Uppers and downers... but mostly uppers!

So I'm running without a camera this week. Its in the shop. (Canon has excellent customer service, by the way)

But that really doesn't matter much because I have done very little painting. I have been assembling canvas panels, cleaning brushes, trying to figure out what I did with that other tube of yellow, and sketching a lot, in a very mild attempt to plan the next painting.

And... I get to spend six weeks in Texas visiting family -starting Monday!! So I've been a little preoccupied with planning for that as well. My brother-in-law (Brad's doublemint twin) and nephew are coming up for a visit this weekend so I will probably get to paint on Saturday or Sunday. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Some really good news: I got a formal invitation today from Whistle Pik Galleries to participate in their 2009 Christmas Miniature show. The show will run for the month of December in the "Main Street" gallery, and the Show Reception/Artist's Wine Reception will be from 6 to 8 pm on Friday December 4. I will be there if anyone wants to come say howdy. I'll be posting the info again the closer we get to December.

And just when you think the deal couldn't possibly get any sweeter, it does. I get to see my family again when I go down for the show! Awesome! Its not exactly "home for the holidays," but its close enough. I haven't been in Texas in December in years and years. Maybe I'll get lucky and be there when the Kristkindl Market/festival is going on. How fun!

I get to be a tourist in my hometown! I appreciate the touristy stuff in Fredericksburg so much more now that I don't live there... aint that the way, though?

Rue DeFaubourg Brasserie

Rue De Faubourg Brasserie
14" x 11"
Oil on canvas

That was fun! I liked this one so much I submitted it on my application for OPA's Western Regional Exhibition.

Big brushes. And Flat brushes... I usually use filberts, but a while back I got some super short handled flats for my plein air set-up. I love them! I love this painting... It feels good. It felt good the second its bones were laid on the canvas.

Bones... that reminds me of an old wives tale-

An old woman wanders eternally throughout a desert collecting the bones of wolves. When she has all the pieces to make an entire carcass, she lays them out in the sand, aligning them in their proper positions with the greatest care.

Then she sings over them.

She sings of the life, death, life cycle, and of joy and sorrow, and of creativity. And as she sings, the carcass at her feet grows ligaments, and organs and muscle and skin and hair and soon the heart begins to pump blood through the veins of the wolf, and it springs up and runs off into the desert night, howling... The wolf's form changes in the moonlight and the howl turns into the light-hearted laughter of a woman.

An empowering tale from Clarrissa Pinkola Estes, PhD's book Women Who Run with the Wolves. A good read!

Back off the bunny trail... I did something else different with the painting process this time. I had two reference photos made of the same scene, one was normal and the other was posterized in Photoshop. In one of his books, Kevin Macpherson said to check out the posterizing option on Photoshop to help you see things in blocks of color rather than as things. Wooo-boy! That really did help! I think I will be doing that for a while until I really get the hang of seeing things that way on my own.

This is exciting. Good learning experience!

I've been chatting with my mom and we are going to take a painting holiday together! Southern France, I think. She is a master of "going with the flow" and said we should just save up, visualize taking this wonderful relaxing holiday, and the perfect vacation will present itself. I agree. (She knows, man!)

I can hardly wait!

Virtual Paint Out, Paris- WIP

Here's the start for my Paris painting. I started it yesterday and the sketch went fast. I had to make a few tiny adjustments, but I like the composition. I wanted to post it yesterday, but couldn't find a charged battery in the house. Isn't that just the way? I realized my dilemma after a frantic attempt to get a photo of an incredible cloud formation that was tearing across the sky just outside of my apartment.

Stepping it up- there are actually people in the picture! Ooooo! I haven't painted people in a very long time. These guys are so indistinguishable, I'm hoping they will still read as people even though I plan to do very little modeling on them. I am trying to keep this painting pretty loose- big brushes!

I am really excited about this painting. Makes me want to learn French and take a painting trip. Someday, I want to go on one of those painting "tours" with a mass of other painters.

Mmm... dream vacations....