October Sky for Sheila

7"x7"

acrylic on paper

For Sheila Tajima's journal in the Flying Moleskin's journal swap.

Fall is my favorite season. I love the deepening, more intense colors, the cool snap to the air,  the quickened pace.  Free from summer's humid weight, life feels sharper, clearer, more textured.  Light is lower, shadows longer, richer, and more mysterious. I imagine the trees are relieved to drop the burden of holding up all of those leaves, and sing when they decorate the landscape.

wishing you a bountiful new season...

My Front Porch

mixed media sketch
in moleskine journal

This is my sketch in Irit Bourla's journal for the Flying Moleskins journal swap. Irit's theme is local places, and since I don't go too far afield these days, out the front door seemed handy.  Our home was built in 1920, and has a long covered porch with a swing at one end. When the weather's decent, it's a relatively quiet spot to relax. So relaxing, in fact, that it wasn't until after I'd finished the sketch that I realized I'd done it upside down in the book! Apologies, Irit, but I've cut it out, and glued it in right side up.  Your book's flying to Adebanji tomorrow.

Happy Summer everyone.

The Flying Moleskins: Abstract Dreams

May You Soar

acrylic on paper

nfs

These are two pages for Dana Cooper, whose journal theme is dreams.  My dreams have been elusive lately, like shifting sand. A promise glimpsed of some distant, better future that dissolves when I try to understand its shape and content.  Fragments float, illuminated, forming landscapes both strange and somehow familiar. Echoes of joys remembered and not yet known.

Huge thanks to everyone who left such supportive comments on the show last month. We had a great turn-out despite the heat, and it was a success.   

Group Show This Weekend

I'm excited to be part of a 5-person show this weekend at a friend's historic farm in the Maryland countryside.  The stone walls and barnwood have turned out to be a great setting for the contemporary and abstract work.  I don't have photos of the work in place yet, but took some of the farm earlier this week.  I'm wondering if Jane and her family would notice if I move into the garden house....

 coming down the lane 

view from the garden house

main house and spring house

looking out from the large stone barn

garden house

a few of the local girls

Jane gives instructions to the welcoming committee

Santos...ready!

Mildred.

Please come if you're in the area.

Would love to see you! 

Participating artists: Jane Byron, Colleen Clapp, Liz Holm, C. Edward Ramsburg, Cristy Stup

Flying Moleskin Journal Swap

Megan, Ryan

watercolor in Moleskine journal

nfs

This is for Michelle Burnett.  I was wracking my brain for snapshot or postcard ideas from my past, and became so melancholy looking through old photos, I had to stop. Then I noticed some of the cutest kids I'd ever seen on Michelle's FB page. The apple really doesn't fall far.  

Thanks to Chris Beck for suggesting I break out the watercolors again. I'd forgotten how fun watery washes can be. After the Claybord issues from the last post, it was doubly fun.  Thanks for everyone's comments, advice and commiseration.  (And thanks, Michelle, for having such cute kids!) 

White Rose

"Promise"

24"x 24"

acrylic on Claybord

This is one of 6 florals that I have hanging in a group show at the Delaplaine Visual Arts and Education Center through the end of June.  I'd never worked on Ampersand's Claybord before. Boy, does is soak up some paint.  The brush would be dry before I'd completed a stroke.  I put out a FB plea, and Manon told me she usually seals it first.  Ah ha.  Good to know for future pieces.   

Many thanks to Don Dunsmore for a lovely reference photo.

Flying Moleskins - Camille, Richard and Matisse's Open Window

acrylic on paper

7"x 10 (2-pages)

nfs

For Camille Olsen, who's journal theme is peace.  Must be the tropical heat here in Maryland, because my colors got away from me and turned all lime and melon and banana, and I swear I'm hearing Calypso music. Camille and her husband are standing near a very rough rendition of my favorite Matisse painting. (Yep, more sailboats).  My apologies to the Olsens if I'm not close to a likeness. We haven't met, but rumor has it, both have wicked senses of humor and that they are a colorful and fun-loving pair.

Thanks for all of your comments on the last post.  I appreciate it!

