2013



Graphite and Pigma Pen in Moleskin Sketchbook

I survived the Holidays and spent yesterday taking down and storing my few decorations, changing the whole-house water filter, then making my black-eyed peas and collard greens soup for today's good-luck meal.  I was determined to spend New Year's Day in the studio/workshop but first I in my down coat had to get through all the junk in order to turn on the heat.  While getting organized I came across this sketchbook--first sketch is from March 2010 and the next from June 2011.  This is only the third, and pencil to paper was fun--forget cleaning. 

I usually don't make resolutions; they don't last, and I'm sure this one won't.  Can you tell I had taken Willie for a walk earlier?  Actually, this Food Lion bag is from my car--contains snacks--peanut butter cookies and an energy bar.

Happy New Year.

Out of the Blues



Holding Back the Drought?
Speech of the Era?
Encore?

OR

Descent?
Hydrus Watercolors on Aquaboard, 12x12

I played with these watercolors--dripping, scrubbing, painting over, spraying with water, etc., until I had an underwater scene.

I can't pinpoint the source for the remainder of this painting:  I watched a Lakefest Idol contest at our local Fine Arts Center (my old elementary school), I was mesmorized by President Clinton's speech at the Democratic Convention, and my brother has a wonderful 4' tall wide-armed blue man sculpture whose eyes watch everything.  All of the above.  When I walked out of my studio a few minutes ago, I saw long hair instead of shadow in this and glimpsed Mona Lisa--made me laugh.

I've been AWOL from painting and blogging, and was gambling in Atlantic City last week (once every five years can't be considered a habit).  I picked my lucky machine at Trump's Taj Mahal and sat down to either spend my money or win a $500,000 progressive jackpot.  I was winning when a stage nearby opened their show.  LOUD music--I tried sticking my finger in my left ear and playing max with my right hand.  After an hour of deafening music and machines, I cashed out (at a profit) and went up to my room, read Vanity Fair on my iPad.  I overslept the following morning so no time for gambling--I brought most of my money back home; I guess that's a win.  I saw the Atlantic, the Boardwalk, and lots of Jonathan Livingston Seagulls.  During the 800-mile roundtrip, I saw Richmond, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Annapolis, and Amish country in southern Maryland.  My studio is now looking very inviting.     

Tall & Thin in Just Three Days

 

Painter's Salute or Oh Crap, What have I Done?  acrylic, 36 x 24

After weeks of cleaning I needed to try my new easel.  I looked through my list of paintings to be done; I looked for inspiration and found none.  Finally I headed to the workshop just to splash some paint onto the easel.  I found a 10-year-old canvas--it was the only painting support I could easily reach--and propped it up.  That's when I spotted my image in a small mirror about 10 feet away.  I had hung it when I was clearing the workshop--a 70s Danish Modern rosewood piece, 7 inches wide and 20 inches tall.  With that piece I feng sui'd the workshop--the mirror faces the lake.

I couldn't see all of me at one time so I ended up tall and thin and looking like Miss Hathaway from the Beverley Hillbillies.  I recognize some parts--the oversized Abercrombie & Fitch corduroy shirt that reaches to my knees (found at a community yard sale for $1), my magnified bad eye (my left but reversed in the painting), and my long black underwear (good for cold weather).  It's impossible to look at my hand when I'm using it to paint!  This painting was fun and is not quite finished.

I never got the counter cleared.  The empty easel box served as the perfect surface for holding my paints and palette.  One more day to finish the painting; then it's back to clearing clutter (including the box).  Mirror is upper right, next to ladder.

Loose Screws

Untitled, terra cotta, 1992

 I suspect I have a few loose screws.  While most people partied for the Holidays, I cleaned out my studio/workshop to make room for a new easel.  Seven days of manual labor--this was not the brightest idea.

 

 My Richeson easel arrived Monday afternoon. 

I decided I could handle and assemble a 98-pound easel.

 Lots of pieces--and a winch and pulley!  

Winch Warning:  Not for Humans.

 

 I had my Leatherman tool.

I couldn't resist the comfy box and the easel was perfect for rigging up the camera.  Getting into the box before the self-timer blinked wasn't easy--getting out of this box and up off the floor was even harder.  My right shoulder was aching! 

All set; everything works.  I have to clean off the counter and find my paints. Tomorrow, a trip to the dumpster.

May you soar in 2011

conte

pencil

For the past month, I've been drawing these birds again.  These are old sketches found while trying to clear out my workshop.  Maybe someone should write a song called "Yellow Bird." 

I've been cleaning my workshop (another attempt) for four days--so far, I have one clean spot.  Instead of a resolution for the New Year, I opted for an incentive.  I ordered a Santa Fe II easel last week (on sale and a rebate) which will be delivered Monday afternoon--it will require space.  I have looked at oak easels for several years and worried about the wood warping in the workshop because it's a separate building, and no heat or air conditioning unless I'm out there.  Recently I thought, What the Hell--I'll warp before the easel warps; order the thing.  As I cleaned I inventoried supplies, moved boxes of photographs into the guest house, and stacked things on the porch (to be moved to the storage shed or Good Will).

Here are some of the interesting things I found--charcoal drawings of my two kids from the 60s.

Items from my brother's run for the Virginia Senate (bags and a tire cover for my Jeep); also, a 20-foot banner from my husband's run for town council.

This photo of "my relatives" will continue to hang on the bathroom wall.
Photographer unknown.

I'm off to check my lottery tickets; I might have won $200+ million!   If so, I'll skip the cleaning and build another workshop just for the easel.
 HAPPY NEW YEAR