Thank you @indivisible.org @indivisible-isbla.bsky.social and all who came out today to defend Democracy 🇺🇸💙
Seeking joy in people, nature, science, art (watercolors!) and a bit of humor thrown in
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Thank you @indivisible.org @indivisible-isbla.bsky.social and all who came out today to defend Democracy 🇺🇸💙
If your news outlet isn't report ing these big marches & protests, it isn't telling you what is really happening here #resist #noKings #WorkersOverBillionaires #WethePeople This means you @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy @abc7.bsky.social @cnn.com
Thank you @nbcnews.com for mentioning massive protests across US today. Limited coverage but more than we see from other mainstream news outlets. People filling the streets of US cities to protest trump's abuses of power, to defend democracy, to speak out against fascism IS NEWS
Well done, San Diego 👏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💙
We were down near the southern end of today’s protest (Sunnyvale Tesla) #teslatakedown
Thanks for being out there, Mark 👏👍🇺🇸 We drove past going north, honking and waving along the entire route and then came back south from Palo Alto. I'm so proud of everyone who was there
“Get it all on record now. Get the films. Get the witnesses. Because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.” Dwight D. Eisenhower
Well done, Arizona 👏🇺🇸
Dogs for Democracy! 😄💙👍🇺🇸 #resist
Thanks to all who come out today across the US to defend Democracy 💙🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #FiftyFiftyone #50501movement #maydaystrong #resist #NoKings #WorkersOverBillionaires #LaborDay #WethePeople #Indivisible cc @50501movement.bsky.social @50501sanjose.bsky.social
@50501movement.bsky.social 150 protesters lined both sides of Rockville Pike in Rockville, MD to send the message loud and strong: #Resist #LaborDay
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Protesters line El Camino Real for 17 miles 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💙 Here, people out to defend Democracy in Palo Alto CA #WethePeople 😊🇺🇸 #WorkersOverBillionaires #LaborDay2025 protests #NoKings #resist
For us, a tiny local family owned grocery store saved empty boxes for school kids That was another world
CHICAGO IS IN THE STREETS! #LaborDay #DefendHigherEd #WorkersOverBillionaires
What better way to celebrate Labor Day than by fighting against billionaires in defense of our democracy and in advancement of our rights? Find a protest near you at MayDayStrong.org.
"We the People" : 1st words of US Constitution Your Constitution, your country 🇺🇸🇺🇸 And it's under attack Stand up for the Constitution, stand up for Democracy 🇺🇸💙 Find #LaborDay event National options: www.fiftyfifty.one www.mobilize.us/mayday/map/ BayArea: www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve...
I’m also doing a couple of literary festivals this month: the Jersey Festival of Words on 24th and Marlborough LitFest on 27th. That’ll be just me reading a bunch of poems. If you fancy coming along to any of these, you can find more info here: brianbilston.com/events/
Music: tRump uses Neil Young songs without permission, over his protest. I wonder if tRump will want to steal this new one with lyrics "Big crime in DC at the White House" 😂 🎶 www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B9A...
In grades 1-6, we carried our pencils, crayons etc in an empty cigar box. Cigar boxes were cool, except for the cigars. I liked the way the thick lid fit down into the box to stay shut.
Boston kicked off the Labor Day events and now it's time for you to do the same 🇺🇸🇺🇸💙 👏 Find a local event & show up: www.fiftyfifty.one/events or maydaystrong.org #laborday2025 #workersoverfillionaires #protest
It certainly can feel like things have made a turn. Here, today, it feels like I hope they make a turn soon. Supposed to be 33+C/92F That's hot for us
Good to see it to remind myself how it should look/feel to avoid that scrubby style. Thanks again, Edo. I can hardly wait to get through all the stuff I have to do today (including Labor Day protests) and get to try it again this way
Sounds like song lyrics... 🎶 Always thunders in September But hey I remember It pours, man, it pours 🎶 (apologies to the Mamas & Papas, Albert Hammond & Mike Hazelwood)
💙🙏 Thanks!!
Time to find a local protest, get your sunscreen, hat & water, and get to work. It's LaborDay!
Friends, I urge you to join a Workers Over Billionaires protest this Labor Day. Let’s honor the roots of this holiday by standing together to protest the exploitation and oppression of our tinpot dictator. bit.ly/4lMgKaR
Don’t forget: Nationwide protest hosted by 50501 this Labor Day!
