The Journey: I held my heart in my hands, then painted it on paper!

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You haven't heard from me much this month. I've spent the month cleaning, organizing and catching up in the doll room. I've also been taking multiple classes on painting in acrylics. 

Acrylics was my bane in college...expensive, working on 3 x 4' foot canvases on students' pennies. Every squeeze of a tube of paint, meant something I had to go without. Our teachers were hardly hands on...pretty much letting us pants-fly with little or no direction, but often with deep scarring criticism, disguised as teaching.

I had started with watercolors a few years back after my last knee failure and eventual replacement. I painted during Covid...explored online classes, experimented  for fun and with no limitations or criticism. I thank you all for the encouragement. 

Acrylic Classes online are great! I was truly encouraged with the color mixing and limited palettes used. The emphasis on value or darks and lights.  I really wanted to paint without black, but concentrate on the wide values of colors dark to light...really a reverse way of thinking from watercolor where you work light to

 dark.

A series of photos altered to show the palette and values in the shades of color.

Changing the photo to black and white, shows the gray scales...Where the darkest shades of a color should be.

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My version...I did this twice, once on canvas and another on gessoed watercolor paper.

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 Here you can see the stay wet palette, which keeps your paints fresh and usable...pretty much no waste this way.

Another scene from a class with Jed Dorsey, photo was drastically altered to increase the contrasts and values of color.

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 selections 4 colors plus white.

This is the comp screen photo altered.    

   

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I really worked this scene quickly and with a bit of abandon...using large brushes on gessoed watercolor paper---loved this working large and inexpensively. 

12x18 watercolor paper gessoed.

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Well, I thought this isn't going to be so bad...learning lots, feeling confident, not wasting, experimenting with colors, values, compositions. Having FUN!

Burying myself in the idea of working/painting.

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Another class for radiant color mixing....

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Cadmium red medium, Magenta, Pthalo Green and Ultramarine blue, Lemon yellow and Cadmium yellow medium. I didn't plan on using them all, and really didn't. But mixing on the palette is a great way to see what you can do.

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Another Altered photo for another class....I increased the values and deepened the colors... I wanted to work on an intense sun source.

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My version: a bit too much fiddling and going to smaller brushes, colors overly intense, I may revisit this study again and take it down a few notches.

photo altered from DIana Shyne's.

The final class an altered photo of Arizona by Diana Shyne....I heightened the colors and deepened the darks...thought this would be a fun and loose experience.

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Watercolor pencils sketch on gessoed watercolor paper. So many planes of light and darks in this subject. I thought I would get a handle on this...also using 12x18 version of a square photo...so added I more mountains, and stretched out the foreground.

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Here's a closeup of the sketch. Feeling confident I got this.

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Another mixing study....Hmmm, not going to get that blue like the screen...but.

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Really planning on using these brushes only.

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After an hour or more...this is where this painting is at. Darks all blocked out, I'll have to come back in for another day.

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Palette when done, I circled the colors I had used...Magenta, Ultramarine blue, Lemon Yellow, White and Pthalo green. The rest are still wet leftovers from the other paintings.

NOW the next day, Today! 

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I have no photo I worked from, basically painted as the instructor was painting, Michelle Gibbs. Lovely English lady---great in speaking with color...I just puttered on...

relaxed, intent, and mindless, maybe that was the issue, mindless. I didn't even have music on.

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New Color Study, a new Pthalo Blue, Quinacridone Magenta, Cadmium Yellow Med and white. I used a lid cover as a palette, since these were NEW colors and I wanted to see what the difference might be with no chance of mixing with other colors.

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Definitely working looser...patterns of light and darks...did not glance at the reference photo (I didn't even have it on screen, was following the blocking of the instructor and then took off on my own.) 

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There are some bits of this painting I really love...even this 'floating' island of trees ...LOL.

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Okay, I quit and decided to clean both palettes and spread the paint on a blank page for collage or a future abstract project. Waste not, want not. Sometimes I hate being a child of Great Depression survivors.

I used a palette knife to scoop up the unused blobs of paint, then a brush to spread it a bit with water..working very quickly. I quickly filled a 12x18 page of watercolor paper with large triangular blocks of colors. I had watered down the blue/teals with white and yellow...the last to go on was some skipping reds applied with a palette knife.

Cadmium red med, basic red, and magenta mixed together and I scraped and spread them, scratching here and there and the mixture landed on top of everything else. 

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I had taped the corners to the table top. I opened the black with thoughts of trees in the woods with a shadows in the snow, maybe a red sun throwing some rose light. Yea, that's what it was.

