This is the Day!

This is the day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Merry Christmas to all.

The Night Before the Night Before

Home from Birmingham for a bit of a break, I am finally posting the paintings I have painted lately.  Happy little pansy face!  Nothing like the little faces of my new twin grandbabies.  Ho.Ho.Ho.

Mutt and Jeff

I'm calling this one 'Mutt and Jeff.'  These are my favorite little pewter cups, one slightly warmer than the other.

Pearl Earring

My grandmother, Rosamond Ethel Dietz, was married in 1920.  We are so fortunate to have this wonderful wedding portrait.  I'm going to post a series of my progression with painting her, all young and innocent and beautiful. 

The photograph is very clear, not too many clues of the real colors.  I'm imagining she wore this blue sash.  The gown is tiered.  Love the chapeau!  So Dodie!  This was our name for her.  We loved our Dodie.

Tournesol

This is just the way I feel when the sun begins to shine.  Turning toward the light!

GOLDEN LIGHT

TWO BLOCKS SOUTH

This couple are looking for a bite to eat in Santa Fe?  Any suggestions?

Green Vase

Well, I guess I'm in my red phase. 

La Pivoine

12 x 12 still life with peonie

A Little Longer to Paint!

More from the workshop with Kim English.  I tried to capture Lisa above.  Thought it was quite nice.
The lower painting is my sister, Marylyn, the President of the group sponsoring the workshop.  They are called Associated Women in the Arts and have hung an exhibit at the Old Capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
This is a very active group who keep their brushes wet painting and enjoying the company of the many other painters in that beautiful part of the world.  Their exhibit will open tomorrow April 18 and extend until May 28.  The opening reception is on Thursday, April 19, from 5-7 P.M.  'Views from the Castle' is the very apt name for the show, as each painting will be some composition from inside or outside the lovely Gothic structure on the Mississippi.
Quite a bit of Louisiana history took place in the Castle until it was relocated in the newer, more modern structure nearby.  It is a must for school kids on field trips.  Don't miss it if you are going that way.  You will love the building, the site, and the paintings from AWA.

Oh, and this is the vicious stinging caterpillar which I mentioned earlier.  It is a hearty girl who can overcome the pressures of plein air painting!  All around the entire length of the body and all the way around are rows of stinging barbs.  They came down on us from above.  (It becomes the Buck Moth,
 and, 'they say' it is loved by brim.)

LISA, VERY QUICK POSE!

I want to include 'Lisa' because there are some things to commend the painting.  For a very quickly painted piece, I liked the crossed ankles and hands.  Lisa posed before a Thalo Blue door while we struggled with the stinging caterpillars!  What a sight!  Beautiful site at the Louisiana Life Gardens, Windrush.

5-Minute Paintings!

I have survived painting with Kim English!  Wow!  We did oodles of 5-minute studies of the models, painting the gestures in oil, trying with each effort to get a little more of the painting in the landscape.  Kim is the master of this beautiful painting style with lots of light in each of his paintings.  It was a thoroughly invigorating class.  Moss does not grow on a rolling stone, as they say...

The upper photo shows Kim with his 5-minute study.  Is he kidding?  The lower studies are a few of my 5-minute paintings.  Kim's reputation had preceded him.  He is a terrific teacher, tough taskmaster, relentless supporter of painters.  He seems to want all to succeed and grow and learn. 

Morning Tea

A little cup of tea with a peony on the tray.  My morning starts with coffee and an ellipse.

Playing for Pizza

After hearing that Peyton Manning had rejected playing at Miami and Seattle, I realized I had a scoop!  I think he has fled to Italy to the Italian League.  The favorite son of New Orleans has probably read the John Grisham novel, Playing for Pizza.  This will disappoint fans in Denver, San Francisco, and Tennessee. 
After reworking my painting posted earlier, I believe I painted Peyton Manning having breakfast.  I could not get away from the idea.  I think this version is stronger than the first.  It is funny how the photograph will show the flaws, as if seeing it through the lens is truer than first-hand with the lens of the eye.

