tesscalhoun

The latest update for All about me: Jan.2013
I am doing great. Thanks to very good insurance I've been taking some very affective RA medication that's made it possible for my improvement. The cronic tendinitis of my Achilles Tendons is much improved. I'm once again able to wear shoes with backs in them. Something I've not been able to consistently do in 3 years. Now I can walk most any where I want to again. I am going and doing as much as I can. Besides the painting class I've been taking I am going to be taking other classes and work shops at the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, WA. This means I have no time for Swa-bot. I'm not leaving Swap-bot but standing down from being the founder of several groups. I want to be just a member of most of the groups I've been leading as a Founder. I hope to sneak in an occasional swap however probably not often. I will post updates now and then. I will still be reachable through IM or e. mail. Happy Swapping Everyone, Tess

I mostly create Watercolor hand drawn and painted 5x7 inch paintings. I work in water colors and ink for the most part. I occasionally will do a collage or fabric /fiber ATC or other object. I like things that are out of the box, out of the ordinary. Im not particularly fond of sticker art. I will probably like anything well done using quality materials.

I live on the edge of the Olympic National Forest on an Island in Puget Sound. There are more shades and hues of green than most people can see here let alone paint.

My favorite color is red. I love to paint with Daniel Smith Watercolors. They are made in Seattle. They are the most fantastic professional quality watercolors I have ever used. You can see them at http://www.danielsmith.com/ No I don't work there. I just think they are that good.

BTW If for any reason there is a problem with a swap I'm in and you haven't received anything from me please contact me and or the hostess of the swap before you give me a bad rating. Its quite possible its something to do with mail service and not my fault. You have no idea what a bad rating for any reason large or small does to ones ability to swap here. I always send a swap. If its close to a dead line I will contact you and tell you its in the mail. Because I live in Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast. Local native imagery speaks to me as well as those of all horse cultures. The horse spirit is strong in me. I collect rocks and grow herbs. The wolfdog is my companion.

The reason I own service dogs is, I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and related Inflammatory condition which affects my mobility; mostly my ability to get up from a chair and stand for any length of time. So far I can still walk well enough.

Dandy the Chi-Pin. Dandy is a Chihuahua/ Min. Pincher He was my first service dog and now retired. He still wants to work, it's just a fetch game to him. At home he still picks things up and hands them to me when I drop them. He is now to old and to small for going out with.

Lulu is a Yellow Labrador Retriever. She helps me stand up from sitting and steadies me on stairs. She accompanies me everywhere. She is also learning to do other things for me.

They both love to eat the bite sized Doggie Biscotti treats I make them. They are often the subject matter of my art.

Classic Rock as well as new , Classic Celtic folk and Celtic Rock, New Age, World music.

When pressured My favorite color is red. Im also fond of shiny metallics and jewel tones. As a watercolor artist I love all colors in general.. I love working in color. I've been tested for what my visual color range is. I am off the scale. I see more than most people do. Until I knew this I used to over work my paintings. Now I stop before it gets that muddy look that others see but I don't notice.

http://artbytesscalhoun.blogspot.com/

Green Teas, there is no such thing as to many green or white teas. Herbal teas. Dark chocolate. Hand made paper or paper that looks like its been hand made. Origami paper, good watercolor paper.

My favorite "extra" if you really want to include one is 140 lb cold press watercolor paper. "Extras" are never needed to get a star from me just an excellent swap is.

Please don't send me ATC papers and bits and pieces. I have lots.

Service dog update Aug.17, 2012 kohl my Mobility Assistant Service Dog had to be put down due to severe Hip Displasia. Life was to painful for him, he was no longer a happy dog. Pain drove him and changed his temperament. He will be missed by all who had ever looked into his liquid brown eyes or touched his silken blue black fur.

Sept.2012 I got very lucky and was in the right place at the right time when I heard about a local lab breeder wanting to place one of her retired show and former breeding dogs in a good home. Lulu has excellent obedience training and ready to be trained for mobility assistance. She will now be my constant companion. Kohl would approve.