Dusting Off...

Cobwebs around here... my bad! Can't believe the last post was written back in Feb, so much has happened, not to mention the drastic change of temperature between then and now. But we won't go there.

Had a really terrific April solo show at Carol Robinson Gallery in New Orleans (corner of Napoleon and Magazine, should you be visiting the city.) Really terrific in that she knows how to hang a show and sell it! I've been avoiding solo shows for a few years and that's not only bad for the resume but also for creating "reaching points"... most important to have good goals. Installation pics can be seen on the right hand side of this page.

Spring weather had J and I finishing up the elaborate step project at the lake house... we built the first steps when we lived there in the early 80's and are now replacing them with a much easier, and pleasant, assent up that steep hill. That deserves a post all it's own so I'll get to that later.



My summer project has been to set up an oil painting studio at the lake house. It's the same space I used as my studio 25 years ago. The walk out basement has great lighting and views of the lake... have to keep my back to the windows in order to get any work done! I've worked with oils on and off and a couple of years ago I loaded up on paints and supplies determined to conquer the beast (acrylics really make you lazy, so easy to mix and clean up after.) I also have a gallon of cold wax and hope to make it work for me as a medium... but who knows. This project also deserves it's own blog post (series, even) so will follow up soon.

Summer means lots of visiting and visitors... also much g-kid carpooling to work around. August will be especially busy. Time spent at the lake house without wifi and cable TV reminds me of how much time I spend in the computer chair when at home where I don't get nearly as much done that requires physical activity... which I need more of, not less!

So... I signed on to the new Google+. ARG! Hey! I've got this curiosity that must be satisfied! I'm just looking... and my website soooo needs updating, redesigning, even... but now, off to the studio! The acrylic one...

It's All Relative...

1984 - PALMETTO 3 - w/c - 22x30

I'm not really into self-help books but am a big believer in positive thinking. On a recent drive to the lake house, I caught a book review on NPR's 'Here and Now' ("Counterclockwise," by Dr. Ellen Langer) which really grabbed my attention. As you know, a few years ago we repurchased a house we'd lived in back in the early to mid '80's... since it's on a lake and only an hour away, we've had a great time fixing it up. Lots of hard work but worth it in more ways than I'd ever imagined. Our own personal 'togetherness' and watching the g-kids enjoy swimming and boating during family get-togethers... and personally, getting a whole lot of exercise!

It's a long article but the part I heard on NPR begins with this short paragraph: "I told him that I didn’t know if anything would change as a result of the study, but he might have a good time for a week. He agreed to join us." which is about halfway through the article.

In essence, a controlled study showed that by putting a group of elderly men in a time warp situation for a week where everything (tv, radio, newspapers) is 1958 and you don't even mention anything that's happened since, they improved remarkedly both physically and mentally in just that short time. An earlier study had shown the difference in giving nursing home patients a plant to 1) take care of, or 2) let the aides take care of. The first group became much more involved and attune to more than just the plant. The theory is that we don't need to follow the assumed aging process... there are workarounds!

I didn't really listen closely because I immediately realized the similarities with our own situation and thought about when J and I are working on one project after another at our 'time warp' place, we are much more involved and attune there than when we come back home and each of us go to 'our separate corners' and resume a slower, more suitable pace. I think just being able to go there on occasion is enough... no plans or desire to move back, just want to try to keep up with the people we were three decades ago... and then drive back home and rest up!

This possibly also addresses why I've been so adamant about regaining my earlier, more realistic skills in artmaking. I've rejoined a weekly painting group that I'd been a member of in the 80's... no idea why... nice people, enthusiastic painters, camaraderie maybe... could be it's just a square I need to fill... or refill. I don't know how else to explain except that I expect it to have a positive affect on my future work. Um, wonder what the first signs of schizophrenia might be???

Meanwhile, back in the studio, in present time and having nothing to do with the lake house scenario, plans are well on the way to getting a new body of Bokushos lined up. Don't know what I'm going to do with them, but I'll be ready for whatever!

Painting Just For Me...

Archives - 1988 - Magnolia 5 - W/C - 22 x 30

Prepping for another surge of family at the lake house... will be out of pocket for the next week... but that's another story...

As most who follow these wanderings know, I'm not one to stay too long on a chosen path. At some point I must (briefly or not) shift directions and either explore something new or revisit something from the past. The latter is the current infatuation, a journey back into realism combined with a medium I've never really mastered but will give one more try... oils.

