Upcoming Show

Well, all the work is off to the framer's and the invitations are being printed.

It's been an action packed last couple of months in the studio, but really, it's been wonderful. Maybe it's the pressure of a deadline. Maybe it's knowing that your studio mate will be moving soon and you want to work, and work, and work until she leaves so that when she does you'll somehow have so much left of her in there that you won't miss her as much. That's not likely though and it feels a little bit like the end of an era. A bit melodramatic? I suppose, but I have worked with Jodie-Anne since we were keen little undergrads back in 1993. I have always loved watching how she works, and in turn how it makes me work. I appreciate how she gets what I'm doing, and supports my ideas, and gives great suggestions. I love how we can listen to Joni Mitchel's Blue over and over -- because it's the studio album. I like that sometimes she shows up at the studio and it's like she's taken a giggle pill and she bubbling over with infectious laughter that makes the studio the best place in the world to be.

I'm so glad we are doing this show together Jodie Anne. Thanks for it all.

Progress in the way of Oma Oma O

As I've been in the studio a lot lately, there hasn't been a super lot of time dedicated to the garden. Somehow it still manages on its own, for which I am extremely grateful.

I having been taking my breakfast and coffee out on the front step and enjoying how calm it makes me feel to literally watch the flowers grow. Yesterday before my very eyes I watched the first of my Siberian iris bloom.

Diebenkorn's Notes to Self

I was perusing my The Art of Richard Diebenkorn book this morning and came across the following:

Notes to myself on beginning a painting

1. Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.

2. The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued - except as a stimulus for further moves.

3. Do search. But in order to find other than what is searched for.

4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.

5. Don't "discover" a subject - of any kind.

6. Somehow don't be bored - but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.

7. Mistakes can't be erased but they move you from your present position.

8. Keep thinking about Polyanna.

9. Tolerate chaos.

10. Be careful only in a perverse way.

Sweet teeth and fish heads

A couple of weeks ago I really was craving sweets -- to eat and to paint.



I made three pastry pie like things; an apple pie with sweet and beautiful organic pink lady apples, a mini blueberry pie, and some apricot tarts baked in my new-to-me cast iron pan (from the Jimmy Coole Hurray for Relay garage sale). Then I had a craving for those chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips. You know, the ones with a pound of butter and two cups of sugar!?!



If that weren't enough I decided (or Jodie Anne did actually) that there should be a chocolate cake painting, which of course would need a few pieces missing! So we took some time in our busy studio night to have a tea party with dessert and once we were sufficiently full we set up to work. Is there anything prettier than cakes?



Needless to say, I am now sweeted out.



Yesterday in the studio, as a way to negate the saccharine sweetness of late, I painted a disgustingly pretty frozen fish head. Look at this detail --- yummy yuck.



Jodie Anne is giving it her all too, and even though she seems to have moments where she feels she has nothing, the pictures tell another story.






She also came up with the name for our upcoming exhibit : Landlives and Stillscapes. Perfect.