Busy, busy...

Well so much for the idea of doing a painting a day. Not working. I've been caught up in the usual stuff--bad weather, running errands, fighting a nasty cold. I have two paintings that I'm working on at the moment, but seem to have lost all motivation. This happens quite frequently. I start a painting, get about 3/4 the way through it, and something takes me away from it and I lose the initiative to get back to it. All is not lost though--instead of painting, I've been writing, which is also something I love to do and for a very long time, it has taken a back seat to painting. A friend once told me, when asked how she finds time to do all the things she loves (which included painting, writing, music, gardening, etc.), to just go with whatever is nagging me at the present time. Sometimes it's painting, sometimes it's writing--but each will come to the forefront when it needs attention.

So that's what I'm doing, and right now writing is taking precedence over painting. With that in mind, here's a very short poem I wrote the other day--not going to win any writing prizes, but I like it:

The Artist

My brush, like dragonfly wings,

flits across the canvas in flocks of color.

I paint poems.

Ah...I feel better now....seriously, I am working on a novel and do write an occasional poem. I'd love to have one or two published someday. We'll see. Meanwhile, it's very cold here but the sun is shining and my tulips and daffodils are starting to poke their heads up. Spring is right around the corner and that means yard work. Ugh.

Long Time....

So....it's been awhile since I've updated this site. I guess it's a good thing to be busy. So what have I been doing these past few months? Well, there was Thanksgiving, with the grandkids visiting, Christmas, a couple of commissioned artworks to do--oh and I'm still learning to play the dulcimer. I've fallen in love with that instrument and play it every single day, sometimes for hours at a time. Our group played for several organizations during the holidays, and although I was invited to play too, I decided to sit out until I am a little more proficient at it. I play a mean air dulcimer though!

Hmmm...what else is new. Well, my daughter is officially engaged now. And her fiance was just sworn in as a volunteer police officer. We're very proud of both of them. It's getting cold here--going down to about 4 degrees, windy--typical January weather. A few snowflakes, but nothing significant. I wouldn't mind a foot or so for maybe a day or two--then it would have to melt! :-)

Sad to say, but that pretty much brings us up to date! Here's my latest commissioned piece--a pet portrait in memory of my friend's beloved dog Joey, who crossed to the Rainbow Bridge last January.

Just completed this, and boy, was it RIGHT ON! I love it!

And here's something for your amusement. Found it at http://www.turdbaby.com/.

Long time, No See...

Wow! Hard to believe it's been over a month since I last updated this site. Sheesh! Well, maybe it's not so hard to believe. I've been busy. Unfortunately, not so much with painting, but other stuff. The weather here has been so beautiful, I felt compelled to work in the yard. This is the first year in several that I've actually been able to clear some of the gardens and get them ready for the winter. Usually, I'm out there in the spring, raking up piles of leaves and fighting through the weeds that grow, believe it or not, all year long. I didn't finish, but at least the front yard looks presentable.

Participated in an art show in October at the gallery. Didn't make a lot of sales, but enough to cover art supplies for awhile. Still practicing the dulcimer and getting better at it. Bought an autoharp, too--but I haven't had time to really mess with it. I'm hoping to do that now that the weather has turned colder and I'll be inside more. Of course, being inside I should be painting....ah well....

I've got some pics to set up on here, but wouldn't you know they're on the other computer. But stay tuned...

Monday, Monday.....

Here's a little something to get you thinking today....

(PostSecret.com)

It certainly is a typical Monday. I consider Mondays my "recovery" days. Our weekends are usually busy, so I try not to schedule anything on Mondays so I can catch up on things. I had given up on the idea of having our driveway resealed, but just as I stepped outside this morning, there was a guy in a pickup truck, cellphone in hand, about to call us to let us know that he was here, ready to seal the driveway. He started talking to my husband, said something about having a heart attack and I wanted to ask him if he'd had the attack last week--which would explain why he hadn't shown up--but that would really be nasty, wouldn't it? Yes, little toads hop out of my mouth every so often. Instead, I went about my usual morning chores while the man and his crew got to work. I must say that, despite the fact it took them a month to get to us, they did a nice job. I take back all the mean things I've thought about them.

