Daily Painting

Portrait

One in what may be a series or pair.  18"x24", oil on canvas.

Florist

As an effort to get to know a portrait client whom I have never met I thought I'd begin with watercolor garden studies.  My subject is a Brazilian florist named Dora (she featured my paintings in a lovely blog post).  I am excited about the commission because Dora is drawn to the work of mine which comes most naturally to me.  She signaled out this portrait as a favorite.  I think the loose handling and colors are characteristic of what my friend Lori calls Margaretyness (her own technical term for which I am grateful).

An Irish Homestead

I am in Marrakech right now but couldn't resist arranging to post this recently commissioned painting.  11"x14", oil on canvas.  

Mee-moo

A relation of The Pickle.  I like her dramatic eye make-up. 

The Pickle

Splendid Pooch

A charming woman (who happens to have the most inspiring handwriting I have ever seen) asked me to memorialize this fine hound a few weeks ago.  Yesterday, finally!, I discovered that the angry spirits whove been guarding my easle had moved on to fret over something else.  whew.  (They seemed to have moved on to block my ability to ship packages.)

Catie and Brehnin

Oil on canvas, 9"x12".

We Are Family

Oil on panel, 12"x9".  Does 1973 count as "mid-century"?

Red Car

Portrait of a car for Carlos at Rego's Autobody, in Providence, right behind the Foxy Lady.  Oil on canvas, 36"x48".  (Michael informed me that its a Ferrari not a Porche or Corvette as I had been calling it.)

Hammerheads

This is certainly not a commission.  I don't do commissioned work don't ask.  Forget it!

-"Um, excuse me, Margaret, calm down, what's the matter?"

I don't do commissions I can't !  The very instant- no, approximately 27 minutes after there is an expected outcome for a particular piece of work by a person other than myself my entire creative process screeches to a gear shattering halt.  A phenomenon so dramatic as to be comical-were it not for the painful shame I experience when reviewing, loop style, in my head, ad infinitum, the explanation to a friend of why I haven't done the painting I so enthusiastically agreed to do the year before.

"Okay, breathe, relax, maybe you should stay away from commissions."

"I intend to.  I don't.  Just now I am going to go make up a tiled courtyard in Sunny Marrakech or maybe a skyline-OH  have I invited you to my Painting Retreat in Morocco??  Its going to be absolutely fabulous!  An intimate art retreat sketching, tours, entertainment at luxurious Peacock Pavilions with co-teacher Elizabeth Hutchinson.  No art experience necessary.  There are flights for $1400 that will get you from the east coast of the US and Canada to Marrakech in 16 hours total travel time!

"Yes Margaret.  You have mentioned this several times.  Thank you."

Oh its nothing the pleasure is all mine.