Running for Mayor

Yes, it's true. Bruce is running for mayor in our municipal elections being held this Saturday. After stepping down from his municipal administration job, I never thought he would ever darken the door of a council meeting again (2 council meetings a week for 24 years!). But, he has been so dismayed at the direction the village has taken that he has thrown his hat in the ring.

When we were driving in the southwest this spring we saw this big campaign poster for one of the delegates there. Of course, we had to stop and take a picture. I especially like the fellow's eye just over Bruce's shoulder.

I look forward to pestering him about dog control, unsightly vehicles (we have collectors in town), green alternatives bylaws ( I hope to visit the forward thinking Okotoks, Alberta and bring back ideas for consideration) and Smartgrowth (sustainable) development.

Lest We Forget

Young B. Cravens, Union Army, American Civil War




Charles Cox, grandfather, WW1


Paul Cravens, father, WW2


Michael Cravens, brother, Vietnam War


Ray Woodbury, stepson, Canadian Peacekeeper, Bosnia
Ben Woodbury, stepson, Civilian support, Afghanistan

Thanks for serving and thanks for surviving.

The problem with green!

I had to go back and revisit this painting. It just wasn't working in the original colors. Green just never seems sucessful for me. I'm still not sure that it works that well as a painting. There are two lessons here. One, don't get rapped up in your resource photo. It is just there to get you started. Two, watch out for emotional attachments. I love this painting because it is a silly moment in the lives of my daughters more so than it is a good painting. But, I can live with that!

Crossing

I have been watching Karin Jurick's new site "Different Strokes from different Folks" for the last couple of weeks. I have wanted to make a painting to contribute to the site. This week, the photo was inspiring for me and I have submitted.

I was struggling with painter's block. I hadn't painted for a month and I was having a terrible time overcoming the inertia and all the little screaming demons in my head that tell me there is no use in painting. I forced myself to just sit down, ignore the little voices and paint. Today, I feel better.

Muses

I am finding that after taking a month off from painting, it is hard to get started again. I had all kinds of wonderful excuses; having to enjoy the last of the beautiful weather, putting my garden to sleep, enjoying my birthday and Halloween, etc. But now, like having to start excercises again, I am pretty creaky.

I decided to try a text on texture painting just to get the brush moving and because I actually like these paintings. I chose to incorporate the names of the nine muses. I was shocked to discover that all the muses control written arts or music.... there is no muse for visual art! I'm not sure this is finished yet so I will just hang it for inspiration.

YES WE CAN!

I am very proud to be an American and from Illinois this morning. I realize that Obama cannot possibly achieve all the things that are expected from him but I am so encouraged by the thought that the American people are open to a new approach.
Listening to his acceptance speech last night reminded me of the hope and eagerness of the Kennedy era.

VOTE!

Please Vote. I did! Thank goodness ex-pats have absentee ballots!!