Measured Progress...WIP

"Measured Progress"... WIP (Work In Progress)
12 x 12 inches
Acrylic on Acrylic paper (so far)


Preliminary shapes and values blocked in with Daniel Smith Gesso... Black, White and Venetian Red


Taking it a bit further...and now I want to stop and think a bit...

We are going to the Crystal Lake Art Center's fund raiser tonight... From what I hear it is an active group... and only about 20 minutes away. Looking forward to seeing all the goodies they'll have in the auction.

Celebrating Achievement



"Celebrate Achievement"
11 x 11
Acrylic and pencil on watercolor paper
$220 unframed

I had a friend express interest in "Support System", and since it's not available, I decided to try to complete a larger version of it that I had started some time ago.

And this is what I learned about that....

I have to just stick with the idea... and forget what I've done before...
I found myself glancing at "Support System" trying too hard to recreate it.
I'll continue on with the idea of the wonky ladder with the 2 supports....And even keep the title in mind as I paint... But there will never be another "Support System".

There will be more paintings with that idea behind them... some of the paintings will be worse... some might even be better.... (I can hope) But never the same.
I think that's great.

Transparent Ambition...


"Transparent Ambition"
6 x 6
Acrylic and pencil on collage paper
$60

The word "ambition" has some interesting and sometimes conflicting connotations. I consider myself to be ambitious... but probably not in the traditional sense of the word. I am an ambitious learner... and experimenter with my painting... I'm rarely afraid to try something new, and to play around with the "what ifs" that pop into my head. I guess I consider that ambitious.

And what I mean by "Transparent Ambition" is simply be who you are...if you are excited about something... show it! Don't try to manipulate people or have some hidden agenda. Be authentically transparent.

I probably shouldn't have attempted to explain this cryptic title... it was quite ambitious of me. :)

Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble


"Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble"
6 x 6 inches
Acrylic on Acrylic Paper
$60 unframed

Today was another good day....

  • It was spent painting and listening to a good book tape (The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee)....
  • I sold a painting and went to the Honor post office to ship it (A very neighborly place)....
  • Finally (after months) called Sears to come and fix my mom's dehumidifier (she bought a 5 year in home service warranty...who does that?)
  • Got a really good walk in before I even picked up a brush...
  • Got in doodle mode with this painting... but I ended up liking it! (which doesn't often happen for me when I'm in doodle mode)
  • Have another small painitng almost completed...and I sort of like that one too so far...

All in all.... a red letter day! Who knows where that phrase comes from... anybody? ...anybody?
Answer here! :)

What I love about home......


Rainbow from home... Taken the spring after we moved into the house in Oxford, MI.


I'm back up in the Traverse City area... helping out my mom... She's recovering from a stroke that she suffered in April... It's a long and seemingly slow process.... though we are so encouraged by her continued progress.

These are just a few of the things that I loved about being at home....

  • My own comfy bed (a Temperpedic)...
  • Wildlife out my windows...
  • Dear friends to walk with...
  • My gas stovetop...
  • Friends who buy a painting, then invite my husband and I to dinner when we deliver it...
  • Wonderful neighbors that stop by to see if I can come out to play... and I do!
  • More wonderful neighbors that organize a potluck so that we can all get together...
  • Art friends that come in to Lake Orion to have lunch together...
  • Watching my dear friend's most talented daughter as the musical director for a production of Beauty and the Beast. (She played the piano through the entire production...wow!)
I'm a true believer in the power of counting your blessings.... What are you thankful for?

home again home again jiggity jig....


"Lyle Lyle Crocodile"
26 x 20
Acrylic on Yupo
$910 (unframed)

This is an older painting... and was the first thing I saw, to welcome me home to my studio! (This is one of my personal favorites) It'll be 2 weeks of packing up and throwing out..Which is better that packing out and throwing up I suppose. LOL Getting ready to move... but we still aren't quite sure where. So it will be an art break for 2 weeks... See you the week of the 27th!

Stop Pulling the Rungs Out From Under Me.....


"Stop Pulling the Rungs Out From Under Me"
11 x 11
Watercolor on Paper
$180

I started this one earlier in the week... and it sat unresolved for a few days while I worked on the "Rocks and Hard Places" paintings... It has a serious theme...but painted in a light-hearted way. Which seems to be the way I cope with "stuff". As sad as my mom's condition is...(leukemia and she suffered a stroke) we manage to belly laugh more often than normal... Granted, the humor tends to be a bit dark.... but it's humor nonetheless... I'm very lucky to be wired that way.

Hope you enjoy your weekend... I'm going to the opening of the Artcenter Traverse City's member show tonight.... Really looking forward to it!

High Road in Traverse City....


"Distractions and Diversions 2"
12 x 12
Acrylic on canvas (framed)
Sold


"Come Climb With Me"
24 x 24
Acrylic on Canvas (framed)
$950

I was tickled to find out yesterday that both my paintings from the "Taking the High Road" series made it into the Artcenter Traverse City's member show. I have been up here in Honor, MI..helping out my mom since she became ill in April. I'm looking forward to the opening on Friday evening.... hoping to meet some Traverse City artists, and become involved in the art scene here.

