I’ll tell you that)

You discover that most people have the expected 2.5 children.  Two are running around like banshees and the half child is peacefully sleeping in the stroller.

You can feed the overly tame squirrels and birds, which happens to be one of my favorite parts.  Last time I had a squirrel follow me around for half the day picking up the popcorn I’d toss.  And if you happen to be on a boardwalk, you’d better guard that slice of pizza because those gulls can be rather snatchy.

And most of all you can sketch Americana at it’s finest.  Just stay away from the trashcans.

The theme for Creative Tuesdays this week is Summer break.  My entry is an ACEO of the squirrel that managed to eat more popcorn than I did during my last visit to the Amusement Park.  Please visit goodteatoo.blogspot.com and see all the other wonderful artistic summertime fun.
at

26 comments:

  1. MarleneJuly 4, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    What a fun post, love the squirrel and I too love to feed them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. WandaJuly 4, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    That little squirrel looks so real. Love the angle you gave and a lushious tail.

    I sat in my back yard today and watched a little squirrel eating and drinking from the bird feeder and water dish.

    I like what you did for the theme..I don't ride either. As a kid I did...but not now....

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 4, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    well I don't care for rides either,, but i love this painting!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. maddyroseJuly 4, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    I love this painting and I dislike rides, even the gentle ones geared for little kids. I'm dizzy enough without an outside influence.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Valerie-JaelJuly 5, 2011 at 12:36 AM

    Love your aceo, and had a good laugh at your story, but I know what you mean! Here we only have the small red squirrels, which often hop along my balcony looking for treats. Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jehanne's doodlesJuly 5, 2011 at 3:39 AM

    What a beautifully painting.
    I think I will have to dusk off the seat next to you and watch the shoes parade as my tums definitely does not like to be spun or swung and speeds faster than a toddle :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Betsy BrockJuly 5, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    Your painting is just wonderful! He's a cute little beggar, isn't he? ha.

    Love to people-watch, too. The local fair is a great place to do that...not to mention all that yummy bad-for-you food. :)

    I'd sit on the bench with you instead of rides any day! HA.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Magic Love CrowJuly 5, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    Love the aceo Crystal. I used to love rides, but now, I find they hurt my neck and also, I find I get nervous. So, I watch too ;o) It's great fun! Take Care ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  9. DaniellaJuly 5, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Really? Today is the day for CT? I thought I missed it last week! I kept looking on my sidebar for the new theme!! ugh. blech, duh.

    I LOVE squirrels!! If you read the interview, you saw I am the crazy squirrel lady!! I feed them, so I can lure them to my house, so I can see them all the time!! I name them too! Glad I am not alone in the squirrel loving!!!

    I have pictures too!!

    Your aceo is awesome! I should buy it!!
    xxDaniella

    ReplyDelete
  10. Craftymoose CraftsJuly 5, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    I used to love rides also...now not so much. I still can handle a few Disney rides though. Cute ACEO!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cindy AdkinsJuly 5, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    I love your ACEO! And I can't go on rides either! lol One time when my kids were little, I was at Six Flags and they had to stop the merry-go-round for me...lol

    Xo
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gerri HerbstJuly 5, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    This is great, such a beautiful painting of a squirl.thanks for visiting me today, take care, gerri

    ReplyDelete
  13. HeatherJuly 5, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    those darn squirrels! they are everywhere. I love yours though!!! you are so talented. i hope you are putting all of these on your Etsy shop....this one is great!! hugs to you! and a belated happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  14. JaniceJuly 5, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    What a beautiful squirrel drawing. I enjoyed your well written words as well...they brought back a few memories for me. I can sooo relate to not being able to handle the rides!

    ReplyDelete
  15. LeoviJuly 6, 2011 at 2:37 AM

    Well, I also like to note that more up on the rides, I love this precious squirrel. I wish you a happy summer. a greeting

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jenn BowerJuly 6, 2011 at 6:17 AM

    Hey Crystal! I could squirrel and people watch all day long. I so relate to this post. Great squirrel> I am amazed how you captured the pent up about to spring movement in his pose. Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  17. WendyJuly 6, 2011 at 7:04 AM

    wow! this is awesome! I so love squirrels!!
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lee PierceJuly 7, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    Great squirrel! I like feeding chipmunks and love rides. Don't do them anymore - life is exciting enough :D

    ReplyDelete
  19. Marcia BeckettJuly 17, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    That's a great squirrel!

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    As a rule, squirrels and I do not get along (violently do not get along, i.e. existing in mutual hatred), so I admire your squirrel whispering ability. And your artist ability to capture it so well!

    What freak of nature wears heels to an amusement park??

    ReplyDelete
  21. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    Love squirrels but the image that sticks in my mind is the woman with 4 inch heels. Maybe she was a career woman just passing through, looking for something. LOL Great work. You are good with shading and highlighting for sure.
    QMM

    ReplyDelete
  22. ChristineJuly 19, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    lovely ACEO of the squirrel, shadows and all. Yes, I just sit at the amusement park these days too, although I loved the rides until I hit 40, or maybe late thirties!

    ReplyDelete
  23. linda (dots n doodles)July 19, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    Fabulous squirrel and story to go with it! I love his tail, you have caputured the fur exactly how it fans out. I think that people watching is a great way to spend the time. Shame about the consequences of the ride though.

    ReplyDelete
  24. MichaelJuly 19, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    What a great idea for summer break--feeding the squirrels. Of course, so expressive too in your painterly approach. Love it. TY "Crystal."

    BTW, I am the exact same way for rides. Just don't do them anymore. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Morph WaffleJuly 19, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    I LOVE your squirrel! Squirrel are one of my favorite animals! I'm not a big ride person myself, people watching can be good fun!

    ReplyDelete
  26. JaneJuly 19, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    I am with you as far as the rides go, much more fun to people watch. Love the squirrel, reminds me of going to Hyde Park as a youngster and feeding the squirrels

    ReplyDelete

As always thanks for you comments!