June 2013 MB Challenge

WOW, another month. I'm so proud of me and Diana and Suzanne for sticking with this for so long. It has become an anchor for my painting and I look forward to it!

This month's challenge was from a guest artist, Julie Ford Oliver. "Vintage" played so well into my drink series...

Absinthe was a reputed 'drug' that caused insanity, all the rage in the late 1800s in Paris and in New Orleans. A greenish clear liquid was poured into a special glass, then a slotted flat spoon...silver of course...was laid carefully over the top of the glass. Two sugar cubes next, then water was slowly drizzled over the sugar until the liquid started to turn cloudy. These utensils were very ornate, and I happened on one in the shape of the Eiffel Tower.

so without further ado...

"Absinthe"

20" x 16" pastel

© V.N.Ross

“Old Hotness”

Oil on Canvas Board 8"x6"

©2013 Diana Moses Botkin

"Old Red"  20x20"  oil on linen
©Suzanne Berry
http://suzanneberry.blogspot.com/

"Brown Betty"

Oil

©2013 Julie Ford Oliver

MB challenge May 2013 "Rodent"

Well, I can't whine too much about Rodent (this month's challenge creatively supplied by Diana Moses Botkin) after my March idea of "Ides of March".

I decided to do another in my drink series, and searched high and low for a drink with 'mouse' in it...finally did a wikipedia search for rodent and learned there are all manner of members of the rodent family. Beavers, squirrels, and I stopped there. Found a drink called the "Pink Squirrel" and I was on my way.

Recipe:

• 3/4 oz creme de noyaux (almond base)
• 3/4 oz white creme de cacao (chocolate base)
• 1 1/2 oz heavy cream

don't substitute Amaretto because it doesn't have the red color...and you need that for the pink.

The only other issue I had was a business meeting the entire week of the challenge, and the little fact that I have a 300 page 8.5x11" full color book deadline two days ago :) I'm proud of Wicki that she was able to manage everything.

Welcome, Julie, to our merry band of humorous artists!

"Pink Squirrel"

16" x 12", Pastel

© V.N.Ross

"Mr Beaver at Home"
6"x8" Oil on RayMar canvas board
©2013 Julie Ford Oliver
 













"Really?"
12"x16" Oil on linen
©2013 Suzanne Berry 

“Of Mice and Lego Men"
Oil on hardboard, 5"x7"
©2013 Diana Moses Botkin