It's been a challenge to find painting time... I have my watercolor paints here and I've been struggling with their limitations... BUT... limitations breed creative solutions...right?
So I'm jumping in with both my watercolor feet.... knowing that there is always gesso to cover over botched watercolor paintings. :)

Strength In Numbers....


"Strength In Numbers"
6 x 6
Mixed media on acrylic paper

I have a stack of "almost finished" paintings in the High Road series. I'll be able to get my acrylics next week so I can finish some of them when I come back up to northern Michigan. This one just needed a few colored pencil marks added to complete it. It's a very strange color combination. Complementary colors, but just a touch off. Jarring perhaps? hmmmmmmm.

Watercolor...It's Been A Long Time....


"Jonnine's Peonies"
11 x 11
Watercolor

Well....Talk about rusty with the watercolor skills! It still felt good (though frustrating) to have my brushes wet. I'm up in Northern Michigan, helping out my Mom after a stroke.... away from my studio and supplies. I brought watercolor stuff, so that's what I'll be working with until my next trip home. I am not a fan of all the hard edges in this one... but I'm giving myself a break and calling it done... It has a bit of a wallpaper vibe going on that I don't hate.

Part of my morning ritual since I've been up here, has been to take the dog and a large mug of coffee and get the paper for my mom and two of her neighbors. They all have long driveways to the paper box, so it's a nice 10 minute morning walk. Yesterday, one of the neighbors left me a bunch of peonies on their porch... That unexpected surprise really made my day, and filled the room with delicious Peony scent. They were sitting still, so they got painted. :)

morning walk....



This is the spot where I turn around to go back to my mom's house. It makes it about a 30 to 40 minute walk... depending upon what I see to waylay me. I walk in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park... This road will eventually lead you to Lake Michigan, but that's more of a bike ride than a morning walk...it's a bit far. It's gonna be hot and humid here today. High of 90. I love air conditioning. I'm going to paint today....and will have something to post tomorrow. Yippee Skippee!

Smiles....take 'em where you get 'em....



I am amazed that I have been on this roller coaster for two and a half months. Time fly's when you are being a caregiver to your mom after a stroke. So when I popped the top of a soft Philly cream cheese tub...and this adorable smiley face was revealed.... I cracked up. I kid you not... this is exactly how it was... no scrapping or adjusting of the soft cream cheese. :) Who could not smile back?

My mom is progressing really well... but it's a very long road. We are celebrating the little victories, and enjoying her being able to be at home. One day at a time.

Still in Traverse City....


"Platte Lake"
8x8 watercolor
From my "year of painting" series... 4 years old...wow how time flies!!!

I'm still here in Traverse City Michigan, and will be for another few weeks. The painting is an older one, the view from the screen porch. My mom is on the inpatient rehabilitation floor at Munson Hospital after suffering a stroke from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. Quite a surprise to us all, since she was golfing in Florida 7 weeks ago... As a heads up for all of you... Her only symptom was gout in her hand... so if you or your parents are near 70 or older and have gout, make sure they do a blood test to rule out AML...

Fun at my Opening Reception...



Some of the paintings hung...



Yours truly on the left, Leila and Chris (center,gallery owners) and Susan Kell, fine artist and excellent instructor.

Here are a couple of photos from the opening of my show at Flint St. Gallery last Friday evening...I arrived early to find an even earlier group of friends, and forgot all about the camera! The evening was wonderful... The space was filled most of the night, spilling outside occasionally. At one point some people stopped in to see what the line was for! We remembered the camera with about 15 minutes to go and I did get my husband to snap this shot. Thanks so very much to all of you that came... Your support means so much to me.

Four of the paintings sold that night, which was very exciting. The show will be up through the 31st of May, so if you're interested, you should stop in!

I'm back up north in Traverse City, with my mom. We are taking things one day at a time...and today was a good day!


"Along the Polly Ann Trail"
7x11 watercolor (sold)

I dug out an older piece today. This watercolor was done of a scene I walk by most mornings when I'm home. I am lucky to have some hearty walking buddies that I meet up with at 8 am. We walk, laugh, cry and solve all the worlds problems on our 3 mile hike. We go in the rain (I pretend I'm living in Scotland) snow, fog, ice...we trudge on. :) It is the best mental and physical health appointment I go to....Thanks girls!

I got home from Traverse City (my mom's very ill) last night, my sister is with her until Saturday. The reception for my show "Taking the High Road" at Flint St. Gallery is tonight. I'm so looking forward to it! I haven't seen the paintings hung yet... I imagine it will be a very nice feeling. Hope to see you there!

Guilded Climb...


"Guilded Climb"
6x6
acrylic on Yupo

This one started by rolling some of Daniel Smith's fabulous gold gesso onto the piece of yupo paper. then I started scraping out with one of those rubber scraper tools while the gesso was still wet. I let that dry then went back in with black, white and a bit of copper paint. A very different palette for me. A bit sophisticated... dah-link. :)

Sitting with mom in the hospital... she probably won't be getting out for a few days. I'll be going back home probably Wednesday. My show reception is Friday evening... Looking forward to seeing the paintings hung! :)

It is an absolutely glorious day here in Traverse City... I can spy the bay from the window here...
Enjoy your day!