Black is so heavy and dark and I hadn't used it at all the whole month of classes.  I worked with a huge scruffy brush, and soon my fingers were in the paint, then a palette knife scraped, cut, sliced. I pulled out more red, and added a huge blob of white to counteract that black.  The white smeared then grayed, stirring into the blacks.

I was out of breath, my heart raced, sick to my stomach....I stared at the tabletop.

Scientists and Neurologists say we act 95% of the time out of our subconscious self. Basically whatever your old or immediate experiences are, your habits, and/or your routines; they are the historical guides into your unconscious thought processes and how you deal with your life.

I stuck the brushes and knife into a glass of water  and walked away.

I had painted "Blood in the Snow"...

S Magle

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No, my world isn't just full of insipid landscapes and happy colors.

But, after a whole month of hiding in them, it really hadn't helped.

Apparently this was my subconscious telling me to deal with reality.

Today, January 29, 2026, my journey...

I held my heart in my hands,

then scraped it on paper!

Thanks so much for visiting,

 I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

OldNewGreenRedo, is an ad-free blog.  

I do not endorse or receive any $$ for any products I may use. I enjoy showing how I use products, 

but I do not receive any $$ from anywhere I shop.

However, the link to my BarberryLane Etsy shop

on the right hand side if you choose to visit for a

Antiques, Craft Supplies, Vintage, Dolls, Mini's, and more. I will be opening an Ebay shop in the New Year. Stay tuned...

  

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi 

oldnewgreenredo

My WORD for 2026.

My WORD for 2026. 

I know quite a few bloggers, well and 'normal' people who don't lay their lives out on pages online, who pick a word to concentrate on for the coming year. 

Since I have never make resolutions or for that matter given up anything up for Lent, I've always thought such 'business' is really no one-elses' 'BusYness' and shouldn't need to be shared.

After this year I am definitely angst-ing for some actual ENDURANCE. 

I think there might be a few others out there 'Up to their eyeballs' in wishing for Endurance.

Yes, Endurance... a loaded historical word for sure.

WWII Phillipines, Borneo or New Guinea?? Dad couldn't remember.

Defintion: AI overview- Endurance is the ability to withstand hardship, stress, or fatique and continue a difficult activity or situation over a long period essentially meaning the power to last or keep going despite challenges.

Challenges, enduring personal challenges yes, but THIS?

Now, since I'm not a runner, distance walker, or even exerciser, I'm simply a doer. I DO my own chores: cut grass, trim bushes, garden, shop for groceries, plant, paint, scrape, shovel, reuse, recycle, shop in thrift stores, run a little business and more, etc. When you do all those things you don't need to exercise. \

I even clean my own house, do my own windows (inside anyway)-we popped for exterior washers this year for the first time, because of ladders. And, this year we are going to paint the inside of our home.

So I don't really have to worry about physical endurance, I just take on everything carefully.

So endurance for or from what: Yep, what we don't talk about in blogging world. Enduring the big fricking Elephant disrupting the planet. Yes, our country disrupting ourselves and the entire planet.

And, I'm not talking about global warming...crap maybe I should, it's going to be in the 70-80's this week for half the country---and it's January?????Yes, global warming IS REAL. Endure it!

How about our current Global Standing...? 

Lokken Denmark pre-1920.

    My Norwegian and Danish relatives are laughing at us, daily. They certainly have been given enough material every single day. 

How about the source? It's our dysfunctional Democracy...? If we can still call this a Democracy?

And the victims, what about all our marginalized citizens scrambling to figure out how they are going to afford health care, food, and housing? 

Never in my almost 79 years have I ever lived in a country totally falling apart...and no one doing nothing to stop it. 

My gosh, I lived through the Vietnam war protests of the 60's..., the oil crunches in the 70's, later with inflation twice, three or more times the cost of living. 

(My hubby was a teacher with 29 credits toward his Masters's and our kids were eligible for free lunches in 1977-1978.) Talk about enduring...but never was it as stressful as it is today.

Talk about enduring...but never was it as stressful as it is today.

We all have heard, "This too shall pass"... I just don't think I will live long enough for the current damage to really pass or resolve itself.

Princely Youth and Dervish, by Riza Abbasi; Isfahan, Iran, Safavid period.

The 'Shall pass' phrase has historical origins in medieval Persian Sufi Poetry. 

Also as a recurring theme in Jewish folklore, and the stories of King Solomon. Even, Second Corinthians  4:17-18 Paul rumbles on about this too shall pass...promising the suffering-- everlasting life, if they endure. 

