Anticipating Gelati

I took a snapshot of a woman at the farmer's market last year outside of Gerry's Gelati. I think it was the red hair that attracted me. There is a lot of texture in this painting that I really like and that doesn't show up so much in the photo. Hey Elizabeth....check out the spirals!

Two reviews

This is Mabel modelling the new Natori bra I ordered. I saw this on a jogging demo on Oprah. Regular sports bra--lots of movement --Natori sports bra---hardly any movement. It has nice wide straps, a soft fit and the side panels really fight gravity. It gives a nice shape, no mono boob! I'm giving it a thumbs up.

I will also plug the "greatest loser" DVD. I have the one with 6 workouts. I'm using the intial weight lifting workout and I'm quite pleased with it. A good all around workout with a warm-up and a good stretch session after. I hope to work my way up to the low-impact aerobic and finally the boot camp! I've learned the hard way (through injuries) to work my way up slowly.

Ataraxis

The same pose as yesterday but with a different painting approach.

Repose

A young dancer taking a break. This will be going to Kimberley for the Art of Dance Show.

Go Canada!

The olympic torch came to Canal Flats yesterday. It was a mighty day.

What's with the Yellow?

This is painted on gessoed watercolor paper. I somehow feel freer painting on paper, feeling like I am not wasting a canvas. It doesn't realy matter...that's the beauty of acrylics, you can just keep painting out until you like it. I don't like the balance on the left side and want to do something with it. I like leaving a painting for a few days to keep looking at it until a solution (sometimes) occurs.

The olympic torch arrives in the Flats today. I must done my red Canada gear!!

Yellow abstract

I'm still exploring this yellow abstract. I painted a lot of small pieces then mounted them all on an 18x24 canvas. I find this way too busy but I'm glad I photographed it because some of the small bits are interesting and I would like to develop them into larger paintings. I have since covered over a lot of the painting and am still fussing with it. I especially didn't like the purple underpainting and covered it over. This may lead to nowhere except some happy accidents.

RANT!

This is an old drawing from one of my early drawing classes entitled "Burning".

I am ranting today about those stupid low rise pants designed for barrel shaped women. Doesn't anyone see that that low rise is not flattering to anyone but the model shaped! And isn't anyone tired of the butt cleavage and muffin tops on display? I have been trying for nearly seven years to find a pair of slacks or jeans that fit and flatter and actually come to my waist.....not two inches below my belly button (that is NOT where a person's waist is) and not with about seven inches of gap at the waist if they fit in the hips. I have surrendered and am trying to sew a pair of pants. There have to be other people that feel like me. How do we influence the designers to at least give us a choice!! And not make the few paints that might have a high waist tapered down to the ankle.!!!Argh!

Mable

I'm working on dozens of paintings but they are all valentines for February and I don't want to debut them until that month, so I am introducing you to Mabel, my sometimes model for costumes. Mabel is sporting a star lantern that I made for Luminara in Victoria years ago. Kirra put her paws through it when we moved but with white glue and tissue it was repaired. I would love to teach a workshop in making these.

Yellow Piece

I am working on an abstract piece that will be composed of numerous small abstracts working with Robert Burridge's color wheel and using yellow as my dominant color. I am really struggling with painting abstract and trying to invoke Burridge's concept of "intent"

Please check out a fellow canadian artist Liz Wiltzen. She makes marvelous mountain paintings among other things. You can click on the blog list link or go to: http://lizwiltzen.blogspot.com/

BAck to painting!

My Portrait

This portrait was painted by Noemi Gonzalez. I think it is great fun and a very good likeness. Thanks Noemi!! Her blog is Pintar a la Acuarela. I am having a crazy time getting this information on my stupid computer this morning. ARghh!!

Dan and Deloris skate

This was my second entry for winter sports. I apologize for the crummy photo, but it was dark outside, I was on my way to deliver it and I suspect the varnish wasn't 100% dry (it was by the time I finally got there on the challenging roads!)

Home: exploring Their Roots

This was my second entry for the House and Home show. When, I think of home (and Christmas) I think of my parents and the farmlands of my youth. They live just in my memory now, but what good memories.

In 2008, I took my daughters back to visit Illinois and their frail grandpa. It was a great trip and I'm so glad we went. They are not thrilled by the prairie (they are definitely mountain girls). My younger daughter made the comment that she didn't know people still lived like that (re: farmers..the US is still made up of lots of farmpeople, at least, in the midwest). Most Canadians seem to buy that TV crap that we all live like New Yorkers or are LA socialites.

I spent hours driving miserable winter roads in crappy condition so that I could deliver 5 paintings to a couple of galleries. I'm feeling hard done by so I'm going to work out and then walk the dog in the fresh snow.

BAck to Business

I think I already posted this but I am running it again for lack of anything else to put here at the moment. This was painted right after the Burridge workshop.

I am mulling over resolutions and ideas. I am going to review a lot of the books and DVD's I own and try to use the information that is in them. I am happy to say that I am journaling (whoopie-do 10 minutes a day, but it is more productive than not journaling). I also want to start warm-up exercises a la Burridge so that I play and experiment by painting on watercolor paper. That is the beauty of acrylics. If stuff looks terrible you can paint over it. And if you produce a gem, you can mount the paper on a canvas.

My word to reflect on this month is Enthusiasm. I am enthusiastic about beginning the year. I like New Years and the beginning of September (I was a student for 20 years) because there is so much potential in a new season. I also just read a biography of Dale Carnegie, a little mid-west farmboy who did well and valued enthusiasm.

Enough rambling, must go paint.

Clive and Cloris skate

This is a piece I worked on for the Winter sports show.