an abstract for watson

SOLD This has been through many stages and, just recently, met the fatal stroke. 45 x 30 inches, acrylic on panel
I am loving my new space- though the books are like a crowd of voices behind me- I read a good one yesterday-
Indirections by Sidney Cox, written in 1947 and inscribed by Sidney, that year, to my great cousin 2-3x removed, Leonce, thanking him for his proofreading of the text. The paper was soft and ochre and the type was letterpressed into the surface.
My favorite quote from the book, "It is a waste to take on more gravity than you can develop the spiritual levity to have fun with". So here's to my abstract in the corner!

Moving a studio

I am in the process of moving out of one studio- in the basement, and into another-a barn loft. So bear with me while I may not be able to paint and post daily. The benefit of the new space- though a bit smaller- is the height of the ceiling, the skylight and air. The basement has been filling with the boys motorcycles and fumes. I feel shoved further from the daylight. As you can see in my new space there are a lot of books- and they are really really great books- and, if I am not careful, whole afternoons can sweep by while I skim worlds between signatures. The one thing I have to leave in place is my dad's reading chair- next to his Japonese literature collection. I'll post a picture of that spot soon! How lucky am I, to have my dad come with my studio?

Pigs at the fair

The dutchess County Fair ended this week- Max and I went over twice- once during the day to see all the animals and the second time for an evening of rides and friends. Four of my plywood cutout pigs decorated the 4h barn.

the last drop

This was the last painting made on my sea trip. It's my uncle Pat's glass. 7 x 5 inches, acrylic on canvas. The tropical fruits left on the rim epitomize the whole idea of nurturing, and the swooping silhoute of the glass is sensous. That is what the trip was: nurturing and sensous.
I haven't been painting as much as I'd like- layering colors slowly on an oil painting in the barn and studying the shift in the fields from Queen Ann white to rag weed yellow. Promising myself that soon I'll paint the time of the milkweed seed pods as they transform from velvet green to leather purple to crisp silver. There are times I am positively euphoric about the beauty that surrounds me- how did I get to be so lucky? How come there isn't enough time for capturing it?

Antigua

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Here is a view from the port side of the ship. We stopped in a different island harbor everyday. I love the mix and match colors of the island homes. And the verandas, open windows and ceiling fans. One of these days I am going to settle on an island. Of the six islands we visited, each was amazingly different from it's neighbor. Some had absolutely no fresh water while their neighbor was covered in rain forests! Most were in a crisis as to the shifting status of their major industry/export. They can no longer compete in the sugar or banana production against the global corporate giants. Tourism has become a major economic factor in the islands- on the positive side it has provided sums and encouragement for environmental stewardship. In St. Lucia we visited the landfill, and a recycling center. In St. Martin we visited artist studios. In St Thomas we were hounded by vendors and bartenders. There was a different feel in each place.

Keneps

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Just a study- Lise,Garry and I bought a sack of these fruits in Barbados, off the back of a truck, while we were exploring the downtown and the warf. The juicy seed brought me back years- to my childhood. If anyone has anymore information about this fruit please let me know- they are hard to find on the web- or in the world. I thought them a little like litchees- but the fruit's skin os glossy green and smooth- and the pulp is furry orange-pink. Other great delicasies included fried plantain and cod fritters. My favorite beer on the trip was Piton (St.Lucia) and Banks (Barbados). Pair it with roti- beef, veggie or mongoose.

Aunt Betty's Birthday

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Nonstop celebration...among other gifts, or party favors, this bucket was in our suite last Tuesday on Betty's birthday. Kathy at Bayway Travel Group sent it to us.(email:baywaytravel@aol.com) She was the one who put together the trip to South Africa last December and then guided my uncle on booking this cruise on Royal Caribbean. This small painting is 6 x 4 inches, acrylic on canvas. $100 (included shipping) I've made it into notecards as well!
While I am posting these paintings from the trip last week, I am also working on a large oil painting of a field of Queen Anne's lace and doing small daily painting studies inspired by the Dutchess County fair. Max and I went yesterday with my brother and his wife and little daughter. We had a blast in all the animal barns. Tonight I take Kent, my older son- who prefers the lit up rides and carnival atmosphere of the evening.

