Propuesta Six 2013-W18

I've been concentrating on my 2013 Art Resolutions this week, grinding through a boring part of Art & Fear.  And it's about time for another Propuesta.  The propuestas arise in a Spanish-language book on creativity with watercolors, and so far they have been interesting...  I've picked up a trick or two.  And scraped some rust off my limited Spanish.  Gracias, Google Translate.

All of which brings us to the next, Propuesta 6 — a fantasy landscape featuring oriental buildings.  And as they say, I am not feeling it.  Too specific, and the subject matter barely interests me.  Whereas I explored all the prior propuestas at least twice, I predict #6 will be a one-and-done.

In any case, my lack of enthusiasm for the project was offset by my cheer painting and socializing with my fellow artists at Salon deWinchester after many weeks.  Happily, our hosts have a painting that provided better inspiration for this propuesta.  I'm glad to have it behind me!

Propuesta 6:  Fantastic Village

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

One Propuesta Down... 2013-W13

Lemme tell ya, it's great to be back home and sleeping in my own bed: there is no substitute for your own pillow!  And I am eager to paint after being otherwise occupied for a couple Saturdays.  As I contemplated what to paint, I felt like today would be a good time to tackle the third and final intepretation of Propuesta 5—the backstory of which appears in the 2013-W04 and -W09 posts in the Archive.

Upon reflection, the first two paintings in the series seemingly depict the storm first as it gathers and then second as it rages at full force.  In the interest of completeness, for the third version I should probably aim to convey a spent storm that is ready to yield to sunnier skies.  I always think that's a cheerful time.  I love how the birds get right back to work; what a good example they set for the rest of us!

And that seems like a good point to wrap up this post.  I wrote it up on Friday before I made the painting, so we can all peer below and see how well I achieved my intentions... I'm not thrilled (especially not by the way the lower right appears much more teal in this photograph than in real life), but I am satisfied, and I'll take that.  Happy Easter, and enjoy!

Let the Sunshine In

The Polish Patient 2013-W12

Technically, the week 12 blog entry posted in week 13 but we will have to live with that.  My days have been hectic while at the same time very sedentary lately, but I'm happy to say my mother is improving and has moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility to complete her recovery.  Thanks for your well-wishes and prayers!

If you would ask her, "are you Polish?" she'd reply "you bet your sweet dupa".  Polish speakers will recognize this as an emphatic "yes".  This time of year, in preparation for Easter many Slavic peoples make what are called pysanky (or something similar) — colorful and intricately designed eggs.  I made this sketch of a pysanky at Sara D's house during the January sketching party.  It has a Christmas theme, which I had never seen before.  Dig that crazy egg holder!  I will repost this sketch another time with a better picture and another sketch or two from that event.  Meanwhile...

A couple or three decades back I had a passing interest in the art of pysanky.  For a while I used to crank them at a pretty good clip.  And not unexpectedly my Mother scooped up the bulk of them for her collection.  Since I am in her house today, I thought I would select a few of my favorites and photograph them to share with you.  That was a challenge in itself.

It's hard to believe that these eggs were laid in the waning days of the Reagan presidency.  (Let's not dwell on that thought!)  Though not a painting, I hope you find these pysanky artful and enjoyable.

Three Pysanky, made circa 1989