September 04, 2006

The last weekend of summer

Yesterday was a perfect end of summer. (Summer really ends with Labor Day and the start of the new school session.) Friends came over for a swim and dinner. Of course Lila wasn't supposed to go swimming yet and was very frustrated. Otherwise she is doing fine with a quick recovery from major surgery-being spayed on Thursday.

It was raining most of the day today. Perfect for indoor activities, like painting. I was so frustrated waiting for my blending sticks with drier to arrive that I did some work this morning anyway. I just tried to use colors that I knew dried more quickly than the cadmiums that I love so much. I wasn't always successful avoiding them, but at least I used them more thinly than usual. I've started a couple of 36 by 48" paintings and a dozen 6" pieces. I've asked Brian to make me more stretchers so I will have some larger pieces to work on soon. And my drier sticks should be here by then.

Meanwhile, the sunrise through the fog yesterday morning was so beautiful:


sunrise9.06.jpg

Posted by leya at September 4, 2006 08:40 PM
Comments

What a picture. When I see that I think, "Why paint?" Bad thought... a very bad thought but a thought non the less.

Posted by: notdotdot at September 9, 2006 08:17 PM

I completely understand the sentiment! I love a good photograph, love nature itself, and couldn't do better. Painting non-representational artwork solves that one for me. It's feels more like getting inside the experience, not representing it. Are you a painter too?

Posted by: Leya at September 10, 2006 10:33 AM

Yes but not lately. Was trained to be an art teacher but my life's work was raising 3 stellar children with my husband. All three are fabulous teachers and two are married to teachers (the 3rd in-law "child")is a vp for a bank...the black sheep!!
Always did representational work but the last few year....I'm beginning to wonder. However, I'm stuck and so nothing happens.
We do have 7 grandchildren (another on the way) and that is a distraction but not an excuse!

Posted by: notdotdot at September 11, 2006 09:29 AM