This week started off with a benign sketch of my most prized material possession, a Bose Soundlink Mini speaker.  I bought this thing because I couldn’t imagine Christmas without loud music in the house.  I refused to decorate until the box came.  Had it not come, we would have postponed Christmas.  I do not kid.

Jan 15, “Prized Possession,” Pen & Ink

But what I really had in my mind to paint this week were bugs.  Yes, you heard correctly.  Bugs.  Moroccan bugs.  Turns out, Moroccan bugs look a lot like American bugs.  Here is the Rabati fly, scientific name withheld for reasons of ignorance.

Jan 16, “Rabati Fly,” Watercolor, Pen & Ink

I gave it 9 Van Goghs because (a) I loved it and (b) I managed to leave a few spots white.  Every time I start a watercolor, I intend to withhold paint on the highlights, but my brush seems to have other plans.  I’m having a grand ole time painting and before I know it, I’ve painted the whole thing.  Matt even reminds me sometimes, “Stop painting.”  But I just can’t.  The brush keeps moving.  Not this time!  Take that, Brush.

Then I painted the Rabati Beetle.

Jan 17, “Beetle 1,” Watercolor, Pen & Ink

Not happy with my Rabati Beetle, I painted him again.

Jan 18, “Beetle 2,” Watercolor, Pen & Ink

Still not completely happy with the Rabati Beetle, I decided to give it a rest and paint the Praying Mantis instead.

Jan 19, “Mantis,” Watercolor, Pen & Ink

And thus ends my mini-fascination with critters.  I don’t think I have it all out of my system though.  I might have to work on the ants or snails in the future…maybe a turtle.

Jan 20, “Auberge Dardara,” Pencil in Sketchbook

On Monday, I traveled to Chefchaouen with a girlfriend.  We stayed at a little cottage inn in the valley outside of Chefchaouen.  The sketch above is my bedroom.  It was quaint.  Rural.  Perfect.  But it was also more than a little cold, so while I don’t love my sketch, I am going to blame it on cold fingers.  We got a good fire going, but it just wasn’t enough.

When I got home the next day, I put brush to paper without really knowing where I was going.  Looks like it’s going to be rain clouds!  But thanks to Payne’s Gray, the best watercolor pigment out there, I don’t hate it.

Jan 21, “Raining Colors,” Watercolor

And one final note.  A dear friend suggested that instead of painting everyday, I take a rest once a week to recharge.  I thought this was a wonderful idea.  Afterall, God gave us this example when He created the world.  And as my friend pointed out, resting might actually help me to improve.  Since I’m not above tweaking my project, I have decided to rest from art once each week.  I still want to produce 365 pieces this year, so I will produce an extra piece during the 6 days of work.  This actually makes more sense because some days are naturally more productive anyway.  So there you have it for this week.  Check back later this week on the “Found.” page for some interesting finds in Chefchaouen.