Belle Jardin 2014-W26

I think that's French for pretty garden, but if not I hope it's nothing offensive.  I had a couple pals from the Salon deWinchester over to see some of the fixups I recently did inside my house and then enjoy a bit of artmaking in the great outdoors.  Their works are on display in the Salon deWinchester blog, a link to which appears along the left border under Awesome Links.

Meanwhile, after a false start on a horrible plastic paper called Yupo, I ran indoors for the real thing and managed to capture three flowering plants from assorted spots around my yard.  One of them looks good enough to eat... and fortunately it is quite edible! Enjoy

Vignettes from my Garden

Backup Cat 2014-W25

I meant to paint this week's artwork on Monday, but ran out of time.  My entire immediate family arrived mid-week for a visit and so my art studio had to morph back into its original identity as dining room table for the time being.

Thus I put the painting and blog post for this week on hold until next Saturday.  Instead, today's painting was done back in 2008 or 2009 during a class exercise where we painted in the style of one of our fellow students.  If you think that sounds like fun, it sure is!  Done in the style of Ken Schadt, the artwork displayed below inspired a continuing series of Cats in Hats & Wigs, which you can see in My Gallery.  While you peruse it, I will be busy enjoying some family fun and I hope you can fit some of that in too.

Kitti Longstocking

Jerry's Pond 2014-W24

In honor of Father's Day, I thought a reprise was in order for something I originally posted in 2012 on the Salon deWinchester blog.  My brother now owns the original; you can see the series it inspired in a dedicated section of My Gallery.

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I never sang (much) for my father.  I sing badly — so like anyone, he was grateful to be spared.  But I did get a chance to paint for him.

One day my eye was drawn to a vivid scarlet dragonfly at rest on one of Dad's pond plants; the ensuing photograph inspired a series of paintings in 2009.  Later that year, I relocated to Texas to help out with Dad's cancer therapies and I brought those paintings with me.  He really liked one in particular, so I framed it for what turned out to have been his last birthday.

Ten months later, Dad passed... peacefully, in his sleep, in his own bed, right before our very first Salon.  Consequently, he never got to see any Salon art.  But I thought that on this Father's Day, wherever his spirit may be, Dad might smile to see his pond painting take the place of pride as our Classic offering.  I hope you enjoy it as he did.

Jerry's Pond

Go Ask Alice 2014-W23

I'm sure that came out of Mike and Carol Brady's mouth a million times, or it would have if they were real people and not fictional characters.  He was a workaholic and she did... well, nothing as far as we know.  The burden of keeping that blended family from a descent into chaos was doughty housekeeper and wonder woman Alice Nelson.  The maid.  Why Carol Brady needed a maid is a topic for another day.

As portrayed by Ann B. Davis, Alice took care of everything and yet never sought to take center stage.  Capable, upbeat, always nearby the next source of trouble, who wouldn't want an Alice or two in their lives and in their household?

Commenting once on her cute but ordinary looks, Ann remarked that she knew glamour girls who were starving.  Meanwhile, she had steady work and won a couple of Emmys along the way (for a pre-Alice role.  Let's not kid ourselves about the Brady Bunch plot lines!)

Since I felt Maya Angelou's passing was well lamented and her many achievements justifiably lauded, I opted instead to honor Ann Bradford Davis.  May she rest in the peace that Alice Nelson so richly deserves.

and Ann B. Davis as Alice