A New Project

When my workshop group was here (a month ago-I can't believe it!) several of them asked if I had considered doing a book. I replied I didn't want to do a "how to" but that I would like to do a book of images. I even went so far as to download the Blurb software about a year ago but never got beyond that. So, Lisa McShane suggested that I needed a virtual assistant. What a great idea- me here in the wilds of northeast Texas and he/she who knows where!

So a week or so later I Googled "virtual assistant" and came up with pages of listings including whole groups devoted to promoting their members. Who knew?! After a little looking around I found someone with the skills I thought I needed and a few emails later-voila! Virtual Margie (I kid you not) and I were ready to start working on the new project.

So, this is the cover. The book will have about 25 images - mostly paintings but also some drawings- and some text which will be largely taken from posts over the last couple of years on this blog. I wanted to include some of my writing about art, art history, poetry, and my work. Sadly, I wasn't able to get permission to reprint some of my favorite poems, so those will be missing.

We are nearing the finish line with the project. I hope to have it done in the next week or so and definitely by the time I leave for Telluride in late June.

Speaking of virtual things, I have posted the summer and fall schedule of online classes here.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Spring Moonrise

Spring Moonrise
24 x 30
Available at Huff Harrington Fine Art, Atlanta

Six weeks ago I promised myself I would do a few spring paintings, even if it took me until fall. Here is the first of those. I was interested in that pinkish undertone much of the foliage has in the spring and how that might play against the moonrise and of course those greens. It is an incredibly delicate balance of color harmony that only lasts for a few weeks, a limited engagement for those paying close attention.

Skies

Last week, my online class The Painted Sky started. It is a very lively group and in addition to lots of sky painting we've been looking at images of studies and paintings by other artists from Constable to the present. This week I posted several Wilson Hurley paintings as examples of "big sky" paintings and I thought I'd post them here too. Hurley lived in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains just outside of Albuquerque near where I lived for over five years. I had the pleasure of meeting Hurley at a show at the Albuquerque Museum a few years before he died. He was a true gentleman and an encouraging role model. We shared both our prior profession (the law) and a passion for painting and art history, particularly the Hudson River School. The man could paint skies. Oh yeah, and these are big. Enjoy!

Simple Pleasures

Spring brings a feast of simple pleasures. The back part of our property turns into a wildflower meadow.


Our little garden holds the promise of a bumper crop of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, herbs, potatoes and cucumbers.


And the first luscious, seedless watermelons appear at the farmer's market.

A Quiet Pause

Autumn Twilight
24 x 30
Sold

Its been a very quiet day. My students left late Saturday afternoon. They are an intense, energetic bunch and I so enjoyed having them here. All last week there was so much activity in the studio, around the house and on our property, that the quiet seems strange. I'm looking forward to planning another workshop here for next spring! Now, back to the studio......

One of the artists in the workshop, Lisa McShane, has posted a few images on her blog from the class. You can see them here. Lisa has a very interesting blog so check her out.

We are wrapping up the workshop today so I'll post more about that tomorrow. Its been a wonderful, exhausting week!