I LIED

Happily, I have a ton of work, including two, count 'em, two, graphic design jobs! Unhappily, I want to paint!!!! This is good. I miss doing my daily like I miss my feet jammies, my tea and my bankie on a cold, stormy day. I'm gonna try and squeeze one in today but it doesn't look hopeful. I did have such good intentions when I pledged to post four days in a row. It was more like a fib. Is that how one spells fib? Or is it phib? Whatever. I inadvertently told an untruth. Plus, I lost half a day at the Honda service center because himself got stopped and ticketed for a blown headlight! Am I whining?

Also, we bought a new screen for our old mac. My imac still has won't turn on disease. Again, I could get it serviced, but then what would I complain about? Anyway, this screen is calibrated too dark and I've been washing out my last few dailies by lightening them too much! I do apologize. To you and to me. Imagine working all day just to see a faded representation at DP the next morning! Arrrrgh!

I'm off to get started working and recalibrate this screen!

DISTANT COUSINS

4 X 6"
oil on canvas
$100

These guys must be related. City slicker Christmas ornament all pimped out in bling and it's back-to-basics country bumpkin cousins. All the pommy needs is a hook to hang it on a branch and it would make a perfect ornament. Back in the day, they probably did just that, although they must have been a tad to weighty.

I am so behind, but I'm determined to post every day until Saturday. With all the work and self-imposed pressure, I'm feelin' pretty positive and optimistic. Could it be as easy as making a decision?

NUDE 14

12x12"
oil on canvas
$125

Another nude day. Fun, these are just plain fun. Takes me right back to life class at FIT. It was heaven—in retrospect. In the moment—it was terrifying. I was surrounded by so many gifted artists it took my breath away. Walking around and looking at everyone's work when the model took a break was both intimidating and exhilarating. I used my kneaded eraser like worry beads, pulling, stretching, wadding. We used Blaisdale charcoal pencils—extra soft, little sandpaper blocks for flattening on an angle to create a point and huge newsprint pads. What can I say. School is an experience best appreciated from a great distance. For me anyway.

NUDE 13

12X12"
oil on canvas
$125

I bought another Virtual Pose book with CD Rom and it's truly amazing. I still can't get over placing the mouse on the figure and dragging to spin the pose 180 degrees. Ah, technology. I'm repeating myself but I'm still fascinated.

I'm really pressed for time so I did another nude for my daily today. The curve of the back, the way the hips move even though she's stationary, it's just nature at its best. I wanted to try expressing movement with line, a technique I learned at FIT. I'm more than a little rusty, but I'll warm up over time. So much can be said with the right line weight. If done correctly, a shadow can be indicated by just curving or strengthening the weight of the line. More to come.

BALSAMIC BOTTLE

6 X 8"
oil on canvas
$125

Apparently I'm nursing a growing penchant for empty, high-end condiment bottles. This little gem was once the home of some very expensive and incredibly tasty balsamic vinegar. I was making tea this morning when I spied it nestled in between the peppercorns and the Spanish Paprika. I almost washed it off, but all the stains made it more interesting, so I left it as it was. I'm glad. It has more character.

A word about the meal himself prepared last night is appropriate here, keeping with the flavor of today's daily. Rib eye steaks with onions sauteed in butter, bourbon and brown sugar, twice baked herbed potatoes whipped with garden vegetable cream cheese and asparagus wrapped in bacon with a sprig of rosemary. Oh my, it was one of his top-ten best ever. I am very fortunate woman.

INTERMISSION AND UPDATE

I'm beginning early today as I am really getting behind schedule. I'm hoping to post a daily later today. This weekend was really busy. I've decided to re-launch my website as soon as possible as it's hopelessly outdated and features none of my latest work. Oops.

Anyway, with dreams of a brand new, super-sophisticated, home-designed site dancing in my head I took a look at my schedule and immediately jumped online to look for a suitable template. Back in the day, as a designer, I was not at all happy with templates and their availability but now as a working artist—I'm thrilled. I just don't have the knowledge or the time to do it all and I need help.

Happily I've gotten a lot of feedback and really want to put my best foot forward so I've decided to get myself all spiffy and organized. I had to compose an Artist's Statement for my new site and as I sat and thought about what being an artist meant to me I was suddenly filled with a warm sense of gratitude and eager anticipation. Why, I wondered, am I always in pain or complaining about this or that instead of just being thrilled that I'm able to do this and just enjoy it? I'm the only one here when I work, it must be me that's choosing fear, doubt and pain. I can change that to joy, anticipation and courage. What appears on the canvas is just that, what appears on the canvas. It's not my salvation, my identity or my worth. It's my craft. My statement, while emotionally valid, did not reflect my working state of mind. I'm going to change that.

I've wanted to do this most of my life. I have the ability, the tools, a completely pimped out studio, and lots 'o time. It's way past time to grow up, work confidently and stop whining. Well, perhaps a little whimper now and then. We'll see. Stay tuned.

YOUNG MAN

5 x 7"
oil on canvas
$150

When I was younger I loved going to festivals, parks and concerts with my camera. I would wander around and take photos of all the incredibly great looking people wandering around. This guy, who had the most sensuous features, seemed genuinely flattered when I'd asked permission to shoot his image. I remember he was very shy and thought he wasn't very attractive at all.

Bet he'd be thrilled to look like this now, I know I would, well you know what I mean. Remember when you were younger and you were sure you'd always look young and on some level actually thought your grandmother was born looking older because that's the part she played in your life? No? Oh. I did. Anyway, I dug out some snaps the other day because I felt like painting those features.