An FB friend mentioned this Josef Albers quote: "Knowledge does not destroy spontaneous work; rather, it ceates a solid base for it."

I consider this research for knowledge... painting directly from an old photograph, similar to the w/c above, but in oil. First I'll work as realistically as possible on a small canvas, sharpening eye/hand coordination, reaching back to a time when this was my primary way of working. I knew exactly what the finished work would look like: nearly identical to the photograph. Second purpose is to get the feel for oils again... not as a big-brush-palette-knife abstract process but an exploration in color mixing and detail application. If things work out, I'll move to larger supports.

Why? First, to make sure I can still make the calls... that I'm not controlled by habit and routine. Where's the creativity in that? Things have become so predictable in the studio the challenge has left the room. I've a large inventory spread across several states and I don't really need to keep growing it at this point. So now is the time to play... to see what I can still do, to entertain new thoughts that may lead to just time out to paint for me... or a new direction all together.

I'll take sketch and w/c materials with me this next week... since I won't really be in charge, maybe I'll find time to work on that eye/hand coordination thing...

And Then...

Conclusion: it was, for the most part, well done. You take six kids (seven, with a play date thrown in for the youngest) ranging from 8 to 14 and you aren't dealing with children anymore. There's the transition into teendom (Heaven help us all!) that I didn't fully prepare for and had memory prods of what an attitude I had at that age! The oldest flew home after the first week leaving two BFF (Best Friends Forever) pairs plus the youngest-who-will-not-be-ignored!

The all time favorite was tubing on the big lake with the old man successfully causing them to lose their grip and fly off... someone kept score but it wasn't me. Big grins all 'round. Our little lake saw a bit of action, but not much... thought the sail boat and kayak would be hits but not. The old golf cart made repeated hill climbs with various drivers and just about went up in smoke but survived... I think.

We did break out the watercolor kit but the assortment of Oops paint from Home Depot was more fun. When will I learn? I'd picked up some $1 frames from Michael's for them to paint and then went searching for odd scraps of wood which was just as fun to paint. Pollock would have been proud of their spattering. The local community had an Art Walk one night and we visited Kentuck Fine Craft Museum with all it's open studios, meeting artists and seeing demos... then made a gallery visit before rains washed us out.

The cooking camp part consisted of one evening of discussing a meal everyone would eat (vast taste differences) and settled on shrimp kabobs with grits. Big success in my book! They contributed whenever appropriate with other meals but I didn't push a big organized effort to control. We visited a resturant with a counter that viewed the kitchen and the owner took pains to entertain... we appreciated! I'd anticipated more involvement with daily cooking but, like Xmas, anticipation is where the real fun is!

Technology played a big role in this group... some were on their phones almost constantly... texting or talking... way into the night. No need to keep parents updated, they were probably more informed than I ;) I joked to one that there was no way I could mistreat them as they would tell on me immediately! But that's part of their lifestyle and I certainly understand, I'm hooked too.

There were some good side trips... the local Science Center has a great kid set-up of all kinds of exploration... and the University Museum of Natural History was more time well spent.

Conclusion... Good times and good memories were made. I love these girls, with all my heart! Always will. But as teens, I think I'll leave the details to their parents who understand better than I what today's society is all about. We had our turn and produced three really great kids I couldn't be more proud of! And they're doing a super job with their not-so-little ones... my hat is off to them!

Now... back to the studio where I think I might know something... if I haven't forgotten!

Moving Right Along...

Five of the six G-Chicks soon to arrive!
(Photo/scrapbook credit to my photographer daughter, Julia!)

So here's the deal... the next few posts will be mostly about g-kid worship. Although there is a lone g-guy in the younger set (another lone g-guy in the older tier) we have mostly g-girls... sometimes referred to as g-chicks as they are (or nearing) teeny bopper category. We have two here in town and will be driving to NOLA on Friday to pick up three more and bring back for a two week "camp" at the lake house... mostly. A sixth g-chick will fly in from Arkansas... making a total of six for the last week. The young man will visit later in the summer with a buddy of his... believe me, this is the most humane way to treat an outnumbered guy kid! Chicks can do a mean job on a lone young brother/cousin!

Well laid plans (you know how those go!) include a Cooking Camp and an Art Camp plus the usual boating, swimming and tubing that actually takes priority. My theory is that they will not just learn a few recipes, but how to plan and shop and put together a few decent meals for future reference in this kitchen... I want them to feel that this is THEIR house and their responsibility to make it function appropriately. Including the nitty gritty parts. I don't expect to play hostess/caretaker more than absolutely necessary!

