Back

I am back from vacation. It was a great week in the mountains. First in Twain Harte and then in Strawberry. A great way to beat the heat.



At senior camp I was introduced to gourds and wood burning. I believe wood burning is now called pyrographics or something very similar. I know as a kid I did some wood burning; however this was great fun. I burned the outside of the gourd with a design and then stained it with leather dye. Now I know why people talk about the Gourd Festival in Folsom. The gourds must be amazing since I think mine are and I am novice. I am going to the gourd festival this fall to check out the artists that do this work all the time. What new fun at 62!



Quote for the day:
Aging is not 'lost youth' but a new stage of opportunity and strength.
Betty Friedan (1921 - 2006)



Folsom Gourd Festival
http://www.folsomgourdfestival.com/festival_news.htm
Check it out!

On Vacation

Sorry! Out of the blog until Friday August 29th. Going camping.

Wednesday is my Thursday

Today is Wednesday which is really my Thursday. One more day of work and I am off until after Labor Day. Yippee. Now.....I would love to say I am taking all this time off to paint; but I can’t. I am off to Twain Harte for a girlfriends only weekend. Girlfriends I haven’t spent real time with in a long time. Back on Sunday then off to Tahoe camping.

Sacramento County has a summer camp in the El Dorado Forest just below Tahoe. The last two weeks of August are senior camp. Yes friends I am a senior. We sleep in cabins and eat in the dining hall and have workshops during the day. It is really very pleasant. I take my art supplies and draw or just read a book.

The reason I bring this up is I may not get a chance to post until Friday the 29th. And you say “Oh Well So What.” Well shame on you. This blog is riveting right?

Enough about my vacation see the attached picture of my on going project called "little boxes.” True to my nature they are re-used cigarette boxes. I am trying to make them really durable so I have a proto-type in my back pack. It is wearing well. Enjoy!



Quote for the day:
He who does not get fun and enjoyment out of every day... needs to reorganize his life. – George M. Adams

Is it Monday?

Hello Monday and all you cyber geeks. Well I had a very busy weekend. Saturday I was at Folsom’s new dog park for opening ceremonies with city officials and all manner of political folk. The dogs were so good. We had a few hundred for the first day and they ranged from the extra large to the teeny tiny; but they all got a long. Why can’t we do that? Inquiring minds want to know.

Sunday was off to San Francisco to the Golden Gate Renaissance Faire. It was definitely a bit chilly there. We had drizzle in the morning and it was cold all day. However it is a really nice faire with a good selection of guilds and vendors. The food could have a bit more variety and more than one coffee vendor; but all in all a good show. I give it two thumbs up.

Now that that is over I can concentrate on my painting. The Swell Sisters have a show opening in December on 2nd Saturday. If you are reading this and not at all familiar with Sacramento, let me tell you we have an art scene here. Yes a real art scene. Every month on the 2nd Saturday all of the galleries open their new shows with some sort of reception. Some folks in town make it a mission to visit as many galleries, in that one night, as possible. However I wait and go after a week or so. I prefer to see the art not the back of someone’s head. Crowds are not my thing.

Now I can concentrate on what I want to show with the sisters. I am jazzed. I also started another collaborative project with my sisters and will post as they come along.

Quote for the day:
I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. – Gilda Radner

Art is Collaboration

I have missed a couple days of my blog here. Not sure what is up with that.

Oh yes I know. I have been at work all day and meetings in the evening. That pretty much uses up my time. I haven’t even had a chance to paint. I might need a sick day to feel better.

The Folsom Dog Park opens on Saturday and we are getting the last minute details together for the grand opening ceremonies. The committee has no idea how many people will show up with their dogs for the event. I haven’t been a part of the Folsom Independent Dog Owners (FIDO) for very long; however I am told that this dog park took eight years to complete. We may have 50 people or 500. It should be interesting.

My Swell Sister Society is meeting tomorrow and we have a speaker from a gallery in Sacramento. We are also ending the collaborative art project "Indi 1” and starting “Indi 2.” The project involves several artists that start a piece of work and pass it on to another artist to work on. We continue to pass the pieces until all have worked on each of them. I thought the process would be easy; however after several people have worked on a piece it becomes more difficult to make changes. The finished pieces I think are amazing. I will take pictures tomorrow of Indi 1 and post.

