And Know They Love You 2013-W11

I don't want you driven crazy; the title comes from the 70's classic "Teach Your Children"... and that song has been running through my thoughts the past couple days.  I am not posting a new painting today because our family has rallied around our mother's bedside as she struggles with a sudden crisis of health.

I made today's painting for her 75th birthday.  Now, as you view it, I ask that you send her your positive thoughts for her recovery and well being.  Thank you.

Still Pure at 75

How's that Again? 2013-W10

Today at Salon deWinchester I got around to painting something left over from last fall's "maybe" pile.  My young friend Luca (potrayed in My Gallery, Luca Laughs) was working on his presentation about China to the 2nd grade.  I made him a painting of the national bird of China (further down in the gallery) but I skipped the national flower.  If you peeked below, no prize for guessing it's the peony... one of my favorite garden blooms.

Many years ago, I consulted on a project down in Montgomery, Alabama, y'all.  It made for a novel and interesting life experience, plus while it lasted this yankee made a point of frequently eating some of the best fried chicken ever.  Another team member had been sent down from Arkansas — one of those lovely southern ladies who spoke in a honey dipped drawl.  Early on, she commented on how she missed being home because her payOHnees were blooming.

I had never heard of these, or so I thought until it dawned on me she was talking about peonies.  Her way of saying the word was so odd.  And infectious.  For a while there, I said the word as she did, with the funny front vowel and accent on the middle syllable.  Fortunately that did not last!  I had forgotten all about payonees until today as I was painting, and the memory brought a smile to my face.  And now you know the thought behind the title of my painting today.  Enjoy!

Payonee Resplendent

Better Never than Late 2013-W09

Evidently my comment a few weeks back about our very tolerable winter snow experience has triggered the jinx effect.  Lately we've enjoyed a handful of snow storms and I've gotten well acquainted with my brand new shovels.  This week's big storm had plenty of gusto left in it after having walloped Amarillo, and here it laid down half a foot of "heart attack" snow.  Wicked.  I don't know why I find these storms more hateful on the brink of March than in January, but I say when it comes to snow:  better never than late.  On the brighter side, perhaps it took some edge off our regional drought.

Although providing plenty of exercise and tedium, these storms didn't furnish much in the way of picturesque inspiration for my second go at Propuesta 5, a creative exercise on painting "atmospheres" in the meteorological sense of the word.  But after digging around I found some suitable reference and then set to the task of translating the exercise.  (For as you may recall the book containing it is written in Spanish.  Ay carumba!)  My Spanish is a little rusty, but serviceable; on the other hand, the only thing I can reliably remember how to say in Russian is лучше поздно, чем никогда —that is, "better late than never".  I'm not sure that qualifies as irony, but regardless it closes this week's blog... please enjoy Propuesta 5, second interpretation.

La Tormenta

I.D.F.D.: Aftermath 2013-W08

In last week's post I expounded on how I looked forward to the season 3 finale of Downtown Abbey because it was filmed in and around the home of my Scottish ancestors, Inveraray.   I visited there in 2002, and a few years later the Aray bridge became the subject of a landscape painting plan.  Long dormant after a robust beginning, this project reawakened in my mind last fall after I saw some still photographs from the Downtown episode—unmistakably in Inveraray and including a fly-fishing scene set before a glimpse of bridge...

Well, you can imagine my surprise as the episode aired and I realized it wasn't THE bridge, but rather the smaller (though quite nice) Frew's Bridge a few hundred feet upriver on the estate.  Still, the program was picturesque, and I will make that painting and finish the story of my trip in the next month or two (he says).  Watch for a post titled IDFD: Epilogue.

With the dissipation of pressure to complete the bridge painting in time for this post, I was left with a choice of two subjects this week.  I decided to go with another entry in my Cats in Hats/Wigs series, although this time the cat is an adorable kitten —possibly the most adorable creature alive at this moment— and to gild the lily, she literally is in the the hat.  Hipsters/teen readers (if any): please note how I correctly used the word "literally" here and stop bastardizing it!  Everyone else, enjoy the painting.

