How Glad I am

For my love, Ginger

I Get This One

I can't remember whose opinion I asked for about this painting. The person said they didn't like the green jacket because it reminded them of the military.
I know I make paintings because I want to tell stories. This man in a jacket reminds me of my father during WWII, overseas, communicating with my mother only through letters for 3 years. It's only now that I'm an older adult that I realize how frightening those times must have been. And who was that husband who came home? A closed stranger with so many secrets.
It may have not been that way at all, but that is how it looked to me and why this painting is what it is.

Thank you Mona!!!

I have never had anyone knit a scarf and hat just for me. This really special present arrived this afternoon. And as you can see the hat fits perfectly!
I haven't wiped the grin off my face for the last hour!

Monty didn't want to be a model (but there are no other humans around) and I wouldn't ever let him wear my scarf, but I wanted to demonstrate how fun the edges of the scarf are.

A beautiful color, a bit like the ocean in the Caribbean, a great color when winter is dark and dull.
I LOVE my present. I treasure it.
Thank you Mona!

Awaiting Me Tomorrow

I am always so glad when my work week is finished and my studio week begins.

I just read the Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rules again and this jumped out at me: Nothing is a mistake. There's no win and no fail. There's only make.

In kindergarten my teacher held up Karen Thomas' coloring of a turtle and announced it "the best in the class". I remember looking at my paper and feeling deeply ashamed that my turtle did not even resemble hers.

I really don't know what I am doing with these paintings. I am bound and determined to make them though. To love my own images and my own lines no matter what is a lifelong goal. I can't wait to put paint and ink on these chunks of plywood.

Reading to Shmoos

I'm finished with this painting. It's not perfect (a perfect painting where I am happy with every detail rarely happens...), but I feel good about where the colors and shapes ended up.
I was reading about Al Capp and shmoos on Wikipedia because I couldn't remember if Shmoo was a bad word. A Shmoo was a creature who gave humans everything they could possibly need. Anyway, I won't tell you the whole Shmoo story here, it was very interesting and the public loved Shmoos during the WWII era.
Question: Does painting ever mix you up? Mix up in the sense that you can't separate the ideas from the actual process you are using to make the painting? Which comes first? How you work or what you think?
Happy Memorial Day. May we honor the vets by working for peace.

Sunday Night

It's Sunday night and I have had a draggy sort of day. I think I will blame it on allergies, by mid week the grass pollen count will be mid-high.
I made a list last night of all the things I wanted to accomplish today. When I woke up I wanted to do NONE of them! I picked the worst two, did those first and gave in to wandering around and reading and naps for the afternoon.
This is the web address for a site about artist's books. http://www.book-by-its-cover.com/category/fineart/ All kinds. The photo above details a book of portraits of movie stars. wow...
I've started 3 new paintings and am almost done with the one I've been fussing over. Will post it tomorrow.

My Non-Human Husband

This is Oscar. Ginger calls him my husband. (In a not too complementary way)
The dogs totally submit to this 17 pound tyrant.
Oscar believes I am here to serve his every need. He only tolerates Ginger, and has been known to hiss and bite at some cat sitters.
If I don't pick him up when he asks he launches himself into my arms or climbs my pants leg.
He pushes dog treats off the counter and throws them at the boys.
If you turn your back you'll find his paws in your milk glass,
and when I paint he has to be outdoors because he will sit on the palette.
I adore this multi-toed cat who demands my attention constantly.
It's just fine to be his human-wife.