I've probably gone overboard with art materials, but each will receive a wood box watercolor set, a palette, a spiral watercolor book and a newsprint tablet... and a Dollar Tree $1 bag (cute) to keep it all together. The idea is that they will keep a sketch journal of the time they are here. I remember seven or so years ago, I'd taken three of them to the zoo and had forgotten my camera... "don't worry, Grammie," the oldest said, whipping out a little notebook, "I'll just draw everything we see!" And she did, and my biggest regret is that I didn't keep the dozen pics she drew... thought she should have it and now it's lost. But I did keep these two pics:
The zoo animals are missing but she nailed the rugged climbing rocks and apparently there was a contrail in the sky with the sun... and I got the full treatment but my daughter only has the beginning of a head due to limited drawing time... can hardly wait to see what the journals produce!

Here's all nine from three years ago, not easy to get them all together anymore!

Is that a good looking bunch of G-Kids or what!?!
(They could have stayed that size! Or smaller!!!)

Surpise! Blue Angels Over Our Lake!

So there we were... a lovely spring day, dogwoods whispering, azaleas loud with their riot of color (why did I think I needed every color available?) Measuring, sawing, clamping and drilling our new 'above the ivy' hill steps to the lake, when... well, imagine giant alien bugs buzzing around your head, I mean VARROOOOMM!!! Again and again!

Now, we lived on or near Air Force bases for the first twenty years of our marriage, and we've know how they can be... but this really got our attention! It was Friday and the locals are hosting an air show Saturday and I guess they were working on their timing.

And then... WOW! Blue Angels! Four of them making passes over our lake! I whipped out my holster camera and always seemed to be too slow. Later I went through the dozen shots and whoa! I got one!

I understand a B-52 will make a pass over the airfield during the show (no way the small town airport could host a landing) and since that was J's plane, it would be fun to see. Can't go to the show because this isn't the week my "studio assistant" comes to tidy up the place and we've got house guests coming tonight. But they put on a great show for us and I always get a lump in my throat when I see our proud military showing off...

Spring... Into Action!

Spring rains dictate our calendar these days... plus any number of other distractions. Trying to get the bulk of the hillside steps built before heat and humidity have their way with our good times. An hour's drive away, we try to outguess the weatherman with day trips but yesterday we thought we could overnight there and sneak in another days work... but not.

I don't sleep well after a day of, um... exertion. Must remember to stock a Tylenol PM for such times. Numerous trips up and down the hill do a job on my legs which I don't notice at the time, but are nagging reminders later... the few steps that are finished hint and how much easier it promises to be.

A new development is an alert that the lake level will drop within the next few days as repair work is done on the spillway. When we lived there before, they would purposely drop the level every few years so people could work on their docks and retaining walls. We've been holding off building a new dock and this took us by surprise... arg! Hold everything while we shift gears! A quick study needed in how to best go about doing this...

But hold everything... the garage sale golf cart we bought a few months ago is demanding attention... like it's smoking and won't... go! Was doing fine but is now posing all sorts of challenges at a time when we really needed it to carry building stuff up and down the hill... more research needed! For a family of do-it-yourselfers, we sure know how to keep our to-do list full!

Just to make sure all bases are loaded... a commission is needed in NOLA... soon! And it's a big one so will be driving it down, along with new inventory stock sometime around Easter... that's not very far away!

Maybe it will rain...

Who Needs Aerobics?

Back from another invigorating session of earth sculpture at the lake. With the temps becoming more agreeable we are beginning to dive into the many outdoor projects that had been shelved. I'm uncovering more and more of my old garden and have found old photos to compare. I've added a post to the Lake House Blog for before and after pics. Sorry I haven't kept that blog more up to date but will try to remedy that as time allows.

J finally got the 25 yr old water pump to work again so future droughts won't be a problem, even way up the hill to the front yard! 'Course it could blow up from the unaccustomed strain (I would!) but he'll just find another way to fix it... seems to love the challenge ;-) We are in awe of the amount of work we'd put into the place... an underground watering system that still works!

This trip I dug and chunked bricks and flagstone from some of the many edgings I'd created so long ago, most now buried with a few offering clues as to where to dig. They will go into a redesign of deck and patios around the boathouse. I thought the area was really starting to look good until I took a look at an old photo (see above link) the way it was... geeze! We even had grass... which is NOT in our plans this time around... the landscaping down by the lake will be simple and natural, but under control.

