Here Comes the Bride

 My daughter, Jessica, got married on September 22 this year.  This bridal gown was my mother's, mine and now hers.   As you can see there are lots of buttons going down the back and it took me and two bridesmaids, taking turns. to get them all buttoned.  The flower girl counted them as 46 in all.

 Jess and Bill got married outdoors at my brother-in-law's farm in the country.  Luckily the weather was about 60 degrees and sunny.  The arbor has grapevines from the farm property.

 They met on Match.com almost two years ago.  The rest, as they say, is history.  I feel so very lucky to have this great guy as my son-in-law.

This is my latest work in progress.  I'm finally settling back into my daily routine in my tiny sunroom studio.  I hope to catch up with everyone's blogs now that things have winded down somewhat.   It's been a very blessed year.

August Sabbatical

Silver Springs Sunset

Oil on Linen, 24x24

Sold

Just yesterday, I was informed that my painting Silver Springs Sunset was sold.  Lisa, the owner of American Artworks Gallery called and let me know.  I love it when my paintings go out into the world with a brand new owner!

I have been on a painting sabbatical for weeks now.  My daughter is getting married in September and there are lots of exciting plans being made.  This Sunday is her bridal shower.  So my head is full of things like flowers, wedding dresses and such.  

So I'm thinking that come October and November,  I will get back into the gentle, quiet days of painting in my little sun room studio.  The paints, brushes and canvases can wait.

What's Been On the Easel Lately

Evening Grace
Oil on Linen
30x40

 

It's the beginning of summer.  Even though it seems that it has been summer for quite a while, actually Summer Solstice took place just yesterday.  I do a lot of reading this time of year.  Sometimes I crave an  Agatha Christie novel or sometimes just a book of quotes.  I came across this one and it spoke to me.

All you need is deep within you waiting to unfold and reveal itself.  All you have to do is be still and take time to seek for what is within, and you will surely find it.

-  Eileen Caddy

The above painting is a commission I was working on most recently.  It sat at my easel for quite a long time because it is larger than what I'm used to painting.  At the start of each painting, I have an idea of how I want it to look but it rarely comes out looking like what is in my mind's eye.  More often than not, it turns out to be a complete surprise to me.

Free at Last

As many of you know, my home has been in an uproar since last December when we had a flood in our basement.  My computer used to be down there.  Since the flood, the whole house was affected.  My paintings went upstairs into the den (above).  And I couldn't even set foot in that room with tripping over them.  The basement is slowly getting restored and the paintings are happily back in their racks in a new room in the basement.

As a result of this, my computer is finally upstairs near natural light (yay!).  I bought a new Mac router so that the computer can go anywhere in the house.

Believe it or not, for a while my computer was in the bathroom which is currently under construction.  It was in there since last January.  Yes, right next to the loo.  Not exactly inspiration for writing blog posts.

Silent Evening

Silent Evening

Oil on Canvas

18x24

Silent Evening is a painting I did in early February.  There is so much to catch up with for me.  My house is still in a state of partial disarray due to the flood we had last December.  Since then we have had numerous workmen in the house, from jack hammers to painters.  Needless to say, there has been lots of dust too!

Our house is slowly getting back to normal.  As a matter of fact, it will probably be in a much better state when everything is finally done, since the basement will now be a lovely family room with new carpeting.  Until then, my art helps me feel "sane".  While I'm painting, all is right with the world.

Cure for Cabin Fever

Van Gogh

We are still in the midst of having our basement reconstructed after the flood from December.  Everything had to be covered or brought upstairs since they are still working on the drywall.  And the dust just seems to float upstairs through the heating vents.  Needless to say, this has had an impact on my painting.

So a little inspiration was in order.  Going to the Art Institute of Chicago always fills my creative well.  These photos were taken on my brother's iPhone.  I can't believe the great quality.

Claude Monet

Mary Cassatt

Henry Twatchman

My paintings patiently waiting to be put back in my studio  

My computer desk 

I hope your February has been a beautiful one, filled with inspiration.

Feeling Right At Home

I have been looking for the right gallery to put my work in for quite some time.  I found American Artworks Gallery last fall when my brother, Joel, told me about it.  He thought it might make a good fit and he was right.  This gallery not only has paintings, but also has beautiful handmade jewelry, textiles and many other original craft works.

This is one of my oil paintings sitting on a beautiful wooden ledge.  The building was actually a pharmacy at one time and the woodwork was part of the store.  It's hard to believe that a pharmacy was so elegant with all the architectural amenities.  My, times have changed.

American Artworks Gallery is located just east of Chicago and right next to Oak Park, Illinois.  Maybe you are familiar with Oak Park.  This is where Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio are.  Also there are many  of Wright's original homes and other buildings.  This area is an Arts and Crafts paradise.

My paintings feel right at home in this wonderful gallery.  That is, until it is time to go to a new home.  Thanks for taking these pictures for me, Joel!