Monday, March 12, 2012

Adams & Co


I chose this building for writing on the wall this week
because it's a building I've had in my portfolio since 1976.
I did a painting when I first got to Western as an art student.
It hung in my aunt's house for years and when she got tired of it, she
gave it to my mom and she had it up for years and now my brother Dan and
his wife Kerry have it. I really liked the painting. I think I'll do another one.
In fact, I've done several drawings and paintings of this building. I love old
buildings. It is not a family building, ie the Adams & Co. I've spent literally 
hundreds and hundreds of hours in the Colophon and Village Books and outside
enjoying the square and music they have often and public markets etc.
If you ask me where I'd like to go for the day, it would be here in Fairhaven.

I am linking this post to Cheryl's

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Stormy Skies


Stormy skies abound
In this winter of our lives
Keep a steady wheel

I am linking this post to

Monday, March 5, 2012

European Streets

This is a piece of art I did for a client from England.
 It was for Biscuits (cookies) and Tea. It is the art for a header
 that would affix to a floor display to be placed at the end of aisles in
grocery stores. I really enjoyed doing this project as I love all the small
narrow winding  streets all over Europe that wind around and around until you come
to a small curio shop or a boulangerie (bakery). You enter the boulangerie, sit down
and enjoy the most luscious scones dripping in butter and a berry jam you can't quite
 recognize but consume with delight and a wonderful tea that you can remember having
on your trip through Turkey a few years before. When you step outside to return to your walk,
you find you are at the end of the street and retrace your steps, only to find another enticing
small hallway street to look for more treasures. You might even come to the end of a street
and find yourself staring at the most beautiful vision of wild flowers or
sunflowers that stretch for miles and on to the horizon.

This is the final header


Down this narrow walk
Walls above on either side
Filled with history

Up a tiny street
my mind filling with intrigue
my dreams say old world

Walls on either side
Drip with ancient history
Immerse me in dreams

I feel cobblestones
my mind thinks foreign intrigue
my mouth tastes old world


I am linking this post to Cheryl's
"Writing on the Wall" meme


Friday, March 2, 2012

Playing in my paints



This is a photo image of my new business card. 
I had fun taking all kinds of shots. This palette is about 47 years old.
 Got it when I got out of high school and started college. One of my special treasures.
 When I was young my Dad and Mom would get me art supplies for my birthday or Christmas.
 I didn't want anything else. I have some very old tools and some very new tools and love them all.
 I have some calligraphy pen holders that were my grand uncle's who was a commercial artist in San Francisco at the turn of the twentieth century. That's an extreme treasure. 
I had all my dad's architectural drawing tools until my son started showing an interest. 
He has inherited them. He is a very good artist but has a life in between he and his talent. 
One day I hope he will be able to enjoy it.

Paint gives me power
Over an endless blank page
And sets my brush free!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Houses Project

Another project, an offshoot of our ATC group in Bellingham.  
We have to create 12 house images, 4x6 max and 2 1/2x3 1/2 min. 
We can do any kind of art on them that we choose. 
The only parameter is they have to be in the shape of a house. 
(Any kind of house) Here are a few that I am in the process of finishing



No color or other goodies yet, but they are started.

International Mail Art Post Card Swap


In this project we had to create 10 post card images, 
front and back and send them through the mail. 
The idea was not to send them in an envelope so the postage 
would then become a part of the art at the end. It was really fun. 
And, it was fun to get them from all over the world. 
Here are the ones I sent.

 "Bacon & Peas"


"Bubbles & Braids"


"Checkerboard"


"Jack of all Trades"


"Magic Carpet"


"Red House"


"Zentangle - Black & White"


"Zentangle for Shoes"


"Blue House"

 "Green House"

Mail Art project - RAG Gallery

Being in an ATC trade group has it's advantages besides the monthly trades. There are always projects on the horizons for every kind of artist under the sun. They come up frequently and sometimes it's hard to choose. I finished this Mail Art Project a few months ago. Here are the two pieces I submitted. It was a hard one as the theme was economy. Very hard to think of something. Or, it was for me.

This is just a lunch being shared by two school girls. 


This is a painting of a few of my Grampa and Grama Adams post card
mail they sent each other before and soon after they were married.
Circa 1900 - 1920