I did manage to do some painting this afternoon--continued to work on the painting a day, which has now become my usual "painting that takes forever." Actually, I am just about finished with it, and after a few little touchups, I plan on signing it and taking it in to be framed. I'll post a picture of the finished piece tomorrow. Or the day after....whenever....

I'm thinking about taking dulcimer lessons. A lovely lady in town teaches dulcimer and has a group of dulcimer players who get together and often play at various local events. The dulcimer is Kentucky's state instrument, I believe. Anyway, I've always wanted to play some sort of musical instrument. I used to own a guitar. I have a fancy keyboard that currently collects dust in the basement. I have watched this group play before, and sat in on one of the lessons. It just might be something that suits me. As if I need another hobby! Then again, I consider myself a perpetual student. I don't think you can ever learn too much. So stay tuned...maybe someday I'll play well enough to actually load up some music to this site. Ha!

Stood Up Again!!

I don't know why I even bothered to give these folks another chance. I'm talking about the driveway paving company. Called 'em this morning, very polite, asked if they were coming today. Yep--apparently we were still #2 on the list. They were going to a job not too far from us, and then they'd come to our place. Well---once again, no one showed up. Should I take this personally? Do they just not want to do our driveway? The guy wasted no time getting to us when we first called and needed an estimate. I'm just glad we didn't have to make a down payment because I'd be wanting that back now and I'd probably have a heck of a time getting it.
Whatever happened to customer service?

So....while I was waiting for the no-shows, I should have used the time to finish the daily painting I started last night. Ummmmm....kinda got sidetracked. My darling husband came home with an aquarium, just for me. We used to have a huge aquarium back when we were young'uns, but gave it up after about the third relocation. But now that we're "retired" the interest has peaked again. My husband has a very nice set-up in his "communication room"--that is, the spare bedroom that has now become his office, but since he's retired and doesn't exactly need an office, the room is now filled with his fancy TV, big-a** computer and beautiful aquarium. Being the envious person that I am, I thought I should have one, albeit on a smaller scale, for my studio. And now I do. No fish yet, but we're going out Monday to get some. Ha! Just what I need...more mouths to feed.

I'll post a pic of the aquarium and the finished painting tomorrow night. I'm off to watch the Presidential debate and tomorrow I'm helping to judge a little dog show at the Southville Fall Festival. Should be fun.

Back in the Studio--Finally!

A couple of years ago I took a workshop with artist Elin Pendleton, and learned that, at the time, she was creating a painting a day. I was amazed that anyone could start and finish an entire painting in one day. It takes me a full day just to get the idea going, the paints set up, and the initial sketch on the canvas. Then I learned that there are a whole bunch of people out there who complete a painting in one day, and there are several groups on the Internet where these folks showcase their work. Well, I was in awe, and vowed that I would get my act together and do a painting a day too. Well, that didn't exactly work out as planned. I made a valiant effort--but the first time out of the gate, I couldn't complete the painting to my satisfaction, let alone post it on the Internet anywhere. So I gave up.

BUT...I never completely gave up. In the back of my mind I kept thinking I need to work a little faster. There is some value, I think, in being able to work fast (maybe not THAT fast, but quicker than I usually work)-plein air painters work fast to capture the light, and you have to work a little fast with live models, to keep them from getting bored to death and walking out on you. But I digress.....so I decided yet again to try to do a painting a day. Well, maybe more like "almost" a painting a day. So here is a piece that I started working on last night. Unfortunately I had no time to work on it today, so this is not finished. I wonder if I could add up the hours from last night, with the time I'll spend on it tomorrow and call it "a day's worth of painting."

Anyway, here it is, and thanks to Sarah Lewis for the beautiful photo reference and permission to use it.




On another note, nothing bugs me more than when someone makes an appointment, confirms the appointment, then doesn't show up. I'm talking about a company we've hired to seal our driveway. Their office manager or whoever told us, in a sweet cheery voice, that they would be at our house Monday morning. Well, Monday went by--no pavers. Tuesday, Wednesday, nothing either. This morning we got a call with the same cheery voice saying they would be here today--we were "#2 on the list." So we ran outside, moved our cars off the driveway.....and waited....and waited. So far, no sign of them and it's dark. Heck, it's bedtime. How do people like that stay in business? And why are we (meaning my husband and I) putting up with it?