Message in a Bottle

Bottle, quill, shells....and a little box for secrets. Maybe I'm channeling the mermaid craze that has descended upon our house! It's the holiday time of year, a time of wishes and good wishes to others. Have been thinking about time recently. For me, let's just say "non-linear" sums it up best. Now I'm reading that what I thought was "just me" may correlate with ADD or Attention Difference Dynamic (I just cannot accept the Deficit Disorder part; that remains to be seen!) 

Segue to: 

Big Art, Small Canvas: Paint Easier, Faster and Better with Small Oils by Joyce Washor.  Like myself, she became unable to use her dominant arm for large paintings because of a shoulder problem. So, she entered into the world of painting small. And her book is a great guide for those following. 


Here's what I did: 

Rolled tape on the back of my small wooden panel to fasten it to my rectangular Turtlewood Palette. On the left, I taped on a grey palette paper. I can hold the whole thing in my lap to paint, or hold it up to compare with my image.


Yay!!! Painting again, and not hurting while doing so!

So, I'm thankful to Ms. Washor and also to all folks working so hard to understand ADD and ADHD for their kids and family. Here's the "secret" message: some paths may seem harder, but they may hold beauty and wonders that the main road passes by.

Aloha!

Mate Masie! What I hear, I keep!

Friends, here is the new album cover for the band Street Party's second collection of songs! I'm proud to have my art on this collection of very original music. These songs will stay with you, so don't be surprised to find yourself humming them. I left the album title off this image as I think it is still pending. Head over to Street Party's website. You can also check them out on Street Party Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos. Go see them live if you get the chance!

The Adinkra symbol on the sign means Mate Masie: what I hear I keep. It's a symbol of wisdom and learning. So here's a shout out to the TEACHERS of NORTH CAROLINA! You deserve and have earned better pay. If this state intends to be a forerunner in technology and research, then we better walk the walk. I'm volunteering in the classroom and it's already changing my life for the better. You can't be around children who are learning without catching some of that excitement. It's cool. What might you do?

Aloha!

At last...

At last! Back to art!

It's been far too long...Some very happy times this summer with our wonderful wedding in Hawaii and the move to our House in the Woods. Lots of memories in the making.

It's been hard having very little use of my right arm, though. Developed something called Adhesive Capsulitis and let me tell you, it's been unbelievably painful. So the pain is starting to diminish but still not a lot of movement possible. So this is a little sketch just trying to get back into practice.

Working on a new project...having to deal with the arm but excited about the image. So, friends, it's good to be back. Hope this finds you all well and enjoying life. Aloha!

Red it is

Red it is! This will be the last portrait class session for me for a while, but I surely hope that I will be able to continue later in the year. what fun it has been!

Will probably not be posting very often in the near future, but will try to get back to it as soon as I can. As always, I'll still be enjoying and being inspired by your artwork even if I am away from the easel. Aloha!

Purple Hat

Some creative license here...the hat is actually a dark reddish pink, and may end up that way again, but today it wanted to be purple for a while. Reminds me of the Red Hat Society ladies who wear purple clothing and red hats, just reversed.

Sorry about the oddly cropped photo (all I have at this stage). It's certainly against the advice of Shane Michael Neal to post poor photographs of works in progress. And I don't disagree, but somehow, I don't mind letting you watch over my shoulder while I paint.We're all friends!

Tom Edgerton was gracious enough to share with me a preview of a major commission he is almost finished with. Frankly, it's magnificent. And it's really inspiring to me to see him taking some serious challenges and turning them into a wonderful piece of art. So a big thank you to Tom and to all the artists who share their inspirations and processes.

Let's see if I can capture a bit more of this model's sweet smile and the twinkle in her spirit next week. Aloha!

Happy Dance

Doing the Happy Dance (a la Snoopy) today! So great to be back in the studio after too long an absence. Some classes had been cancelled and then I missed some while re-organizing my entire life (oh that little thing?)....Missed, missed, missed the paint, my fellow students, my fabulous teacher Tom, and even the smell of clay dust in the room. So, only one session with this model who was new to me. Hope I get to paint Mitch again; she has fabulous features and a spirit that just shines out of her. Will have to try to get a better photo of the painting when it's not raining...there's more green in the background than this.

And have missed the blog! Hope this finds all of you well and prospering. Aloha!