More Opal and More Pumpkins

Two unrelated photos. Umm. They both show round furry things.

Opal Ears and Pumpkin Vines

Small Studies

Happiness is having painting panels primed and sanded and ready to use. These small ones will be fun for quick flower studies like these zinnias.

Abundance

Part of a commission to paint the four seasons, this painting represents summer. The little chickadee is surrounded, and maybe a bit overwhelmed, by the abundance around her. It is a joyful image but complicated by the problem of choosing from all life's riches. There are also some moody storm clouds approaching adding that feeling of urgency that I can't escape when faced with summer's perfection.

The painting measures 9"x 12" and is oil on panel. If you click on it you can see it closer to its real size.

You can see the winter part of this series here.

SAGBUTT at the Arboretum

A couple of images from Sunday's meeting of garden bloggers at the University of Washington Arboretum. The orange seeds belong to an Iris foetidissima and the pretty pink berries are from a Mountain Ash.

Ahead of My Time

While going through my high school sketch books I found this drawing of my sister's stuffed animal. I think we used to call him Ferdinand. My art teacher didn't like the subject matter and gave me a low mark. Mr Murphy this may have been the only time you were wrong.


Thirty years later I can point to Mark Ryden as one of my most inspiring influences.

My Art Teacher

The recent figure and cat studies are good. Try some observed studies in colour. 8/10


Your corn drawing is the most thorough piece of work. Try to take on that kind of challenge more often. Sketchbook mark 17/20


Drawing from observation. You need to challenge your abilities regularly Try not to neglect this aspect of your work. 8/10

These are my sketchbooks from high school with wise comments and marks by my art teacher, John Murphy. Thank you John for everything. We will all miss you.

You can read about John here.

Fog - a little creepy

Isn't this Thomas Kinkade style image funny? The cottage is the public bathroom in Magnolia Park where I like to visit the Arbutus trees.


This is more of a Franz Kline image.

Fog

Laughing Not Crying

My painting of summer's abundance is such a pleasure to work on. I am extending summer by bringing these luscious sunflowers into the studio. The little chickadee is wondering how to choose from all the glories of the season but my first attempt at painting her was less than successful. Ha ha ha. Poor thing. I'll post her less funny version when the painting is finished.

September Garden

Goodbye summer

Weird and Wonderful

Some people call them Arbutus. Here in Seattle we call them Madronas. Whatever you call them they are extraordinary trees.


They are the only broad leafed evergreen trees native to this area.


I took these pictures in a park in Magnolia to help with a new painting. (By the way. The story goes that the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle was named after these wonderful trees but the namer got the name wrong. There is another neighborhood called Madrona, where, as far as I know, there aren't many of these trees.)

Artists and Friends

Saturday was such a pretty day. The late summer sun was a little bit low on the horizon making dappled shadows everywhere. We were eleven artists showing our work in my studio and garden and in my neighbor Jennifer's studio and garden. Many wonderful friends dropped by to enjoy blackberry, rosemary lemonade, home made cookies and art. Thanks to everyone who brought food and wine. Thanks to my amazing artist friends for sharing their time and work. It was such a lovely day.


Susan displayed her paintings on the patio.


The nicest and most talented artists in the world!

My friend Bobby took some great pictures and posted them on her blog. Make sure you scroll around and see her other great work here.

Jennifer has also posted her impressions of the day here.

Today!

Open Studio on Saturday

I am opening my studio doors on Saturday and sharing the space with ten friends and their art. My neighbor, Jennifer, is also opening her studio. We are having an art festival in the back alley! Drop by 1618 - 10 Avenue West in Seattle between 2 and 6 pm. See you there!

August Breaks My Heart

My cat, Huckleberry, sleeps beside me in my studio as ripe blackberries scent the warm sunshine and hummingbirds squeak outside my open door. There is so much bounty and beauty in August - warmth, food, color, parties, children home from school. But August also signals the end of all these things. Soon it will be fall and I will hunker down once more indoors in the quiet of my home. Maybe it is my Scottish roots that detect grief in the happiest of seasons. Maybe growing up in Maritime Canada taught me that winter is never far away.

This painting embraces August's ambivalence and shows a wistfulness for a simpler season - maybe for spring when joy is unbounded and mortality doesn't enter our thoughts.





This painting measures 8"x10" and is oil on panel.

Dyeing to Knit

To start the knitting season some friends and I got together to dye wool.


Mahonia (Oregon grape) bark.


The bark boils on the stove. We also tried onion skin, blueberries, carrot leaves, blackberries, red cabbage and beets.


Mahonia dyed wool dries in the late summer sun.




Barbie with her wonderful colors.


Sandra's bright yellow comes from carrot leaves.

Colour from the Garden

My garden is full of colour and to capture this I usually like to make paintings of the plants and flowers. But another way to preserve the colours of summer is to use plants as dyes for wool. Here are some I have been playing with. Mostly blackberry and Oregon Grape bark.


A pot full of red zinnia petals produced a disappointing pale yellow dye but it looked pretty while I cooked it.