Mushrooms!

I almost drove off the road yesterday when I saw these mushrooms.


They are growing in the middle of the city under an evergreen tree. So unexpected. Why aren't there crowds visiting them?


I have only ever seen this kind of mushroom in children's book illustrations. Oh Richard Scarry how I miss you. (I think these are Amanita muscaria, which are either "deadly poisonous" or halucinegenic. Interesting cafe Mr Scarry.)

Mouse Study

I'm still working on my big arbutus mural but took a break to paint this little mouse as a study for an upcoming painting. How strange to work on something measuring twelve feet across and something measuring 5 inches across on the same day.

Autumn Reds

Looking like the inside of a zombie's throat, this is a seed pod of Paeonia obovata, shiny from the Vancouver rain in my parent's garden where we visited yesterday. Earlier today I posted that it was stinking Iris but my Mum has set me right. Thanks Mum! Your garden is full of wonderful things.


My mum has planted Doll's Eyes in her woodland garden. I love them.


Though we don't have many red autumn leaves here on the west coast, there is plenty of scarlet and crimson in the garden.

Trick or Treat

I took a break from painting arbutus trees this morning to walk up to the store and buy cat food. Such is my social life at the moment. But the leaves at my feet were shining in the pale sunlight and the world was golden.


I was so fascinated with these catkins and the wheel chair ramp dots that I didn't look up to see what kind of tree I was under. Autumn is full of colorful treats like this. I'm so glad I got out of the house.


Not autumn leaves but arbutus bark photographed in the middle of summer. Trick or treat


I guess it's time to get back to the studio.

230 Silver Squares

After sticking more than 200 five inch squares of aluminum leaf around the black silhouettes, I polish the leaf with a soft cloth and then start painting the color. The carpet is covered in small bits of aluminum.




Arbutus bark gives me such wonderful colors to work with. The purplish grey outer bark, cinnamon middle bark and creamy pale pistachio inner skin. I also plan to use some Salal or Oregon grape with their bright blue berries. The dark weather has me craving color.

A New Mural

These beautiful and giant birch panels will become a mural of arbutus trees with aluminum leaf sky. It seems a shame to cover the lovely grain of real trees with artificial painted trees.
My studio is dwarfed and looks a little funny.


The richly colored primer is jolly though.


But with black tree sillouettes it turns into a spooky Hallow'een image. Tomorrow I'll glue the aluminum leaf on and it will all take on a different feeling yet again.

New York and Salem

I took a break from blogging, painting and gardening last week to visit New York City with my daughter.
What a perfect and amazing adventure we had.


We also spent some time exploring beautiful Salem Mass. The historic buildings and walls there are fantastic.


And now, with John Singleton Copely's inspiration from this painting at the Metropolitan Museum, I shall get back to work in rainy, but warm Seattle.

From the Sublime to the Ridiculous

"All the diamonds in the world that mean anything to me are conjured up in wind and sunshine sparkling on sea" -Bruce Cockburn


and on a stream...


and even on tiny slug eggs...


which remind me of...


these giant fishing buoys in a funny 'garden' near my house. (Nice lawn mower!)

Another Zinnia Study

I'll hang this study in my small show at Macrina Bakery in Sodo, Seattle tomorrow. There won't be an opening party but drop by any time in October to see some paintings and buy some delicious bread. The bakery is just south of the stadiums on First Avenue.

This little study is 5"x7" and is $150.

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