This pic shows just a few of the bricks I recovered... also moved those logs up and out of the way. You can see some of the old herringbone brick pattern in front of the boat house, only partially recovered... a three or four inch layer of dirt and roots cover my handiwork. Later, up on the house deck we rest and survey our progress... making a few more plans or adjusting the ones we'd already agreed on. The design goes on...

We've been making the trip once or twice a week and loving the time we spend there. J's bad sprain last May turned out (after they finally took an MRI!) to be a shattered heel bone and he's found a sports doctor (a former Olympic specialist) who thinks he can help him without surgery. J's main concern is to be able to continue swimming competitively with the Masters... surgery would require some fusing and he would lose lateral movement in that foot... not a good thing. The doctors are amazed that he does so much considering the pain he must be feeling... he's pretty remarkable (and I won't even say 'for his age'!)

I can't imagine not having this property to restore... this part of our past that we get to do again, to repeat, in a sense. That's pretty rare and I truly appreciate, no matter how tired, dirty and sore I get.

Oh... look what I found in an old ivy bed I was cleaning out... our youngest son's Tonka truck!

I Love My Job...

2007 - The Heights 1 - 60x20

My job is pretty equally divided three ways: Art - Family - Retreat. The Art part is just demanding enough to keep me on my toes, painting regularly and leaving no time to contemplate retirement. The Family part ranks equally high on the priority list... 9 g-kids to love and wonder/worry about, and occasionally entertain.

The Retreat part is the renovation of our old/new lake house, which is coming along pretty fabulously, BTW. We step into a totally different world when we arrive... become different personalities, working side by side like a team of oxen, sweating and straining... as if we were twenty five years younger... just like we did twenty five years ago. I suspect this ole house might have rescued our 48 year marriage from the doldrums... two old buddies who might have said about all there was to say. Now there are projects to do and plans to make... it's been a very good year and promises many more.

These three entities will be coming together next week as family comes and goes. We'll be back and forth to the lake, meshing with the schedule of the two local g-kids who start school in the middle of everyone else being here. I won't go into the details... just know I'll be runnin' to keep up!

So where does the Art part come in? Well... I've recently heard from nearly every gallery that represents me (five out of six) describing their wish lists for the upcoming season... which seems to have already begun. So mixed in with vacationing family and retreating to the lake... I'll be stretching and prepping a number of canvases... and nearly all will be landscapes. Well... I said I was going to do more landscapes... guess I will.... when the rest of life settles back into place and studio time takes priority.

Excavating... Bricks And Relationships

2004 - Excavation - 36x36

The only thing in common with the above painting and this past weekend is the title. I cleared, dug and discovered a long ago effort to improve the landscape. Oh, the thrill of deja vue ... shame that the feature had been so totally neglected over the past 20 years. But that's the way it goes. During our absence nothing has been touched outside and not much in the way of improvements inside either. But thanks to my early efforts, and the lack of intervening interference, my plans can continue as I once dreamed them.

I'm a gardener at heart... it's a long held passion right up there with art. Composing the landscape and composing a painting is much the same. Inspiration, composition, problem solving... trying out, taking out, finding out what works and what doesn't... very satisfying. I come from farm stock... diggers of dirt. And not just edible crops, one grandmother's garden supplied the once popular giant spider mums for college homecoming games. She was a regular source for the local florist, flowers weren't flown in from Brazil back then.

Anyway... back to my 'excavation'. During our first residency at the lake house, I made a brick lined trough for water to drain away from a potential mud puddle on the sloping driveway and it worked very well. When we moved back in 25 years later, there was little to be seen of it as leaves and dirt had accumulated and the situation was back to square one. So I've been digging, cleaning and bricking this morning... who need aerobic classes? Add several of reps of hill climbing and I'm content to kick back for a few days.

And there was another excavation of sorts... I've made mention of a previous relationship with a local gallery owned by a long time good friend. I haven't been active with this gallery or in touch with my friend for a number of years as I was focusing on pushing my career to a higher level and there's just so much energy and inventory to spread around. The relationship break just happened, no discussion, I just didn't pick up the last painting which kind of signified that we weren't really finished. Well, fences have been mended (not that they were broken, just neglected, like my lake house landscaping) and it is agreed that I will begin building an inventory with them again. We'll see how it goes. The small town neighborhood is a charming and well publicized historical district, often featured in popular style magazines like Southern Living and Southern Accents. So there's a nice traffic pattern of tourists visiting the area. Being right across the river from a sizable University with a competitive sports program is a plus... football weekends fill the shops! Stay tuned, no telling what I've uncovered this time.

