New Painting (maybe)

This is a drawing from February 2004, and I don't need to check my journal to know that it was made during a particularly trying time. The drawing has been hanging on a clipboard for five years; now it is the basis for a painting. I always feel that the intensity gets lost the second time around. Perhaps it's the right brain/left brain thing--one feels, the other copies--so the painting is quite different (and it might get trashed). No title yet but I'm thinking "the sapper," lurid colors, and lots of paint; I've worked on it for several days.

The drawing was inspired by an iron "jack" I bought at auction for $4 (I've been told it's a tank baffle, so my street will be safe when the tanks roll in). It sat in my MD yard for several years until I realized it was a perfect bird bath base! My neighbors then approved and wanted one just like it. I moved it here to VA, painted it red to match my tin roof, and it sits outside the kitchen window--I enjoy watching the birds bathe--brown thrashers, robins, cardinals, chickadees, juncos, mockingbirds; occassionally, bluebirds.

In my workshop are three nests which fell from the maple trees--I can't seem to part with them--filled them with egg-shaped stones once and used them as a centerpiece. Nature amazes and provides.

The red stop sign in the drawing? I dropped my marker and needed to cover the spot. There are no accidents.

Nine-foot Snake!

Living near the lake, seeing snakes is not unusual. This sighting is: A nine-foot astrological diamond-back copperhead cottonmouth with golden fangs. The snake is on my back porch.

As I returned from my arrowhead search along the shore he said: "Why are you bringing that stick home?"

I said: "It's not a stick--it's a snake."

He said: "Well, put it away."

That's how things end up in my workshop--the snake has been in the corner for five years.

The golden fangs? I finally found a use for my old gold crowns-- ca. 1970. Copper shavings from my staircase railing (2005) cover his head.

The lasting effects of drinking Buffalo Lithia Water

The painting is Buffalo Bottle, acrylic, 18x24. I donated the painting to an SPCA auction several years ago; a neighbor bought it--now it's part of her collection. The tree is in my back yard.

As everyone hustled around doing Fourth of July things today--boating, parading, swimming, and cooking out--I watched from the porch; then had dinner at a local restaurant. Growing up, our celebrations were minimal--fireworks (and accidents), laughter and bandages.

Living only a mile from Buffalo Lithia Springs might have contributed to our laid-back demeanor; surely, our well water also contained a bit of lithium (and we filled bottles at the Springs). I googled some ads which first appeared around 1886: "Nerve tonic, Anti-dyspeptic & Restorative.........Far Superior to the Lithia tablet." Stories circulate about people who were mentally fine until they left Buffalo Springs. I think I was okay when I lived in MD/DC; well, sometimes a bit edgy.

My water bottles are empty--tomorrow I'll make the seven-mile trip to the Springs for refills.

I pronounce Miss Lulu finished

Miss Lulu, acrylic 36x24, has been signed--that means she's finished. I hope. This image will be used for the Holly Springs NC invitations/announcements, a project which needs to be done this week. I'm not sure I like Miss Lulu looking at me with those scissors in her hand. Luckily, I don't have a beak.

She was a nice lady but the story got stuck in my head.

Relaxing in SOVA

Here in Southern Virginia relaxing is an art. The spiders, however, are always busy. This is one of my small sculptures--Of Two Minds (the heads are interchangeable). She hasn't changed her mind in several years; she just hangs out on the porch of my workshop.

Sold Sold Sold Sold Sold Sold Sold & Sold

The seven paintings above will be going to new homes, and I sold one piece of sculpture--Woman (black soapstone). These are part of the art exhibit at MacCallum More in Chase City VA, which is on display until the end of July.

I always have mixed feelings about selling; I'm happy people like them enough to buy but parting is never easy. Each one represents a chunk of my life.

How many feet in a yard?

There are ten feet in my yard--six lefts and four rights; they were in the bottom of my 40's shopping cart which is in the workshop. Since I don't like even numbers, I'll have to eliminate one or buy another one. These could be feet for the ducks or feet for the newel posts. Some appear to be made of walnut and one pair is painted blue. A wrought-iron tea cart (an auction find) was missing its two small back wheels. The feet worked well; I named it "Blue Suede Shoes Cart" and used it in my living room. Give junk a title and it becomes art!

In the Gardens

Tomorrow I will go to MacCallum More Gardens and open the Museum/Exhibit at 2 p.m. People have visited the Gardens to see my work and were disappointed when the Museum was closed. I don't mind hanging out in such a beautiful place; I'm equipped with camera and sketch pad. The above photo was taken last Sunday.

Lesson learned: Include exhibit hours on the invitation or announcement. (I'm excusing myself from "idiothood" because my last art shows were in the MD/DC area many, many moons ago.)

Miss Lulu--she cut off their beaks with rusty scissors

I cleared a path to my easel and am working on a new painting.

"Miss Lulu" (36x24) began with charcoal-drawn chickens and many layers of acrylic gels and paints. I added Miss Lulu Thursday and she has the correct attitude; much remains to be done, including darkening the bottom with burnt sienna, and Miss Lulu will be seen through broken chicken wire. As a child I knew her--she dipped snuff, wore men's shirts, hats and sweaters (maybe that's where I got my sense of style), and her husband Charlie always opened the truck door for her. My mother told me that she had cut off her chickens' beaks with scissors so they wouldn't peck at her garden seeds. Despite the story, I liked her.

Art is Everywhere, cont'd.

Sweet potatoes are my favorite houseplants. This photo needs a caption...any ideas?