Venetian Pool

In one section of the ship there was an adults only pool. It was spared the loud music that played at the other pools. The decor was Venice inspired. Not exactly the best image I could choose to paint- but I compromised in order to lounge with my sisters and be part of their conversation while painting. From my limited angle of view you'll see decorative posts and the two balconies rising above the scene- with lounge chairs and a hunky guy too. DESTROYED THE PAINTING

ship details

When I lay on the chaise lounge and looked up to the sky- this was my view. Is it a ship stack? A radar chimney? I don't know the name for it. The point is more the perspective. It's obvious that I actually accomplished my small goal of doing nothing...I relaxed and enjoyed the company of my family, the sea breeze (bringing Hurricane Dean), and my ability to render mysterious details far above me. 4 x 6 inches acrylic on canvas DESTROYED THE PAINTING IN 2009

fantasy cruise

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Oh... What a dream holiday. I can't believe how blessed I feel. This morning I woke and looked out over the rolling hills of the farm and it looked as though they were islands shifting in the mist- like my mornings have looked for the last 7 days! I am glad to be home- though wistful about the sea. Thank you Uncle Pat and Aunt Betty!
The ship= Adventure of the Seas= was mindboggling with art and sculpture everywhere. It was like a floating palace mall. While away I was able to paint everyday and will now post those 7 little paintings. This was actually painted on the final evening- but it shows you the ship, and the festive evening air. Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 6 inches.$100 (postage included)

a good mess before going

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I have an art opening in an hour or so at the Sharon Historical Society. Its been rainy and cool and all I have done today is pack and plan for our trip on Sunday. I've packed 8 tiny canvases- so, though I won't be able to post images while I am at sea, I will be painting everyday and sharing those images when I return. Today's post is my 292nd daily painting since I started last year on Labor Day! It's become just a part of my daily discipline. I hope this fall to have more time for larger pieces and reworking older ones. Currently I am obssessing the field of Queen Ann's Lace subject. Today's painting was made- a rainy day- inside with stencils and stamps and a good mess! 6 x 12 on canvas
I think tomorrow will be my last blog posting until I return...And when I return I'll have my 300th daily painting! Yooohooo!

field of lace

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I am trying, again and again, to decode the beauty of the field behind the little house. I walk there every night, with the dog- who is now better, thank God. It is a sea of frothy romantic shapes. In this attempt I started with stencils and in frustration moved on to the brushwork.

Lace in field of energy

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This painting deceives nothing. It is on wood- 6 x 12 inches Look closely at the brushstrokes...the edges of paint...the blurs.
It's been a cross between daring Xgame energy, unbearably romantic strolls through fields, and scary dog days of August.
Fortunately we survived with only purple bruises on my husband's side and a bloody shin and bruised ankle for each of my sons, and... the dog is pulling through. I was TRYING TO quietly paint in the fields. Holding my breath pondside at the kids show as they emulate extreme athletes off their homemade ramp. And completely emotionally sideswiped by the tic that temporarily and terrifyingly paralyzed our dog. Here's a days work.

abstract assignment 45 minutes later

Didn't want to touch it- but forced myself to...spend 45 mintues on it.
I don't know if i'll ever get it to the level of abstraction i think my client wants. tomorrow i will sand it all down...

A "month" of sundaes

NOT AVAILABLE
I just delivered these 30 little oil paintings to the Riverwinds Gallery in Beacon. www.riverwindsgallery.com The show opens next saturday 5 to 9pm.
In my third attempt to capture a month of sundaes, I started to paint Sunday sundaes on April 29 and finished with today's Monday sundae (August 6th). Originally ice cream sundaes were created to circumvent a religious ban on soda fountain deserts served on Sundays, and, for many years, they were only available on Sundays. Today we can get an ice cream sundae served to us regardless of the day of the week- but Monday sundae's always felt a little decadent to me.

OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELD

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I've started to paint bigger! Can't do it all in one day- maybe two?
this is like...hmmm...36 x 72 inches.
I'll measure it tomorrow- it is a race to paint the feild before Dad mows it down.

abstract in the corner

NOT AVAILABLE
I have been painting... but not taking the time to upload each day. I'ts surprizing how much time it takes, and often in the heat of the summer with tons of family and friends around- it's a feat that fails to be tackled.
This giant painting (30 x 40inches) is a work in progress. It started because an old friend said he wanted a new work of mine- of a certain size, and then, of certain colors. And THEN he said he sent me a sample image out of a magazine of an ABSTRACT painting.
At first, I was, like, "no problem", I'll just look at this as an assignment and do it. But months have swept by and my heart can't move- so I started yesterday- to paint the whole magazine page...see the abstract in the corner?