Color As A Found Object... Oops!

1985 - Azalea Splash - 11x30

We're way overdue for quality time at the lake... J's sprain is still sprung but there's too much to do to put it off. He'll just have to take it easy and work on small projects. I've been collecting Oops paint from HD and Lowes (returned and marked waay down) and will start painting the downstairs with whatever seems appropriate or can be mixed to something close. I found a gallon of a gorgeous shade of geranium red and can't decide which room deserves it. There's a very large bath, also a long skinny laundry room, both windowless... either could use some color excitement.

Whatever isn't used will wind up in the studio as underpaint as I build up layers. I always finish the paintings with good quality acrylics, usually Golden, but as I work larger these days, it takes an awful lot of paint to create my idea of a proper surface... hence, Oops!

I think I'll gather my w/c supplies and take them all to the lake. There's something about my main studio that sez 'same ole, same ole' demanding that I actually work on REAL paintings, suitable for gallery inventory. Well, shoot me now! It's summer, I want to play... REAL paintings will just have to wait! I've given thought to eventually taking my oils down there as well... but let me see if I can actually make myself set aside time to sketch and dabble with paint.

Yes... go pack up the watercolors... every last tube and scrap of paper! Ummm... maybe I'll see if I have all the parts to my dismantled old drafting table... it used to be a key piece of furniture in my small studio there.

------------------<>------------------

I understand this creative list by Hugh MacLeod might become a book. Includes a 31 point list of tips, cool enough, followed by an expanded list that's just plain good reading. I think he pretty much covers everything you need to know about the tending to the creative side of life.

Quick Note...

2007 - Pond - 54x42

Just wanted to say how much I've been appreciating the comments but life has kicked into gear and leaves little time for 'the chair' these days. Why is it when time gets short, you guys start writing stuff I'd really like to get into conversation about... but just no time.

Been spending more time at lake and I'll have to figure out how to download and save all my 'reads' at the local McD's (free wifi) in the time it takes to drink a cup of their much improved coffee... who needs Starbucks? Then take the ole laptop back to the deck to read during a rest stop. That way I can better keep up with what's going on in the world of art blogs.

Now the proud owners of a pedal boat! I'd like to think I might do some sketching from it, looking back toward the shore... but then, I'd also planned to sketch the view from the deck and that hasn't developed. But I'd be away from distractions, out there on the water... except I'd probably just get settled in and need a potty break. See... already making excuses! What is it with that? I really want to do more drawing... have all the gear (the money has been spent, maybe that was the fun part?) Maybe I'll go back to Jacie's post and see what kind of pen turned out that fanciful piece of work... maybe I'm intimidated... umm, I'll think of some reason to keep putting it off. There's always another room to be painted.

The painting above is a variation of landscapes from the past, I see things that should be changed, and I don't believe the green patch in the foreground is as Thalo as it appears here. Already delivered to the gallery so will have to take a closer look. Pure Thalo green is my least fav color so not likely I'd leave it like that. Later...

Reclaiming A Good Time

Finally, first time since 1986, I climbed into a little Sunflower sailboat (a laminated Styrofoam canoe shaped tub with rigging) and I sailed! As mentioned earlier, we sought an exact copy of our earlier rig in order to recreate the fun we had the first time we owned this lake property. We have also acquired a Sunfish (same idea but a slicker racing model) in need of repair (much has been done including obtaining a newish sail and rigging,) but the slower Sunflower will serve to remind us of the fine art of getting out of our little cove and eventually returning to it without upsetting applecarts or ourselves. After all... we've got to be the teachers. And heck... it's fun! It will be even more fun when the Sunfish is ready for action and we can sail in pairs. Never mind that the ole bods don't flex as they once did, we're up for the challenge!

