Gizmo

Gizmo at Seventeen   watercolor   11 x 19

Last week I lost my perfect studio companion. She loved unconditionally. She was non-judgmental most of the time. She kept excess chit-chat to a minimum. And, she was willing to dance at a moment's notice given the right song. Gizmo was 19. I will miss her.

What appears simple....................

What Appears Simple   watercolor/mixed   27.5 x 21

Some lessons must be learned again and again....especially for me. The notion of "simple" is a case in point. I am not sure there is really such a thing. Consider those smooth 3-point baskets by LeBron James. And Michael Jackson's sleight-of-foot dance moves. Reports emerge of his endless hours practicing in the studio. To be really really good at something requires more than talent.....we must add in desire and lots and lots of practice. Drawing and painting follow suit. Those whose hands make amazing marks and strokes make them continually.....the ease and comfort with the tools become part of who they are. In our spring watercolor class, we tackled the painting of a tricycle....simple, right? NOT. Those little machines are complex. Mine started as a simple painting which evolved into a mixed media work. I printed rectangles into the background, reminiscent of the cement block garage of my childhood. The grass in front was carved from linoleum and printed on. Graphite marks were added throughout. I like the smudging, the unsure lines and the power lines as well. Time has a way of simplifying the complex. Would a unicycle be any simpler? I don't think so.

Buddies

Buddies   oil/canvas   20 x 10 x .5

We live close to Mogadore Reservoir which is a rich source of beautiful outdoor images....lots of fishermen, canoes, hikers, explosive light and memories. I have memories of hiking the trail in snow that was over two feet. There are running memories, bike memories, swan memories, so-many-varieties-of-ducks memories, ice memories and canoe rental memories. It is always great to have a buddy with whom to enjoy these outdoor experiences. And it can be a four-legged buddy! My challenge in this painting was to squeeze all of my story into a vertical format....I just love challenging tradition in this way, and I also love vertical formats....period......It is always difficult to surpass the notion of local color, which I believe is the key to creating more magical environments. Pushing the color envelope just a bit can enrich both the painting and viewing experiences. Cases in point: Wolf Kahn and Charles Basham. Their work inspired me for "Buddies".

4th of July

Patriot   watercolor   13 x 10

At this point in my life, the 4th of July becomes a melded memory of all of the past 4ths...........wonderful times. Rain or not. Sun or not. The waking up and knowing that the day is different than the others.....holiday. Time to break away. Permission to just enjoy. Barbeques. Hotdogs or burgers. Potato Salad or not. Kayaking. Late breakfasts. Enjoying the love of your family. All under the banner of patriotism. Fine by me.

Children of the World

Girl with Hat...a sketch

Children are wiggly and wonderful! Children represent our future. And, for me, children display a purity and innocence only possible before culture indoctrinates them with "shoulds" and all forms of us-versus-them. If only we could emulate their openness! These days our influence is world-wide. The world is indeed growing smaller as our exposure to other worlds and other cultures has opened up by means of media. What a wonderful thing! In my earlier art days, I would park myself unobtrusively in corners of waiting rooms at hospitals and malls and attempt to draw these squirmy creatures...what a task. "Girl with hat" was drawn quickly at a Native American festival held outdoors at Kent State University.....funny how the experience of doing the drawing becomes fused with the drawing itself! My daughter-in-law gets to travel the globe in her job as a designer with The Tea Collection, which infuses other-culture influences into children's apparel. Their new Japan collection is being unveiled with a video....check it out! Squirmy. Wormy. Lively. Jumpy. Active. Lovely.

Bags, Bags and more Bags

Girl with Bag...a sketch

I am always surrounded by bags. Bags, of course, under my eyes from perpetually designing my days to streamline endless details in order to allow for large chunks of creative time. That is a given. Bags with drawing tools. Bags with watercolor painting supplies. Separate bags for oils. Other bags for plein-air oils. And, of course, canvas bags for grocery shopping! It's a good thing I like them so much! Tom Auld has an amazing leather rucksack that is now perfectly patina-ed and soft that was a gift from his daughter. Mo Mosyjowski has a most creative canvas sling that resembles a log-carrier and is designed to hold her watercolor palette as well. And Lynda Rimke always has the most amazing canvas bags purchased for a song. Muscanvas offers some amazing canvas bags that are handmade.....love them all. Indeed. The maker is someone near and dear to me.....my son. Check it out!