On The Sunny Side of The Street

 On the street where I live. I love to catch the sunlight splash onto the tops of the houses at the end of the day. It only lasts for a few minutes but it's magical. 

The title is the 1930 song that crept into my mind as I painted. That happens a lot if I don't have music playing in my studio so I usually make sure to. I chose to paint this because I've been actively trying to put aside the worry and negative thoughts that our current predicaments find us in. It's not easy to stay aware and involved yet not succumb to despair. 

I didn't know more than the "leave your worries on the doorstep" verses but it actually starts out:      Walked with no one and talked with no one and I had nothing but shadows. Sound familiar?

Sealed Fortune

It was capturing the shadows that excited me and made me pick up the brushes again. I'm not eating the cookies if I keep them sealed but that means my fortune remains a mystery. Buy here.

Open Swim

The end of the decade had me painting large and immersed in water. This commissioned work was a pleasure; a welcome opportunity to explore a theme I've visited before and with notable differences. Not only have I had the opportunity, over past decades, to swim with this intrepid swimmer (she, more intrepid than I), this piece was a return to a much larger format on 30"x40" stretched canvas. While she was venturing swims in far away locales, I was learning to accept and manage lymphedema (essentially, too much water in me!) and now I can see the influence of these experiences, as they always are, reflected in the work. Here's to hope and serenity in 2020.

Red Galoshes

These aren't my rain boots although I would be so happy to wear them if they were my size. I had a little visitor brightening this rainy April day. It was lots of fun capturing the slick light reflections on the shiny lipstick red surfaces. You can nearly make out the clouds in them!
Available for purchase.

Party Patterns in Pink

Packing up another birthday party and noticing the story they told and how pretty and pink they were inspired a painting. They are archeological layers of parties past and present. Lots of presents. The bottom layer is a plastic tablecloth, and all that remains of a matching ensemble, for a daughter's 6th birthday. Over the years we've added paper lanterns for tea parties, Alice in Wonderland theme parties, wiped off the icing and melted spots with birthday candles. Make a wish! Purchase here

Fall Chickadee

Look who I found while shuffling and scuffling through the fallen leaves. We had a little chat and she let me know she was okay and was just enjoying the dappled sunlight, like me. After agreeing to have her picture be taken, she flew off to branches above. Buy here.

Sour Cherries

Painting with my daughter and my muse, Maddie, this weekend. Sweet. Buy now.