Even Abraham Lincoln used 'it shall pass' in a lengthy speech when he lost an early political race.

Personally, since I 'm such a history nut, such phrases, teachings, as well as scriptures were designed to convince those on the bottom of the 'food chains'...that their was hope for their pitiful futures. Giving them 'blessings' and even 'more promises' that to endure their misery long enough they would either survive or die and be better off then.

So here we are, collectively enduring? Normally I like to do things with a modicum of Grace...but enduring with one's teeth clenched shut is really the worst, and kinda gives you a miserable outlook on life, also not too good for one's health or State of Mind. 

Not only that, everyday there is a NEW 

SOMETHING to ENDURE. 

So teeth clamped shut, hissing, choking on it, ...I will try and practice ENDURANCE!

We could all hope it ENDS sooner than later.

Maybe my second word should be 

HOPE!

Thanks for visiting, all conversation and comments are welcomed. If we don't solve this together soon where will we be...?

I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.

Thanks so much for visiting,

  

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi 

oldnewgreenredo

Christmas Outing to Antioch's Kringle's Christmas Village

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Wow, my 'Whose turn is it' senior game day group decided to put the cards and game pieces down and do something fun for the holidays. 

We drove up to Antioch, Illinois to attend a community program supported by the Chamber of Commerce, businesses, civic groups, families and individuals.

The Kringle's Village is 6' tall box cars full of Holiday scenes with dolls, teddy bears, moving figures, elves...you name it. It it is about the holidays and what it  represents. Another added attraction were Christmas Trees decorated by civic groups and businesses. 

This was the exhibit in the front window of the store housing the entire exhibit which was HUGE.

Santa at his Tailor's and all the laundry done by little critters to the right.

As our eyes adjusted to the darkness of the huge store, all the displays (boxcars) were lined up on street pathways with decorated Trees between them. 

This is Elmo's Icicle Street Ice Cream Shoppe. 

We pressed our noses to the glass to read all the fantasy ice cream flavors...so cute, and everything was staged perfectly and in-scale with the cute Elmo. So much wonderful craftsmanship.

At the end of the Icicle Bar were more goodies.

Love those miniature waffle cones (about 5-6") and all the other items to scale. Look at those swee sunday dishes, maybe once were votive holders?

The community also runs a contest and all visitors vote for their favorite Holiday tree.

I didn't count how many scenes, but it took a good hour and half to view everything.

Here are puppies under the Christmas tree. What a great surprise for the kids in the morning.

A North woods cabin, these dolls were about 18" tall. And that is real stones on the fireplace...so many details.

This was one of my favorites, a photographer (snowman) taking a holiday photo of a

Bear Family.... 

This was titled December 26th...where the Elves all let loose and party. The were all Elf on the shelf size...12" or so...and all the miniature food, hootch, and pizzas were hand made....too-o cute!

This seems to be the naughtiest part of the group...LOL, don't miss the guitar player.

Another box car held Santa's workshop...everyone is busy.

And another car with a baking station for Mrs. Claus!

Of course the elves help with the oven and goodies.

Mrs. Claus showing off her wares.

there was so much detail in her Bakery Shop.

The Boy Scout tree was full of wood, leather and childhood projects, it was adorable. Badges were also described, and "A Boyscout is Brave!" My husband was a Scout Leader and this was so reminiscent of all the boys banging away on leather in the basement.

Wood Burning and constructions...loved the rope stars on wood.

Two quilting organizations had trees and we were so enamored with the patchwork ornaments I forgot to take photos...so special all the handwork and love in their designs.

The next car held a family scene of Teddy Bears and miniature furniture.

These look like Boyd's Bears if you remember those, about 8-9" tall.

Just like a many a kitchen before Christmas. Wonderful stove in the corner...and a Mom with her glasses.

A Playroom ready for Christmas...with a Victorian theme.

Many handmade pieces in here and a perfect stenciled floor!

One of our favorites was the Bear Victorian Hat Shop...so full of delightful ribbons, gloves, pearls, and foo-foo...and just all decked out in finery.

this little corner had a perfume display. And this car display had windows on the sides to peek in.

My friend and I were peering into the scene at the same time!

Another tree was by the Historical society and ornaments made from old Christmas photos hanging with popcorn and cranberries...simply charming and we stood and viewed so many of the  sweet photos some going back to the late 1800's.

I'd date this one to the turn of the century or early 1900's. Look at the baby in the small pram. and those cute faces.

