My Unfinished Work: "Harvest 2010"

Colored Pencil

 

I keep seeing this unfinished picture on the easel, telling myself that I must sit down and complete this!  I fondly call this picture "Harvest 2010" since our bounty was so small.  I carefully picked this plant out at a wonderful nursery in Woodstock, NY before going home one weekend last Spring.  This plant was an heirloom variety called Rose and I planted it in my Topsy Turvy tomato plant holder.  It was lovingly cared for, given Miracle Grow food, watered and it grew huge, long and heavy, but only produced a few tomatoes.  We had such a hot and dry summer, it was difficult for gardens to grow well.  When I saw this cluster, it was perfect, and I knew I needed to preserve it in my art.  I took out my cardboard shadow box that I made to create miniatures, and set up my display.  (If you are observant, you will notice this is the same blue napkin I used in my seashell picture from the Spencer Fair post, this is a favorite napkin!)  Since this was a spur of the moment decision, I grabbed my Bristol smooth paper and my container of colored pencils and went to town creating.  The task did not get completed when I had a floor installed and the whole downstairs of the house went upside down!  Also, adjusting to a new job and work schedule has also cramped my time for creativity.  I wish to share this picture since I like how it is progressing.  This picture is only half way there, but it will get done!  I may decide to create an oil painting from this photo. Maybe I can use my new Photoshop skills to enhance this picture. Putting all of this together, my life, my work, my art, is all part of my reinvention; it is a process, and one I will gladly share with you in my journey.

My Search for Excellent Hot Dogs: Papa Gino's

Papa Gino's

     Lastly, for the moment, I had lunch at a Papa Gino's pizza restaurant, and when I saw hot dog on the menu, I thought, "let's if we can repeat this!".  So, when asked what I wanted, I ordered the hot dog and all of the specific ingredients to make the most excellent Chicago hot dog.  The waiter told me to sit down, he would bring it to me and I waited excitedly at my table.
     A few minutes later, over he came, holding this closed box made out of corrugated cardboard, making me to believe my meal was Fed-Ex'd in.
 With slight trepidation, I opened the box, peeked in and found what you see.  It was an extra long hot dog, and sprinkled with all chopped ingredients.  The tomato and pickles were all chopped underneath.  I tasted it and have to say, it didn't have much flavor.  I thought, "how could this be?", but it is true.  The fries were your average frozen fries, nothing special, but good.  My drink was iced green tea. So, my waiter came by and asked in friendly way, "How's everything?", to which I answered with a smile,  "It's fine", then to myself, "until I blog about this!"  There is no point telling him that his hot dog pales to a fine Chicago hot dog, or even Five Guys Burgers and Fries, or even to explain what makes a Chicago hot dog.
     My travels will bring me back to Chicago next week to visit with my sister-in-law and nephew and family friends, for the holidays and in honor of my late brother's birthday.  You can bet that I'll get to Portillo's again.  When talking on the phone last night, she asked if I had the melted cheese on my hot dog, to which I said no, so I may have to try out a different version!  I must also experience the authentic Chicago pizza again, will keep you posted!  To my audience, thank you for reading. Wishing all of you well.  Will be talking more about my art work.  Will be sketching in the airport and plane, will show what I produce!
Papa Gino's

My Search for Excellent Hot Dogs: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

     My travels brought me close to a Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant, a new establishment that I had heard wonderful reviews about.   My first impression of this place was how unique it was.  The dining room was divided from the path leading to the counter top with stacks of 50-lb bags of potatoes.  My thought was, "Not a bad idea, very different and it works."
      I decided to go and try a burger until I saw hot dog on the menu!  Then I noticed food could be made your way with all kinds food to add and my thought was, "Can I create a Chicago Hot Dog?"
 For those who are wondering what makes it so special, you start with mustard and chopped onions on the bun, then add the hot dog, then on the side tuck in tomato slice halves, the you need a wonderful kosher pickle across the top.  So, I requested all of the ingredients, the man asked if I wanted relish instead of a pickle, and I said, "No, I would like a pickle".  What's fun about this place is, the order will be shouted out and someone behind shouts back, "Got it!". What I received thrilled me completely, you can see how nice it was in the picture.  The flavor was just like the Chicago Hot Dog and I was a very happy customer!  The freshly made fries were amazing, they reminded me of being at the Spencer Fair!
     So, I will say that Five Guys Burgers and Fries is a close second to Portillo's.  I will be very happy to go back there and have my own Chicago Hot Dog and Spencer Fair fries anytime I want!  Should any of you in my audience decide to try this, let me know how you like it in a comment.  My next post will tell about another hot dog I tried, and was disappointed.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries

