The petals on this dogwood tree are at least six inches long. Sunny Oregon spring days are priceless.

A day at home...

I had a much needed quiet day at home. I carved linoleum which I haven't done for years. It was really fun. I'm working on a set of prints for a Haiti fundraiser, but I don't think I'll use Olive, even though for me she represents innocence and joy. I have another idea... more soon.

Tonight we had K.'s kale salad for dinner. It was YUMMY.
Have a good Saturday everyone.
much love, Janice

Hmmmm.....

Well... she is a bit ugly, huge head little body, but I kinda like her. Her transparent arm is pleasing me.

K. has told me I can no longer use house paint. I'm sad to give up that lovely flatness and dull color. I guess house paint fades. Anyone else have any experience with using it?

I had a 2 hour stint of studio work today, hooray! I'm back at it, working in bits and pieces. But... I'm taking notes and making myself a list at the end of each session so I can get right back at it.

It's been a busy eve. I'm helping with fundraiser and went to a meeting and then came home and gave Simon a bath. He had a serious hygiene problem. I won't elaborate. I'm content and pretty happy and excited to go and teach my class at work tomorrow.

Hi A! hugs...

Sunday eve

It's Sunday eve and a busy week ahead is the forecast. I really don't like being "busy". I like time to read and think and clean house and bake scones.

Ging and I went to see "Crazy Heart" tonight. It is easy to see why Jeff Bridges won the Golden Globe for his performance. Loved this film.

I've been getting great emails from my art buddies at the residency. I wish Skye, Val, and Nadine lived in Eugene so we could hang out and talk and eat pie. What great women!

and... Happy Birthday H.!

The New Press

My little press came yesterday. It's beautiful and a perfect replacement for my big Rembrandt Pelican Press. I already have a project: 25 prints for a fundraiser supporting a music school that was destroyed in Haiti. My old press is in residence at the community college. I feel great that they bought it as I owe so much to the art department and teachers there.

On a "how is your life" level I feel like I am way too busy trying to catch up with "everything". And I had a wonderful visit with K. and great food. Can that girl cook! Who knew beans and kale could make a person euphoric?

Can it be done? I hope so...

A small painting, 5"x7" started in Nebraska, finished today

Can an artist with a full life and a part-time job find and keep the focus needed to move forward?
If anyone wants to respond to the following questions I'm listening...

1. Can you make full, rich paintings only working an hour or two at a time?
2. How do you tell loved ones and friends that you can't visit, that it's your studio time?
3. How do you stay focused on what your are doing when you must leave it for days at a time?

I'm being a bit serious... as I write this Simon the bichon is barking and sitting up on his hind legs waving at me (it's dog dinner time).

You can guess where all these questions are coming from... from the unlimited art time I just had to my busy life. I am an optimist though, I know there is a way to make it work.
Wisdom please...

Wimpy

Olive is my true love puppet, but look who showed up yesterday...
He's a little hygiene challenged but in good shape for a 50 year old puppet.
No Popeye or Brutus for me though... I never liked those guys, they were too into fighting.
Wikipedia said that before TV, Wimpy was Popeye's best friend and he was an intellectual who couldn't seem to hold a job, and didn't want to fight = wimpy...

I wonder who he will be in the painting and photo world?
I do think he's pretty cute.

and lots of love and hugs going out to Kati, you are in my thoughts.

Story Painters

"The General Looks Back" by Inez Storer

I am on the mailing list for Squeak Carnwath (a favorite painter). She is in a 3 woman show in February and included is this painter.
Yum.
Good.
Rich.

My studio is back together. I'm painting. We had pie tonight with A and T.
Nice. I'm off to bed. Happy Monday to all.

This and That

When I got back to work the Barbie tree in our office had been redecorated for Valentine's Day. It's covered with hearts and origami cranes and L.'s swirly paper decorations. It makes me sooo happy to look at it. Thanks L and C!!!

Poor Simon. The little guy started chewing his tail, the vet had to shave it, and now he's wearing a cone on his fuzzy little head and his tail looks like it belongs to a rodent.

My studio is ALMOST back together, my boxes ALMOST unpacked and my cold is slowly resolving. Today it was 66 degrees in Eugene and SUNNY. Heaven. Tomorrow I can start painting again...

Adjusting to real life...

I have no photos of new art, so here is one of Monty posing for me.
I'm glad to be home, I am. Transitions are just a bit challenging.
I had a good first day back at work yesterday, then woke up in the middle of the night with some bug/crud. That kind of ache all over one? So I stayed home and slept all day.
Did you watch the season premiere of "Lost" last night? The electrician working here today summed it up in one sentence: "I still don't know what's going on."
Most of my boxes got here today, so will show G. some of what I made last month.
OK off to feed the dogs = real life!