studio cat

My assistant, sleeping on the job, as usual.

Since the Mexico Splendido trip, I've gotten copies of my latest book from publisher Kar-Ben,

finished illustrations for another, and am now working away on paintings for a show in October at Red Sky Gallery here in Charlotte. Here's a preview:

Yes, definitely "and now for something completely different". This show is with a group I belong to, pARTners art, and the theme is our lovely local greenway system, many miles of it with forest and trails and ponds and bike paths and deer and ducks and foxes - no end of inspiring flora and fauna.

I'm working everyday, still so many more ideas to work through, so I have "miles to go before I sleep", especially since my only assistant is a total deadbeat!

My double life as a landscape painter:

This painting was sold in the "Surfacing" show! Goodbye. Nice knowing you. I know you'll be happy in your new home. Thanks for all you taught me as I toiled away hour after hour balancing shapes, adjusting color and contrast, pushing and pulling foreground and background. And then someone came along, saw something special enough in you to take you home- amazing!

I studied oil painting for a couple of years at Braitman Studio here in Charlotte and this is some of my work in oil and cold wax:

I hadn't painted with oils since college, a really long time ago. I love the squishy juicy textury blendy feel of it, especially with palette knife and wax medium. And the COLORS! You can mix practically every color in the universe with just 7 tubes of paint. Who knew?

India

Most of this month I'm working on new portfolio pieces, taking advantage of some good creative energy that came my way via my August Skirt! Magazine cover. It's a virtuous cycle: you create something, it gets a bit of notice, which gives you more ideas, from which you create something new, and on it goes. This week, India is on my mind- all the rich color and pattern. Since I can't go right now, I'm arm chair traveling, looking at photos from those who have traveled there. Have you ever noticed how vibrant and varied the colors are, in clothing and objects, in some of the hardest places to live? I think it's a basic human drive to make something beautiful out of whatever is at hand. Color nourishes the soul.