Friday, September 30, 2011

Road Trip #34/80 and 35/80 watercolors on paper- 8"x8"


My siblings and I took an unexpected road trip to Pittsburg this week- a 600 mile journey- to see our dear Uncle Joe, who is not expected to be around much longer. We saw cousins we rarely get to see, one I hadn't seen in 29 years, and met their kids. We spent an entire day in a hospice home, an beautiful place for families to be together with their loved ones as they prepare to die. A wooden sign with the words"Embrace the Journey" are hanging just inside the entry. Designed by two hospice nurses, the home feels like a retreat- families can sit in the beautiful living room, cook and eat in the kitchen,(my sister made bread for everybody) there's a small chapel room, a dining room, screen porch.A gently curved glass corridor, filled with light is for  passing through to get to the area where the patients are. On either side outside the glass are beautiful gardens. The patients rooms are spacious and comfortable. We gathered all together, and were in and out all day, seeing Joe. He was pretty much asleep, but we knew he knew we were all there, and acknowledged us. I have never experienced any thing or place like this. There was a lot of love in that room and in the whole place. My Uncle Joe loved a party, and we were having one, we got so loud we actually got shooshed!
There were little blue books all over the house, explaining the process of death. This was written on the last page.
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of a white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says: 
"There, she is gone!"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was where she left my side and she is able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout"Here she comes!"


And that is dying.


-Henry Van Dyke.

Monday, September 26, 2011

#31,32 & 33/80 8"x8" acrylic on museum board

 Saturdays painting- another one after Gauguin...

this one is from my head- the forest...


and this is my monthly challenge piece "FIRE"
 its my friend Franny blowing out her birthday candles.
 Looks like she is coming out of the cake- she was putting on her birthday hat.
LOL

In other news- Kelley MacDonald, painter and blogger extrordianire- is presenting a talk about daily painting and the blogging process, this Thursday at the North River Arts Society. Its a deal at $35 and will be very helpful to those who might want to blog or even those who just want to have a fun evening.
click  HERE to register.


Friday, September 23, 2011

After Paul Gauguin 30/80 8"x8" acrylic on canvasboard

Just love this guy- not his lifestyle, but his painting....

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Can't Sleep 29/80 8"x8" acrylic on museum board


The gentle rain sounds sweet on my studio rooftop as I paint this, the ping ping ping of the drops hitting an overturned tin pot makes a rhythmic melodic sound. The smell of the salt marsh is strangely appealing. I think the equinox's approach has upturned things a bit- hoping to settle down soon.
 No idea what I was to paint today, and in my recent cleanout I found a journal I made  from 1982. Here is the sketch that inspired me...

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

#28/80 8"x8" acrylic on panel "zinnias"


I love zinnias so much- they are so playful and humble. 


here is my growing wall .
NEWS FLASH!
My open studio will be on November 5 and 6 , Saturday and Sunday, from 12-5.
More to come.
I will be across the street at my brothers big awesome barn- it  will be grand the opening of the "Cove Creek Gallery"!  Hope you can come!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Limited Stroke Challenge- 27/80 -8"x8" acrylic on panel and Wedding painting

Inspired by the Daily Paintworks challenge this week- Nancy Colella's limited stroke exercise was just what I needed today-I have limited time- and I loved this exercise! You are supposed to look at a simple set up and limit the strokes to a predetermined number ( I used 16 strokes to make this painting plus one extra "mulligan") It requires focus and planning. Thanks Nancy!
I finished this painting yesterday- it is for my sister Bryson- her wedding gift- and I delivered it ( well virtually) on the one year anniversary- September 19th! It was such a joyful day and I hope I captured it. She mentioned Degas as an inspiration and sent me very soft focus photos,so it was a challenge- and one I also loved doing! This is 20"x24" acrylic on canvas. the two blue bridesmaids are my  daughters...

Monday, September 19, 2011

#26/80 "Last Day of Summer" 8"x8" acrylic on panel

The pool is being closed tomorrow. I would like to tell you that I spent a lot of time lounging on these chairs this summer, but I did not. Painting, working, cleaning,( not too much of that) and swimming, walking and blogging- no time for leisure, and I wonder why I can't relax?
Next summer I am going to try harder.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

#23, #24 and #25/80- 8"x8"

Friday's watercolor sketch looking at the front of Lisa Mackins shop- Homegrown Arts and Crafts

 Saturday's Zinnia- watercolor and Caran dache water soluble crayons


And this morning's acrylic painting at Cornhill Lane in Marshfield- the North river. The feel of autumn is in the air- its quiet, fragrant and the warm oranges and ochres are starting to appear.My friend Laura Harvey refers to it as "that fall feeling" and I love it!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

owl - 22/80 8"x8" acrylic on panel

Did this one for the window display at HOMEGROWN ARTS AND CRAFTS in Duxbury.
Come see it! She has created an amazing line of owl pendants with polymer clay.
Lisa has also made a paper mache owl to hang in the window too. ( there is nothing Lisa can't do!) She left it at home to dry yesterday and it flew into the pool
Silly owl!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

sedum 21/80 8"x8" acrylic on panel

I love getting up and wandering around looking for my next subject.
This is a birdbath I mosaiced the base of many years ago.
It sits amidst the raccous garden overrun by datura , grasses and weeds. At least the sedum has it's self together.
The sun peeked over the high  trees in my back yard and painted yellows on the leaves. It was magical.
I've been making a mental  list of the moments of summer. I think for me summer is really a string of moments-. Fleeting. Some are really not so spectacular but left a memory- others are pretty huge.

