And Now For Something Completely Different

I changed the water in this painting...completely! And now I like it. Stay tuned...

Evening Reverie...I think

I think I've come up with a name for this painting...in progress. I need to do a little more detail work and then stop! Put down the paintbrush! Move away from the painting!

"Evening Reverie"

Two Paintings In The Works

No good working title for this one yet. I've considered "Contemplation" and "The Gaze", but nothing's just had the right ring to it yet. This one was done with a raw umber ground.

The Eiffel Tower painting is nearly done. I did it for Sami's apartment which has stark white walls. It's been fun. This was done with a quinacridone Red ground.

Farewell Photo

I had fun getting this photo before bubble and plastic wrapping these paintings for the CAS "Surf's Up" show at Cypress Grill.

I guess I really like water and sunsets.

"Sunset Over Lake Michigan"

Acrylic on canvas 9x12 It's amazing how good this looks sitting in a frame. I had bought the frame for a silly still life and am so grateful that I never framed it because it just makes this painting. See it for yourself at the "Surf's Up" Creative Arts Society show, Cypress Grill on Wm. Cannon west of MoPac, July 26-September 27.

"Sunset Over Lake Michigan"

"Sunset Over Lake Michigan" acrylic on canvas 9x12

I was attending this sunset a week ago with my oldest girlfriends: Patti, Lynda and Lucy, in St. Joseph, Michigan.

There's a wonderful lookout point, with multiple decks, but this view was off to the side where the fence was hanging loose. It spoke to me more than the magazine type shots I got from the top deck.

I'm nearly finished and just wanted to share my joy at finally painting something at home. It's been nearly a month and my paints had gotten fuzzy! I've been sketching and painting, but that was at the beach and at painting class. This piece I did just for me...and the CAS show at Cypress Grill the end of this month. "Surf's Up" is the theme, so my palm trees, sunset boats and this one are going in it.

I've got a million paintings in my head. Time to start sketching.

Giclee, Another Way

Well, then. I've been researching having giclee (pronounced zhee-clay) prints made of four of my paintings and am having second thoughts about the idea. I'm beginning to think my husband really IS smart when he'd say "just paint another one" after I'd fuss about wanting to keep a painting but also wanting to give it to someone. For what it will cost me to get prints made of just ONE painting, I could paint 30 paintings. And, I guess, if you're going to be that prolific, you're not going to want to keep all those paintings yourself and it's not so painful to let them go to new homes. So.............................................I guess I will save my money on prints and spend it on canvases and paint and just continue to do what I do, only not keep them like favorite puppies.

"Samurai Penguin" and "Quick! To The Tractor(mobile)!

Birthday Fairy

My wish for the Birthday Fairy this year is actually a service. I'd like to get some prints made of my paintings. Well, that and a trip to Jerry's Artarama. My daughter tried telling me that "art is an expensive hobby". I put it in perspective for her...I'm an art STUDENT and we all know that education is expensive. And if I weren't studying art, I'd surely be spending lots on manicures and massages, Restylin and cosmetic dentistry. In fact, I believe I'm even SAVING money by being an art student and I have the added bonus of not caring if my hands are manicured or if I have something new to wear. What a relief. I think Farmer Batman and Samurai Penguin are done. I'll sign them tomorrow morning and get a photo before I pack them for shipping to the niece and nephew. I've learned that even the suggestion of subject matter can seem like a commission and that I don't like commissions. I've learned that I can paint a pretty good tractor, which I find encouraging enough to think about doing other vehicles. I've learned that you can't fight your style, even when it doesn't suit the subject matter. And, just this week, I've learned that I really hate the idea of someone wanting to buy one of my paintings. How bizarre is that? The more I paint, the odder I get. It's just a matter of time before you find me sitting on the bench in my front garden, yelling at kids to "get off my lawn!"

Little Treasures

Sunset Boats "Wish I Were Here" One of my painting teachers calls the small canvas paintings, "Little Treasures" (I corrected this from an earlier post where I called them "Sweet Little Paintings"). I had a couple of 9x12" canvases left over from my landscape painting workshop, so I decided to make some slp's. They're fast because they're small...much smaller than the 24x30 that I usually work on. The first one was boats at sunset with lots of pinks and purples. My mom is fascinated by how the color seems to change with the light of day. I may have to break down and give it to her since she's so enamoured of it. I think I'll get some prints made first, though. The second one I did this weekend and it's of palm trees with a hammock, tentatively titled, " Wish I Were Here". In case you haven't figured it out, the theme running through my paintings is just that sentiment. That is, until this most recent request from the teenage niece and nephew with extremely creative and slightly warped minds. I'm presently researching Batman and farm equipment, penguins and Samurais. You figure it out.

My first art show!!!

Another lesson from "Yes"[excerpt from "Yes Man"] "Well...whatever," he said. "What I'm saying is, there's so much we can learn from just accepting the way we are rather than being attached to the way we'd like to be."This sentence had a profound effect on me, particularly because I am struggling with some feelings right now that deal directly with what I am and how I'd like people to perceive me. And, because of that struggle, I am wondering if I have become involved with something because of what I'd like to be. All this came to a head yesterday with one little email, but even before that I'd been having doubts because of my lack of affinity with the person in charge. When I mentioned it to Sami last week, she totally understood because she didn't feel the affinity either.What most people call their "gut feelings", I have relied upon for guiding me through the past 8 years. I try for my highest, purest feeling in any given circumstance and go with that.With the art drawing class, it was an easy choice. I'd been yearning to become involved in art and this flyer appeared in my door at just the right time. Perhaps my highest feelings of love and joy were answered.Whereas, when this other opportunity arose, I wonder if it was answering my fears about what I was going to do now that marching band was gone from my life. Or my fear of how others perceived me and how I could sense their pity that I was no longer involved with something I loved.I work hard when I'm doing something I love. This new activity is going to require a lot of hard work and I don't yet feel the love. So, right now, my "gut" is telling me to cut and run. Well, not exactly run, but perhaps I don't need to have a title and can work as an underling until such time as the love is more apparant.We all know when something is a good fit, when we've made a decision that feels right. Sometimes we become involved with something because we're flattered to be asked. Sometimes we join because of the people. Sometimes because we're the only "man" for the job. And, sometimes it's because of how others will see us, titles, prestige...all that rot.I'm going to go sit in the hot tub and contemplate this some more.

Ahhh! I've got a Blog!

This looks like it could be some fun. However, since I spend most of my time on xanga (http://www.xanga.com/skin.asp?user=Iluvzdrumz), I don't know how much I'll devote to this. I'm already having difficulties with things like a freakin' new paragraph, so maybe I don't need the aggrevation! A little help here??