Sultan's Girl

This video has been around a while- an old favorite. I love to watch it for it's muse like qualities. And whenever I watch it it reminds me that I must live in London before I die. If you enjoy it, there are several more videos about the Sultan's Elephant on youtube.

Vote Republican! (ha!)

Sparkle Done

All finished. I am mostly happy with this, which was inspired by this early lake scene that I did three years ago, and sold last year.

sparkle WIP

So here is what I have been working on this week. Still not finished- but you can see where I am going. So very excited about where this might be destined to hang, (more later- don't want to jinx it :-) It is 4 feet square- a big one for me. Though I just visited another 4 foot square painting at Rositas in DeKalb. Rick and I painted that one together in 1987- it still hangs prominently in the restaurant, (while I smile happily knowing that I signed my paintings with a different name 21 years ago than what I use now).

Most of the work that I created during those years has been burned. I have a few dozen in the attic and basement, but most of it is gone.

For this painting, I took hundreds of pictures at the lake, over several days- and stood there mouth hanging open, staring at this gorgeous light. (trying to memorize all the colors.)

Most important to remind you that this is an unfinished painting.

End of Vacation

It has been a busy week. Rick was home and Norma was gone. We have visited several friends in the last week- two reunions, one good by dinner and a museum. I have a big painting on the easel that should be done this week. It is a 4 foot square painting of Crystal lake, full of blinding light. I will try to add a picture tomorrow

The support is nice, even if it is canvas instead of linen. I stretched this over a heavy duty stretcher bar using some nice brass tacks, then used rabbit skin glue and a nice oil primer. I have been making my own supports for many years, and am very particular about the materials used.

bull- anyone can write it.

Bla bla-de-bla-bla bla! I could write all the bullshit that you want, but it wont make my paintings good if they are not.

It shocks me how many people fall for words.

Vacationing.

Garfield sold for the reasonable price of $510. So I wonder if I can reasonably look forward to opening my presents this Christmas. :-)

Rick is home from work this week while Norma is gone. We are doing a staycation. So far the kitchen is still waiting for a coat of paint. We are working out some video ideas for a friend, and a new identity for me. ( for website, cards brochures etc..).

We also vented the grill in the breezeway- a chore put off for many years. Clipped some bushes and picked cherries and raspberries. Tonight we rented a boat off of Crystal Lake to go out and get some pictures of the beach from the water. I have a big 48 inch square canvas that is just begging for a new beach scene.

I am still off of nicotine, and I know it is hard to believe, but am still a little grumpy. I do hope this passes because I can not concentrate am distracted and not myself at all.

I love summer- the cows in the beautiful deep green field were glorious during tonight's golden hour!

Garfield Goose!!!

For most of my life, the existence of this puppet was a question. The show was real, I knew that- but no one had ever seen the toy. And in the years before the internet- there was no proof that I could find that a garfield goose puppet was ever made.
I had this puppet when I was three. I think he must have been new for me to love him so much. I do remember laying on the floor and talking to him, I remember that he was my best thing. And I remember when our house burned down, he was the only thing that I worried about. The replacement that was promised turned out to be impossible to get, as I recently learned- there were only a few ever made and they were out of production. I bet I bothered my parents for a good five years. (but it was much longer before I got over the loss. )

When ebay came on the scene, I started searching, expecting to buy the first one that I saw. It took two years of searching every few days before I saw the first garfield goose puppet- Finally proving that I had not imagined him. His price skyrocketed out of my price range on the first day- and I think that he sold for around a thousand dollars. This is only the fourth garfield goose that I have seen on ebay in 10 years- and it is by far the best one. Has his crown- and the packaging! I am not going to bid .... but have scooped up some good pictures for my Garfield folder. And let me tell you- it sure makes me happy to consider bringing Garfield home!

And Dad, if you are reading... You did promise to find another one for me. :-)

What is Art?

Good news from the Art Rep who took my paintings for a visit over the weekend. More info coming when she returns from Europe, but she did bring my paintings back- and they will likely be commissioning a few. Excellent!

L

A Zoo day

A trip to the Milwaukee Zoo is always a treat. If you like zoos at all, you will appreciate the Milwaukee zoo. I love the way that they move the animals around- not leaving them in the same enclosure forever. And they are often placed so that they can see their prey. The Lions and Tigers are not bored out of their minds like at the brookfield zoo.

Milwaukee zoo has a large breeding population of Bonobos- and when we lived near the zoo, Little Fred and I used to go to the bonobo house a few times a week- just to watch a mother nap with and cuddle her baby. Going back today brought back many fond memories- and I even recognized some of our old friends after all of these years!

On the art front- a rep came and borrowed three of my favorite paintings today. I don't think that she will buy them, but she is showing them to her client, so fingers crossed!