Tall Non Fat

We are heading back East for a few days to visit family and attend my Husband's reunion, so, I won't be posting for awhile. When we return I hope to be better about posting on a more regular basis. I do want to thank everyone who has stopped by and especially those who have taken the time to leave a comment, or become a "follower" I really am so inspired to paint more and share, as the art blogging community is such a wonderful group of people, all I can say is thank you. Since I am sort of taking a coffee break here is a painting done with oil bars. I was just trying for shapes and spots of color. I took a picture of a friend and the manager came running out telling me I couldn't do that. Tall Non Fat . Don't know what he thought was wrong. It was evening and I liked the lights shinning down, and the golden glow. Just wanted to make a painting. Has anyone else had that happen, and how do you go about taking pictures in public? I will look forward to hearing from you and will share more when we return. Happy Painting.

Berthe Morisot and Me

Ok, I somehow started this post and hit something and away it went and posted without the complete title or any words! Several years ago I read a book about the women Impressionists, I can't remember the title, Berthe Morisot has always been a favorite of mine, and I enjoyed reading about her. When I was in college my one art professor was an abstract painter, and I was a realist he was a friend of Jackson Pollock, and tried to get me to try more abstract in my paintings. Now I do like abstract paintings, but am still very much a realist, one who is trying new things, and always comes back to my love of the simple, ordinary everyday things. I love this quote from Berthe Morisot....." It is important to express oneself...provided the feelings are real and taken from your own experience" So, as I have been trying to figure out just where I am going this summer......I come right back to what I love, and Berthe expressed it very well! The Leeks and lacquer bowl were done in colored pencil. Hope everyone has a wonderful labor day weekend. Fall is definitely in the air. Look forward to hearing from you.

Lessons from Cezanne and Harvey Penick

I was reading about Cezanne and came across something he wrote in his late 60's "I am going on with my researches...I am continually making observations from nature and I feel I am making some slight progress" . So like Cezanne I am continuing on with my painting and looking and thinking!

 I grew up on a farm where we had sheep, I really love the silly animals. My sister and I each had our own sheep, we got to help at shearing time and then take the wool to the mill. I saw this one in the pasture while on Lopez, she reminded me of Matilda,  I helped Matilda when she arrived early in January one year. She used to follow me around in the pasture, and run to the gate bleating, when she saw me come home. Very unusual for sheep! I used oil bars and tried very hard to remember big shapes and simple. Which reminds me of advice from Golfer Harvey Penick,  "If you want to change yourself, you must change how you think." So I am trying to remember to paint quickly and simply!

Some Words of Wisdom and Summertime Reading

Summer in Seattle usually is beautiful in August, and this year we are finally seeing some sun. Lopez Island is one of my favorite places anytime of the year, but summer on Lopez is spectacular! It is a drive to catch the ferry but I love the ride to Lopez. Driving off the ferry and passing all the farmland and breathing in the wonderful aroma of salt water and newly mown hay is heavenly. So, today I am sharing a picture of Lopez. done in oil bars. They are chunky and force me to put it down and leave it.

 I was reading some of my favorite art books on the ferry ride. One by Rex Brandt, a watercolorist, " Our hopes are far ahead of our abilities. When we are satisfied, perhaps we haven't aimed high enough" And this one from Ed Whitney " If you don't like it it will be for one of three reasons, bad shapes; not enough entertainment; beaten to death!" Look forward to hearing from you and hope you all are enjoying your summer.

Garden memories, Robert Motherwell and Harriet Beecher Stowe......

A friend once told me that being an artist is a lonely business, because it is just you and the canvas. That is true to a point, I have been doing a lot of reading lately and came across an article about Robert Motherwell, he believed that he was just a channel, "you just have to let go, and the brush will stumble on what one couldn't do by oneself. " Harriet Beecher Stowe also believed that when she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, there was" another hand" that was there writing through her. She said in an interview that she never knew what was going to come next. 

After finding a photo I had taken of our granddaughter I decided to paint and let memory and the brush take over. It was a fun painting to do, there are still so many things I don't like.....too controlled, the colors are a bit off.......and on and on.....so it goes. Until the next time, any comments greatly appreciated, It is nice knowing that I am not alone, there are other artists out there doing the same thing. And, sometimes in the quiet of the studio, the painting does talk back, and the brush does know where to go..... until then I'll just keep painting.

Getting Real And Personal In The Pursuit Of Happiness

Is there anything more exciting than watching a bunch of kids play the last game of the season? Recently we watched a friend's son play their last game of the season, at 6 he is more interested in playing than the score! Now, that is the real pursuit of happiness......so, I am on my own journey of "painting happiness." I am trying different paints, methods, and subjects, just painting what I like,  and trying to rediscover me, and my style.

 But, I do have a question,  can anybody reccomend a good camera for shooting people in the distance, my point and shoot is not making the grade.  I love to paint kids and this was "The last Game" I did this in oils; using a brush is different from the oil bars, but, I am getting more comfortable with the oils and brushes. Any comments greatly appreciated, love hearing from you. Happy Summer!

You win some you loose some

July has come to the Northwest, finally! My peas are up and the deer have found them! I entered a show and didn't get in, and was really upset, decided to donate all my supplies to the school, and turn the studio into an exercise room.......and so it goes. The good news is my miniatures got into the show( a different juror) and one miniature won 2nd place. So, just goes to show you win some you loose some. In the words of Kahlil Gibran " My soul preached to me and said: Do not be delighted because of praise, and do not be distressed because of blame." Since I don't have a picture of the winning miniature I am posting a picture of the first day at the beach.......the kids couldn't wait to run down to the ocean, such joy!

 Enjoy, and to all of you wonderful bloggers out there......Happy Fourth!