Morning in Certaldo

Reading the morning paper in Italy, this couple enjoyed the warm sunlight.  Although the painting has a central subject, I really like the composition of the lights in a pinwheel.

Poppy Season, Spring Has Sprung

Today's work is poppy red, mining all the vast tonal selections of tubed reds.  We are just about to have poppies here at the ranch.  Some bluebonnets have started to bloom.  Best time of the year!

Pharmacy at Santa Maria Novella

We visited the pharmacy at Santa Maria Novella in Florence this past September.
The Old Apothecary, now a herbalist's shop, was used for the sale and display of products between 1612 and 1848, while the historic Sales Room, restructured in 1848, was the place in which the company's customers were welcomed when the increasing fame of the pharmacy made the provision of a room for entertaining customers a must.
The Green Room was used until 1700 for serving the pharmacy's speciality: a mixture of Alkermes, China and chocolate syrup, an extremely fashionable drink at the time.
The museum is housed in the Old Laboratories and Storerooms of Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. Created with the aim of giving a new lease of life to the machinery once used in the company's production processes, as well as the precious glassware, antique ceramics and historic copper and bronze utensils which the company has jealously guarded throughout the troubled events of the centuries, the museum displays many of its exhibits in the Old Laboratories, the piace in which they were designed to be used and the silent driving force of the whole company.
All traditions have a history and whenever this history is confirmed by the written word, the Museum offers the chance to examine the originai texts. Indeed, the Museum Library, housed in the Sacristy, is a treasure chest of antique texts and new specialist volumes. Finally, the aromatic herb garden is a perfect piace for peaceful reflection, an oasis which seems to have remained untouched for centuries. The aim of the museum is not only to inform those who normally use the Officina's products of the way in which they are prepared, but also to anyone wishing to view the magnificent history and superb craft of this pharmacy.
Projected towards the future, but nevertheless conscious of the past, Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella 's products are available in Florence and all other leading Italian cities.
The company also has shops in France, Spain, Switzerland and Great Britain, the United States, Japan and Taiwan.

Mia and her Cyclamen

Here is my little Mia working on a flower arrangement.  Love the shadows on her gown. 

Cup of Good Cheer

This painting could not wait.  I am going to make a few more adjustments to the light, but it is my work for today.  Love the depth of pewter...

Pewter Cup

This was painted after having observed Kathy Anderson's demonstration in San Antonio at the Greenhouse Gallery.  Kathy is one of the Putney Painters who has painted with this group for the past 12 years.  Wow!  What an exciting painter she is.  Her flowers are so light and beautiful and natural.  Kathy is no casual observer of these botanical wonders she paints.  In order to make the lovely designs, she carefully notices the anatomy of the various species.  Her work is lovely to behold, and Kathy Anderson has a very contagious presentation.  If you ever have the chance to observe her working, I highly recommend it.

Glowing Cup

This has a glow, all-over golden with a little cherry.  The cup is from my uncle's collection, Bavarian origin.

What's for Dinner?

These Italian chefs were preparing for the dinner run.  Hasta to be pasta!

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

"You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. The song is copyright 1940 Peer International Corporation, words and music by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell.

Davis emphasized his association with the song when running for governor, singing it at all his campaign rallies, while riding on a horse named "Sunshine". His authorized biography, You Are My Sunshine: The Jimmie Davis Story, was published in 1987.

Governor Davis served two terms from 1944-48 and again from 1960-64.  He died in 2000 after recording sacred and country songs until the early 1990's.

My painting reminds me of this song and the beautiful sunflowers following the warm Louisiana sun.

It will be on display in Baton Rouge tomorrow night through January 27 at the Louisiana State Archives.  Please join me from 5-8 PM.

Hey, Cupcake!

Only a few more days until the 42nd Annual River Road Art Show in Baton Rouge.  My painting 'Hey, Cupcake!' will be hanging.  I learned so much painting this little Airstream.  Reflective metal is always fun!  This popular Austin landmark is a real original.  Fabulous cupcakes, too.

Please join me Friday at the Louisiana State Archives on Friday from 5-8...Bring a friend!