Well that is it for now. I still need to get back into the studio before I explode.

Quote for the day:
“Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.” – Andre Gide

Back to Work Tomorrow

Sunday evening and the weekend is over. Where did it go? All day yesterday I as at a St. Ambrose Guild meeting. We are going to paint the scallops on the pavilion, at the next meeting, so I volunteered to make the stencil.

On the way home I stopped at a thrift store. I had a little fun looking to find things to recycle. Unfortunately nothing grabbed me and I saved money.

Today I went to the Antique Faire or is it the Vintage Faire? It is under highway 50 and 21st on the 2nd Sunday of the month. What fun to see all kinds of things and what people are willing to pay. Again I looked for things that interested me visually. Here I did spend a little hard earned cash. I found some really old curtain rods that look like spears, a stamp for Sheila in Swell Sisters. Also a window latch that was painted white at one time and is now all scratched off. I plan to use it in an assemblage in the future. I found some very little Hans Christina Andersen books and the best of all is the cow vertebrae. Yes girls and boys vertebrae. I thought the shape was so interesting that I bought three. I think I will hang them on my deck in some way. It certainly will be a conversation piece.

I found some wonderful things that would be great in the studio for organizing (ex. an oak library card file); however I don’t really have the room. My house is very small.

The friends I went with today want me to paint a small mural in their bathroom. I will take a picture and post when it is done.

Well it is back to work tomorrow and I did not paint at all this weekend. However it was a good weekend with friends and those are rare are they not?

Quote for the day:
"When you choose your friends, don't be short-changed by choosing personality over character." – Somerset Maugham

Almost Friday

As you can guess Friday’s at 5 pm are my favorite time. I am off work and on the light rail home. But today is only Thursday and I am at work waiting for Friday.

I had a productive day yesterday. I painted on my newest piece called “forgiveness” and it is a bit of a political piece. I am struggling with not enough OR not obvious enough politics in the piece. Maybe I am too chicken and afraid to be right up in your face. I struggle because if the content is not strong enough no one will get it.

I took a break from the little boxes to do this piece. I need to get back to them since they are so easy and fun. It gives me a lift to accomplish them. I have a couple of other pieces in mind; but need to finish my current work first.

Thought for the day:
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." - Thomas Paine 1776

For those of you that have forgotten your history: 1776 was the Revolutionary War or War for Independence. Interesting thought for today. We don’t call them a war anymore now do we?

Wednesday Already

I had Monday off to take care of some things that needed to be done. I had the oil in my car changed and the car washed. It is now a happy camper. I don’t’ name my cars like others; however I am sure if it had a spirit it is singing right now.

I also renewed my driver’s license with a new picture and a thumb print. Oh Joy! I guess now the FBI will be able to find me with my current picture.

I have been tired for a few days. I am not sure if I am sick or a bit depressed. Probably the latter. I am trying to keep myself up by painting; however that gets a little dark also. I am in the midst of a political piece.

It is a bit depressing how many young men and women we have lost in the war with Iraq (and Afghanistan). It is even more depressing that most people are oblivious to the deaths. It is a world away from our everyday lives unless you are a military family. G.W. makes sure we do not really know how many have died. We have lost over 4,000 men and women so far. That is unconscionable in this day and age. Haven’t we learned anything?

Well enough rambling for today. But think of those serving our country and keep a good thought for them

Thought for the day:
“Wars have never hurt anybody except the people who die." – Salvador Dali

Sorry Salvador; but war hurts everybody, they just don’t know it! Or worse - don’t care!

Saturday was Fabulous Darling!!!!!!

I went to San Francisco yesterday to visit the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the MOMA. It Was Fabulous! She was woman a step out of her time. Her work is wonderful and thought provoking. She had health struggles (some major) her whole life and perhaps that gave her the strength to go against the norm. Great show!

I went with five of my Swell Sisters and we had a wonderful time. After the Kahlo exhibit we went to Scraps. Oh My Gosh! If you like to recycle in your art this is the place for you. Many people would see it as the ultimate junk store (actually trash). I felt like I had gone to recycled heaven. I have so much stuff already I had to contain myself. Not easy to do when I am around other peoples cast offs. I almost bought two stretcher frames for canvas; however there wasn’t enough room in the car. Sigh! Next time maybe.