Hat Wears Cat

I'm Down for Downton: Why 2013-W07

I enjoyed the first season of Downton Abbey, then became less enthralled by season two's uneven pace and plots — even though I still feel the program is beautifully filmed and so picturesque to look at.  I was prepared to skip season three when suddenly, I caught a glimpse of something to come.  Tomorrow night, the Crawleys trundle up to the Scottish Highlands for a stay at fictional "Duneagle Castle".

I know it better as Inveraray Castle, for this is the ancestral home of my family and current residence of my cousin, the Chief of Clan Campbell.  Although I have visited there, I am eager to see the town and castle presented through the stunning lensmanship Downton Abbey employs.  How will they show off the spectacular Armoury Hall?  Will my kiltmaker appear as an extra?  Meanwhile, those familiar with my work will recognize a certain bridge appearing in at least a couple scenes.  (Update: they filmed two other bridges instead.  No "star turn" for our subject bridge, darn it!)

In My Gallery, along with a painting of Loch Fyne (with rose) and one of the town prison are five paintings of said bridge.  And many more not on display, at least until today.  My intentions to paint a large version of the scenic bridge never got past the many studies.  Now, in celebration of its star turn on PBS, I plan to spend the coming week procrastinating other chores so I can finally create this painting.

Value Studies

Constrasting Underpainting

Meanwhile, here are some of the preparatory materials.  We have a page of value studies —gosh, 2007?!— and in the featured slot below is one of a handful of studies I did in pastels.  I enjoy the exciting bits of contrast from the underpainting shown at right.  (Regrettably, it's a photograph of a color copy and the violet looks washed out.)

So with that, enjoy the studies, enjoy the episode of Downtown Abbey, and check back next week...  I'll finish the story and (I hope) the painting.

Bridge, Pastel Study II

I've Got My Glove to Keep Me Warm 2013-W06

Seems like snow is turning into a regular feature this February, but not too much, not too heavy, and not too cold or windy.  (Not like our neighbors in New England.  Hope your people are all okay.)  Shoveling has been almost pleasant — and it's fostered opportunities to take in fresh air and visit with neighborly folks we haven't seen in a while.  Our block lost a parkway tree to the Emerald Ash Borer this week, and otherwise not much is happening here in Ravenswood.  And maybe that's how we like it.

The prospect of snow removal forced me to hunt around for a pair of serious gloves.  Not the flimsy pair I have for dashing to the car and gripping the icy steering wheel.  Not the next pair up, suited to walking errands within my 2-block radius of commerce.  I required the 45-minutes-of-shoveling, hard core pair and naturally I could only find one.  I'm certain its twin will materialize on or around May 8th, when we're virtually certain no more snow is coming.  Just plenty of very cold rain.

In the end, necessity was the mother of invention and I discovered that the flimsy gloves worn inside the errand gloves made a cocoon so warm and cozy, my hands felt overheated.  Of course in February, too hot is a real treat so I suffered it joyfully.  All this being in snow got me to recall a moonlight snowscape I've been meaning to paint, and voilà...

Lovely, Dark and Deep

p.s. I originally posted an over-corrected photo, way too bright.  The new, more accurate version better justifies its title.

Less Dark and Deep

Here, Kitty... 2013-W05

Today we awoke to a pristine blanket of snow.  Lovely.  But sadly it meant I had to deal with the business end of a shovel in lieu of joining my art mates as Salon deWinchester reconvened after a lengthy holiday break.  Though I ended up painting in solitude, I'd already dealt with: what to paint...?

About two years back I made a series of paintings (organized in My Gallery under the placard Cats in Hats & Wigs), and while web surfing this week I came across a fresh crop of inspirational photographs.  Sadly, t'were all hats no wigs.

It might well be that I find these paintings much more entertaining than the average person, but regardless I hope you enjoy them more than kitty enjoys the headgear.  Without further comment, here's the newest work in the CHW series.

Garden Party Puss