NUMBER 35

FINALLY-a Soulful Sundae- the last painting for the "Month of Sundaes". I've reinterpreted an image from earlier. Now I am making a poster- actually my friend Jennifer of www.papergraphix.com is making it. We just spent an hour laying out the works in a gridded patchwork and, in the interest of space and design, have eliminated 3. Can you guess which ones did not make it to the poster? Hint: you can find out by ordering a copy of the poster for $30. If you order before March 1, you will get free shipping. Thanks! Email me: tillystudio@aol.com

Snowball Sundae

Another "resist" painting. I worked from a live model. It has been sub zero these days and finally a bit of snow cover!

View of diner with sundaes to go

I continue with the resist method of painting. The resist method is really freeing me up. I like relinquishing control as well as the surprise factor, when you rub off the cement and see what you've done in the end.
In this painting I attempted to capture a different view of Main street using sketches as reference since I was sitting in one of the buildings pictured. This is the north side of town. Just above the diner is the Millerton Market where I have been painting. Next to that is the BW Eagle Eye clothing store with the blue awning and then above that is the large grey antiques center and then...at the top of the street where the road curves off to the right, is the brilliant orange Saperstein's Department Store. Saperstein's is family run and has been around before time. So long, they even remember my mother when she lived briefly in the area in 1965! They know me, my kids, and just exactly what I am looking for. It has a great feel when you walk in and everyone seems so happy to see you. The Diner has also been around for a long time- and it is a beautiful stainless steel and neon construction, yet it has changed ownership over and over...now it is run by coach Ali. I couldn't really see it from my window vantage point so I had to leave out many details and work from a quick early morning sketch. The Diner would make a great subject for painting with it's shiny reflections, curves and angles...(Must add to my list)
Have you ever tried these sundaes in a Cup? They are quiet good- I was eating the red (strawberry) one as I painted. They frankly taste much better than they look.

Udderly delish!

Driving to Millerton, and turning up Main Street always takes my breath away. Not only is the place beautiful but on the weekends there are tons of people. You can't find a parking spot and you have to drive at a crawl for fear someone will suddenly open their car door on you. Papa frank, my father-in-law, always says they must be giving away $20 bills. The store is hopping. everyone anticipates the opening of the new Card and Candy store. Poor Robin seems buried in lists.
I am getting a bit restless with this theme and my ability to turn the brush this way and that...so today's painting of a cherry topped cow- they CAN look like vanilla ice cream with chocolate dribbles-was made with acrylic paint and the rubber cement resist. It challenges me to loose my control. Dive into the unknown, destroy the competant lines, bury and rub to reveal...
I think I am going to miss the store front. So many nice people have stopped by and chatted. There are a ton of artists, writiers and children in the area. It is a special place.

The Top

another canvas, another day...8 x 10 x 2 inches, acrylic painting
...
I have been feeling crummy with a head cold. Showing up each day takes the most I have right now. Thanks for understanding.

Whipped Cream and Other Delights

SOLD
8 x 10 x 2
acrylic on canvas

WHO can Resist?

I felt pretty crummy today, with a head cold- My husband told me to forget about it- just skip a day- "who would notice?" But I couldn't- because I would notice. So I went with an alternate plan, a method that takes the skill right out of the equation: "the resist" . Remember doing this in grade school? I painted the lightest areas on the canvas with rubber cement and followed each application with another color wash and more rubber cement. The canvas ended up looking completely dark. Then I rubbed away at the surface, removing the cement and revealing the image. It is an out of control method and it ensures that no one is to blame. If it turns out yucky- well- you never know...and yet actually it turned out pretty nice. Who can resist?