i have dipped my toes into painting multiple figures.

i start with a pencil sketch of the shapes (as opposed

to thinking hair, hat, jacket, eyes). with a hb pencil

i start with the larger shapes, then go to the darkest

shapes.  i find it easier to move around the the paper or canvas,

not focusing on one image exclusively.  gradually work on the details.

finally pigment is introduced, either watercolor or acrylic.  sometimes first a light

wash of watercolor layering over and over until  the painting begins 

to come to life.  finally i might add watered down acrylic.  i am 

liking the process very much 

the pasadena museum of art is currently featuring 

a favorite artist, corita kent.  i have loved her

bright colored graphic art for decades so it was a 

pure treat to see her work in person and  the biographical film. 

 i wish i were lucky enough to have been in one of her classes.  instead,

i have the book in which she encouraged one of 

her students to writeon her process, Learning by Heart.  

i find it  stimulating and inspirational  

i received good news!  two of my paintings were accepted

to art in the library at the local palos verdes library.  i grew up

going to the library every saturday with my mother.  i would leave

with an armload of books for the week.   so libraries are a favorite 

and familiar haunt.   over the past years i have seen this exhibit of 

local artists and wished i might have a painting in the show.  this 

year i happen to see the announcement and submitted my work.  

i am thrilled to be a part of the show. 

on fridays i post along with others at paint party friday.  i hope you 

will have a chance to see some of the lovely art there.

today a few images and a favorite poem 

We all learn as much as we wish to 

and no more. We learn in different ways, 

sometimes by not learning…. 

My way is by trial and error, 

by groping, stumbling, questioning.

Henry Miller

journal spread, collage, acrylic and ink

graphite sketch in altered book

graphite sketch in altered book

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good. 

You do not have to walk on your knees

or a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. 

You only have to let the soft animal of your body 

love what it loves. 

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. 

Meanwhile the world goes on. 

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain 

are moving across the landscapes, 

over the prairies and the deep trees, 

the mountains and the rivers. 

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, 

 are heading home again. 

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, 

the world offers itself to your imagination, 

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting— 

 over and over announcing your place 

 in the family of things.

Mary Oliver 

in memory of shirley

i  went to a weekend workshop called nomad art

handout by misty mawn

under the guidance of misty mawn, hosted 

by jenny doh at studio creshendoh in santa ana.  

we selected a number of images that appealed to us

and then led  through several steps.  

first writing our story in ink on newsprint,  

then sketching a studies to possibly use in our story,

finally, we  painted using any medium.   in the final painting

a camel seemed more fitting that a baby deer.  also, you might

recognize the muted paintings of my relatives from the

photo i used for the atc i showed last week.

since i rarely paint with watercolor, i tried it.  i learned that watercolors

can be layered, that mixing  colors is easy and fun and that it is 

much more forgiving than i initially thought.  i am inspired by this 

story telling approach. my mind is reeling with stories i hope to paint in the future.



i visited the hammer museum to see the collage work of

it was spectacular!

also this week...

i am thrilled to announce that two of my paintings were accepted into the

art in the library show  sponsored by the palos verdes library district. 

i remember carrying armloads of books home each saturday

from the central library in los angeles.  it was a big deal to get my 

mother, who worked all week, to take me.  i am ever grateful

for the experience.  i will post pictures of the paintings in the future.

speaking of postings ... thank you for visiting 

and for being patient with my erratic postings. 

have a lovely weekend.

today is friday and i am posting along with friends 

at paint party friday, hosted by kristen and eva.

mail art!

i participated in a alice in wonderland 

themed postcard swap.  here are a sampling 

of what i received in the mail last week.

... such treasures!

maggie goodwin

ursula wallenberg

ursula wallenberg

vicki lee

vicki lee

mariette herbert

maggie goodwin

all variations on the alice theme.

it is a treat to receive a piece of art in the mail.

thank you to all of the artists who participated.

mixed media atc 

the annual gallery in the garden show in august was so much fun ... and 

a lot of work.  in the aftermath i found piles of deferred work that needed attending.  

one of the projects was to create an artist trading cards for my international

group.  i was already late submitting my card. the theme was 'about me'

or 'about my country.'   i did not have a notion of where to start until i perused my photos

and was reminded of ancestors.  it struck a cord.  i would not be me without them.

so i combined a photo of me and a photo of them.  here is the resulting card.

i celebrated my birthday at the getty villa with friends 

this week. i had never visited the  villa even though it is 

in my back yard.  it was a splendid day.

 i share some of the beauty.  

and i thought you might like to see some of the beauty.

have a lovely weekend.

ps   at 8:57am it was 81 degrees.  

crazy!

posting with paint party friday.  thanking eva and kristen

for hosting this group of artists each friday.