Favorite things

This month's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge was favorite things. This planter was my grandmothers-it is a dellarobia design. The flowers are cyclamens - a birthday gift from my friend Lucy.
Love them both! The things, the family connection, and the friendship.
I did this painting very quickly. Fun to do.

A little slideshow

These are photos from the past year or so, from home, Hawaii, Maine, and of course, Winnie. Maddie Mello, my daughter recorded this song by Sara Bareilles last year. It's a bit sad, but I love sad songs!
See it here.

About finishing

I follow the blog  "Redtree Times" by GC Meyers.

I love this one he published today....read it here.

http://redtreetimes.com/2015/03/26/quote-of-the-week-finishing/

Waiting for spring and the big Sicily paintings

Winnie is so excited that it's spring. The birds are singing and the sun is shining. She does not have the emotional distress that we humans do about the freaking snow. 

I can't get a great shot of these big paintings- but this is where I'm at. Time to get clients input on them. She wants soft and dreamy.... Hmm. Not sure if I'm there yet.

Back from Road Trip- back to work!

Last week Al and I took to the road- first stop- to visit Maddie in Nashville. I actually saw GREEN there! (Happy St. Paddy's Day, Y'ALL!)

 

We ate a lot, saw good music. visited Maddie's school- Belmont University, where she is getting her doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Nashville is a totally fun place!

We brought Samantha, Maddie's Cousin, and Sami's boyfriend Sam (pair of Sams) as a surprise. It was fun to surprise her with her cousin! Here she is at the big "reveal"

Such awesome young adults!

 

The school is really beautiful! 

On the way back we sent through Muncie, Indiana, and visited with Al's sister Kathie and her husband Greg. They took really good care of us and showed us around their town. Muncie is the home of the Ball jar! We visited a great art show and orchid greenhouse, and saw where Kathie works with special needs adults doing crafts. It's a wonderful program and so important. Inspiring!

Next stop was in New Paltz, New York to see Al's sister Chris and our nephew Nathan. So fun!

On the last day on the mass Pike we heard a scraping noise under the car. Al shimmied under and saw the problem- a cover for the exhaust was dangling. We were not near a garage so Al fixed us up with paper clips, and crochet yarn. Wow. Now we call him McGuiver!

Last stop was to pick up Winnie at Al's brother Jon's. Jon takes really good care of Winnie. I don't think she wanted to leave!

And yes- back to work on the big canvases. For me the best part of a trip (besides seeing family) is getting back home, to my dog, my house and my studio!

Painting in progress

Forgive the bad lighting! After toning the canvas I gridded and drew the image in chalk- then using a blue brown wash I painted over the chalk. The crumbly stucco walls were fun to scumble  and scrub, and this morning I worked on the background. I love the light at the top of the stairs in the photo the client provided.

Big!

I'm working on some commissions. These are 4'x5' ! Here's what I'm going to paint.They are from the clients photos of Taormina, Sicily.

Spring is coming!

I love to paint in the morning. And these flowers were both gifts to me by dear friends. ! In other news- the Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge pieces are up- the these is "comfort"- see them all here.http://girlsjustwannapaint.blogspot.com