My Search for Excellent Hot Dogs: Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen

On that day that I found myself having lunch at the Dairy Queen, I decided to see if there is any hot dog out there that compares with the very best Chicago Hot Dog.  I ordered their hot dog meal from the menu, "Let's see what we have here", I thought.  I sat at my table, eating my hot fudge sundae first, thinking about writing in my blog, waiting for my prize meal.  Then the man came over with a smile and delivered a tiny box and some onion rings to me.  My first impression was not good, I had to open this box and wonder what was inside.  I am not sure if my grimace was obvious, but in my heart, I did a grimace.  "Oh, well", I thought, "this is certainly not what I was hoping for, but now I know, I will never get a hot dog here again".  But, my opinion did not stop me from eating it, the flavor was just fine, but the presentation was a big disappointment, but it was less than $3, so I guess I got what I paid for.  I do enjoy looking at my food, I want it to be special, especially when I am dining out.  I love the swirls added to a plate, I don't care what the liquid is made of, it just looks nice.  So, after experiencing this disappointment, I decided that I must find the close second to Portillos around here, and I found it!!  Will tell you that story tomorrow!
Dairy Queen, Check Out the Hot Dog

My Favorite Hot Dog

Portillo's in Chicago, Illinois

The only local place I had ventured on purpose for a hot dog was Hot Dog Annie's, a tiny establishment in the woods that cranks out hot dogs at a bargain price. (There is a link at the end to show you what we have for our best hot dogs locally).  When visiting Chicago when my brother was gravely ill, my sister-in-law wanted me to experience his favorite places to eat and she took me to Portillo's. This place has amazing decor, it draws you in and I felt instantly like I must have one of their hot dogs.  I was advised that I must try the Chicago Hot Dog, which I did and I was instantly in love. Now that's a hot dog worthy of being a destination place!  When visiting again, I was taken right away to Portillo's, and I was just as happy the second time.  When visiting Chicago, I will definitely make Portillo's my place to eat out!  Last year on the food channel there was a show dedicated to the best hot dogs in the US, and Portillo's was featured.  I have been doing a local search for anything that comes close around here and I will write about that later.  When in Chicago, I recommend going there!
Hot Dog Annie'sPortillo's, The Chicago Hot Dog

The Unveiling, Final Picture!

"Who Let The Horse Out Of The Barn?"

     I am so pleased with this outcome!  You asked, "where is Peter the pig?"  He made it to the other side of the hill.  I managed to go back to the original picture, find the third leg, cut it out and put it on the horse, which required again erasing the fence to put it behind.  There was a dark shadow on the horses back that had been from being in the stall, but being outside it did not make sense, so I got rid of it with the cloning tool.  I created a slight shadow on the fence to the left of the horses nose with the burning tool.  The dandelion is placed nicely on the ground to the right of the horse.  I hope you, my audience, is pleased with my presentation, it would be nice to hear your comments.
     Since my purpose for taking Photoshop classes is to create ideas for paintings, I realize that my work has only begun.  This picture is nice by itself, but now I have to work on a painting!  Will share my process when I begin it.  Thanks to all of you.

The Unveiling, The Final Touch!

     On November 7, when leaving my son's house in the evening, I crossed the dead lawn and was surprised to see a dandelion in full bloom!  The weather was typical Autumn, the sky was cloudy and dreary (it was the same day I took the picture of the fence), the temperature cool, there had been no warm days, and yet, a dandelion bloomed.  I was so amazed that I ran back into the house to tell them and then I took a picture of it.  The following Monday, when I found myself in the town that has the DQ that I mentioned earlier, I found a dandelion just starting to open.  My thoughts were questioning, "why?", "how?", these flowers sprout in the Spring.    This all happened in my early days of learning to blog, when I was thinking up topics, and when I discovered this cute dandelion, I was considering writing about the resurgence of the dandelion, the determination to live, not only live, but to stand proud.  It made me think of the little engine that could; to be confident to do what you believe in, even when everything around you is dead.  So, I have said it, but that is not the topic, which is my horse picture.
     When finishing my horse picture, I knew it needed one more source of information to make it complete.  Not only did  I want this detail for the final picture, but also for the presentation for the student show piece.  My thought was to present the final picture as an 8x10 inch center, surrounded by 4 pictures used to create the final product, so I needed one more picture and this was perfect!  Where did I use the dandelion?  Did I put in behind the horses ear?  Did I place it on Peter the Pig?  Did I make a dandelion sun in the sky?  Tomorrow you will see my final picture!  Let the drum roll begin!