I did spend a whopping $3 for my treasures. I am so jazzed about the zipper pulls and don’t have a clue what I am going to do with them. Yes zipper pulls. Not zippers! Just pulls! I also picked up some cool gold paper and I am anxious to see how it works with different mediums. I love the adventure of creating art. Especially since I make it for me! The best thing I found is a blank book that barks when you open it. That will become a book about my little dog Sadie. How fun is that?

AND then we went to the Dick Blick Art Store in Berkeley. What a day for a bunch of crazy artists. I did pick up some canvas to stretch. Man I wish I could have bought the stretcher frame. Next Time!

Well off to do the mundane chores around the house and then to the studio to paint.

Quote for the day:
“A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often – just to save it from dying out completely”. – Pam Brown

I really need to contact a couple of old friends!

Friday At Last

Yes in deed it is Friday at last. I was at the Folsom Thursday night market last night and it was really hot. I normally do not complain about the heat; but last night the sweat just poured down. Every once in a while the breeze would come up and we would get some relief.

Ah-Natural AC: wind on sweat. Gotta love it!

I was out with FIDO again helping spread the word about the new dog park opening in Folsom. The park is close to my house and right now I drive a bit to get to any dog park. My little dog loves to run and play with the other dogs and the socialization is great. We have the big opening on August 16th.

A couple of extra volunteers showed up so I left early. I thought to my self that I could go back to the house and either take the dog out for a walk or continue to paint on my current projects. (yes more than one)

Neither happened! I was so tired I sat in the big chair and dozed off with Sadie in my lap. I know the TV was on and I can’t tell you what I watched.

I am so glad today is Friday and I have three days off. Yes three! I am taking Monday off to get my car serviced and my driver’s license renewed. My days are so exciting…be still my heart.

Tomorrow is the SF MOMA with a few of my Swell Sisters. We are going to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit. I am so looking forward to the trip that I am even willing to get up early on a Saturday.

Quote f or the day:
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC)

Great Day in the Neighborhood

Today I missed the 6:30 am light rail to work. I don’t know what I was doing this morning to lag behind. I thought about driving; but gas is still too high to drive when I can take public transportation. I’ll save my gas for the things I want to do instead of work.

I was scheduled to go to a meeting last night for the opening of the dog park in Folsom. I really did not want to go; but it is sooooo close to home and a very short meeting I decided to “just do it.” Well the meeting was cancelled and when I saw the note on the door I was very happy to be going home again. All of this took maybe 10 minutes. It was great to go back home and to continue painting my current project. I need a day with more than 24 hours in it.

“Little boxes” is the current project. It is painted recycled cigarette boxes. I love to recycle trash into art. They all have a modern art feel. No subject since I am just looking for composition in the small scale. The project is actually fun with no redeeming political or social value. Hey we can’t protest all of time right?

I do have an idea for a political piece in a recycled wooden box; however I need to be in the right mood before I start. I will have to start watching CNN or some other news channel to get me fired up. I need to check in ans see what our politicians are doing or actually NOT doing.

Yep that is how my life is going right now. Not bad at all.

AND two more days until I visit Frida at the SF MOMA.

Quote for the day or actually definition for the day:

Definition of Politics: "Poli" in latin meaning "many" and "tics" meaning "blood-sucking parasites." – Anonymous

Pessimist? Maybe!

Another Day

Good Tuesday....................... as Tuesdays go.

I painted again last night which is always a plus. Tonight I have a meeting; but will get some painting in I hope.

This weekend is a trip to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit. I am looking forward to the trip with my fellow Swell Sisters. It should be great.

Quote for the day: Between too early and too late, there is never more than a moment. – Franz Werfel

Good Mood Monday

Today I am in a good mood. This last weekend I accomplished more than I thought I would. That always makes me feel great because I usually accomplish less.

I am setting my sights on a more doable list of jobs each weekend. That way the boring “have to” jobs get done as well as the fun jobs.

And…… I know you are thinking there are no “have to(s)” only “want to(s).” I agree with that; but when it gets to the point that you can grow potatoes on my kitchen floor it truly becomes a “have to” to clean it.

I have a small dog and two inside cats. Although you don’t see much animal hair the word out is “don’t sit on the furniture with a black shirt or pants.” I always warn people about the animals. You need to love animals to come to my house. I vacuum; but not enough.

