Nan Mellem Publishing

01/10/2025

Sprite’s Flat Sprite

01/08/2025

January 8, 2025 The lists suggested “bubble bath” and “switch” and I think that should be a standard home feature! Draws the bath to a perfect 100 degrees F, pours a glass of wine, fetches a favorite book, and invites a butterfly inside for a visit. Why not?

01/03/2025

I learned something new today. I learned there is a donkey breed called Pega and they were bred in the 18th and 19th centuries in Minas Gerais state in Brazil. In the 20th century it was nearing extinction, but after purposeful breeding efforts, it is doing better in the 21st century. (Horseisle.com) The photo reference I used was posted by Carol Farr on Pinterest....

https://nancymellem.wordpress.com/2025/01/03/pega-donkey-pattern/

01/02/2025

…clean cream puff. In case my handwriting is indecipherable: January 2, 2025 There are 2 “Drawing Prompts for January“ in my world. Doodlewash’s prompt is “cream puff” and Urban Sketchers’ prompt is “clean.” Eating a cream puff is not a tidy experience. For this reason, I gravitate towards a nice enclosed-pastry Boston cream donut—lower slop factor.

01/02/2025

Here’s hoping it’s a good one. The houseplants are off to a good start. And the dog was happy walking in the fresh snow this morning.

12/08/2024

Let's talk blisters, my friends. By Saturday I'd earned myself a stellar set of overachievers. I'd brought my most comfy walking shoes with me to Buenos Aires but I estimate my daily walking to have been between 2-3 miles each day. The blisters had played into my decision making on Friday—preventing me from joining the 2nd Sketchwalk of the day already in progress because it would have taken me away from my hotel when I was near enough to find relief for the tired tootsies....

12/07/2024

11 Octubre 2024 I'm recovered (mostly) after a solid night's sleep. Breakfast is done and I'm enjoying tazo de café numero uno. Choosing to skip the lectures this morning means I will have a more relaxed start to the day. I have seen others setting their own pace throughout the day and I'm going to emulate that. Another of the Symposium's sponsors was Café Martinez, and Friday morning I stopped for an extra cup of coffee and sat at the tables on the road side of the UCA to have my usual "Friday morning virtual coffee with Dad."...

12/06/2024

There were no breakfast sketches on the 10th because it was the first full day of the Symposium, so I ate and ran. There were two tracks available at registration for the event: Sketchwalk or Workshop (for a little more). Since this was my first event, I dipped a toe in the water and purchased the Sketchwalk pass. There were 22 workshops available and 27 demos, plus two optional lectures each morning....

12/05/2024

The 9th was the first day of the Symposium, but activities weren't due to kick off until 3 pm. Yeferson was picking me up at 11 am to take in MALBA, but I wanted to get outside and walk around since it was a sunny and beautiful morning. Sitting on a park bench on the Plaza de Mayo. I skipped the drawing interlude at breakfast, but indulged my café craving....

12/04/2024

There was a table near a window available at breakfast. A tree with the character of old age and rough city dwelling drew my eye. There was a healthier and younger tree just across the street, and someday it will enjoy its moment in the spotlight. The planter in the street reminded me of the concrete balls in front of a certain store set in place to define the pedestrian vs the motor way....

12/03/2024

Day two started with a hearty breakfast and some sketching. The hotel provided an abundant breakfast each morning, and I lingered over coffee while sketching. Yeferson was coming to pick me up at 10 am because I wanted to go to the Museo National de Belles Artes. The great and mighty Google had told me it would be open that day (Monday), but it was not....

12/02/2024

The plane landed in Buenos Aires around 9 am which was later than originally scheduled due to a malfunctioning seat belt while we were at the gate in Huston. It caused about an hours delay, but the rest of the flight was smooth. Breakfast was served on the flight in the wee hours of the morning which prevented any more drawing on the plane....

12/01/2024

10/4/24 I leave tomorrow! Now that I'm about to go it seems too soon, but I've been anticipating this trip for so long. This week has been filled with dinners with friends and family all celebrating my trip, and wishing me the best. My flight out of O'Hare was around 2:30 in the afternoon, and I had a stop over in Houston before boarding the plane for Argentina....

11/30/2024

First post in a series about my trip to Buenos Aires in October for the Urban Sketchers Symposium.

11/30/2024

I traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina in October for the 2024 Urban Sketchers Symposium. It was the 12th annual event for the organization, but it was my first. If you ever have the opportunity or the desire to attend this event, do it! Urban Sketchers publishes an online magazine called Drawing Attention, and the Symposium was highlighted in the March edition....

11/08/2024

The Fall 2024 Off The Pews Newsletter has been released.

Illinois Conference of the UCC Annual Celebration