Here's wishing much Joy to all of you this Christmas season! I am starting to get back on my feet, thanks to a terribly healthy diet and the support of many. I have much to be thankful for.
As September wanes I find myself still drawn to my bed like a magnet. There are days when I hardly feel human, more like my cat who accompanies me there. This condition of mine was caused by a "harmless" little virus called the Parvo B 19. My daughter brought it home from nursery school five years ago. Unfortunately I was one of the lucky few adults to contract the full force of the virus resulting in permanent damage to my entire system. For some reason the virus likes to recharge at the change of seasons, though this fall is particularly worse than last.
This painting is currently being held for auction at www.talesofgooddeeds.blogspot.com The proceeds go to help the Nielson family. (if you're not famliar wth their story click on their name to learn more about them) It is a great cause so bid away!
For some reason fall is the time of year I always get hit hard - perhaps the kids going back to school - new germs floating around. I'll be back as soon as I can get myself out of bed!
I spent the morning with Helga painting in the Children's Forest - near Running Springs. This is a colorful version of the Snow Valley Reservoir (used to fuel snow making machines during the winter).
I could not resist painting some of my garden harvest.
A friend sent me this preview photo of the exhibit at at the Jacobs Center at the Maloof Foundation. If you have the time to attend, it is a lovely venue - great gardens and great art.
Several years ago my then eight year old daughter gave me these shoes for my birthday - picked them out all by herself. I came up with all sorts of reasons why I could not wear them - nothing to match, will be walking too far - might give me blisters, too nice - don't want to mess them up. Well, not long ago, without thinking, I bought a cute retro 1950's green madras plaid dress. First thing my daughter says is "wow, that will look great with the green shoes". Out of excuses, I wore them. Not three steps across the church parking lot, I twisted my ankle and had skinned my knee. Blood running down my leg, I sat through church with a wad of paper towels on my knee. So here they are. For Looks Only!
Today was a busy day. We had three extra girls at our house. We had High School registration - they got my daughters schedule wrong. My husband was painting the shed- studio. It was rather chaos, but I found by putting on my earphones and painting was a good way to escape!
When my husband and I bought our house last year we had talked of turning the back yard shed into a studio/writing space. Well, this week Franz decided the time had come. Not being a handy man by profession, he is after all an English Professor, this is all new to him, but together, and with the help of a friend, it is coming along nicely! It does mean however that I am not getting nearly enough painting done. With school starting next week we also have the renewal of exhibitions. All the call for entries are next week as well. I am busy trying to frame things, fill out forms etc.
I've been wanting to paint the California migrant or day laborers for ages, but never found myself in the right place at the right time. Finally, on my drive around Watsonville I came across this group hard at work. I believe it was some sort of cabbage they were picking. These people are the back bone of the California economy and should not be excluded from exhibits of mission paintings, bougainvillea, fountains, and seascapes.
While in Gilroy we decided to take some time out at the beach. The closest one is in Watsonville - Pajaro Dunes. I don't know how it got it's name, but the windblown trees on the tops of the dunes are rather bird like. This is genuine plein air - evident by a few grains of sand stuck in the paint!
This is scene is at Eagle Ridge - a community in Gilroy. I liked it though, because it could be anywhere.
As we left the Pacheco Pass and drove down the 152 into Gilroy I looked back at the hills and saw this wonderful lake. The colors were so warm and the sky lit up the water like glass. I insisted we return one evening so I could paint. The mosquitoes were thick! The semi trucks shook the car on the side of the road and sent chills up my spine. I sat in the back seat with the door open to the lake. We artists have to take risks!
While in Gilroy I took advantage of a lovely evening to paint the yellow roses on my in-law's patio. The soil is so rich there. Everything seems to grow three times as big as in our garden.
Today we enjoyed a lovely picnic and swimming at Tavern Bay on Lake Arrowhead.
Friend Helga and I went down the corner and painted the evening view. It was lovely.
Due to popular demand I have painted another cellist. This one is very similar to the first, but has some slight variations.
Title: Summer Afternoon
The old Star Theater is still a defining feature of down town Oceanside. I love capturing these remnants of time gone by.
This is an evening view of the dry creek bed running along side of Old Town Temecula.
The inspiration for this painting came from my daughter's 4th grade Gold Rush day. When I suggested to her that this boy might like her she said "Oh Mom! He's so annoying!". Ah well, I thought they made a cute pair.
My daughter's quartet was practicing at our house yesterday and I was taken by the back light on the cellist, Gabriella. This is the result. Need a quartet for an elegant occasion? I can put you in contact with Quartetto di Suona.
Title: Gourd Horizontal
Title: Gourd Vertical
There is an amazing number of Dog walkers in Arrowhead Village. I always think it is fun to see what sort of person goes with what sort of dog.
I spent the weekend in Oceanside. It was warm, but beautiful. I've been to many missions, but not San Luis Rey. It has the most amazing bougainvillea!
Yesterday I went out to the tiny Hesperia Airport, with friends, Helga and Wilma, to take photos to work from for next Saturday's Art/Wine/Jazz festival. I've never seen such a small airport. It really consists of a pink 50's diner - featured here, a motel of similar time period and a hanger, plus various sheds. Everyone there was very nice though. One man did a flyover just for us so we could capture his plane in motion.
I am becoming more and more interested in California's past, vestiges of which are slipping away. This is the Bryn Mawr Citrus Packing house. The citrus industry really made California what it is - the real gold rush.
