a fine line

In early spring on my walks I notice that the silhouettes of trees and shrubs are sharpest against the clear blue sky.  The tips of the branches are beginning to swell with life.  Leaves and blossoms are soon to arrive.  I am drawn to the trees' complexity that is visible while they are still barren.  Each branch takes its own distinctive course through space.  These are details from some panels I have been working on.  I am building layers of line as if looking through a web of forest.  It is a quiet meditation to paint in such a slow methodical way.   

I'm a mom too

4x6"

My son made this the other day, I think it's pretty cool.  The origami birds are about as big as my thumb nail.

Easter Eggs

We've been watching a pair of busy birds, maybe purple finches (??) construct this nest on our front porch over the past two weeks.  It is built on the top of a Christmas wreath (that I had neglected to take down and now I can't for obvious reasons).  Today it is Easter, and when I peeked into the nest this morning four little pale blue eggs had been laid.   They look just like the speckled malted milk candies I've eaten too much of this morning.

thinking BIG

carving the floors

Anna Hepler,  Andrea Sulzer  and students from Bowdoin College collaborate in carving and printing on a really large scale.  More views and videos of the project here.

good little soldiers

Here they are, all standing at attention, the first signs of spring in the yard.

This is why my back hurts-and also why I skipped a day in the studio.  The mercury rose past 40 degrees, even reaching 50 in the late afternoon.  SO,  out came the rake and I cleaned out last fall's muddy leaves from the big perennial bed behind the house.  It doesn't look like much now, but there promises to be loads of color in the coming weeks.   Stay tuned.

 

the dog watched

altered states

detail of proof

I have been back to the print shop, and was introduced to Pronto Plates- a polyester lithograph plate. It is a process which I know nothing about.  SO back to square one.  My first few proofs were so-so.  I ended up using them as foundations for drawings with gouache, gesso, ink, transfers and the rest of the materials on my worktable.  Here's one I am working on-it's about 12x18".

reworked proof, maybe still in progress

free paint

My local art supply store is giving these away free with purchase, maybe yours is too.