Peace out ;-)

Flying Moleskins - Cat Nap for Angela's journal

Mabel on Deck

S.V. Tamara

Grenada to Norfolk Voyage

acrylic in Moleskine journal

My entry for Angela Elledge's journal for the Flying Moleskin's journal swap. Angela's theme is places. I don't know if it's spring fever or feeling a bit stuck in place or both, but I've had a bad case of wanderlust lately. I started thinking about the places I've felt most content, and realize most of those places involve the sea or companion animals or both.

In the late 90s, lifetimes ago it seems, I helped a friend's mother bring her Alberg 37 from Grenada to Norfolk. We made the trip in one shot, no stops, across the Caribbean and then up the Atlantic. 20 days at sea. It was just the two of us, and sweet Mabel the cat.  During calmer weather Mabel would wedge herself between the air vent and companionway hatch, and doze in the shade. During bad weather, she'd snug in the cabin, and during my 3 hour sleep shifts, she'd bunk with me for company.  Tropical Depression Danny hit us just before it was upgraded to hurricane status.  Gusts to 60 and sustained winds of 45 were a challenge at the helm. The week before we landed the forestay snapped (which holds the mast upright), and we had a thrilling rollercoaster ride down some huge seas while we wrestled the head sail out of the surf and hooked up an emergency forestay.  We also hit the doldrums-- endless days on glassy seas.  The water tanks fouled, we ran out of propane, and blew an oil gasket that needed repairing.  It was one of the best times of my life. Every day was new, and the colors of the sea and sky changed hourly. On calm nights, I'd lie on deck.  Millions of stars above reflected in the water, and it felt like floating through the universe.  When the wind was fair, and we'd make good headway, dolphins would show up and play around the bow wake. Bliss.

I don't know what happened to Mabel after the return trip, but I like to imagine she's living out another of her 9 lives, belly full of fish, dreaming of far-away lands.

a few snaps....

moi.. exhausted and thinner as we 

near Norfolk.

Sunshine and Honest Scrap Awards

Thank you to the following lovely ladies for sending some awards my way. I appreciate it. 

The Sunshine Award:

     Karen Bruson

     Trish Siegel

     Mitzi Easly

     Diana Marshall

     Faith Te

     Anni Lindsey Jones

The Honest Scrap Award:

     Aimee Dingman

Please visit their sites to see some great paintings.  

Wildlife- The Flying Moleskins

acrylic on gessoed paper

ea. panel 5 x 8"

These are my pages in James Parker's journal for the Flying Moleskins project. James' theme is wildlife. We have lots of deer and bunnies in Maryland, and LOTS of snow right now. I found a reference photo from Danish photographer Tanja Askani, who has heart-warming shots of this orphaned deer who befriended a wild rabbit at a refuge center. I love it when nature shows us how to get along.

The colt is one of the wild horses who are sheltered on Assateague Island off the Atlantic coast of Maryland and Virginia. In the summer, some of the horses are herded, and swim to Chincoteague, Virginia for auction. More of the story is on the National Park Service's site. One of my favorite books from childhood is Margeurite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone...snuggle up to someone you love --human or otherwise! ;-)

Seeing Red (redux)

oil on gessoed paper

11" x 15"

Some of you may recognize this young woman from an earlier post from April. I resurrected her this past weekend to get my painting muscles going again. My friend Barbara graciously traded homes with me for a few days...a gift beyond measure as her beautiful home came equipped with a working studio and a gorgeous view of fields and mountains. My home came with Mom, a cat and two active dogs to care for. I spent a weekend painting hats of various shapes and color--black porkpie, blue knit, bright green with orange flower (I'm not kidding). Then I'd wipe it all out. I finally changed the background and her clothing, and returned to this odd headgear that's not too far from April's version. She's almost done. Thanks to Barbara for the much-needed respite, and to friends Pam and Mark for their hospitality on Sunday. Much appreciated!

The Flying Moleskins!

detail, journal cover, acrylic on Rives BFK

A new year, and a new project takes flight. Friend and fellow blogger Dominique Eichi has launched an invitational art journal swap. We're a baker's dozen from the U.S., U.K. and Canada who will be passing our Moleskine (or other) art journals of varying themes to one another each month until everyone has a painting or sketch from everyone else. Please visit the new Flying Moleskins* blog that Dominique has started to track our progress.

Here is my home-made journal pack containing loose sheets (as yet unbound) that is currently in flight to Adebanji Alade in England. My theme is portraits of any sort- people, animals, trees, flowers, houses...well, you get the picture!

