Movie: "Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard" (2005) (ca. 02-09)

Bruce Willis in another stupid movie...

Food Cart on Hawthorne St. (ca. 02-09)

It was a cold, morose day, so I stopped for a cup of hot and delicious Gumbo from this food cart (the business operating Po' Boys has apparently expanded since).

Pretty Girl (02-18-09)

I drew this girl while waiting in line at the medical clinic. Her eyes and smile reminded me of a friend I haven't seen in a long time.

Movie: "Die Hard 3: With a Vengeance" (1995) (ca. 02-09)

Really, the things I do to make my husband happy...even watch this type of formulaic schlock.

Movie: "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly" (1966) (ca. 02-09)

We watched "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly," a classic Western with Clint Eastwood.

I remember my French teacher in 6th grade using the soundtrack of this movie as background to teach an elective "Relaxation" class, enthusiastically telling us that Ennio Morricone was a living genius. Anyway, it IS a great movie, and the actors' faces are unforgettable.

On the Bus: Woman and Child (ca. 02-09)

On the Bus: Homeless Man with a Hat (ca. 02-09)

I like the way he looks from under the rim of his hat.

"Daires" Rehearsal at Bridging the Gap Night (02-05-09)

I dropped by Cleveland High School and went to listen to the top Choir rehearse (J. is a member).

Movie: "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" (1990) (02-09)

Another formulatic movie. I miss Alan Rickman as the bad guy, though.

"Play Retreat" in Port Townsend, WA (01-29 to 02-02-09)

I went to Teesha Moore's "Play Retreat" at Fort Worden, WA. I did several drawings while there and posted them on a side page called Play Retreat 09.

On the Bus: Pirates (01-28-09)

Two homeless guys (with great pirate faces) at the front of the bus, -one of them holding a cup of coffee- (this is Portland after all...), engaged in a lively conversation.

Sketch of Feet

A quick sketch done at the doctor's office.

Crystal Ballroom (01-25-09)

The Crystal Ballroom was open to the public in celebration of its 95th anniversary, so J. and I went to just look around.
As it was, the violin player in the group featured when walked in the 3rd floor ballroom was a girl J. knows from Dragon Boats.

PDX Collective (01-25-09)

After reading an article in the Mercury, J. and I went to check out the PDX Collective Sale at the Ace Hotel on Sunday. I wanted to see what type of clothes were sold in local trendy boutiques, like Le train Bleu, Moxie and others.
Really cool and great stuff, but $200 for boots on sale, that's just, uh, not my price range, -budget-wise, I'm more like a Target Clearance shopper,- not cool, but I still like looking at cute stuff even if I can't buy it.

I did a quick sketch of the shoppers.

Condiment Bottles at Sayler's (01-24-09)

We were invited to Sayler's Old Country Kitchen and had a great dinner.
I had just enough time to draw these bottles of condiment before the waitress brought my plate, and the steak was so good,I didn't want to let it get cold by drawing anything else.

Rose Festival Meeting (01-24-09)

J. had to attend an informational meeting organized by the Rose Festival Association because she applied and for the Rose Festival Princess program and was found eligible to participate.
I think it's great to see J. continue what seems to be a family tradition at this point, since both sisters M. and V. had also applied when they were high school Seniors.
This is a perfect opportunity for a young woman to learn to be confident, to talk in public, and to have a chance at representing the city.

I was late to the meeting due to a prior engagement and barely had time to start this sketch before the meeting was over.

Update: See the article in the Portland Mercury about how it unfolded...

Dinner at Firehouse (01-23-09)

M. asked us to take her to Firehouse restaurant for her birthday. M. had wanted to eat there for a long time: Matt, her former boss at New Seasons' is the owner.
We enjoyed a delicious meal and great service, from the pizza to the chicken to the desserts.

I got my diploma! (ca. 01-09)

Amazing News! I finally got my degree from Portland State University: a Master's in General Arts and Letters!

Moso's Birthday (01-21-09)

I took M. to Todai for her birthday.
It was an epic meal; I watched her accidentally send a shrimp fly across the table.
In this sketch, M. is concentrating on what food on her plate she is going to attack next.

Presidential Inauguration (01-20-09)

I wanted to mark the date in some manner, so I did this so-so sketch of Obama mostly from memory.

On the Bus (01-20-09)

I did this cool sketch of a young guy sitting across from me. I thought he looked like an artist.
I was trying to look casual, glancing at him every once in a while, but must have been totally obvious, since the woman sitting next to him thought I was drawing her! She got up before getting off the bus and asked to see the sketch. And then she was telling me how wonderful it is to be able to draw, etc., and the usual, "Oh, I wish I could draw, but I can't, just stick figures, etc."
A few minutes after she was gone, my young guy pulled out a sketchbook and started to sketch people on the bus! (So I was right about the artist part...) I showed him the sketch before I got off the bus.
Now, picture a bus where everyone could be busy drawing everyone...

My present sketchbook (01-18-09)

This is a photo of the sketchbook I am using right now.
My dad got several of these wonderful books in Hungary. I love the compact format, the many pages, the attention to details, the leather binding, the old-fashioned patterns...
Unfortunately, the manufacturer has discontinued this particular size of books. I still have a few blank ones stashed away, and when they'll be completed, I will have to reluctantly move on to something else altogether.

"Fête des Rois" at the Alliance Française (01-18-09)

The Portland French Alliance had a demonstration of how to make a "Galette," the traditional cake for the "Fête des Rois" (this is the day the Wise Men arrived at Jesus' Manger, January 6 according to the Catholic tradition).
After the demonstration, we tasted some galettes from Pix Pâtisserie.

