small wonders

number 45 in the 50|fifty series

a surprise

16x16"

This is what happened in the studio yesterday.  It is somewhat of a departure from my usual work.  I returned from a week long workshop on the cape last week ( more about that in another post ) with my brain feeling a little upside down and backwards.  It had been a long time since I have had that much input and concentrated time to focus on just my painting.  Getting back to the 'real world" was, I have to admit, a little intimidating.  My studio feels oddly quiet and empty this week, but I think I just had one of those 'dance like no one's watching' moments and I like it!

open studio next month

In a few short weeks I will be hosting my annual open studio event.  In the mean time my studio is a mess of half completed projects, piles and unfinished paintings.  My neighbor and painter friend Mike Rich will be showing his encaustic paintings across the street in his studio and my dearest friend Julia Dickenson will be bringing her jewelry to show in my space.  Photographer Tilman Crane is another neighbor who will open his doors that same weekend as well.  We have a pretty creative neighborhood.  I have a lot to do to prepare, including getting rid of the growing pile of yard sale/dump items in my carriage house so you can actually get to the door of my studio.... I love how a looming deadline can kick things into high gear.  

what happens when time flies...

...other aspects of life get attended to

you plant the garden and eat strawberries
you paint the kitchen
you ride 50 miles to celebrate the start of the next half century
you turn fifty amongst your dearest friends
you start a new series of 50 small paintings
you are compelled to stitch things together
you walk the dogs early along the docks
you relish the company of your first summer houseguests
you get new some new chicks to raise
you welcome home your eldest after his first year of college
you cringe when your daughter goes off on her first road trip
you find yourself pacing in the studio
you plan the next open studio and classes for fall
you promise yourself to start blogging again soon

...and here I am