I've been tagged again - 10 facts about ME!

I've recently been tagged again by Boyd to list 10 random facts about myself. I've decided not to illustrate them this time as it takes too long and I still have one fact left to illustrate from Joan's tag. I promise to do that very soon, Joan. So here goes with 10 more facts about me -

1. When I was two years old, I nearly died from double pneumonia.

2. As a young child I always wanted to be a Vet or Botanist when I grew up. A Botanist because we had learned in school of Joseph Banks, the Botanist on board the Endeavour, and I thought that would have been sooooooo cool. I remember I used to pick flowers and plants, then attempt to draw and write about them in my botany book. I so wish I'd kept things like that from my childhood. The only thing I have is a diary I kept at 15 and that's a hilarious read. I also wanted to be a Vet because of my love for animals but the only thing that turned me off that idea was that I wouldn't have been able to put healthy animals to sleep if the owner requested it.

3. I ended up not going with either of the above goals and trained as a Nurse's Aide when I left high school. After that, I then entered into the Clerical field before marriage and kids came along.

4. I have been semi-vegetarian for just over 2½ years now. I don't eat any form of warm-blooded animals but I do eat some seafood, fruit, grains, dairy and vegetables. I do still cook meat meals for my kids though as I don't believe I should push my views onto them. I am thinking I might eventually cut out the seafood and dairy but it will be a gradual thing if at all.

5. I used to be a serious coffee addict. I gave it up cold turkey nearly 3 years ago and started drinking green tea instead. I do have the occasional herbal tea or hot chocolate but I never drink coffee or coffee-flavoured foods.

6. I love silver jewellery whether it be sterling silver or white gold. I've never been a fan of yellow gold even though I do own some.

7. Hot Vindaloo prawn curry with rice is my most favourite meal EVER!

8. I have a namesake!!! I kid you not! At the time, my name was unheard of in Ireland and when I was around 15, my Aunt in Ireland named her daughter (my cousin), Serena, after ME. Apparently, a woman in a neighbouring county also named her daughter Serena and I remember my Aunt being very upset about it but proudly stated that her daughter had been born first so she'd beaten the other woman to the name. Imagine that! People actually 'fighting' over my name.

9. My stomach turns when I see someone spit on the ground. I think it is a disgusting and disrespectful act. Major YUCK!!!! Seriously, carry tissues if you're prone to that sort of thing.

10. I don't have a set style of handwriting. It varies constantly depending on my mood, I guess.

Now,I'm supposed to tag 12 (yes, 12) people to keep the tag going and then they're supposed to tag 13 more bloggers.......can you imagine where that would end up??!!! Anyways, most bloggers I know have already been tagged so if anyone would like to be tagged and share 10 facts about themselves, please let me know.

Added on November 6th -

For starters, I'm tagging Dee and Ro.

Haircuts and Zebras......

From this -


To this -

My ShiChi - Cody

As for me - I've been so busy lately with the Christmas project I've been working on (I'll post a pic when the group exchange has been completed), teaching classes (hey, I have two new students), housework, cutting and sewing multiple hem layers on my niece's formal gown, dealing with back pain and now, I'm battling a rotten flu.......what more could a girl want? :(

However, watch this space.........

....because soon I will make a start on a Zebra painting for my son. I was considering just painting black and white stripes but somehow I don't think that will wash with my son who originally requested a painting of a Zebra with her foal.

Random Fact # 7

I found some spare time this afternoon to fit in a quick sketch so I decided to do Random Fact #7 which also doubles as an EDM challenge #60 - Draw an automobile.

I used to drive a (197?) VW Kombi automatic van......meet ROXY!!! I owned this baby for nine years and loved every minute of it! I liked the solid build, the spaciousness and the reliability. She was a beauty! Micron Pigma pen & Coloured Pencil in A5 sketchbook - © Serena LewisClick on image to enlarge

Random Fact # 6

Here it is - Random Fact #6 which also doubles for one my Every Day Matters challenges #43 - Draw something china or ceramic.

In my late teens, I had always wanted to own a collection of something but could never make up my mind exactly what I wanted to collect. After much procrastination, I decided that I would collect pigs being that I was born in The Year of the Pig/Boar......and so an exciting, new endeavour began. I had so much fun and had actually amassed quite a grand collection of ornamental pigs when, over time, I found myself drawn to anything Native American and so, as all good things must come to an end some time, the pigs got their marching orders. That said, I still have a soft spot for them and this little piggybank sits on the desk in my room as a reminder of what once was. Now I'm back to square one and don't collect a set theme of anything in particular however I feel that familiar urge rising again.......maybe the pigs will make a comeback? Graphite, Micron pen and coloured pencil in A5 sketchbook - © Serena LewisClick on image to enlarge

Bald Eagle painting - Revisited

This past week has been so busy for me with battling migraines two days in a row, a specialist appointment, teaching class, trying to get some of my own painting done, not to mention that dreaded word.....housework! I decided to give my bald eagle a background after all. I'm not sure which way I like it best but this is the absolute final time I am touching it apart from a coat of varnish. I do have another art project I'm working on but I can't show it here yet because it's for an exchange in an online art group I belong to......all I can say is that it's something along the Christmas side of things. Bald Eagle in Acrylics - 16" x 16" gallery wrapped canvas - © Serena LewisClick on image to enlarge

EDM #79 - Draw an ear

Another EDM challenge for today. I drew my son's ear while he was watching TV and, again, I perched myself in front of a mirror to draw mine. You may notice some scarring on my ear...the highlighted part in the mid-section of my ear which is actually a raised ridge. I received this battlewound when, as a young child, I absentmindedly ran in front of a child on a swing in full motion. The swing clipped my ear and split it open. My parents took me to the nearest hospital where I received numerous stitches to repair the damage. I can still remember it clearly.Graphite in A5 sketchbook - © Serena LewisClick on image to enlarge

EDM #61 - Draw a group of two or more similar objects

I had a bit of spare time this afternoon so seized the moment to do another EDM challenge. Pigma Micron pen and Derwent coloured pencils in A5 sketchbook - © Serena LewisClick on image to enlarge

Beachscape - Work In Progress - Stage Two

I worked some more on the waves and I have to fight myself not to do anymore as, being a detail painter, it's very hard for me to keep landscapes/beachscapes loose. They are definitely not my forte. I'll now focus on the foreground elements. This is going to be a challenge for me too as the painting is a 'landscape' shape whereas the reference pic is 'portrait' shape. Once I add the kids, I'm going to be left with a lot of blank space in the foreground.......not sure if that will work. Being self-taught, I'm sadly lacking in the composition department so any advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Beachscape - Stage Two - © Serena LewisClick on image to enlarge

Beachscape - Work In Progress

I haven't had much of a chance to get any more sketching done so I thought I'd share a picture of what's on my easel at the moment. I'm using a photo taken of my kids in younger years as my reference. It's in the bare bones stage at the moment but more to come........Beachscape - Work in Progress - Acrylics - © Serena LewisClick on image to enlarge