On the flip side of “have to” I did some art work this weekend and I am quite pleased with myself. I need to take pictures and I will post the work. I also took my dog to the dog park for a small dog meet up. There were about 30 small dogs running around doing what dogs do. It was a beautiful Sunday morning in the park with a slight breeze. I almost didn't go because I wanted to paint; however Sadie needs to be with other dogs on a regular basis to keep her social skills with other dogs. Now I need to push those social skills with other humans.

Quote for the day: To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act. - Anatole France (1844-1924)

Good quote don't you agree?

Today is Friday and I love Fridays the best.

I got a call from my older daughter this morning. We chat on the phone several times a week. She is in southern California and I don’t see her as much as I would like. This is a picture taken of us last March. Do you see the resemblance?

I have much to do this weekend in the yard plus get back to my art work.

Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy!

Quote for the day:

A day's work is a day's work, neither more nor less, and the man who does it needs a day's sustenance, a night's repose and due leisure, whether he be painter or ploughman. – George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Amen George!

Where did the week go?

I haven’t posted in a while. It seems that the last few days just got a way from me.

After working 40 hours as well as trying to paint and patch my bathroom, and trying to do some landscaping in the backyard. (Trying is word here.) There does not seem to be enough time to paint.

How do others manage to find the time to do all of the great art work I see and still do everything else in their lives? I guess I am just not organized enough OR my priority at the moment is not my artwork.

Perhaps that is what makes a professional artist: people that do art as a priority over all else. I will have to think about that. I am sure it is not that simple.

Quote for the day:
Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work. – H.L. Hunt

Monday Again

Well it is Monday again. I was so busy over the weekend. I put a border around the two trees in the backyard and this weekend I wanted to lay the mulch. Oh My Gosh! Mulch bags are heavy. What was I thinking? I think I am still 30 or 40 and no way picking up 50 pound bags of the stuff is easy. ARGHH. Need less to say I wore myself out. Lucky for me the weather stayed in the 80's.

I really need to think these things out in the future. The only good thing is while I was recuperating from gardening I was painting. Now that is what I am talking about in "thinking things out. "

Here is a piece in progress and it will reflect something to do with the fires we've had here in California. Not sure how yet. I love a mystery.

Quote for the day:

Avoiding the phrase “I don’t have time...”, will soon help you to realize that you do have the time needed for just about anything you choose to accomplish in life. - Bo Bennett

Good Day

Well today is going to be a good day. This morning I was able to put flea treatment on one of two wild cats in my backyard. That makes it a good day. If I had gotten both it would be a great day. I try to appreciate the small accomplishments.

Both cats were once house cats when I was doing animal rescue; however with the new dog last year they went out the doggy door never to return. That's really OK since they were wild cats inside my house. They were rescued late in the season and never really became adoptable and that is why I still have them. I had to quit fostering cats since I ended up with so many. All of my cats are rescues that were not adoptable. I feed, I watch and I try to socialize the two outside. I still have one inside. He doesn't want to go out lucky for me.

Here is my current project 'Free Fall" which I think is done. I will have to live with it in plain sight for a while to be sure. I am working on another recyled project (will post some pictures soon) as well as the Swell Sister Indi Project is coming to a close. It is all good.

Quote for the day:

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Amen John

Today is Friday. Yippeeeee! I have a busy weekend; BUT today is good. My dog's food blew up in the microwave this morning and I spent too much time cleaning the appliance out; however now it is shiny. This is a picture of Sadie and her cat Lugh (pronounced Lou). Lugh is bigger and weighs more and wins the fights (I think it is the claws). Have a great weekend!

Quote for the day:

I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals. - Sir Winston Churchill

New Project

Here is the new project in process. It is 2' by 2' (floppies on wood).







Quote for the Day:
Painting is a magical process that I like, where you conjure something out of nothing; you get a little idea that leads you through ... You can go into a trance while you're doing it, so it's a nice contrast to real life. -Sir Paul McCartney

Need More Time!

I have decided I need more time. Is it possible to get more than 24 hours out of one day.? Wish I could.

Since I work 40 hours and I am too tired to do much in the evening when I get home, I try to jam everything in on the weekend. I never accomplish as much as I would like.

I am looking forward to retirement. Although most of my friends that are retired have no time either. I just don't get it.

Quote for the day:
Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance? Edgar Bergen (1903-1978)