Almost Done and Dreams Delayed

Lambert Lake Twilight

Oil on Linen

24x30

This painting is almost done.  I don't want to insert any more details, yet there are a couple more glazes that need to be put on.  It's at the point where I'm almost afraid to touch it.  There is more time spent at the easel gazing at it, than painting.  I look at it from across the room to see what else might need to be done.  I've spent three weeks on this painting so we're very good friends by now.

On another note, I need to mention that our move out to the country has been put on hold indefinitely.  When I found this out, it was very disappointing.  I felt like gnashing my teeth and throwing something.  After feeling sad for about a week, I've come to realize that my glass really is half full.  My husband and I have a beautiful, comfortable, yet small, home.  Our loved ones are healthy and happy.  There are too many blessings to count, yet if I were to write them down, they would fill volumes.  

Something to keep in mind this Thanksgiving season.  Abundance is all around us.  So Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings to You All.

My Sun Room Studio

I love painting in my little sun room at this time of year.  It's not too warm, not too cold.  It's just right.  This 24x30 linen panel is as big as my french easel will take.  Any larger, and I'll have to bring my big monster easel up from the basement.  And I do plan on painting larger soon.

For now I can paint, comfortably seated.  Once in a while I get up and  move way back to study the canvas from a distance.  That's when I can see the overall picture and where to go next.

Usually I close the French doors to listen to music.  My husband installed speakers that are programed to go to different rooms.  So I'll shut the speakers off that go to the living room and kitchen.  And I listen to the speakers in the sun room.  This also comes in handy if I get the urge to paint in the middle of the night.  

Marion Street Gallery

Last month I attended an art opening at Marion Street Gallery where Susan Hong-Sammons was displaying her art.  Susan has been a blogger friend of mine for quite a while.  I've always admired the fact that she and Karen Phipps brave the elements and paint plein air in all kinds of weather, including our freezing cold Chicago winters.  


Susan's paintings are stunningly beautiful in person and they give off a kind of energy in the room.  I was encouraged to join this charming gallery with my own work and this month (last Friday) I put up six of my own paintings.  Thank you, Susan!

If you're in the Chicago area, please stop by the Marion Street Gallery.  The next artist's opening will be December 10th and should be quite the holiday gala!

Time to Declutter

This is a corner of my basement that's been making me nuts for quite a while.  I'm in  the process of organizing my basement studio.  But before I could even get at my paintings, I had to convince my husband and son to drag a bulky loveseat out.  That's where we finally found the Scrabble game, underneath the sofa:)  My space used to be organized.  Until my college age kids decided to move back home for a while.  My son no longer lives here but some of his stuff does.  Like the weights on the floor.

What to do with some pieces that are too good to give away or throw out?  Like my daughter's old wardrobe next to the painting trolley?  Don't know.  But I'll figure it out.  (And maybe start sneaking things into the garbage.)

After all the clutter space makes a cluttered mind.  Does anyone else have decluttering rules that work?  I would love to know.  

Golden Light

Golden Light

24x18

Oil on Linen

I love the light at this time of year.  During the summer months the light can be hazy or bright, depending on the cloud cover.  But at this time of year the light is either golden or silvery.  To me there is a deep feeling of contentment and connection to the earth as we go toward the cooler months.

It's time to turn on the oven to make roasts.  And I love making soups and stews accompanied by crisp loaves of bread.  We all gather by the fire when the sun goes down.  It's a time of renewed energy.

Farm Field Sunset

Farm Field Sunset

24x24

Oil on Linen

This painting has been in the back of my mind for the last five years.  I took the photo of this scene at the farm years ago and have always considered painting it.  Guess I just couldn't find the words.  Until now. When I decided to finally paint it, the painting just spilled out and over the canvas.  

That's probably why some artists say that even when they're not painting, they're still painting.  Some ideas just need to percolate.

One Perfect Pumpkin

My husband brought this sweet pumpkin into the house yesterday.  Just looking at it makes me happy knowing that autumn is on the way.  Since it was so hot this summer, no one thought to turn the compost heap in the back of the garage.  And since we always recycle our pumpkins there every year, that's where a new batch of pumpkins decided to grow.

We'll try to bring more pumpkins indoors as they mature, because if left outside the greedy squirrels will start chomping on them.

Autumn....asks that we prepare for the future-

that we be wise in the ways of garnering and keeping.

But it also asks that we learn to let go - to acknowledge

the beauty of sparseness.

- B. W. Overstreet (1947)