* I've learned that the originals were actually mole skins (oh dear) and were spelled without the final 'e' that today's trademarked journals contain.

journal pack front

journal pack, back

Bon Voyage!

Wishing You the Gift of Joy this Holiday Season

6x8" oil on linen panel

sold

I know it's been a long time between cupcakes and Christmas. Mom continues to decline, and I'm hanging on. Please know that I'm thinking of you, that I miss visiting everyone's blogs as often as I used to, and that I'm wishing you and your families joyous and heart-filled holidays.

With love,

Liz

For Taz's story, visit Art for Animals. Thanks to Pam Townsend and the PGSPCA for the photo reference of Taz, who was adopted in 2007.

Sweet Couple

8" x 8"

Acrylic on BFK Rives
sold

Couldn't resist the subject matter for Karin Jurick's latest challenge. Cupcakes make me feel nostalgic for simpler days, and birthday parties. Realized if I focused on the confetti sprinkles, I'd miss the deadline, so they're unadorned.

Check out the Different Strokes from Different Folks site to see the delicious entries. Happy one year anniversary to DSDF, and many thanks to Karin.

Want to also thank Lee at the inspirational A Day Not Wasted for this very cool artist's apron. It's fantastic. Thanks, Lee!

Red Hot and Blue

20 x 24"

Acrylic on BFK Rives

Sold

Huge thanks to all of you who've e-mailed and checked in to see if I'm still breathing. My computer and painting time has been limited lately, so I'm posting a few of the abstracts I painted earlier this year. I feel rather tender about these. They're out of my comfort zone, but sheer fun to paint. Anyway, here's the first.

Good news: I do have help with Mom now three days a week. An enormous relief. Bad news: she's getting up more often during the night, and I spring up from a sound sleep to intercept her in the hall. Recently she was dressed head to toe in black at 3 am, full makeup and jewelry on, hair coiffed, ready to head outside. She looked like an exotic cat burglar. Baffling since she needs help dressing during daylight hours. I'll see the humor in all of this one day when I'm not so sleepy.

Many thanks to the multi-talented Jala Pfaff and to uber blogger Mi for passing along two blog awards.

Windows to the Words:Art Challenge

oil on canvas

9 x 12

Sold

This is my entry for James Parker's Windows to the Words Challenge.  The subject this month is old folks and wrinkles.  A friend of mine, Barbara Motter, has wonderful photos from her world travels, and kindly let me submit some for this challenge.  This is an old gentleman from Russia. Thank you, Barbara. Please visit the WTTW site to see the other entries, and also stop by James' blog to say hello.

Also thought I'd post the beginning stages. I roughed in with shades of burnt sienna, and then wiped out the highlights with a paper towel.  Then I came in with thin washes of more intense colors to establish rough value patterns and warms and cools.  

I hope that all of you Dads and Granddads had a Happy Father's Day!

Flower Girl and thanks, Akiko!

Wedding Reception, detail, 24 x 30 o/c

In the mid 90's, I attended a friend's wedding on the Island of Malta. The setting was spectacular. The ceremony was in a lovely church in the historic city of Mdina, and the reception was held in a converted palace complete with courtyard and formal gardens. Twelve years later, I uncovered the photos I'd taken, skipped over all of the landscape and architecture shots, and as an experiment, began a pastel on canvas of the maid of honor and one of the flower girls. Pastel on canvas was not a happy experiment. I scrubbed it, came over it with acrylic, then water-miscible oils. ack. Peeled off the maid of honor's head, re-gessoed and built up the paint again. Then painted over everything with regular oils. Someday I'll be brave enough to try the architecture.  

Thank you to Akiko Watanabe, who kindly sent me the Noblesse Oblige Award. Akiko's animal paintings and ACEOs are breathtaking. I spend a lot of time scrutinizing her work, and still can't figure out how she gets so much loving detail and spirit into such a small format. Please visit her site to see her extraordinary portraits of animals. Thanks, Akiko--am humbled and honored. (award details in May 17 post).

For Fun..

Ovarian Act II

30" x 40"  o/c

An older work, based on a strange dream I'd had.  I put together a small collage first of the elements, and then worked up the larger painting.  The cat is my mom's cat, and the shell is another from my grandmother's collection.  I don't know who the women are, but rest assured, the one with the egg is not me. Well, then again, it was a dream.

