NUMERO UNO

This is my first monotype  using my new preowned etching press. Two printings. Since then I have started to experiment and have nothing I want to post, but I am not constrained by tradition.
By moving stuff around I have amazed myself by actually creating more room in my studio and still have room for someone to sleep. It is a fold out mattress that acts as a chair most of the time. So I now have room for 2 people to print at one time and that is really fun and very helpful to me.

Mangus

I do have to introduce you to Mangus. The last two dogs I rescued both had cancer, as it turned out. Now I have a very mellow 80lb dog who is supposed to be 2ish. Maybe more like 3. He is part Curly Coated Retriever possibly with Bernese Mountain Dog possibly but definitely he is a great dog.

TIDEPOOL

I was going to teach a short course on combining oil pastel with water color, so I thought it was time to experiment. I bought a canvas pad, that said it was suitable for all water media, mixed up some gouache and tried to paint it on the support. Not at all easy. I had to really work to get it onto the surface and I ended up pouring it, rotating the canvas so that the paint dribbled in patterns, and then I left it to dry. That was an effect I liked. While it was drying I took a Q tip and drew some of the shell outlines. Liked that too. Maybe this would work after all. When it was dry I drew with oil pastels. Mainly medium hard Erengi and finished with really soft Sennelier. I mounted all three on a dark blue board that is about 52x62. Fun.

TIDEPOOL

TIDEPOOL

THE SOUND OF THUNDER

The Sound of Thunder is a collection of acrylic paintings on paper. First of all I drew about 12 pencil thumbnails. These paintings were from the ones I liked most. I will never again paint with thick acrylic on paper without first painting a layer of Gesso. The acrylic was hard to put on and of course it dried very quickly and it was difficult (almost impossible) to match the original colors because they change when dry. I gather there are new acrylic paints which dry the same color as painted. I did enjoy the idea and may continue, using some more of the thumbnails.

SOUND OF THUNDER 1

SOUND OF THUNDER 2

SOUND OF THUNDER 3

SOUND OF THUNDER4

SARAH'S HUSBAND

SKETCH OF SARAH

This beautiful young lady wears Victorian clothes on a daily basis. The portrait group I belong to has been meeting for 8 years now. (hard to believe) Our fearless-leader saw Sarah in the grocery store, with hat and veil, and smart long skirt and crisp shirt, and asked her to sit for us. And so she did. This was the second pose for our group. I really liked the energy of my sketch and so I left it as is and started a new painting.

SARAH

Painting #2.  I am so glad I don't have to wear these clothes. Sarah's deportment makes me realize what a slouch I am.

NICOLE

Unfortunately this does not look like Nicole and does not do her justice at all. However, I think it is the best portrait I painted this year. The actual painting is warmer than this.

WISHFUL THINKING

When it was my turn to set up a still life I didn't want flowers, or fruit, or vases and I did want to think of sun and warmth! This is oil, 16x20, YES pad, as usual, with a little oil pastel on top. I could have done a lot more oil pastel, making the beach fade back and have more pattern on the towel but I like it as it is and don't feel like fooling around.

ABUNDANCE

You may have seen this title before, with no image underneath. My friend thought I was being funny. The truth is that I couldn't remember how to add an image and clicked the wrong button. I have never felt comfortable painting still life before, but I think I am getting the hang of it. This is an oil on YES pad, (my favorite inexpensive panel) and is 16x20. January 2011

CABIN FEVER. row 1

This is the top row of my acrylic Cabin Fever group of paintings. Each painting is 8x10 and if they were bigger I would like them on their own. I have not worked in acrylics so I wanted to play and see how the colors reacted together. I mainly mixed the colors on the canvas.

CABIN FEVER row 2

CABIN FEVER

These images are titled Cabin Fever!. I was staying with my sister in Sussex, UK when a huge snow storm came in. This meant that there were no trains, buses, taxis or boots. The boots were important, because I only had dress shoes and desperately needed to get out every day. Luckily my sister had some lovely  acrylics, a brush,  an 8x12 canvas pad and a tiled kitchen floor. (the only non carpeted space). It saved my sanity. When I got back I adhered them to a black board.