"Lanterns1" acrylic

This is an acrylic that was sold in the gallery but thought it would be fun to share it. I have deactivated my Etsy Store. I am to fearful to sell there. I am to inexperienced to make good judgements and know I have already made mistakes. To anyone that I may have hurt, I am sorry. Now I know why my gallery affiliation is so important.

"Faucets" oil

Sometimes it is very rewarding to paint an ordinary subject in a fresh way. I need to remind myself that it is what the artist brings to the subject that makes it wonderful.  This is not a new painting but it is one that has passed the test of time. It is one of those paintings that I still like after living with it for a long time. It hangs in my studio above my slop sink where I clean my brushes. It is a 16" X 20" oil painting. I will make a challenge. Paint something ordinary or ugly in a wonderful way.

"4 A.M." pastel

Sorry about the bit of glare on this one...like a dummy I shot the picture after I had it under glass. Not smart! This pastel was done over several days always at 4 A.M. looking down into a mirror. I have gotten stronger since I did this piece but I still like the idea of it. I am actually doing the pastel in the pastel. I am learning that I have to take care of myself or I will not be able to produce my creative work. I need to learn to say no more often and be more selective of what I say yes to. Good night all!

"Clements Sunrise", pastel

This is our Mackville Ranch at sunrise. I could sit at watch that water till the sun was well in the sky. I just love seeing those strokes of color next to each other.If you do not want to think stop reading now.

Private victories precede public victories. by Stephen R. Covey.  I want to read his book again while sitting and watching the waters at Mackville. I am older now and I was very impressed with it the first time but need to clean out the cobwebs in my brain and redefine what is important. I have finally realized that I am changing all the time, so I may learn more if I read it now.

"Looking West", pastel

This was done of the Mackville Ranch at sunset. The sunsets and sunrises there are amazing. This one is sold but I still like it. When I finally get the train station done I will post it. Some day I will spend hours watching the lake as the sun comes up and goes down. Gee, I keep thinking about those glorious ribbons of Karen Appleton. She is so generous with her paint and she uses just the right amount of color. Wow! It is enough to make my heart race just thinking about it. Even her line drawings are stunning. Interdependence is much more powerful than dependence or independence. Working as a team miricles happen.

"Self Portrait", oil

This is the 3rd piece that made it into the Delicato Show. It is a self portrait and my favorite part is the hands. Again, no one will ever buy a painting of me but that portrait category gave me a chance to show some pieces that have never been out and about. It is cool that I had the day off and was strolling through Carol Marines' list of blogs and between her web site and the site of Karen Appleton, I got pretty excited. I seldom get a chance to leisurely enjoy the work of others. Hey, I saw a good movie...it will make you cry if you have a heart. It is "My Sister's Keeper". Live in the moment!! Enjoy!

"Dreads", pastel

This pastel is also in the 22nd Annual Delicato Show. I think it is more cropped by the frame as I just did not want to spend more on framing or buy another frame. I am trying to be careful about spending like the rest of us in this economic crisis. I really figure that no one will buy a portrait of a stranger but it was really nice to have that category in the show. I am working on a pastel of the Lodi train station but it is still in progress. It is 24" X 30" and when it is done I will post it. When I started this blog I was hoping to have a new small painting everyday. Honestly...until I retire and finish my M.F.A. I think that that is not realistic. I will post as I can. My thoughts for today is that I know I am a woman who does to much. This has been a reality for a very long time. I really do not know how to function any other way. Saying no is difficult and I am better about saying no than I used to be but I still have a long way to go.

"San Francisco Dusk", Best of Show

Well, this is my painting that took "Best of Show " in the 22nd Annual Delicato Show. It is a 36" X 48" wrap stretched canvas, in oils. It needs to be enlarged to see what is happening in the painting. The details of the show are in my events section of this blog. Go see the show. I have seen it and there is some wonderful pieces in the show. If you are an art lover, go see it! Sorry, my photo is not as strong as the painting.

