Home again

I have returned from our 3000 mile driving adventure. Norma and I went south to visit family. (and it felt real good to see the sun!)

I did take paints- but only painted one little study and never took a picture of it before giving it to my dad.

Am looking forward to getting back to my studio and back to work.

Homer and Hopper

I went to the Art Institute the other day to see the Hopper show. I love Hopper, and have seen several. I did not plan to spend much time outside of Hopper- but amazed to discover how much I enjoyed the 130 watercolors by Winslow Homer. I have always known that watercolors do not get the respect that they deserve. People think that it is more difficult to be an oil painter, but oils are easy. With watercolor, your mistakes will show up. Still, I have always enjoyed looking at oil paintings more than watercolors- and was not really all that interested in seeing the Homer watercolors, until I saw them.

WOW, his work was amazing! The Hopper show was good too. Here is a link to the show- it runs through the middle of May.

Also, this is a good place to mention that I can hardly wait for the new wing to open. Once the modern art is moved out of the old part of the museum, all the stored away old paintings that there is not enough room to show will finally come out and see the light. That will be a good day!

for sale

You can buy yesterday's study here

Full Box of New Crayons

Goofing around in the studio today. Rick was in working on his own project while I was playing with bright colors like a child.

Only have about an hour and a half in this study- 8x10 painted from life.

Re: Hillary Clinton's negative campaigning. She recently suggested that McCain would be a better choice then Obama! Is she trying to be his vice president? Her 3 am telephone call ad was just too much for me- and then I remembered when I loved Bill for saying this: (you tube has everything :-)

To Winter

by William Blake

O Winter! bar thine adamantine doors:
The north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark
Deep-founded habitation. Shake not thy roofs,
Nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.'
He hears me not, but o'er the yawning deep
Rides heavy; his storms are unchain'd, sheathиd
In ribbиd steel; I dare not lift mine eyes,
For he hath rear'd his sceptre o'er the world.

Lo! now the direful monster, whose 1000 skin clings
To his strong bones, strides o'er the groaning rocks:
He withers all in silence, and in his hand
Unclothes the earth, and freezes up frail life.

He takes his seat upon the cliffs,--the mariner
Cries in vain. Poor little wretch, that deal'st
With storms!--till heaven smiles, and the monster
Is driv'n yelling to his caves beneath mount Hecla.

It is March- this snow is melting :-)