Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Slacking

I haven't done a painting this week. We went to New Jersey for my husband's mother's funeral, returned just in time for the arrival of our daughter and her family, and in the middle of all this busyness, my husband and I got sick. I'm calling it New Germsey now.  Unbelievably, my husband's mother died within a day of the date of his father's death years ago, and her sister died last week also. My daughter Suzanne arrives tomorrow, so I hope we're not contagious by then. I don't want to make the whole family sick. This is no fun. (Sniff)

Monday, March 29, 2010

Transformations

What happens when 12 nationally known poets are teamed with 12 award-winning artists? TRANSFORMATIONS are revealed.  The public is invited to a free event on April 17 at 7 pm at the Brevard Museum of Art, 1463 Highland Ave, Melbourne, FL.


Poets will read their poems for the first time publicy as artists unveil their work. It will be a unique evening for anyone interested in the creative process. The exhibit will hang from April 18 through May 15.

I teamed with poet Jean Shepard to produce a painting different from anything I have done. I will, of course, post it here after the unveiling, along with her wonderful poem. I'll give you a hint: movies.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Trio, 8x10

This is another scene from Rock City Gardens. I need to paint some big pictures. Between painting lefthanded for so long and painting small, I'm forgetting how to paint larger. I also have to get away from the Sinistra (left) and go Dextra (right).

It's a bright and sparkly day today at the beach, and while I was walking I saw a Right Whale offshore. They migrate north this time of year. I pointed my camera in the general direction and got a lucky shot. Of course, it doesn't look too impressive in the photo, but it was a thrill for me.


Friday, March 19, 2010

Blue Pots Again

Well, I wasn't happy with my painting so I worked on it some more. Compare it to the last post. Isn't it better?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Blue Pots, 5x7

I'm posting the same picture on my blog and the Pieces of 8 blog (see piecesof8art.blogspot.com). I'm way too busy to come up with two entries in one day, but please visit the above blog and see what the Pieces of 8 are doing!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Rough Surf, 5x7

 I love painting seascapes. I love the beach, the surf, the colors, the excitement of the pounding surf. I've heard people say they don't like to go to the beach because they get all sandy and salty. I love getting sandy and salty. It's all part of the excitement. I remember when I lived in Central Florida, and coming to the East Coast to the beach was the most exciting thing one could possibly do. I could smell it when we drew near. Now that I live here, of course, I can't smell the salt air at all, but I love that I can cross the street and get as sandy and salty as I want.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Lazy River, 5x7

 
I love woods, and swamps, and other various assorted greenery. Painting greens is always a challenge. Now that the sun is actually shining and the weather is warmer, I'm anxious to get outside and do some plein air painting.

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Story of the Wrist

Now that it has a conclusion, here's the lighter side of the story:


Day 1: Fell while painting a set for the Church Christmas play. Took a dive off the stage right onto my wrist. Broke two bones, one right in the joint. Had surgery many painful hours later, pins and an enormous splint/bandage arrangement installed.


Day 2: Dismissed from hospital. Hap showed up with a snappy little strapless number for me to wear home. In December. Actually, very smart, because my arm wouldn't fit through a sleeve.


Day 3: Friends bringing food. I am so blessed.


Day 4: Hap is an angel. He does everything. He is learning to cook all sorts of things.


I am painting lefthanded. That makes me feel better. It takes concentration and makes me sweat even though it's 30 degrees outside.


Typing lefthanded is irksome for the Queen of Impatience. Want to give up punctuation, but too anal to do it.


Week 3: Can't do my own manicure or pedicure. Need a farrier right about now.


Week 4: Have sudden urge to rip the splint off.


Week 5: I would kill for some vegetables. Why don't men like vegetables?


Losing my sense of humor. Tired of being the brave little soldier. Want to be the whining complainer.


Week 6: The pins were removed and I have a jazzy little cast now. Saw my arm briefly and it looks disgusting and it's shedding. Seeing metal sticking out of your arm is disgusting. Still not being able to use my right hand is disgusting.


Started physical therapy. Supposed to hurt myself several ways eight times a day. There goes the day.


Ouch.


I know there is something important I have to do, but I can't read my lefthanded writing in my calendar.


Figured out that I can jam some tools in my cast and use them (nail file). Gives a certain sense of power.


The Pieces of 8 decorated my cast. It's bright pink and starry now. Very cheerful.

Week 7: I think Hap has lost his sense of humor about this. He was very funny at first. He needs to get away from me more.

Can a sistah get a vegetable?

Ladies, just for fun, have your husband put in your earrings sometime. Torture for both parties.

Week 8: My doctor moved to South Africa. Was I that bad? My new doctor had the hand therapists remove the cast and put on a splint, which is way better. How wonderful have some use of an opposable thumb. Still can't type two-handed though. My arm is brown, skinny, bruised and it sheds. Yuck.

Hap is still doing the cooking; the kitchen is a danger area for me. I can't cut, can't open a can, can't peel a potato...he is getting really good though.

I'm driving, adopting a "don't ask, don't tell" policy with my doctor. I can't go on being dependent on Hap for all transportation.

Painting a big seascape lefthanded. I must be nuts.

I can shower and sort of wash my hair now. There goes the only fun from the accident.

Oh, good. Now my knees hurt too. too much inactivity, must walk more. I have been walking on the beach, and there is always some perky young thing with firm thighs jogging by. They usually toss me a pleasant hello, right when I hate them most, then I feel bad about my body and my dark, dark soul.

I need to be punished. I think I'll have Hap put in my earrings.

Week 12: Got my splint off today, oh joy! The wrist is stiff and swollen, but my hand works well. I feel so free! The doctor says I should be back to normal in only five or six weeks (what?). Patience, I must have patience. And speaking of that, the hero of my story is Hap, who is the Soul of Patience (except when driving; then he's the Soul of Jersey). His unfailing kindness and humor made the best of a bad situation, and got us both through it. We have now survived remodeling a house and a broken wrist; I'd say this marriage is very secure.


Thursday, March 4, 2010

Breakfast Time, 8x10

Yesterday I got to free my hand at last. The splint is gone, and this two-handed typing is really cool. I was disappointed to hear that it will be five or six weeks to complete recovery so I still have to be careful. If I were a careful person, I wouldn't have broken my wrist in the first place. My arm now looks like a weathered building with peeling paint. Yuck. I had fun with this painting. I started it when I had to use my left hand, then finished yesterday with my right.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Homage to Clarice, 5x7

In our painting group, Pieces of Eight, we enjoy a good challenge that is outside our norm. Yesterday Donna brought her collection of Clarice Cliff teapots and lots of pictures of Clarice's art. Clarice was an Art Deco ceramicist from the 30s to the 60s, and her bold designs are highly collectible today. This is my homage to her, and it was a lot of fun to paint. And, by the way, my Sinistra (lefty) series is complete.  I can now paint with my right hand, and tomorrow the final splint comes off. I could never have been this precise using my left hand.