"Worry Lines", acrylic

This calf has such a worried leathery face that I was compelled to paint him. He is 21" X 14.5" and is $1,100.00. At this moment it is at the Knowlton Gallery. I was reading Diggs the other day and I guess some people just hate reading anything that requires them to think. When I post thoughts or ideas, it is because I do a meditative reading everyday. It is short and sweet but it helps me be a better person. If this annoys anyone that visits my blog, you are not required to read it or you can chose not to come back. Like other artists, I do like feedback on my work and the feedback has been pretty slim lately. I know my journal pages were not for everyone but I spent a lot of time on them and wanted to share them with others. It is really up to you what you do with your life. My life has had many hard knocks but all of them make me who I am today.

"What are you Looking At" pastel

This is the last pastel of cows for the hospital. I forgot to say that they are about 24" X 30" on paper. The senior project papers I read yesterday reminded me to be compassionate. Today try to be compassionate with someone that needs it and remember to breath!!!!

"Someone to Lean On", pastel

This is the second cow pastel I did for Lodi Memorial Hospital. I sure hope the kids like them. I tried to make
them fun and playful. I was trying to post to Digg yesterday and just could not do it. There are days when my brain just melts down and these simple tasks are to hard. Oh well! Wow! My meditation book has heavy info for today. " To gain that which is worth having, it maybe necessary to lose everything else." by Bernadette Devlin. I am not sure I agree with this statement but it does make me think. What I do agree with is " It is never to late to re-examine our choices. Re-examination is wise. We always have choices." by Anne Wilson Schaef.

"I Can't See" pastel of cows

Well, here is the first cow pastel painting. I wanted them to be playful and friendly since it is for the pediatric ward of Lodi Memorial Hospital. I deliver it and 2 others tomorrow after work. I didn't want them to feel like a photo but like characters. The cow in the back is saying...I can't see!

My meditation message today is that "people change and forget to tell each other." by Lillian Hellman  We are always changing. Our only constant is change. by Anne Wilson Schaef. For those that maybe interested, I got great news today. I took "Best of Show" in the Delicato Art Show. I was so pleased because I have been doubting myself lately and was not sure this particular painting was the right choice for the show. I would not even have entered if my sweet Jerry had not encouraged me to. Good night all.

"Universalism", collage

This is the last collage in my journal. I will start posting paintings and pastels next. I am hoping to finish the 3 cow pastels today. I had a bad fright last night. My computer got a virus and I was a wreak! McAffe helped me fix it today. Pray.....that it is well again. It seems that when the computer gets sick I get more upset than when I get sick. Pretty crazy. Celebrate what you have gotten done...see the cup half full instead of half empty. Celebrate your accomplishments.

Synergy, collage

Synergy is such an important concept. It is finding a win win solution that is an excellent answer for all concerned. I have not seen this used as much as it should be, especially in politics. This is not always the easiest solution, but it is one where everyone wins. Does there always have to be a loser? Find a way for both groups to win!

Subaltern, collage

"Slave", collage

In this collage, I am attempting to show that there is more than one form of slavery and that they feed on each other.

Palimpsest, collage

This is how history over writes itself. We try to erase events in our lives but they are never completely gone they are still a part of who we are. Those events influence every choice we make and how we see the world around us. Even simple things inluence who we are.

"Orientalism" collage

This one is titled "Orientalism". It is about stereotypes and how the acts of one group can brand an entire population as bad. It is very sad. On a happier note, I saw the movie Julie and Julia. I really liked it. I identified with her blogging but realized I did not have her commitment. Since I work full time and am working on my MFA I am not as committed as I could be. As I write this, I am wondering if I will be more committed once I finish my MFA. (3 more years) I go back to my 140 high school art students this A.M. so I must get going. Today I will look at myself more honestly. See the beauty in all.

Odalisque, collage

Odalisque means a female slave. It was a new term to me. As I think of this term, I think that so often we become a slave to our own way of thinking. Just a thought. My 57th birthday was yesterday, so sorry I was not posting. Today is my last day off. Tomorrow I will go back to work and my 140 or so art students. It has been a good, very low key time off. I needed it. My 3 cows are almost done. Ethics are an important part of finding personal character and success.

Miscegenation, collage

Miscegenation is a collage about mixed couples and the blending of culture. Two of my students were so kind. They let me use their hands and posed for this piece. Well, it is a new year and my creed has always been "Anything worth doing is worth doing frantically." My life is a blur of rushing around and filling every minute. Everything will never be done. I need to find a way to slow down and be more gentle with myself and others. I will strive to take each moment a moment at a time. I also need to take more time to think. Happy New Year everyone!!