happy Memorial Day!

wind speeds went to zero on this sailboat's meter as soon as the eagle landed!

casual glance over the shoulder and I am hooked

On the water, celebrating Memorial Day. Sunshine. Bells tolling. Veterans marching in parades. High school bands playing patriotic music. Honor guards. And, always, wildlife that makes me love our country even more. Oh, say, can you see? Oh, yes! I can!!

Jake Shimabukuro "Star Spangled Banner."

inspiration by Dale Chihuly

I am easily and often inspired. Probably because I LIKE to be inspired and I am pretty much on the lookout for inspirational people and things. 

This week, I had the fortune to see a beautiful exhibit at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA about the early work of Dale Chihuly. Not only did the exhibit show his early glass works, but it included some of his drawings. As soon as I saw this drawing below, I thought that I wanted to draw with a fist full of pencils. 

Since I am on the boat and only have the art supplies I brought with me, I made do with three artist pens. Awkward in my hand, I used them to do a series of gesture sketches of the passing sailboats. You most definitely aren't seeing double, or triple, it's the effect of multiple pens. 

 I am sorry I didn't buy the book, Chihuly Drawing when I was at the museum gift shop! Maybe I'll get it on the return trip.

I wonder if maybe the biggest predictor in being inspired by something or someone is my openness to being inspired. What do you think?

beach birthday

Willapa Bay for my birthday!

Follow the Columbia River west to the Pacific Ocean, along the pathway of the Lewis and Clark trail. Take the Astoria Bridge across the river to the Long Beach peninsula. Drive north and then cross the three miles of its width to Willapa Bay and the small town of Oysterville. 

These directions will take you to one of my favorite spots on earth. Is it any wonder I wanted to spend my birthday there? Some of the locals helped me celebrate! Good thing I brought my own friends!

party animals

Bobby McFerrin "My Favorite Things."

tango

22 x 30, pastel and Sumi on prepared paper

Sometimes a Sumi abstract sketch begs to turn into a full-fledged painting. The lines and shapes suggested by the lines thrilled me. Or maybe the thrill was the music I was listening to while I painted. Doesn't matter at all. The thrill remains.

8.5 x 11, Sumi on copy paper

"Killer Tango" Canadian Brass.

flamenco

22 x 30, pastel on prepared paper

I saw flamingos in California, Florida, at various zoos, and in the plastic variety all over the country. My sketchbooks are filled with drawings of their graceful necks, dark bills, and intriguing postures. This is the first time I have painted a flamingo, but not the last.

I started with a charcoal and acrylic sketch on a full sheet of Rives BFK. Over that I brushed Golden's Acrylic Pastel Ground, which left me with a richly textured underpainting ready for pastel. Wish you could see it full-sized and experience the all-knowing eye give you the once over.

My musical association with the flamingo is obvious, but no less exciting. Flamenco guitar!

Mother's Day

This photo is from January, when Mom waved goodbye to me at the end of our winter visit in California. She'll be coming up to Washington in August and September, so we'll be saying hello again!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!

I love you, Mom!

breathe

Franz Kline filled telephone books with his abstract sketches and when one struck him as especially interesting, he blew it up to a magnificent painting.

Robert Motherwell warmed up by painting a ream (500 pages) of paper of abstract ideas before he got to his other work.

Why not?

Anna Nalick "Breathe."

contemplation

The simplicity of Sumi, sometimes with gold ink, and the space for quiet contemplation. Where is it going? It hardly matters, in fact, to think of that is to spoil the moment of purity. In the moment.

Like Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach.

opening night for PDX-WAM

Fullerton, van Schoonhoven, Dilbeck

Rood

Heigh

Murphy

opening night reception ... thank you all!

Thank you, everyone who came to opening night of "Layered Moments" at Aurora Gallery! Elizabeth Steinbaugh did a beautiful job hanging the show and all of the Women in Abstract Media Artists were at the reception. The show hangs until May 29. Hope you will get over to see it!

what would happen if ...

What would happen if the blues and violets staged an overthrow? This!