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?

September Morning

Woke up this morning to a beautiful, though extremely dry, autumn day, and I'm determined to get back in the studio and paint. I have several pieces in various stages of completion, but just haven't had a good block of time to work on them. Well today that changes! My errands are done, I have nothing on the calendar that needs my attention, so once I get the critters fed, I'm off to the studio (my critters include a Great Dane, Max, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Charlie, a border collie/jack russell mix named Ringo and, last but not least, Buddy Sue--a lab/cocker spaniel mix.) They're the cutest little pack! They are, from left to right, Ringo, the border collie mix; Charlie--the Cav; and Max--the Great Dane. My pics of Buddy Sue are on my other computer. I'll try to upload one later.

Been thinking about the upcoming presidential election, and for the first time since I've been old enough to vote, I am not sure who I'll vote for. I've always considered myself a Democrat, but honestly, I'm not too confident about Barack Obama. I'm not overly thrilled with John McCain and Sarah Palin either, but I'm leaning toward them simply because I feel slightly more confident about McCain. I can't bring myself to vote for Obama just because he's a Democrat and so am I. I guess I care more about the country than the party.

Politics...blah.

Okay, so I'm new at this....

I subscribe to several blogs myself--my niece's and an artist whose work I admire. So I figured why not give this blogging thing a try. My life is not that interesting, but so many people blog every day and I guess it doesn't matter whether they are interesting or not. It seems to be a popular thing to do.

So I've spent some time adding things to this site that reflect my own interests--namely art, animals and writing. I hope someone out there finds them interesting.

Today I went gallery hopping with a couple of fellow artists from the co-op I belong to. Our purpose was to see how these galleries/co-ops display the artwork of their members. The co-op I belong to has been in existence for five years now--and we have gone through a variety of growing pains. Our biggest issue is getting people in our community interested in our art--more specifically, we would like more people to BUY our art. The town I live in is small, and let's face it: times are tough right now. People who come to the gallery are usually "just looking" and/or are killing time while they wait for a friend whom they are meeting for lunch at the restaurant next door. Most of the comments I hear from people visiting the gallery are that we are too expensive, or they "like the art but it doesn't match their furniture" or they like it but don't have room for it, etc. etc. Frankly, our artwork is priced a lot lower than most art in the surrounding area (Louisville and Lexington), but I guess that doesn't matter. People aren't going to spend money on original artwork when they are paying $5.00 for a gallon of gas.

Anyway, we visited a couple of galleries in Louisville and discovered that they're really not all that different from us--and their prices are definitely a lot higher. Visually, they're set up pretty much the same as we are. They just get more attention because they are located in the "art" districts while we are pretty much the only "real" gallery in Shelbyville--and since we are a small town the art seekers tend to overlook us.

So what did I take from this? Basically that all artists are the same in that they want people to like their work, maybe buy their work, and mostly they want validation for what they do. It would be great to be one of those few artists whose work is in high demand, but that's just not going to happen here in little ol' Shelbyville--but at least I have a place to show my work, and I have, on occasion, even sold a few. Guess I shouldn't complain.

Meanwhile, this is one of two commissioned pencil portraits I recently finished.

And this is the second one. It's been awhile since I did any pencil drawing. I'd forgotten how much I used to enjoy drawing.

Finally! I'm here!

It took a little effort, getting used to all this new-fangled stuff, but I've finally got this site set up, I think. I'll keep the first post short as I'm off to do "artsy fartsy" stuff. Check back later (if anyone is actually reading this) and I'll try to make this site more interesting.