Gratitude #132

This was a dream I had the other night- I could see summer written in the clouds in the sky and was desperately trying to save the image with my phones camera... Fleeting- like summer itself.As soon as the calendar turns to August it feels like everyone is talking about the end of summer- and yet there's still so much of it left! So I am trying not to be too concerned with getting a lot of paintings done- I want to read at the beach, eat lobsters, swim, kayak, hang out with friends and family and do fun summery things. When September 21 hits I will be ready for fall.

"time travel" 6"x6" acrylic on panel

This is my monthly challenge piece for the "girls just wanna paint" ( and I am late again!)
Inspired by a sketch done when I was traveling in Italy in 1985. I was 27. YIKES. I am more than twice that now. I would love to go back, but revisiting the drawings is pretty cool. See all the travel paintings here.

Walking with elephant. 3"x5" acrylic and watercolor on paper

I love elephants. 

This summer has had every kind of weather here in New England. I don't mind the heat but am glad for the coolness we are having now. Above is sunset over the South River in Humarock.

Winnie is so happy here! Walking on the beach in the morning is my favorite thing to do.

Breathe in, breathe out, listen to the waves.

Case's Barn 7"x8" watercolor

I love to ride my bike to spots to paint with watercolors. Even if it's 100 yards away from my house I feel like I am on a painting trip. This is on Highland street -from my spot under a big old beech tree.

I hook a chair to my bike rack and I know it looks ridiculous but it is so nice to have the chair.

Camp and mosaic kids

Tomorrow the 5 week camp ends with our "festival" day where all the campers share what they have created. Music, music video, soap opera production, one act play, mini-musical, animation, tap and hip hop dance, photography, sewing, quilts, pottery, jewelry, mosaics, miniature rooms, landscape painting, painted furniture and more is shared with the families and friends and anyone that wants to come. It is truly amazing what the kids produce in a mere five weeks. Last night the musical for the older kids, The Drowsy Chaparone was performed .I was blown away by the talent! I hate to see it end- it is also a lot of fun for the counselors. I am ready for a bit of a slower pace though- until next summer!
It's tomorrow from 9-3 ish at Derby Academy in Hingham if anyone wants to see what it's all about.

Gratitude #131

I have not abandoned this project- not at all!
My goal is still 365, however long that takes. Why rush?
 I find that the summer is a time for so many other things and the small daily gratitude paintings seem more like a cold weather ritual . Perhaps I need to focus more on gratitude then, rather than now- as summer is a bounty of gratitude!
I am enjoying swimming a lot this summer. Our little pool in the back yard was the best thing we ever invested in- it is an oasis in the hot weather and a morning swim before work loosens up my creaky old bones.

New Harbor , Maine scenes

I am still posting stuff from Maine but actually I am home and finishing up my last week at Summer Arts at Derby- I love being at camp and hate to see it end- however it will be nice to have a little more time for painting.
Of course I go right back to my museum job, but that is part time .

Kelley MacDonald and I painted this little ice cream shop in New Harbor, and the lobster boat is docked in Back Cove, where we stayed.