1-4-3 "I LOVE YOU " Minot light- gouache on old encyclopedia page

This is my Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge group entry for January- the theme is "Love"

 I chose the minot lighthouse because of it's light pattern 1-4-3 - I LOVE YOU.

"Tea is the answer" 12"x24" acrylic on cradled panel

This classic "Brown Betty" teapot was from my moms family. The tea cup and saucer I believe from my stepdad... And the tea a gift from my daughter. Tea is always good when I feel out of

sorts .

From Winslow Homer

Some fantastic women!!!!

I am just back from a fabulous yoga retreat in Ogunquit maine. I had a great time- our hotel looked out at the rolling waves on the sand. This is a sketch. Below is a copy of one of my all time favorite paintings- Winslow Homers "prouts neck "painted in 1900. Some things are still pretty much the same....

Mosaic Wall

This is the outside of a building at Derby Academy. It's their newest building called the innovation center. Last summer I was approached to help design with the students a mosaic piece that would be adhered to a wall. This is a virtual drawing  of how it will be constructed.

We met with the kids and they have submitted designs. We compiled them all and came up with this design- symbolizing "The Journey"

Schoolbus, trees, nest in tree, sun, sky, birds, fox, dog, frogs, owls, cat, moon, water, a bridge, and lots and lots of flowers!
SO this 26 ' by 4' long mosaic wall is  to be completed and assembled by May. YIKES!!!!
I am confident that we will pull it off. Many many little hands!

Still life

This is a set up for a still life I'm working on. I enjoy the quietness of looking at objects. I'm not enjoying the product all that much- it looks a little mushy or something, but it's a start. I want to do more .

Ace of pentacles- gouache on paper

This is a tarot card I pulled from the deck today. Pentacles represent wealth. I'm hoping this means I'm coming into good fortune!

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase."       Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 - 1968)

Trader joes tulips

I'm in sort of a stalled position lately. I had great plans for what I would be doing this month but it seems that isn't going to happen. I still paint these little pieces on paper each morning, but I haven't had any oomph for going out and working in my studio. This morning I thought I would try to assemble a set up for a still life painting, perhaps with fruit , books and flowers. That is always a good way to settle back in and focus. The quiet of winter is perfect .This sketch on paper of tulips from trader joes was fun and the blooms have lasted a long time! Totally worth the 2.99 I paid.

memory painting- Winter Fun- 5" x 9" gouache on black paper

Another glimpse out of the corner of my eye as I was driving yesterday. It was getting dark and these guys were skating on a little pond in Duxbury. It was fun to paint the swirly tracks on the ice -and at the end I spritzed it with a toothbrush.

                                     

Driving Last Evening

I painted this this morning- from memory. Last evening I was driving through Rockland and saw this as I drove over a small bridge. I was listening to an episode of "this American life "- the one called "batman". If you get a chance have a listen. It talks about how blind people can see. I am trying to sharpen my mind using my memory.

                              

Scones

A warm gift from my sweet next door neighbor last evening. 

Maira Kalman

I'm in love with he work of Maira. She's written several illustrated  books, and this is from one of her  NYC photographs.

Pamela

We had our girls just wanna paint meeting at pjs country house in Scituate  the other night,( love that restaurant it's like being at my moms house)

Pam showed up looking dazzling in this fabulous fur hat!

Seen driving home the other day

This woman was getting her mail and her dog was watching her from the car. For some reason it stuck in my head. I did this from memory, as I wasn't able to take a photo. I'm trying to sharpen my memory.

Sweetest Volunteers

Where I work at the Art Complex Museum we have a staff and dedicated group of volunteers without whom we wouldn't be able to operate. Every five weeks or so I have weekend duty and get to spend three hours with some of the finest women I've ever met. Having friends who are into their 70s and 80s and who are social and active, is a huge inspiration to me. A positive attitude is everything! They really enjoy having tea served to them and are so appreciative of such a simple gift. Here are two of my favorites , Jean and Jean, sitting at the desk, with the sculptures behind them on a gray Sunday afternoon. Great place to be!

It's Been Real

After today, buh bye.
See you later.
Hello gym!

Fruit on my counter -

A painting project for January!

I woke up New years day feeling  little lackluster and wishing I had a project- then I saw the lovely August Wren's post about her daily paintings and it truly inspired me! Thank you Jennifer! She was someoone I stumbled upon on Pinterest one night when I couldn't sleep ( too common these days) -So I went out to the studio and found a cigar box that  I had started collaging back in August-  made a folio of watercolor  paper to fit it- and am going to do 30 minute painting every day of "Stuff I See".
Here's the front of the box, and the first installment. I'm also going to work on embelleshing the box. I was at my friend Marie's shop in Scituate- "Native" and she is also embarking on a challenge-" A Design A Day"!
This is from an Indian painting. Inspiration is back!