I'll Be With You... 2013-W17

I've been keeping busy down in Texas lately, and savoring an early taste of the warm temperatures that we in Chicago will enjoy for a day or so in the coming week.  Fortunately, I got back home before my apple and cherry trees blossom.  Yay!  For me, the highlight of the spring displays is the fruit trees in flower.  I often want to paint that image but ultimately decide watercolors aren't right for the job.  But never say never.

This week in the studio, I be on the scramble.  In defiance of the low odds, two family members have the same birthday.  Thus two cards to paint and post.  Today features the first card, an interpretation of a painting I did a few weeks back, channeling the spirit of Cezanne in the process.  And possibly Pollock in the background.  Card number one is already in the mailbox; as soon as I click "publish" I'll get card two on the easel.  (I suspect you will see it on the May 11 blog entry.)

After all the industry indoors, I think I will give my lawn its first mow.  Then I can sit back and wait on my fruit trees.  How I love this time of year...  I hope you, too, find your best way to enjoy apple blossom time!

Le crocus à la manière de Cézanne

p.s.  As you may know:  (I'll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time  is a popular song written by Albert Von Tilzer and lyricist Neville Fleeson, copyrighted in 1920.

To the Point 2013-W16

Posting to the blog from the road it turns out is a royal pain.  But the good news for you is:  this week's post may possibly be the briefest ever.  Enjoy that as well as painting two in the new series.

Driving Doggy II

A Dog's Life 2013-W15

Who wouldn't want to reincarnate as a family dog?  Think about it... your job is taking the day off!  Sure, an odd bark here or there just to demonstrate that you're not always asleep, but otherwise lounging, napping, eating and walkies constitute 23+ hours of your day.  Pretty sweet deal.  I also think that compared to most of the animals & people on the planet, dogs do the best job of enjoying their enjoyment.  They really embody what it means to have a good time.

To balance the scales, after painting my series of Cats in Hats & Wigs I intended a companion series of dogs — not in Hats & Wigs.  My first thought was Dogs with Pipes & Ties, which was not a fruitful field.  (I eventually painted one dog with a pipe, and now that's done.)  Finally, I stumbled upon the perfect theme for the dog series and off we go with two or three paintings.  I hope you will enjoy them on a par with the enjoyment expressed by their subjects.  Whee...!

Driving Doggy I

Mad about Saffron 2013-W14

Upon my return from Texas last week, I was happy to see some old garden friends, crocuses, waking up from their long winter's nap — and now they are in full bloom.  From among the many harbingers of Spring, crocuses and robins are two of my favorites.  These watercolor sketches of each, both done from life, have been lurking all this time in My Gallery.  And by the way, that darn bird flew off before I could give him legs to stand on!

But back to the flowers.  I suppose I delight in the crocuses because we have such a short time to enjoy them.  You never see them arranged in vases in December or sprawling in pots in July, only now: clustered in sunny lawns and bursting through leaf debris in that garden bed that needs to be cleaned.  (Once it gets warmer.)

I thought I would look up some fun fact about croci, of which there are not many.  But the name appears to come from Greek / Hebrew / Aramaic / Arabic / Sanskrit words for saffron yellow.  Makes sense.  However, I'm relieved the industrious Dutch were able to coax out other colors.

Today I thought it would be nice to paint these old flower friends while I was in the company of another bunch of old friends at Salon.  Fortunately, the latter are a bunch that I can enjoy year round!

Next week I plan to start a new and (fingers crossed) fun series, so please check back to find out what that might be about.

Crocuses Guard the Border