Room for One More (sold)

oil on RayMar panel, 3/4 x 2 3/4" (frame 2 3/4x 4 1/2")

This was done purely for fun - I had the little frame sitting around; bought some spring peas to make for dinner and voila! It makes me laugh, so what more can I ask for?

Two Eggs (sold)

oil on RayMar panel, 6x8"

I chose to do this piece as a way of reinforcing what I have been learning from Tony Ryder about poster studies and from Michelle Tully about rounding forms. Besides, eggs are just fun and I will probably do more of them in the coming weeks!

Left Hand with Glasses

Graphite on Strathmore paper, approx. 8x10"

The last time I drew my hand I said I would find a more comfortable position, but the truth is there just isn't a position you want to hold for a long time! Getting all the shapes right, with the glasses and fingers made this one of the more challenging but fun drawings I've done.

An Egg

oil on gesso board, 5x7"

In studying with Michelle Tully last week we were encouraged to work very simply, to focus on issues like value and rounding. It was amazing to see everyone's work develop with that focused approach. The class was wonderful and exhausting - most nights we stayed till 10:30, coming in early the next day just to get started again. Lots of fun!

Waterscape (sold)

oil on canvas, 15x30"

One of the lovely places we visited in China last year was the city of Hangzhou. It reminded me very much of the Greenlake area of Seattle and is a favorite vacation spot for the Chinese. This painting is based on the lake in Hangzhou.
This one is much larger than I've been working in the past year - it seemed like a huge project and in fact I've been working on it off and on for 2 weeks. Once again, I was exploring water and how it changes reflections and what makes it look like water.

Left Hand with Teacup

Graphite on Strathmore paper, 6x9"

On Monday evenings there is a small group getting together to work on whatever project each person wants. I spent last Monday just doing this graphite sketch. Next time I'll choose a more comfortable pose :-). My husband thought the thumb looked too long till we compared hands - his is big and square, mine have extra long fingers, longer than his. So why can't I play the piano?

I had a nice surprise yesterday - a poet in South Africa discovered this site, looking for images with kites. He has (with permission) used the "Never Too Old" kite painting with one of his poems - please go check it and his other poems out at http://abrokenpoet.blogspot.com/2008/02/ce-nest-pas-la-vraie-vie.html (I will also put him in the links under "Sinudeity").

new favorite tool

bloodwood & ebony, 5x1"

I will be out of the studio for the next 2 weeks, going to Santa Fe to study with Tony Ryder and Michelle Tully (www.tonyryder.com and www.michelletully.com); in addition I will be drawing with Lea Anderson (www.leaandersonart.com) and painting with Fred Miller here in Albuquerque evenings and weekends, so I won't be posting, but hope to have some work to show later at the end of the sessions! In the meantime, I thought I would show my latest favorite tool. My husband turned this brush rest on his lathe after listening to me fuss about all the times my brushes rolled onto the floor. It sits on my taboret and not only do I not have to chase brushes anymore but at the end of painting I know which ones I've used and need to wash. Works fabulously! (I still use Carol Marine's (http://carolmarine.blogspot.com or www.bluecloud studios.com) PVC brush holder to keep my brush supply handy, too.)

Richard

Pastel on sanded paper, 8x10

Thought I would post another pastel while I keep working on three other paintings, each of which is having its own challenges and taking me awhile. This portrait was done for a friend when I saw his official Navy portrait from many years ago, a black & white image. He's now in his 80's, with that same intensity in his eye.