The Painting Panacea

I have not been able to post for a while because of being in Virginia for a sad occasion. I found solace in journaling in my sketchbook. Two of my collages, Red Shoe and Femme Fatale,  are in the "Chaos Theory" Art Exhibit in Middleburg, Virginia, opening November 29th (above left). No, those are not pictures of my collages, though Femme Fatale might be an interesting name for a cow. Or is that a bull?

I had to include in my sketchbook my husband's favorite coffee place, the Cuppa Giddyup. Since Middleburg is horse country, it's a perfect name.

Here are my entries in the art exhibit:

Sea Change, 10x10 Oil on Canvas

A rough sea is a joyous thing for me as a subject for painting. I love the colors, the shapes, the movement. This is a 10x10 original oil on gallery wrapped canvas and painted on all sides.

My posting of originals has been erratic of late because of vacation and then illness. We have now had a loss of a beloved family member, and I am giving myself permission to take some time off from painting and be with my loved ones who are grieving. 

SOLD

Lydia at a Tapestry Loom, 24x18 oil on canvas

This is a direct copy of a Mary Cassatt painting done in the 1800s. My painting group, Pieces of 8, did copies of masters as a learning experience, and I went on to copy Sargent, Gauguin,Van Gogh and Homer. This was time very well-spent. My last post was a copy, too, which I neglected to mention.

 PURCHASE

Three of us Pieces of 8 members took Dianna Gessler's journaling workshop last Monday, and had a great time wandering around Cocoa Village sketching and painting. I am flush with ideas, and hope I remember them when I have some time! Check out our efforts by clicking here.  

Elaine's Flowers, 10x8 Oil on Canvas

Some people in New Jersey and New York probably had gardens like this, and now they have destruction. It is so sad. We worry about hurricanes all the time in Florida, but who would expect this in the Northeast? To be hit by a snowstorm afterward is just unbelievable. My prayers go out to all the suffering people, and especially those who have lost everything.

NFS

Halie and Bunny, 16x20 Oil on Canvas

This was done many years ago. Halie is now seventeen but I'll bet that bunny is in a drawer somewhere.

I mentioned in an earlier post that our political sign was stolen from our yard. Now we know there was an eyewitness, who said a man and his small children came into our yard and took the sign. They went around the corner, where the boys jumped up and down with the sign while dad took their picture. In one fell swoop, he taught them trespassing, stealing, violating others' free speech rights, and gloating about the crimes. What a dad.

Yesterday someone left at our door a "Hate DVD" with a swastika on it and the word "Reds" in reference to our President. I thought that word went out with the Cold War. Also yesterday, a woman stole an Obama sign, came back, holding the sign, to taunt the resident, then ran over her leg with a scooter. What has happened to our wholesome little town?

River Cave, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Panel

I haven't posted for a while because we were in Virginia during the hurricane, and we delayed our return home. My heart goes out to the citizens of New York and New Jersey. As Floridians we are very practiced at preparing for hurricanes, and the number one item on my checklist is: Evacuate! I so wish everyone had heeded that warning.

PURCHASE

On a more peaceful note, the scene above is no longer accessible to the public, so I am glad I got this done. I've painted it twice, and here is a painting of me painting it. It's called My Happy Place.