Movie: "Die Hard" (1988) (01-17-09)

I did these sketches while watching the first "Die Hard" (Bruce Willis still had hair!).
It was fun watching this old, yet still pretty cool movie, with Alan Rickman as Head Bad Guy and various terrorists with Rock Star 70s hairstyles.

I often draw while watching a movie, even in a dark theater...

On the Bus (01-14, 01-15-09)

Years ago, as I was sitting and drawing a woman who looked a little, let's say, mad (like crazy), she suddenly jumped up from her seat and sat down next to me. I immediately shut my sketchbook. She leaned over my book and asked what I was drawing. I reopened the book at random, relieved she hadn't seen the drawing I'd done of her. Since then, I try to be discreet and to not look too obvious; I don't want someone to get upset with me.
To draw people in a closed environment like a bus, I glance at people once in a while and try to remember details of their faces, adding them in afterward if necessary.

Church (01-11-09)

We had Ward Conference at Church today. This is a sketch of the inside of our chapel.

Maxine's BD: Family Dynamics

...Where P. feels resentful (again).

At Nicholas (01-07-09)

...Lebanese food sounded good tonight...so we went for take-out at Nicholas' Restaurant on Grand Avenue. (I did this sketch while waiting for the food to be ready.)

Celebrating the New Year...at Pix Pâtisserie (01-01-08)

On News Year's Eve, G. and I went to Pix Pâtisserie to end a frustrating year in a fun way.

We found a little spot in a corner by the bar and sipped a Ginger Ale while I drew the crowd and enjoyed the ear-splitting Techno.

As for the after-midnight Chocolate Buffet, I loved it! It was the most decadently self-indulgent thing I had ever done! It was like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," only, it was more like "Pascale at Pix Pâtisserie."
Right after midnight, all those who had been given a small Gold ticket lined up and went single-file into the kitchen, where a long table was covered with chocolate pastries, chocolate creams, chocolate mousse, chocolates...

Maxine's BD: Vacations in Hungary

...Where P. reflects on her father's driving style.

News about the degree (12-22-08)

I can't believe I did it! I finally finished my last two classes at Portland State University.

Now, it is only a matter of time before I get my diploma.

Maxine's BD: The World Has Gone to H... (ca. 12-08?)

...Where P. recapitulates the last few years' woes...

Gary Losing It (ca. 12-08)

I gotta admit: I really like these small thumbnail sketches of Gary losing his temper, because I think I really caught the expression right... I planned to use them as a reference if I ever worked on a comic story about one of his rare but spectacular outbursts.

Funny!

Apologies... Not doing well.

I haven't been able to think straight because of an ongoing chronic inflammation of the heels (imagine that when you're walking, every step or movement feels like you have a sprained or a broken ankle, and you see little flashes of light because it hurts terribly, all the time).
Anyway, I don't feel up to post anything right now.

Apologies, this blog has been quiet lately... (12-11-08)

...due to the author's health problems.

I hope to snap out of it soon and to post something.

Portland Houses: Pittock Mansion (12-06-08)

What can I say about this quasi-castle, the most famous house in Portland?

The Pittock Mansion is situated on top of a forested hill that must have been difficult to reach in the 1920s. Whenever I visit it, my thoughts go to the staff whose function was to be at the beck and call of the owners. So, more than the grand Music Room, or the Library, the spaces that interest me are those one which the rest of the house depended to be functional. For a long time, the kitchen was closed, but now restored, it is part of the tours. Although it is a large room with a great view of downtown, equipped with a superb top-of-the (1920s) line of stove, adjacent to a walk-in cooling room, there is hardly a counter to work on or a surface to lay things on.

Portland Houses: The Lion and the Rose (12-06-08)

The Lion and the Rose is a famous Bed and Breakfast in Portland. We were given a tour of this superb house by one of the owners. It has been gorgeously decorated (flowery wallpapers, antiques, period-style light fixtures, etc.). Imagine, 7 bedrooms and about 9 bathrooms! I loved the amazing attic with cavernous ceilings and a tiny turret room.

This house is listed on the Historic Register, and so a sign was posted announcing that the house would be open for tours the next day. I wanted J. and C. them to see this beautiful house, so we went back and had a great time admiring it.

Portland Houses: The Georgian House (12-06-08)

The owner of The Georgian House Bed and Breakfast gave us a tour of her house which she operates as a Bed and Breakfast. Although I am not partial to Country style, the consistency of the decorating was very pleasant overall. This house is obviously well-cared for and is a lovely, welcoming and comfortable place.

Portland Houses: White House (12-06-08)

The White House, a famous Bed and Breakfast in Portland is very impressive Greek Revival mansion is a breath-taker, a heart-stopper, a beautiful, immaculate house in a perfect setting.

Portland Houses: Clinker Brick House (12-06-08)

Hmm... Although this house had a certain charm, the dormers' metal frame windows were obviously not period and the big rust-colored metal panes in front of the gutter channels looked unsightly.

We used to own a (great) house in Medford with two fireplaces made of clinker bricks. I was told that these bricks which look almost black and whose shapes are often distorted were brought up to Oregon after the Great Fire of San Francisco in 1906 and used on new construction of the time.

Portland Houses: Tudor House (12-06-08)

I didn't care for this house. It seemed very average compared to some other houses in Irvington.

Portland Houses: Cottage House (12-06-08)

I did some sketches of houses for my last class at Portland State University.

The Cottage House is my favorite. It's essentially a Tudor style house whose woodwork has been refinished in natural stain (as opposed to the usual dark brown). I particularly liked the bent shingles roof, don in an effort to keep the general shape, -if not the look, of a straw roof.