One being you'd spend so much time watching it and laughing that you'd hardly have time to clean up its mess
😂😂 I was very determined!
Calling for RFK Jr to be fired isn't political. It's just common sense. If you want to protect the health of people, especially children, remove this incompetent man and get someone who knows about and cares about health, science & medicine.
Question: How do I get same strength if I use more water? Do you mean mixing on palette with more water? Wouldn't that result in more dilute paint, lighter color? (Your advice is much appreciated) 2/2
Thanks Edo. That was exactly what I was struggling with. I often mix paint with an old brush, then paint with the good ones. This time I just did direct, maybe I was too cautious. And it is hotter than usual here even indoors (will be 33C today) But please I have a question: 1/
👍 Thunder gone now?
Puffins and pikas are two of my three favorite animals. I'd imagine puffins would be a bit fragrant as a pet, but they sure are adorable!
I think it's generally done to leave the pencil marks as your mum did. But I got fussy about the drawing: drew dark lines, changed mind and erased and drew again before painting. Then I think the paint reminded me that was a no-no 😂
Beautiful colors. Feels like looking at a stained glass window
Enjoy a burst of color and beautiful watercolor painting skills from Pam Johns @pamjohns.bsky.social . Aren't these fun and full of joy? 😊 #flowers #stilllife #watercolour #art
Wow! just wow! The flowers are beautiful - I love nasturtiums and orchids, too. And your paintings are wonderful. I love both versions and impressed they can be so different
Thanks Marina 😊
This morning I was all,'Phew, August's over. Thank goodness I don't have to do a drawing today.' And then... out popped another one. Guess it's a habit now. Trying to do a smiling self portrait. So difficult. Charcoal this time. #DrawingAugust
Excellent! I like the portrait and I like the smile!
Thanks, Joost. Very kind of you to say
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Thanks, Dave. It surprised me - makes me want to try again to see if the issue was that I drew with pencil and erased or if the paper just behaves differently.
Aren't they lovely? Made me think of the unknown artist who painted them. Wouldn't she/he have liked to know that so many years later, people walking across a courtyard would stop for a moment, admire their artwork and then share it with a friend thousands of miles away 🤗
Thanks, Edo. That means a lot to me 😊
Thanks Andrea 😊
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Thanks, Sam. Different paper, I drew in pencil & even erased some spots - I wonder if that made it trickier to get smooth feeling of flow in the paint
PS I was referring to the watercolor version. The ink was different paper and flowed faster than I could move! 😂 Fun!
Thanks, Marina. I want to try this paper again to learn more about getting the paint to flow. I drew in pencil & erased some - not usual for me - and that may have been a factor. Plus a hot day.
Great pose!
Also tried this flower subject as a 15-minute sketch in ink Stillman & Birn sketchbook, Pentel brush pen. #art #painting #nature
Dry brush watercolor on paper I'm not used to. Very good paper but a challenge for me. 6x8.5in Langton Prestige 100%cotton. W&N pigments #flower #art #painting
Wondering why America is silent against tRump's abuses of power and his attacks? They aren't. The media may be silent, but the people aren't.
"We the People" : 1st words of US Constitution Your Constitution, your country 🇺🇸🇺🇸 And it's under attack Stand up for the Constitution, stand up for Democracy 🇺🇸💙 Find #LaborDay event National options: www.fiftyfifty.one www.mobilize.us/mayday/map/ BayArea: www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve...
Find a spot to speak out on #laborday #labordayprotests #bayarea #resist One option: join 17-mile chain of pro-democracy 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 protests stretching along El Camino Real from Redwood City to Santa Clara Details here: www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve...
For those who don't speak NWS, SLGT = slight risk, MRGL = marginal risk
These charming floral tiles are inset into one of the brick courtyards at Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park CA that we visited with an art group yesterday #random #garden #flowers #art
I'm envisioning what the Merlin app would say: "Hearing a bird".... "Hearing birds..." "HEARING A LOT OF BIRDS"... etc
Napacious: a condition of people and cats who exhibit a high degree of napitude. Did I get that right @michaeljklein.bsky.social ?
I can see why you feel it's a finished piece as is. Really lovely to look at it. Will you still try it again, larger, different, ???
I originally intended this to be a preliminary sketch for a larger piece. But after living with it for a few days I actually like it as is - scrappiness and everything #watercolor #watercolorsketch #watercolorpainting #watercolorcityscape #cityscape
The glow on wet pavement is particularly good - not overdone.
