Finally, I finished The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, learning dimensions of WWI history that Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey left out. Given, what J.M. Barrie reported about what led up to the Great Influenza, and all that...
The pandemic goaded me to paint an owl that looked like I felt! Will Rogers shows me 2020-2022 isn't the only hard spell Americans have had. It was one of the first little paintings I did back when I thought the pandemic would last maybe a couple of weeks. Somehow,...
No, I am not paying homage to the city of Paris. I am saluting the memory of a neighborhood cat, Paris. Paris was a stray cat who roamed the back yards of Southgate Avenue in Annapolis. A relatively free spirit, welcoming the handouts and hospitality of our...
So, the other day I had a casual conversation with a younger woman who likes writing, but is reluctant to wade into words, arranging them in such a way that satisfies herself and communicates her thoughts. My analysis — not her’s. Writing is . . . tricky. Being...
Ever since his painting popped up as a screensaver, I have tried imitating some of Wassily Kandinsky's canvasses. I have never succeeded. Today was another strike out as I gessoed out another canvas. For designs that seem so . . . elementary . . . his are quite...
Looking back to this time last year, in my journal, I have some impressions, given the times that are today. This time last year I was way more productive; listening to several books, and completing several paintings — I rarely left the sunporch. Productive as I was,...
Through a post on Facebook from Painters from the North I discovered a still life by a Swedish artist, Olle Hjortzberg who lived from 1872-1959. Studying it, I discovered a message, a familiar one in my autumn's garden; it keeps me steady in a time that packs an...
The garden this year, 2021, is better understood as a few flower beds, overflowing with Black-eyed Susans, marigolds, roses, a few echinacea, and hopefully sunflowers, which are dawdling. The crepe myrtle flourishes! And here’s a little sketch of me wrestling the hose...
Discovering unclaimed property in my mother’s name has been unsettling, reacquainting me with feelings of loss, grief and guilt. And yet giving me and my brother with a wee spot of cash from our mom. UNSETTLED My mother bought a $500.00 insurance policy when she was...
Two Repurposed Disasters Last week, I had a few more painting disasters that I repurposed into oh so modest imaginary arrangements on canvases I did not want to waste. (Thank Goodness for GESSO!) You see, I over estimated my ability to create paintings from other...
My brother said of my paintings, "your color choices are certainly unusual" — I guess they are -- Other artists' colorful paintings are such inspirations, even if I am missing some of their intensity. Getting the colors right is complicated because color is...
I’ve lost count; not of my birthday cards; of my paintings. Today seemed like as good a time as any to do something about the overflow engulfing the mantle, and dresser. I tried sorting and counting. But just when I thought all were properly arranged, I’d find one I...
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