Still life with birds

Acrylic on canvas, 16"x20"

I read a quote yesterday--"Depression is creativity unexpressed." I decided to test the theory that my crabbiness is not just related to holiday preparations, my growing to-do list or the economy. It has been so long since I have painted that my palette paper had mildew. So, am I less irritable? Maybe, I haven't really been tested yet. I may not have a new sunny outlook, but I do have a new painting of stuff in my family room.

Journal Covers

I painted these journal covers last week. The first one is an unlined sketchbook for me, the second is a lined journal for DJ, but the third one is up for grabs! Leave me a comment, I'll pick one at random (if I actually get more than one comment). I'll let the winner know where to send a SASE and whammo! Free hand painted journal!

Well tended garden

mixed media on 8"x10" canvas panel

I painted this in Lynn Marshall-Linnemeier's Photo-Based Mixed Media class. The photo is one of my favorites of my mother and my daughter. Pumpkin was less than a day old and my mom had slept in the hospital waiting for her. I love my mother's loving gaze and the quietness of the photo and I wanted to place them in a peaceful natural environment while acknowledging the meaningful transition that had just occurred.

This piece is part of a series I have planned. Pumpkin was named for my grandmother who was named for her grandmother and I am planning pieces that focus on each of them. Certain themes, such as the family/tree, will probably be reused.

Painting tonight

I decided to paint a self-portrait tonight. DJ is (way) out of town & Pumpkin is fast asleep. We are supposed to have violent storms tonight, so I listened to the thunder and waited for Pumpkin to wake up or a tree to fall on the house. Luckily DJ took the camera with her--otherwise I may have been tempted to photograph and post it here. I look suspicious. I don't know if that is because I doubt my intentions or my competency, or if it because I was thinking about all the other things I should be doing other than painting. I should be doing dishes, I should be folding laundry, I should be sweeping the floor, I should be cleaning the counters, I should be cleaning out the tub, I should be picking up my bedroom, I should be getting my lunch ready for tomorrow, I should be composting those over-ripe strawberries, I should be getting a better job, I should be doing yoga, I should be cleaning the toilets. I should get some sleep.

My dear DJ

acrylic on canvas

More orange. I painted this last night while DJ was watching TV. I listened to Bizet's Carmen on my iPod while I painted so that I wouldn't talk to her instead of painting. Still, painting her is difficult in the same way that it is difficult to draw Pumpkin. Even though DJ can sit still for much longer, I tend to assume I know everything about her face.

Compulsion

Pumpkin has been demanding that I "Draw Pumpkin! Draw Pumpkin!" Here is one of the results. Of course, although this model was very enthusiastic, she wasn't very still. Her wiggling was not my primary difficulty. How do I draw a face I love so well?

Here are some drawings I made in cafes in Paris. Everyone looks at people in cafes, but I felt a bit self-concious publicly drawing. The first one is just un type, but the second is my dear DJ.