Thanks Glen. This little lady was definitely doing the zippity-do-dah thing
Thanks, Marina.
Thanks Marina. It's rare for me to draw or paint outdoors unless a tiny sketch at a coffee shop. I should do more - it's so different
"wait until yesterday" is a good phrase. I just put it in the file with "remember the future"
the sketch or the lunch? 🤣
Thanks. I realize I almost never draw in graphite or pencil other than little sketches to plan a painting or tiny little coffee-shop type drawings. Not sure I really know how to "complete" a pencil drawing Of course, I tend to leave watercolors partially done as well 😄
I'm wondering if they hold live music events there. Seems like such a pleasant setting
Thanks, Pam. It really was wonderful. And thanks for your encouragement. I got to meet the artist in my sketch after I finished. Her instructor introduced me, so that was an added treat.
Thanks, Sally. It was superb. Now if I could just channel you and capture in watercolor the wonderful gestures and poses of people out enjoying this place 😄💙
magats feed on cruelty. The politically motivated, vicious, illegal actions of ICE must stop #resist
Sorry, no!
"Ceramic Cat with Garden Chair" Pencil sketch (soluble graphite pencil + a little water with brush). Paper was thin drawing paper - not a great choice for soluble graphite. #art #drawing #garden #landscape Blue (happy blue) was the theme. I accidentally dressed the part
Good advice, Richard! It was a fun day. I'm very grateful to have been invited to come along with this group of artists. I'd never been to this location before. In fact, I'd never heard of it. A 1920s Spanish Revival set of buildings & garden. The hummingbirds were a bonus!
Ha! Just realized I put yesterday's date on my sketch! oops
Yep, chalk that up to maga efficiency (and cruelty)
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Standing outside a garden cafe today, I saw hummingbird visiting yellow blooms on a hibiscus plant. My cell phone photos did capture the pretty bird. But most looked like the photo on the right, all flower, no bird 😂 #nature #garden #birds #photography
Had fun day with plein air drawing / painting group in garden of Allied Arts Guild, Menlo Park, CA. New experience for me. I only got a couple of graphite sketches done, but I soaked in feel of this place before gobbling in lunch at their lovely cafe 😋
That's a nice travel set! I love W&N pigments. I started with slightly smaller Cotman set. Cotman is WN student grade and very good. I also like how much mixing area this one has. The hydrangeas should make a very nice subject for a still life
By the way, how did you like your new travel palette? What type is it? (DM if you prefer, but I suspect others like to know, too)
"Beginneryness" is a suberb word. I've dabbled at painting a bit longer than you but still lots of beginneritude in my approach, too, especially as I jump from one medium or topic to another. But it's such fun!
And what a stunning photo, Glen. You really did a great job with this
We've all seen it: 😱 Dangerous hearts, flowers, bunnies, hopscotch squares etc. that OVERRUN AMERICAN CITIES with sidewalk chalk art 😱 😬 🤡 No wonder desantis's Florida needs so many patrol cars on chalk duty!!!!!!!!!! #magaamerica Read this for context: www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2...
SoOOOOooo many colours in that "black" bird, Glen 😂
Sometimes this approach feels more true to life than a photo AND definitely more lively! It's a real talent to paint a watercolor that immediately sweeps the viewer into a cheerful, energetic mood 👍
Thanks for including us in this plein air event @criindel.bsky.social You painted quickly - I'm so slow by comparison! I like the way you've captured the angle of the fence, scale of those large trees and the interesting shapes of manicured shrubs around the fountain. Well done!
Ted points out I have troubles getting traditional expressions untangled. So time to get my ducks in a barrel, I guess
😊💙 Your mom was entirely correct!
RFK Jr joined the fight on deadly diseases on the side of deadly diseases.
Barefoot because (as I know only too well) it's hard to get shoes to fit with a long middle toe. (well maybe mine isn't quite that long 😂)
I was quite far away when I first spotted it swimming, and wasn’t sure what it was. But it kept swimming closer! Soras are good swimmers, but when it came to a partially submerged log, it climbed right up. Swimming is ok, but these big feet were made for walking! #Birds #photography #wildlife 🪶
"We the People" Opening words of US Constitution. Government is here to serve the people. Not to make a corrupt old vicious pervert felon fabulously rich at everyone's expense. #resist
Something strong, energetic, fun from UK artist Pam Johns @pamjohns.bsky.social Makes you want to jump up and grab some brushes and paint! #art #watercolor #watercolour #stilllife #painting