Kitty Wallis painted my portrait today!

Portrait painting. Kitty has been painting portraits since she was a young student at Cooper Union. Of course, portrait painting and Kitty's unique approach to portraits MUST be a part of her book.

Today, in the quiet and comfort of my studio, Kitty painted my portrait in front of several objective observers. We all had a good time and Kitty and I pulled together some wonderful information for her book.

Although, in the end, she was not satisfied with the likeness, I loved the sparkle of mischief she captured in my eye!

Photo credit: Roxanne Colyer Clingman

Celeste told me to do it, so I did!

A friend gave me six untempered Masonite boards (thanks, Debra!) and I think I can use them for oil painting supports. I talked to several artists and they said that I needed to gesso the boards. So, I applied three layers of gesso to the boards with light sanding in between. They look so pretty.

But then, when I asked Celeste Bergin about it, she suggested that I paint a giant "X" across the back to prevent warping. So, I did it. Hey, if Celeste tells you to do something, you should probably do it because she's right most of the time!

Have you used untempered Masonite boards for oil painting supports? How did you prepare them?

Water Worry

I think about water a lot. I love to watch it move and flow. It is always determined to discover the lowest spots and to pool there. Maybe water is on my mind a lot because I nearly lost my life after falling into the 52 degree water of Puget Sound.

I may look okay, but somehow I always have a niggling worry about water.

Landscape of Life

Landscape of Life
18 x 24
Pastel on Wallis Museum

Maybe

Maybe it's the dark days. Maybe it's the rain. Maybe it's the thought of getting older and feeling myself creaking as I do my best to flex with the changes. I'm not sure exactly what drove me to turn a landscape into a face. My face. My little girl face. But, I've started.

Maybe it's because behind every face, every face lined with age, is a landscape of life. And a child, still inside, wondering who is that woman looking back at her in the mirror.

Noise of Waters

Lewis River 5
24 x 18
pastel on Wallis Museum

All Day I Hear the Noise of Waters by James Joyce

All day I hear the noise of waters
Making moan,
Sad as the sea-bird is when, going
Forth alone,
He hears the winds cry to the water's
Monotone.

The grey winds, the cold winds are blowing
Where I go.
I hear the noise of many waters
Far below.
All day, all night, I hear them flowing
To and fro.

Mixing puddles of paint

The mixing was so nice on my new tempered glass palette. I'm still painting monochrome still life pieces, which feel like scales to me. I never minded scales in my piano practice, but they were not thrilling for anyone else. So, too, the monochrome paintings.

Instead of putting my palette into the freezer, I popped it into a Masterson sealed palette protector. I hope that the paint will stay fresh for my work tomorrow!

Pittock pretty at Christmas time

over the top Victorian Christmas decorations in every room

down in the salon, my painting (right) hangs next to Celeste Bergin's (left)

my painting (left) James F. King (center) Dave McDaniel (right)

The Pittock Mansion was built in 1909 by Henry Pittock, publisher of The Oregonian newspaper. Open to the public since 1965, it is a beautifully restored French Renaissance Chateau and at Christmas, it is decorated in full-blown Victorian style.

My paintings are hanging in the show "The Natural Beauty and Bounty of Oregon" until January 2, 2011.

Keeping it vertical

Refuge 3
24 x 18
pastel on Wallis Museum

Pacing and growling over vertical landscapes again today. This time with quiet water and a serene scene from my favorite spot, the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Did you know that in 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt started the national wildlife refuge program by designating Florida's Pelican Island as a protected wildlife preserve? You can read more about these precious national resources here.

This afternoon was a little cloudy and dark at the refuge, but the sky was filled with swans and geese and cranes. I watched all kinds of ducks splash in the ponds and share jokes with the chuckling mallards. I also saw this very well fed coyote! Yikes.

Challenge of vertical

Lewis River 4
24 x 18
pastel on Wallis Museum

Turn the paper from landscape to portrait and a whole wagon load of challenges appear. Where is the interest? How can I move the eye of the viewer up and around and back up again? It's a sure sign that I'm learning something new when I pace around my studio and growl at the painting on the easel!

That pretty much describes my day.

How was your day?