Update:  Thanks to Sara Winters for passing along the Kreative Blogger Award.  Please visit Sara's site to see a beautiful painting of one of the most creative "castles" you'll ever see, and to enjoy the rest of her fantastic work.

Thank you and blog awards

My sincere thanks to all of you who have been so kind and encouraging about my mom. It means the world. I appreciate it so much.

Recently, three wonderful artists passed a few awards my way. Many thanks to Christine Regan and to Christine Pierce for sending the Kreativ Blogger award, and to Sandy Sandy for the Noblesse Oblige award. I am honored ladies. 

Christine Regan is an emerging artist currently working in  Delaware. Please check out her unique landscapes and abstract views of the DC metro system.

Also visit Christine Pierce , an artist from Oregon who works in multiple media--digital and hand--and creates truly joyful images.

The award entails linking back to the person who sent the award, listing 7 random things you love, and sending the award on.

I've recently posted my 7 loves, so will go straight to passing the award to these dedicated and Kreativ bloggers: 

Scott D. Tillett

Ann Rogers

Peter Lee

Ann Buckner

Mariano Zucchi

I've also received the Noblesse Oblige Award from Sandy Sandy, who authors several creative sites, and is a team member at the Art for Animals Project.  While I'm not sure that my blog fits the parameters of this particular award, I am grateful and honored, Sandy. She sent this from her Inspiration Every Day blog, which is full of terrific quotes.

A Description of the Attributes this Award Recognizes:

1) The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.
2) The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.
3) There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture, Sciences or Beliefs.
4) The Blog is refreshing and creative.
5) The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.
The Bloggers who receive this award will need to perform the following steps:

1) Create a post with a mention and link to the blogger who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award to you.
2) The award conditions must be displayed in the post.
3) Write a short post about what your blog has thus far achieved.
4) The blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award to blogs in concurrence with the award conditions.
5) The blogger can display the award at any location on their blog.

I'm relatively new to blogging, and can only share what my blog has meant to me: It's allowed me to meet many kind, talented, funny and gracious people from all over the world. 

 

I'd like to pass this award on to a few blogs that I turn to for inspiration, information, and admire for their community spirit.  In addition to Art for the Animals, which has already received this award, please stop by...

Every Photo Tells A Story

Following the Masters

Photoshop Tips for Artists

Manon Doyle

Windows to the Words, Art

Artists Paint Themselves

As always, recipients--if you are tagged out, or don't participate in awards, no worries!

Happy creating everyone.

Alzheimer's

I've started and deleted this post five times now since Mother's Day.  I had wanted to keep the joy I feel about painting and the blog community somehow separate from the realities of my day to day life.  But my painting--or more to the point, my struggle to write and to paint lately--is completely tied to the sense of overwhelm that I feel caring for my mom. She's lived with me for 10 years, was formally diagnosed in 2006, and since Christmas has needed help with almost all tasks.  I used to take heart that at least she remembered my name.  On Mother's Day, we took a short walk in the park, and she asked what my name is.  If this sounds like a bid for sympathy,  it's not.  Just my admission that I can't keep my life compartmentalized, nor handle it all alone anymore. There are days lately when I feel I'm standing at the edge of a dark abyss, screaming into an empty universe.  I know that sounds a tad dramatic.  I won't bore you with the details of what life is like other than to say imagine trying to explain what Google is to someone who doesn't remember what tuna fish is, and repeating "it's 4:00. it's Thursday, the clock's in front of you...it's 4:02..it's still Thursday...I didn't change the station, it's a  commercial, it's 4:05...."  all day, every day to someone you miss with all your heart.  A very dear friend is currently helping me interview in-home agencies, so I can reclaim a few hours a week for work and for friends. Thank God for friends. 

I know I'm not the only one dealing with a difficult situation, illness or loss.  Thanks for bearing with me through this post. I've also received some really nice blog awards, that I promise I will post tomorrow.  

The good news is, Mom always has been, and remains, except for a few tantrums over commercials and my not allowing her to get a riding mower,  a cheerful soul.

A few photos...

Thailand

Mom, her sister Nancy, my grandmother, Zena

aboard Tres Jolie, Chesapeake Bay

This Mother's Day, in front of our house