So here I go... I'm in and J shoves me off... I manage to miss the branches of the sail eating tree near the boathouse... the sail luffs a bit, I catch the breeze and I'm sailing! Oh, it's all coming back now... I find the tension between rudder and sail and know the power of control... intermittently. Aware that I don't want to get too far downwind this first time out, I enjoy the sensation for just a bit, then cut the rudder sharply and swing around. The boom knocks my straw hat off, I let go of 'something', make a successful grab and have my hat back, then reach behind me for the rudder. But wait... oh, please wait! Cramp in my upper leg! Oh, Lord! There... I get a good repositioning, all is okay and I sail back into the cove feeling proud.

One small hurdle yet... gotta get out of this slippery tub! Don't look, J, and promise you won't laugh! Getting up off the floor in a graceful manner is not my strong suite... but I'm up, my butt is planted firmly on the retaining wall again... I did it! Next time I'll actually go somewhere...

Of course I forgot to take my camera to record this historic event so you'll have to take my word for it and rely on this old photo from years ago. I remember the fun of sailing slowly by the back yards of homes, taking gardening notes and being openly nosy. A summer breeze from the south allows good cruising to the north end of our lake... then you'd better allow for plenty of tacking time to get back home.

So glad we took time out from the sawdusty house (still a work in progress) to have a good time. Gotta do that more often! (There's a connection to artistic endeavors here... gotta take time out to enjoy what you've been producing or it loses it's meaning! Gonna do more of that, too!)

Checkers First

I've got a plan! The lower deck (partially shown here) will be marked off and painted as a 12' chess/checker board, I know where to get a bunch of appropriately sized flower pots (cheap!) which will be painted predominately black or red but with whatever a kid's intuition wants to do with it. May need to trim the lip of the pot with duct tape (note to self, look for colored tape) in order to cushion the 'checkers' as they move around the concrete board. The drainage hole will be used as a finger grip to pick up and move the 'men'.

Later, the checkers can be used as pawns and I'll find larger pots to paint up as appropriate chess pieces. (Any creative ideas appreciated!)

The chess board will take up less than half of the available space, so I found a gridded labyrinth design (simplified) and will save that for another time... maybe later this summer. Would be fun to read and study on the history (kid's view) of labyrinths while we paint it.

Also found a bunch of nearly new straw hats at the local Thrift Store (a favorite place to shop for surprise finds) so that's something else the kids can paint. Maybe we'll have an Easter Parade ;-)

A Different Kind Of Landscape

The small landscape in the lower right was painted in 1974 and I'm still pretty proud of it. I recall that I was determined to 'loosen up' and by golly, I did it! Called "A Walk In The Woods," it's a good juxtaposition of yesterday's 'walk in the woods' when I found the tree branch now hitched to a nail in the fireplace brick. It later fell and shattered the smaller branches but the main attraction was the white lichen that traces one side of the main branch. It doesn't show up well against the brick anyway so will find another place to put it. I think it reflects my 'loosening up' as regards the decorating aspects of this place to relax and contemplate.

BTW, the branch was found down by the lakeside, stretched across some very large Formosa azaleas begging to be released from it's strangle hold. I probably wouldn't have noticed it had it been on the ground.

My abandoned collection of azaleas and camellias are beginning to strut their stuff. This one we could spot from the deck and it appeared to be red litter, as in "what's that red thing down there?" But wow! What a beauty! I must have spent extra for that one, but there's only one small branch of it that lives. There's a lot of revitalizing to be done, and we've arrived non too soon.

(Hey Joe! Bet you thought you had about all my older paintings... missed this one! -Mom)

Time Out for Dreaming

Happened across the top photo of artwork (the green verticals) installation in a home that bears a striking resemblance to our 'renovation in process' lake house. We could very easily almost duplicate this look, shouldn't have pulled up the white carpet (yeah, right!) But I don't want to paint the wood beams, just the wood paneling... which is a done deal at this point. Since we're doing this on the cheap, the furnishings will be some what less than seen here... but the artwork will be first class, of course! Stay tuned (but don't hold your breath) for our version in a few months.

Wednesday, I'll be hauling a disbeliever (J) to see a friend's home a couple of hours down the road. She bought a very contemporary home (and decorated it beautifully casual eclectic) which was built as an exercise in economy. The very beautiful floors are... varnished 4x8 particle board! Held in place with small screws and grommets (don't know what they really are) that aren't flush with the floor but look exactly right. Will take pics and show... can you imagine how much money would be saved by not having to cave for hardwoods? Research on the web shows that this is often a flooring choice in Australia... I think it's time to give it a try here.

