Daily Painting

Marrakech, Berlin, Newark

Above is a dawn sketch from yesterday morning, looking North East on the Alt-Moabit; google maps tells me that is the Heilandskirche spire.
In the other direction I doubted my eyes as thought that I saw, in the distance, a winged figure on a column. I discovered at brerakfast that it was, in fact, the Seigessaule, a Nike-like statue. There was time to take a peacful walk a walk along the Spree river (5 swans came gliding along!) and have a lovely breakfast before catching a bus to Tegel airport. 

This is a nightsketch of the view from my window done from a photo on my laptop on the plane. The unlimited time made for a lot of paint. (The greens were my way of grappling with shadows but here they have become plants.)

On Saturday's flight from Marrakech a new friend from Moroccan Sketchbook 2013 gave me my first German language lesson. Did you know that flugel is the word for a bird's wing, a scapula and a piano? Thanks Monika!

My travels were made much finer by the meditation room at Newark airport. It was comfortable and quiet and completely turned around my layover blahs.

I like this little afternoon color study from my window in Berlin.

Here are a couple of Moroccan sketches done on the plane as well.

Baltimore Washington Parkway

It was fabulously cold, grey and rainy yesterday as Captain Spectacular and I drove alomng the BWI Pkwy listening to the Trumpet and the Swan.  Though beautiful in its own gentle way I needed the colorful antidote of bright textiles.

Above is the view from my sister's kitchen window this afternoon.  Right now she's busy roasting a chicken while the kids and I paint and play.  Lucky me.

Pretend Hydrangeas

I bought these at the dollar store along with armfuls of other fake flowers last winter.  12"x12", oil on canvas.  While painting I listened to a fascinating interview with the immensely talented and dedicated painter Kristin Calabrase.

Music to my ears

Over the weekend I had the magical experience of listening to live improvised jazz right in Elizabeth's living room. Her son, pianist Piper Gragg, and his girlfriend, vocalist Olivia Di Giamarrino, were home for the weekend. Their music was mesmerizing. Sort of like watching two people sketching/talking with notes and melodies-right there in front of me! Olivia's voice is soulful and glorious, with marvelous depth and playfulness. Thanks you guys.

The painting is of a street in Toronto, 5"x7", oil on panel.

Lost and found

A painting of the pont d'arc landbridge in the Ardeche region of France. Yesterday (in the rain rain rain) we watched Werner Hetzong's Cave of Forgotten Dreams.  Its about the recently discovered grotte Chauvet (also in Ardeche) in which there are the oldest known paintings in the history of man.  Part of the film's charm is Werner's somehow childlike ? voice (reminds me of Oliver Sachs ...).  I have also been chewing through the first book of In Search of Lost Time and scrounging on the web for copies in french.  

Presentation on Morocco- in French!

I'll be giving a casual presentation on my trip to Morocco. June 22, 11 am,  Alliance Francaise Smith St. in Providence for their friday Cafe/Croissant.  With lots of help from my friends at the Alliance me give lecture talking French on Morocco.  This reminds me of how much laughing outloud I did while reading David Sedaris' book Me talk Pretty one Day.  The lecture won't be that funny but will undoubdtedly make you laugh for one reason or another. It wil also include pretty pictures and people who do actually speak French fluently.  The lecture is free and open to the public, a small donation to the Alliance is appriciated.

Now I think I am going to get an audio copy of that particular David Sedaris book.  (I wonder if I can get just the audio of my favorite silly movies like bow finger, what about bob and il mostro?  that could completely change my studio life...)  

The Practical Impressionist

That's me.  Quick, go get your copy today: The fabulous Elyse Press Major (see her blog tinkeredtreasures here) wrote a peice on me for Romantic Homes Magazine.  Thanks Elyse!  

A Version of the Tar Baby

I am not sure how this relates but its a great quotation and they came to me together .

From Tricycle, Seeing Clearly

Our practice is to meet life exactly as it is and to notice whatever fear, anger, or doubt gets in the way of direct,intimate contact with this moment, bringing attention to that as well.  Rather than changing something or seeking to get somewhere we imagine we should be, practice is about seeing clearly exactly how things really are and how we relate to them.  Practice thus becomes an increasing intimacy with life just as it is, and there is nothing-including the idea that we should be getting something or somewhere-that is unworthy of the clear, nonjudgmental attention we call mindfulness.

-Douglas Phillips, "Q and A with Douglass Phillips"

Hazmat Modine

Today's clementine.  Painted while listening to Hazmat Modine's album Bahamut.  Fitting since Wade Schuman (of Hazmat Modine- God bless you Wade!) taught me so very much about still life painting at the NYAA.  That painting one class was one of my favorite experiences ever.

Miracle Shmiracle

Who am I kidding with that last post?  The moment I clicked "publish" I could hear myself challenging others to take responsibility for not just the bad stuff in their lives but the GOOD as well.  Indeed it was I who made the glorious painting moment happen; I created the studio space, bought the paint, set up the taboret.  Even I bought that lime (on a late night grocery run for holiday party muffin ingredients I specifically made for the produce isle determined to hook up with a gorgeous something).  My delicious studio moment was no mystery but instead the direct result of intention and perseverance and I accept full credit.

The painting above is a watercolor inspired by a home in Moroccan Interiors, a beautiful book by Lisa Lovatt-Smith.