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Sunday, June 28, 2026

SITAR 6/28/26

 Welcome to
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SITAR is about ANYTHING art. Your art, someone else's art, writing, photography, the art of cooking, the art of sewing and textiles. Sharing historical art, street art, a story about art. Do you have a question or need help with art? Write a blog post and link it up here. We will all try to help with it. My only rule is that if someone asks for critique it must be done with generosity and consideration. 
This is a place of learning, encouragement and inspiration.
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 Thomas Hart Benton
(April 15, 1889-January 19, 1975)
Thomas was an American painter, muralist and printmaker. Along with Gran Wood and John Steuart Curry he was at the forefront of the Regionalist art movement. He fluid sculptured figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes of life in the US.  His work is strongly associated with the Midwestern US, the region in which he was born and called home for most of his life. He also studied in Paris and lived in N.Y. city for more than 20 years where he painted scores of work. For 50 years he summered on Martha's Vineyard and also painted scenes of the American South and West. 
 
Some of his lithographs.
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Instruction 1940
 
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Spring Tryout 1943
 
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Huck Finn 1936

Given his father's political career, Benton spent his childhood shuttling between Washington, D.C., and Missouri. His father sent him to Western Military Academy in 1905–06, hoping to shape him for a political career. Growing up in two different cultures, Benton rebelled against his father's plans. He wanted to develop his interest in art, which his mother supported. As a teenager, he worked as a cartoonist for the Joplin American newspaper, in Joplin, Missouri.

With his mother's encouragement, in 1907 Benton enrolled at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. Two years later, he moved to Paris in 1909 to continue his art education at the Académie Julian.  His mother supported him financially and emotionally to work at art until he married in his early 30s. His sister Mildred said, "My mother was a great power in his growing up

Paintings
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Self Portrait 1970

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Joplin Mural
 
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Sugar Cane 1945
 
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Bicyclers 1960-61
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Aaron 1941

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Chillmark landscape 1922

Thomas has created thousands of art pieces, including many drawings, sketches, 93 lithographs and acrylics. 
A comprehensive catalogue raisonne' of his paintings is currently being prepared by The Thomas Hart Benton Catalogue Raisonne' Foundation. 
 
I hope you enjoyed just a little about Thomas and his art. 
 

I will be linking with Gillena
 
Now show me some of your Sunday Art. 
Nicole 
 

Friday, June 26, 2026

Friday Face OFF 6/26/26

 

Welcome To Friday Face OFF (FFO)
This is the place to show off your face art.
You know, ANY type of face, nature, the face of a flower, photography, drawings, paintings, AI. There just needs to be a face in your blog post, a link back to my blog and please use the image below. 
Thank you.
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I didn't have much time for art this weekJust too much going on. 
It's all about strange and wonderful AI pieces.

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Here are a few features.
 

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 That's it for now 
Be sure to join in for 
Sunday in the Art Room  

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I'm joining Gillena
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Now it's time to show me your face.
Nicole 
 

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Coconut cookies

 Hi Everyone!
 
Today is rainy and a bit chili so I decided to try the coconut cookies again. This time I followed the package direction to the tee. OMG! Who ever wrote these instructions obviously didn't prof it. 
When all of the ingredients are mixed and the chocolate chips added the dough is supposed to be thick enough to make a ball in your hands. 
Uhhhh no way.
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This dough is very wet. No way to roll it into balls.
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I added 5T one at a time of APF. That made it thick enough to roll and mash down with a glass.
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They came out a lot better than the first try. However, I still don't like them. I will have to play around with the coconut flour mixing it with other flours. The sugar seems to be fine.
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I write my posts the day before. So, today is Tuesday and what is best for dinner on Tuesdays? You got it
Tostadas!
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Homemade refried beans, ground beef, cheese, onions, tomatoes, lettuce and avocado on the side. 
 
That's it for now.
Have a great day.
Nicole
 

 

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

T for Tuesday

 Hi Everyone! 
 
Today is Tuesday, that means I'm joining Elizabeth and Bleubeard.
A few weeks ago I purchased some organic coconut sugar and flour.
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On the package there is a chocolate chip cookie recipe that's Kidney, heart, diabetic friendly.
The sugar is very sweet and it's not white.
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 and not much is needed. 
 The flour is a bit gritty to me.  
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It bakes up... But...
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They bake very quickly. The bottoms started to darken and middles were raw. I tuned them over and put them back in the oven. Mr. M. thought they were great. Not so much for me. 
I know the problem though. I used aquafaba for the eggs and added vanilla. This made the dough much looser than the recipe called for and even though I added more flour it still wasn't right. As soon as I remake them I will show how they turn out.
In other food,
I make CKD burritos in a large batch double wrap them and then freeze them. They make the perfect meal for those days I just don't want to cook. This is just one plate. I froze double this.
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Mr. M. made a dinghy in 09. It's just a small row boat that he used to take out on the river. It needed some updating, sanding and new paint.
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A few weeks ago we had some nice sunny days and he got the job done. 
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It took him longer than usual due to his health but It looks sooooo good.
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That's about it for now. 
My drink this week is bubly sparkling water. It's blackberry flavor. It's OK but I like the non flavored better.
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Have a great day
Nicole 
 

Monday, June 22, 2026

Monster Monday Tea Party

 Welcome to 
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It's all about a summer tea party.
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I think this week the images are a combination of monster and pretty together.
Have a great Monday. 
 
Nicole