heres a few moments of summer in no particular order...

a bird perched over my head as I painted a pretty barn, he stayed for a long time over me
watching a little boy ride his bike past my house while beautiful music inside played the soundtrack
My oldest daughter walking across the stage receiving her college diploma
seeing my mother for the last time and laughing at her silly jokes
my youngest singing a beautiful song at my mothers memorial service
a dragonfly riding next to me for a long time as I rode my bike down my street
sitting on my friend's boat in the harbor with my goddess friends and getting shooshed -we were too loud!
sitting around bonfires sharing stories with friends
watching my dog barrel into a green pond not knowing it was water and how surprised she was
(Winnie!
kayaking on a pond in Plymouth and seeing the full moon rise and padding around ( a little champagne was involved!)
(our hostess took this photo and got a little creative with it- I'm in the yellow boat)
I know I will think of more!
What are your moments?

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

20/20 "Blue Chair and Hydrangeas" 8"x8" acrylic on panel

My friend Catherine gave me these beautiful hydrangeas the other day. The blue chair is about to be reupholstered by my daughter and I- although we have no idea how to do it- we are armed with books, DIY network and confidence.
I sat by my front door and painted this, the sounds on the street were sort of soothing- a few cars swooshing by, the neighbors landscaping truck, an occasional runner or biker. Another gorgeous September day.

Monday, September 12, 2011

# 19/80 Nasturtium, # 20/80 Flowers on little table 8"x8" acrylics

Nasturtium
I watched the 9/11 ceremonies yesterday while I did this one.
I cried a lot while painting this seeing all the people who have lost loved ones.
 Its still so hard to comprehend.
This is a corner in my kitchen. I am enjoying bringing my easel in the house and painting here.
Closer to coffee.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

# 18/80 "Bluebell Cottage" #19/80 "Dog in Car 1"

 This is one I didn't finish in Ptown- put a few tweaks on, could do more, but here it it.
I'm finding these past few busy days tough to keep up with my daily painting.
I'm hoping for a better stretch next week!
This is one I did on my lunch hour yesterday, sitting at my desk looking at my computer - from a photo I took on my phone. It is colored pencil and pastel on wet/dry sandpaper. I love dogs, and saw this one in a car the other day in front of the library. I'm going to do a dog in car series.
 Here's my next one...his name is Rocky and if you look closely you can see Rosie in the car.

Friday, September 9, 2011

My Nasturtiums 12"x12" oil on canvas

This painting is my donation to the Dana Farber fundraising event "A Spirited Affair" held on September 16 in Boston, organized by Franny Andahazy of Party By Design and Oceanside 17..
I did it early on in the 365 flower series and I felt it fit the theme- "Color, curves and comfort."
My 8"x8" is to be done on my lunch break today!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

#17/80 sunshine breakfast, 8"x8" pastel on sanded paper

In my rush to get to work on time I completed this sketch in 20 minutes.
Im enjoying the pastels - used to do them a lot! Sure wish I could stay in the studio on this perfect rainy day....

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

16/80 Heifer International, pastel on canson paper, 8" ( ish) by 8"


This was inspired by a brochure from Heifer , International. With gifts of livestock and training they help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. They refer to the animals as "living loans" because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal's offspring to another family in need. It's called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of their mission that creates an ever-expanding network of hope and peace.


Its a great gift for someone who has everything.



Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Sorry Margaret #15/80 acrylic on panel 8

This one does nothing to portray my friend Margaret's glow and beauty. I'm sharing it all here, not gonna lie- this one I could not get to work.
Tried to rescue with the black line, not too successfully.
My posts go out a little after 10 am so I rushed.( excuses)
It was , however- a perfect summer afternoon on my friend Nancy's porch!

Monday, September 5, 2011

8"x8" acrylics-Salt water taffy #14/80 and Maddie's forgotten towel #15/80

 Salt water taffy us a summertime favorite-a classic. Kelley bought these in Ptown to paint last week.

I loved the way the light hit Maddie's towel on the back of my bathroom door.
I was in the bathroom for a while painting this-should have been cleaning!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

flowers for Mum #13/80 acrylic on panel

a close up of a bouquet I got in memory of my Mum....

Friday, September 2, 2011

cupcake 12/80 8"x8" acrylic and collage on panel

Kelley bought four of these delicious cupcakes in Provincetown last week for us to paint, and then eat..
YUM
I embellished this with a couple of collage elements and added a cherry on top!
Hmmm, now I want this for breakfast!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Late Afternoon in Late Summer #11/80 acrylic on panel

This is the view from my friend Patty's back deck.
It is my "reflections" piece for this months Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge.
Happy September everyone.I felt August tear away from me yesterday-goodbye to summer ( I know its technically the 21st but really September is fall) its hard to let go.
But now its September- I love looking forward to fall!