The task of uploading photos

It appears that I'm getting behind when it comes to uploading photos of my work. I went to the studio on Friday evening, and started an acrylic painting from a photo of my son-in-law, Nate with his son, Julian. It was really exciting to do the portrait without being in a class. But as I worked I told Debbie (artist friend, linked in ink) that I was channeling Fred Bell, as we have been taking classes from him. So far, so good. Photos soon, I promise.

Creativity in a magazine

So I order a magazine subscription for something called Cloth, Paper, Scissors probably because it had cute photos, or something shiny that caught my eye. I received my first issue the other day and paged through it quickly, and thought "hmmm, not very motivating". However, what did I spend my lunch hour doing yesterday? Yes, I took my 6x6 art journal and began to cleverly (debateable) collage the next 2 pages. Along with some of my own artwork, which is printed on regular paper, a few it photos from the magazine itself, some miscellaneous fabric and a button I found in my desk, it looks pretty good. Darn, I forgot to bring my camera to take a photo. Tomorrow.

My Hostage Experience

Taxes....yuck! And why so many kinds? Property, income, sales, more property if you own a business. Why does Wauwatosa want to tax my easel? Because it's property in the studio at the Martini Girls Gallery. Shit.

On a lighter note, I just received a card from my good friend Mary Lynn. She sent me an article published in the MATC Times in January 1980. I can't believe she kept it all these years! I'll upload it for you, because sometimes, it's just too weird to believe it happened to me. That interesting life I mentioned in an earlier post, well the article is just a small part. There's also an article I wrote and sent to the Times around the same time about the same subject. I will have to locate my copy and scan it in. Interesting stuff!

As far as painting--I've started a new floral still life, but it needs work.  And last week in Fred's class, we did impressionistic portraits. I am far, very far, from a portrait artist, but I like the challenge, and I really like his method. So I will have to practice....a lot.

Pastel and Oil paintings

This is the pastel I worked on this week. It's from a photo of my sister's front courtyard in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, just outside of Albuquerque. The rocks used for the wall are huge uneven slabs of stone in the most beautiful reds and browns. It's not finished....yet.

Here is the portrait of my grandaughter which really needs my attention. It will be nice to finish this as the photo I'm working from is from 2 years ago. You can see what I mean by "all eye sockets and grimace".

Fred's class was really fun tonight. We painted a still life which was very, very girly--a pink satin high heel shoe, a jewelry box with some beads draped out of it, and a wine bottle for height. We joked around a lot, because the still life was so feminine looking, and pink. My husband, Chuck, who is also taking Fred's class, tends to talk to himself while painting....constantly. So now every member of the class has started talking to themselves while painting. At one point Debbie said to him, "you just gave us a blow by blow account of how you did that", and I burst into laughter....."don't you mean play by play?" I replied while trying not to fall off of my chair. Well, I guess you had to be there.

Next week I think we're going to try a portrait done in Fred's impressionistic style. That ought to be a lot of fun too.

Boredom at Demo

So happy to have finished my latest oil painting and also my latest pastel. Will upload some photos soon, but first have to complain about the demo I sat through yesterday. Wonderful painter who actually said nothing until he was asked a question. Even then, he didn't seem to be enthusiastic about the process. No sharing of his methods or what or how he was inspired-----nothing. It was probably the most boring 2 hours, yes, 2 hours I've spent in a long, long, time. I know you're asking..."so why did you stay?" Well, to be polite, as I was a guest at this particular club's meeting. I'm so glad I didn't fall asleep on the way home.
My next project will be to finish an oil portrait I started of my granddaughter. Right now, it looks like something out of a horror movie...all eye sockets and grimace. Photos soon.

Wisconsin Pastel Artists website

I had a million ideas yesterday about what to say, and today, I'm just tired. Yesterday evening I worked again on the WPA website--did some tweaking, but didn't get images moved over to any of the member galleries yet. Debbie discovered how to add a thumbnail image next to her name on the galleries page. Cool!


Tonight I'll be attending the meeting of the AC Club in West Allis. There's supposed to be a demo--acrylics I heard. I like using acrylics when I work on minis, and at Fred's class.


There were lots of emails going back and forth this morning about how the WPA should choose images for the new brochure, so a meeting is set up for next week Tuesday, Feb. 9th at Barnes and Noble coffee shop.


I'm mulling over the thought of having a Life History blog. My life from the age of 19 has been pretty interesting and unusual, beginning with the meeting of my first husband, Jose. Anyway, do I have the time to write 2 blogs? Maybe. Sometimes I'm just at a loss as to what to say about painting. It's a need, not a superficial pastime. I have to create, paint, decorate my home, garden in the spring. I hope never to lose interest and never to stop learning new things. My sister, Mary and I used to joke about being in a nursing home in wheelchairs when we're about 90 and having someone thread a needle, hand us the glue, or put a paintbrush in our hand, so we can continue creating.