Sliced Not Diced

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All done with my Maine workshop, but still playing. Will report soon. Meanwhile, here are more orange slices done before I left.

Crowded Around

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I am still in Maine, teaching - just wanted to make sure you guys know I'm still alive! I also wanted to put the pressure on all my future kids (and spouses). Yesterday a husband of one of my kids delivered cocktails (specifically fresh basil gimlets!) to the whole class at the end of the day. Try to beat that - I dare you! : )

Inside I'm the Same

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Early tomorrow morning I will be flying to Maine. I'm teaching there next week but I'm going early to see friends, and staying late to see still more friends. I know - I've never felt so popular! I painted extra the last few days so I'll still post when I can. I'll also post photos and updates on Facebook, so like me there and make my head even bigger than it already is.        : )

Tiniest Kitchen

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I think I mentioned this before, but when I went to San Francisco recently I used airbnb to find a place to stay. This is the tiny kitchen in the tiny but very cute apartment I found. I took the photo for this in the morning, right before I made my breakfast, with lovely morning light streaming in through the window. I have fond memories.

Yellow Dress (& Ali in the Garden, Sketch)

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This morning I painted with some gals who've been painting together lately, under the tutelage of my friend, Sarah. Today they hired a model to pose outside, and graciously invited me to join them. The day started out overcast, so we sketched until the sun came out (the weather guys actually got it right for once!) and then painted furiously. Everyone else was working on larger pieces, but I came with the idea that I would do some small sketches (6x6) and see what happened. Below is the first one, which I spent an hour on, and above is the longer one (about 2 hours). I'm starting the bidding for the one below at $1 since it's a bit sketchy. Despite our poor model baking by the end and getting a weird sunburn on her knees, she was great! We had a fun day and I hope these painting gals will invite me again.

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Light in the Hallway

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This scene is from a photo I took at the Friends school in San Francisco when I was teaching there recently. This plant was down the hall from our room, on the way to the bathroom. I was positively enchanted by the light. And I wasn't the only one. While flipping through a student's camera that week I found she had taken the same photo! I wonder if she'll paint it.

Break a Leg

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Believe it or not, we are going camping again this weekend, this time with 3 other families, into the mountains, near hot springs. I know, what a sad, dreary life we lead! But I am coming back early because I have a hot date. : ) No, I am not cheating on my husband. My friend Sarah and I are attending the grand opening of a new gallery in town, Gallery at the Watershed. Her work is hanging there, along with a couple of our Portland friends. It will be a grand party, so if you're around, please drop by! Sat @ 6pm.

Lilies of the Striped Vase

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The thing about these lilies is that each one wanted to be a star. It was incredibly difficult to pose them so they worked together. They are not team players.

Lilies of the Vase

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I snatched these gorgeous flowers from the yard of a new Eugene friend/artist, Rogene. They were harder to arrange and to paint than I thought they would be. The shapes are delicate and subtle. I'll try them again tomorrow.

Apples, Cut and Uncut

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This setup seemed a little too complicated for a 6x6 inch canvas, so I painted it a little bigger. I loved the light on these apple slices and the little highlight on the knife. Little things.

Don't Blush, Rose

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The reason I didn't post the last couple of days is because I went camping with my family at the coast. If you're interested in the full story (and pictures!) please visit my New Beginning blog. Meanwhile, here's a rose from a recent photo I took at the big Portland rose garden.

Also many thanks to those of you who have sent in ideas for a t-shirt!! I'm looking into printing and will give updates when I have them. Thanks again!

Cutting Oranges

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I love the way this turned out. It doesn't make sense - scissors and oranges - but I don't care! Did you notice how the title makes it sound like cutting oranges with scissors is the most normal thing in the world? Yeah.

Red Rose II

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In light of the recent tragedy in Oklahoma with the major tornado, Daily Paintworks has started a fundraiser for those who have lost their homes and whatever else. I will be donating 100% of the proceeds from this painting to the Red Cross for this cause. If you would like to participate in this fundraiser by either donating your art or bidding on some, please visit the DPW fundraiser page. Thank you in advance!

Table Set For One

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I've had this idea for a while to make a t-shirt with something catchy on it about daily painting and/or maybe something about "Carol's kids" or whatnot, but an idea has not fully formed in my head. And honestly I've been thinking about it for a while. Which is just sad. So my friend/artist Sarah suggested I hold a contest and ask for ideas, and give free t-shirts out to the top 3 idea-givers. So if you have an idea for what a t-shirt might say, please email me, or comment on this post. I will pick my favorite(s) and design one that will be available to all. My humblest thank you in advance!!

The Right Rose Knows

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I posted a reference photo and a couple of process shots for this painting on my Facebook page. I am having a lovely time painting these roses but they are about done for. While I was in Portland I spent about 2 hours poking around the rose garden, so I'll have more close-up rose paintings very soon. I think I'll be sending a special thank you to the rose garden people in Portland and Eugene very soon!

Apart But Together

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Yesterday was a crazy day here in Portland! I've never been spotted before, but I was yesterday, and twice! It was very cool to be recognized by strangers. In fact my head has grown so much I'm not sure I'll be able to stumble out of the hotel room door this morning. Well, it would be hard except breakfast is calling. : )

A Lovely Gesture

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I have been travelling a lot these past few weeks so tonight my husband and I are escaping to Portland for a little weekend alone together. I did a few extra paintings today and yesterday so I would still be able to post, so expect to hear from me anyway.

Rose with Tea

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Lots to report! First of all, the reason I haven't posted in a while is I discovered a new weed in our front yard that turned out to be poison oak. For those of you who've been with me a while, yes, this has happened before, but I swear the Oregon version is totally different that the Texas version! So I've been dealing with that for the past couple of weeks.

During that time I taught a workshop on Vancouver Island, Canada. Unfortunately they had to look at my monster face all week, but despite that they were very nice. One gal (named Carol Jean, same as me!) even made t-shirts for the occasion (more on this soon).

The space we were in was huge, so everyone had plenty of room to spread out. I always spend a lot of time reminding my kids to squint, and the best way to do that is to close one eye and squint the other. One gal felt it would be easier to tape half of her glasses instead. : ) Below are cropped versions of most of my demos. (I've been looking for a photo collage program for my pc and so far I'm not crazy about this one. Anyone have a good suggestion?)

Below are my Canada kids. This was a really great group. Honestly, I can't say one bad thing about them. Anyone who can put up with a rashy, itchy istructor for 5 days deserves my full respect! Aren't they cute?!

Primary Egg

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The workshop with Marla Baggetta was awesome! I learned a ton, including how it feels to be on the other side : ) ... how frustrating it is to try something completely new and feel totally inept when you don't get it by mid-week ... etc. Obviously I also learned a lot about pastels. Just in time to head out for a workshop of my own. In Canada. Next week. I will post when I can. Meanwhile I posted a few photos from the workshop on my Facebook page.

Crooked Grin

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Do you see the face? I couldn't help myself.

Starting tomorrow (for a change) I will be taking a workshop, yay! A friend of mine recommended Marla Bagetta as a teacher and I was thrilled to find her in my own sister city. I could use oil, but pastel is also an option and I'm going to take it. I haven't used them since college. The best thing though is I'll be able to sleep in my own bed at night. Oh, simple pleasures.