Another Santa display called "Checking the List"...a gazillion names some with naughty and more with nice checked off!

An Elves Food  SNOWAY SANDWICH shop...(suspiciously looking like part of the 7-DWARFS.

Again the Snoway Sub Shop...was all inclusive and just adorable.

This was fun....Elves again, busy repairing Sleighs and Bobsleds!

An Alpine village with all the critters you might see.

Yes that is Marley reflected in the glass, my photo of him didn't turn out...but he was there in the Dickens Villager display, chains and all.

Another village scene...so much detail and built on hills, loved the background and starry lights.

Big stuffed animals in the background...so cute.

A Swedish tradition of Sankta Lucia (Saint Lucy's Day), celebrated on December 13, where a girl, often the eldest daughter, wears a white gown and a crown of candles (real or electric) in her hair to bring light and warmth during the dark winter, leading a procession of attendants.

Many of the surrounding farms in the Antioch area were Scandinavian and German settlers. 

Uh, OH! I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus ...Victorian style...so cute.

A Victorian girl maybe 28" tall or so was the keeper of this lovely jewelry shop..

All Sorts of miniature and antique jewelry pieces...spilling out of displays.

This was quite luxurious and so bright with all the twinkle lights and glass, mirrors,...just Delightful!

Carolers out in the snow singing Holiday Joy!

So what does Santa do on his Day Off???

Teach Mrs. Claus Golf...? Of course the greens don't have snow on them at the North Pole...lol.

Another store...the shelves were full of everything imaginable and all sorts of fresh goods on the cabinet. A Mrs. Grinch is the storekeeper.

One of my favorites a delightful flower shop all miniatures and a lit up greenhouse...this was so cute.

A holiday wedding chapel... and Merry 'I Do' to you too!

Another busy baker with many miniatures and antiques in this display.

That was the biggest iron play stove I have ever seen..and the "Kittens who have lost their mittens" which were sprinkled throughout Mama Kits kitchen.

One of the backs of a boxcar in the middle of the room had this 4 x 8' glass display after Van Gogh's starry night or maybe Sunny day...it was glass glued on one piece of large glass, no maker listed, but stunning.

This was a reindeer beauty Shop....so cute...and some stunning reindeer.

This reading material for the waiting Reindeer customers, was a stitch....'Keep Your Antlers Looking Young, and Get Rudolphs Look & Shine...

GRINS!

Toward the back of the room were the Historical societies Dickens Characters all hand made by the local art society. Much of the clothing was original here is Bob Cratchett and Tiny Tim.

In the middle of the building was a 12 foot or more tall Victorian house. This is the front side of the house(back of the displays) So cute

Everything inside the house display was quite large and this was a baking scene.

Upstairs the daughter in her Victorian Bedroom...

The Parlor...the whole building was adorable.

More Dickens characters...real fur and velvet everywhere. 

Another favorite display was the Shoe Shop...

Look at all those miniature shoes...the Lady is tall with  with that piled high hair. 

A festive Snow scene....love the Frosty treat stand

St. Nicholas and some German and  Scandinavian traditions here again. Fruit left on St. Nicholas Day, December 5.

The Bank and Post office...Santa is busy finishing his packages.

So much baking going on in the Village!

A real Antique Doll house 1:12 regular scale...very sweet and looked to be all hand crafted.

A huge Dickens Village Collection was donated...the display spanned over 30 feet long...all set behind glass and simply amazing.

I didn't realize they made so many different ones.

Charming.

Famous London Buildings a perfect way to end 

our wonderful 

Kringle Dickens CHRISTMAS OUTING! 

If you live in SE Wisconsin or NE Illinois this is a must for all ages, indoors from Thankgiving to January.

Free with Donations only, and totally charming nestled in the quaint Antioch village 2 blocks off of Hwy 45 on Orchard Street. 

Thank You Antioch Merchants, Historical Society, and Community for sharing this wonderful treat. 

HOPE YOU have a Happy Holiday 

and the Merriest of Christmases! 

Thanks so much for visiting,

 I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.

Metamorphosis Monday

Craftastic Monday

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

OldNewGreenRedo, is an ad-free blog.  

I do not endorse or receive any $$ for any products I may use. I enjoy showing how I use products, 

but I do not receive any $$ from anywhere I shop.

However, the link to my BarberryLane Etsy shop

on the right hand side if you choose to visit for a

Antiques, Craft Supplies, Vintage, Dolls, Mini's, and more. I will be opening an Ebay shop in the New Year. Stay tuned...

  

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi 

oldnewgreenredo