Lull Before Storm

2005 - Ridge 3 - 24 x 24

Back from the lake, a productive couple of days that took us out of the really hard work realm and into 'making pretty' by putting together a real bed and making a comfortable retreat from sawdust and general dishevel. Since we work at a snail's pace compared to years past, it's most important to have this refuge when it's too cold or otherwise uncomfortable to be out on the deck. The weather was tepid but rainy, being on the warm side of the cold most of the nation has been experiencing. I'd forgotten one of the benifits of the extra wide eaves, you can actually sit outside in the rain and stay dry up against the house! I love it!

But one overnighter was enough and we were glad to return to a normal house... just as we'll be anxious to leave again in just a few days. It's a working balance. Not really motivated to return to painting for upcoming shows just yet so I've been working on a 6'x8' landscape diptych which, as usual, has been giving me fits. I'd put a cluster of tall pines in the foreground to camouflage the break in the two canvases and it just wasn't working compositionally. So wiped them out and simplified the whole shmeer... and it's working much better now. Not well enough to digitalize and show the world, but with a little luck, maybe soon. Unless panic grips again and the trauma of deadlines takes over my life. Lots of swearing off of anything resembling a future show commitment usually follows.

The painting above is on paper applied to cradled panel which was covered with canvas. I'm hearing that works under glass are in fashion once again so maybe this step won't be necessary. I'd like to eventually be able to pull off the simplicity of this type of landscape on a much larger scale, but I'm seldom satisfied with such a sketchy painting on larger sizes.

Back to Normal

CLICK HERE FOR LAKE HOUSE VISUALS

Sorry for that brief moment of wildly waving arms, we're back on track for the time being. An analogy for my need for balance might be that my life is like a huge, turning lazy-susan perched on a tiny fulcrum which requires that all riders be in perfect balance or all hell breaks loose. Those riders would be the usual elements of family, home, gallery, studio, etc. There are some who have no trouble going heavy into one aspect and letting other responsibilities go for a time. I'm like that to an extent but usually know when to jump back into the thick of things. Holidays throw everything out of kilter and I'll blame that recent hoop-la for upsetting my apple-cart, but too many telephone calls with bad timing can do it too.

We're way overdue for a day or two at the lake so we're headed that way today. I'll give the master bedroom a good scrubbing while J puts together the new bed we got from IKEA. At the last minute he decided he didn't want their usual low-to-the-floor design and I found a funky raised bed that was being discontinued and fit the budget. Anxious to at least get one room in livable shape.

We'll also start clearing saved debris from the kitchen deconstruction out of the living area in prep for getting new flooring installed. I want to hurry and commit to this as he tends to start thinking it's something he can do himself... and he probably could, but this project is already in slow motion and I'd like to be able to enjoy it before we have to move into assisted living somewhere! Time's a-wasting! The link at the top will take you to a slide show of the lake house in different stages of being. I was basically trying out a little free program I found and included the link in Xmas cards... don't recall if I inked it in here or not.

Back to the lazy-susan thing... amazing what a productive day in the studio will do for one's equilibrium. I've nothing to digitally show for it, but time consuming prep work was done on two large canvases using rice paper glued to the surface rather than textured gesso. I've done this before and it offers a variance in technique that I could use right now. Part of my balancing act requires that I introduce new ideas into my work space from time to time... I cannot be a mass producer of same-ole same-ole.

A Minor Distraction...

Guess what we have? A ten week old white German Shepard pup who sorely misses her mom and siblings and in total confusion about what's going on in her little life. I know the feeling and have been know to whine in about the same tone. But not all night long. She's only ours until youngest son picks her up tonight and makes a quick dash back to NOLA with the prize Xmas treat. Four kiddies there will be delighted and the pup (as yet unnamed) will soon have nothing to whine about that isn't immediately tended to. She'll go to training school with the older two girls and learn to be their protector when they have to come home from school to an empty house next year. Situations that can't be avoided in so many families, a big dog properly trained will help. The pic shown here was taken when she was only six weeks old... she'd doubled in size since we first saw her!

Now for the lake house slide show... see before, during and in progress pics here. I found this little program on the web, designed for the younger crowd at 'My Space' and I had to try it out using the least glitzy options it offered... the pics will give an idea of how our Xmas money is being spent this year. Hope you all enjoy your personal celebrations this season... and hope with all our hearts the next one will bring more peace to our world.

Perfect!

The day was a jewel! Pics tell all... no, they can only hint...


The last photo was taken from the deck by my photographer daughter... she gets some fantastic shots!