Flowers and Frosting

I returned Friday late afternoon from a week of painting in sunny Eugene, Oregon (between bursts of hail, rain and sun) as April bursts on the scene.  There's something about finishing a workshop, it is like a marathon and when you're finished, there is an elation and relief at having completed it, and coming home to sleep for 12 hours with dreams of painting and color.  I dreamt of patterns and layered glazes of color then my dreams morphed into painting like  Wayne Thiebaud's Cakes, visualizing thick layers of various colors of paint subtly and deliciously blending like frosting.  

With spring approaching, my new granddaughter Anika arrived less than a month ago.  Daffodils burst forth to great her home to Portland.  Now tulips are springing up and my chive buds are on.  My passion for painting is in high gear. 

Much going on in the way of events in the fall and winter, finished a major commissioned piece (6 feet x 6 feet), and new exhibits in fall and winter were very successful.  A very long cold winter was brightened by many festive and fun and fundraising events in the art community.  I opted out of having surgery on my right hand in January (having gone through that a year prior on my left) and just try not to over-do my hands, when trying to open stuck paint jars.  I'm way too young for osteoarthritis but humbly learned the hard way when your doctor says take calcium and Vitamin D, do it!  You don't get it back and reconstructive hand surgery is major and takes at least a year to heal, no matter what the surgeon tells you before (that 12 week-thing is just initial healing and physical therapy). 

Some new works are completed and delivered just weeks ago to my main gallery.  Another gallery owner recently did a studio visit and checked several paintings out for commercial placement.  Major construction in the lower level of the house began followed by studio renovation, a project that was put off for nearly 3 years.  The ceiling is lifted to align with the roof slope, and four 4-foot skylights are being dropped in (one will open).  I have lots of windows and doors so plenty of open space onto the 60-foot deck.  Funny thing, we just learned local building codes require a ventilation fan that will never be used.  (Again, 3 doors enter my studio and there are tons of windows that open too, as well as a whole house fan and heat pump.)   I won't gain floor space but it feels like a face "lift" for the gallery walls, more spacious.   Right now it really looks spacious with nothing in it but studs, beams, wires and a sink.  Electrical work is done and will be inspected Monday.  Then drywall begins. 

I am looking forward to resuming teaching a late spring course in May, after we return from Santa Fe / Taos for some intensive art indulgence.   With time built in to see my new granddaughter, Anika.

Sometimes things take awhile to soak in, to impregnate into our brain.  things we know but can't exactly feel.  We hear it, we know it, but the lines don't connect.  I have finally caught on to karma.  What negativity one put out  there comes back 10 times, and whatever positive energy we unleash comes back as well. Sometimes, almost instantly we are plagued or blessed; the lines are now so clear, but sometimes not soon enough.  We progress as long as we continue learning and sharing positive energy, thoughts, and most importantly, action.

Making Art: lessons in creativity

This was my first free week after finishing up teaching a 5 week course. I will always remember where I was the night Barack Obama was elected president: I was teaching that Tuesday night with several stalwart students. We have mail-in ballots in Oregon, so no lines or rush to vote. My husband promised to text me when Barack hit the 270 mark, and my students were dying to hear when my phone kept buzzing and buzzing. So, shortly after 7pm we took a little break, i looked at my phone and, well we nearly danced a jig. It was hard to focus back to painting. But paint we did! The theme of the term was doing a series, and I'll be repeating the class, with opportunities for advanced students in Winter term. I was so impressed with these students, some beginners, some younger, some older, some returning to painting after several years of sabbatical. With their permission I took photos of their work with a promise to post at least one of each on my blog. Everyone had such wonderful, individual style. I humbly present this art, applaud the talents, and encourage them to keep "making art". Shown first at the beginning of this blog, is one of my class demos that I finished up. Some students were quite prolific, with series in birds, trees, abstract landscapes, and nonrepresentative paintings. it was a great exploration, with lots of talent. I forgot to put labels on each photo when I uploaded, so I credit Jessica for her birds and trees; Geoff for his landscape and starry night; Liz for her swirling purple creation, and so much more of hers I could have put here; Randy's balanced shapes with his wonderful colors; Maribeth's textured zenlike beauty; and LouAnn's passionate sunsets. May you all keep making art.