Another Waiting Game at UCLA/Harbor plusTesting CamScanner

I found a "scanning" phone app via my Fake Journaling friend Dana, who found it through Tina, an Urban Sketcher.
The app is CamScanner, available for both iOS and Android.

The first quick experiment, under bad lighting:

Compare with a standard scan:

The standard scan wins in this case. This is an easy sketchbook to scan from, and black ink is easy to scan.
I have other sketchbooks and media that are more difficult, and I will continue with my experiments.

The hospital visit was for a sonogram for a suspicious lump near my 2nd mastectomy scar. It was a false alarm -- that was a relief. I could have done without the three hours of waiting around, it was very boring AND anxiety inducing. I refused to sit in the Room of Doom (where I waited to get my initial diagnosis on 6/2/10). Instead, I sat in the hall near the Radiation Oncology Clinic.

Waiting at Harbor General pt2

[Pardon my French] 

Waterlogued at Harbor General

I had a good suspicion that my new favorite App, Waterlogue, would be a great distraction for killing time.
I've shown my Waterlogue experiments on my On the Edge and SpyGirl blogs, but this is my first time showing it here.

It was time for my semi-annual oncology appointment, which includes a blood draw one day prior. I no longer need to meet with a doctor and now go to the Tuesday "maintenance" clinic and meet with a nurse practitioner. [I'm fine, by the way].

Herewith follow scenes from various waiting areas, filtered through Waterlogue.

I really like how the watercolor style softens the harsh edges of the hospital.

I used the (not very good) camera on the iPad to shoot the original photos and added my signature in the Brushes App.

Waiting at Harbor General

Lilly Padilla

Lilly Padilla is a Certified Health Coach and Holistic Nutrition Chef.
She gave an enlightening lecture last Friday at The Benjamin Center about nutrition and its connection to the immune system.
Above is page one of my copious notes with a sketch of Lilly.

Lilly offers individual coaching on heath and nutrition and I plan to meet with her.
I foresee some changes in my eating habits!

In 5 Minutes... At Harbor General

I had a routine oncology appt at Harbor General, so I did a couple of sketches for an ArtHouse project:
"This week your challenge is to create a 5 minute portrait."

See other five minute portraits on the Flickr Group.

Quick Draw: Harbor General

Long wait for routine visit.

Words of Wisdom from Lesley Riley

What To Do When It's Not Working

In my last newsletter, I wrote about rhythm in art. Rhythm is one of the elements of art. Rhythm is also the result of pulling together all of the elements and principles of art into your work for a pleasing composition. And then there is YOUR rhythm, the key ingredient to successful, moving art.

So, have you got rhythm? Even if you can't carry a tune or cut a rug, the answer is yes. We've all got rhythm. It's an internal thing. Our rhythm shows up in the way we walk, the way we talk and the way we spend our days.

When it comes to art, your rhythm shows up in your subject matter, your color choices and the way you compose things on the canvas/fabric/paper. Most times you make intuitive choices and it all comes easy for you. Other times you may feel as if you are all thumbs, two left feet or tone-deaf and color-blind, especially if you are a beginner. That's when it's time to just walk away. Literally - just walk away. Intentionally take a walk.

This clumsy, awkward feeling of incompetence happens to all artists. We all have days or periods when our rhythm is off. And that's all it is - an off day. The thing is, many (if not all) artists feel that what they do, this creating thing, is magic. And, indeed, it is. You create something from nothing, spin straw into gold. The problem is that because it is magic, you fear it might one day disappear.

Have no fear. It will not disappear. You're just out of synch, off your rhythm. It happens for many reasons but the most common one is that you are not in touch with yourself. You are forcing it, over-thinking it, looking outward when you should be looking inward. Or actually...you shouldn't be looking at all. You need to feel.

What brings tears to your eyes, makes your heart sing, makes you feel like dancing? What do you want to let everybody know? What have you had a lifelong interest in or affection for?

a color?

a shape?

a face?

an idea?

a line?

a time?

When you are truly connected to your subject matter, your work shows it. The rhythm is just there, effortlessly. Personal rhythm is the common thread that appears in an artist's work, no matter what the subject matter. You know it when you see it. It's also known as style or voice.

Those days or times when you're just not feeling it, don't try to force it. It shows. You know and they'll know. The remedy is to just walk away and get in touch with yourself. With your heart. A walk creates and enhances your natural rhythm. Walk until you feel your rhythm return. Walk through the frustration, the doubt, the clumsiness. Add music if desired, but find something just a beat faster than you feel. Let the faster beat of the music raise your spirits and your rhythm to where you feel like dancing.

In my next newsletter, I'll share tips on using your personal rhythm to create good composition.

Lesley Riley, The Artist Success Expert, is the creative founder of Artist Success, Solutions for the Struggling Artist. To receive her bi-weekly articles on creating your own success as an artist, visit www.ArtistSuccess.com.

6-19: crazy hair

6-19 hair Self
Originally uploaded by anne m bray
self portrait with crazy hair

chemo chair

chemo chair
Originally uploaded by anne m bray

5-20: yet another day @ Harbor

another day @ Harbor General

4-27 more waiting

4-7 waiting for MUGA

7-26 #65

7-26 #65
Originally uploaded by anne m bray
when I got my #65 ticket, they were on #12.... I sat next to #14, who said she got there at 6:30. I was ready for a long wait. much to my surprise, I was called very quickly. In all, I was there for about 50 minutes.

elsie the drain

new batch of harbor general sketches

for info about what's going on health-wise, check here

mini: vicodin

mini: vicodin
Originally uploaded by anne m bray
first drawing post-op.
I'm baaaaaaack!

info about the health issue here:
caringBridge

harbor general, day 2 -- urgent care

I was warned by the nurse (?) I saw in ER to get to the hospital before 7:30, because of the bad parking situation (my appointment was at 8). Got there @ 7:25 and yes, it was bad.

Doors to Urgent Care area didn't open until 8. Waited in the same area that I waited the day before and again had to listen to bad TV. Sigh. Why don't they show a "waves on the beach" video or something else relaxing? I find the yammering of AM TV hosts abrasive -- well, any TV/radio yammering. I drew my shoe to pass the time (see previous post below).

At 8, the magic doors opened and then it was time to wait on line to submit my ID, wait for my name to be called for initiating paperwork and waiting in the Urgent Care waiting room. (Do you sense a theme here?). I listened to Leonard Cohen to help relax and block out the TV noise.

Finally at about 9:30, I was led into the inner sanctum of Urgent Care and into a room. No, the wait was not over!

Met with a doctor, waited while she conferred with attending, waited for my paperwork. Got all that and then waited to talk with a financial counselor to see if I could get a further reduction in fees. Nope, make too much at the part-time job (part-time + pre-existing = no health insurance = County healthcare system).

HOWEVER, I'm finally at the point where I thought I was last week when I was calling the Breast Center directly: poised with a doctor referral and waiting to hear from them to schedule an appointment. (I thought my original Dr's note was a referral. No, it was a note).

So now I get to wait 2-3 weeks for that. It IS progress, a teeny tiny bit of progress.

my day at Harbor General Hospital

Wherein I become mere whisp in the County Heathcare system...

It took me a while to find the right place to start:

(I kept seeing that lady with the sunglasses all day -- she probably made the same error in line choice. She kept her sunglasses on the entire time)

I also took photos and sketched my shoe and read The Girl Who Played With Fire (Amazon aff) which sort of distracted me from the 5 hour ordeal. All I came away with was an appointment to see someone in Urgent Care tomorrow. To be continued... hopefully with less waiting.