San Diego Holdiay

We just returned on Tuesday from a long visit in San Diego area, actually Chula Vista, where we spent Christmas. We had a wonderful time with family. Our twins, Sarah and Andre, our grandchildren, just turned 18; and there was much to celebrate with both Christmas and their birthdays on Christmas.

This painting is an acrylic on canvas and shows many of the highlights of water play and bicycles and the convention center in San Diego.

Starry Winter

Driving up to Reno for Thanksgiving was a beautiful sight in the Sierras, and yet we knew coming home might require chains. Sure enough, we had to put on chains to drive home on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. It took 3 hours to drive the 68 miles; and then we could drive without the chains. Oh well, we are spoiled Californians when you think about the cold weather back East right now. But the beauty of the snow for the first time this year was awesome.

The weather seems to be holding for those who love to ski and snowboard. Personally, I just like looking at the snow and being in a cozy cabin in the evening.

Living with Cancer

This painting of two people who have been special in my life. They both have been living with cancer. So often we think of cancer as a growing "thing" in our bodies, but I see them rising above the disease with a will to live. The quotation is one of an old Persian proverb: "Deem every day of your life as a leaf in your history." We all have leaves in our history. Every person has a story and these two people have stories as well. I painted this after we were in Hawaii last November, and we shared our individual journeys with cancer.

Yesterday, my friend, Sandy and I visited Karen in a hospital and we were able to share how much we love her and how special her family is to us. We were honored to be able to share with her at this time. I hope this painting honors both of them.

After the Rain

After the rain, one can see a rainbow and for a special treat one can see two! It happened at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu and Kim, our daughter-in-law took the photo. There is a light translucence when one looks at a rainbow. I tried to capture some of that with a dusting of glass granules. Of course, it's messy and gets all over the studio floor, even when I'm careful.

I am planning to do some serioous painting, continuing with the heavely lights. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family in Reno, but now I must proceed to complete a series, which is 20 or so paintings of one theme.

Sunsets

I'm really excited about my Heavenly Lights series. I have been blessed by our daughter-in-law photographing some spectacular sunsets out on the North Shore of Oahu.

Still, I play with the images and use lots of texture and collage. This one came together quite fast, and I'm pleased with it. Once in a while I see a sunset in San Jose, but not terribly spectacular ones. I guess the ocean and the desert are two places for sunsets.

Memories of Hawaii and family

We were treated to a wonderful wedding ocean side on November 23rd. The day was sunny and the full moon shone after night fall. The bride even arranged a Hawaiian show for the guests, many of whom came from the mainland.

My contribution in terms of time was minuscule. I did have a painting of two birds that were used to display on the gift table. The birds, called fairy terns, are only found in Honolulu. What better way than to show this bird that conveys the Hawaiian scenery.

Beautiful NOrth Shore weather

We are having a very relaxing time before the wedding. There are details we can help with that gives the bride at least a little break. I brought some watercolors and acrylics and canvases and panels on which to paint. The watercolors are by Reeves and don't give me the colors of my regular palette, I can't complain as I won the watercolors in a raffle back in New York.

The acrylics I paint with are bright and vibrant and I prefer them. There are some beautiful, tropical flowers that I wish I had at home. The papaya we eat every morning is sweet and delicious. The tropics agrees with us.

Soon some of the guests will be arriving. It is a wonderful day here and we do hope for clear skies on the day of the wedding.

Entering shows

It is always a challenge to enter an art show competition. You may know a few details but so much is not known, who is the juror, what type of work does he or she do, what is your competition, what painting do you feel best represents your own work? Many times a painting is acceptable to one competition but not to another. Right now I am debating whether to enter a competition for the Regional Space landscapes showing open preserved, space in parks such as San Antonio or Saratoga Gap. Do I have the time? the talent to match against some very realistic painters and photographers.

I have a painting shown of a visit from three years ago to Arches National Monument. Is this what the juror is looking for? or is something more abstract acceptable? Right now I have other things to attend to and will have to wait until November for time to review the open space landscape paintings. It should be interesting.

Burlingame Reception

We had a fabulous reception for the 95th Anniversary of the Studio Shoppe at 251 Primrose in Burlingame, It is the oldest business in Burlingame, and what a unique situation in today's economy.

The painting to the left is "Wind Storm" which is made on hand-made paper with a collage from a yupo paper painting I had. I really enjoy the hand-made paper experience, even though it is so delicate that aggressive brush strokes will cause the paper to tear.

Soon we will be off to a wedding in Hawaii. It is a joyous occasion, of course, for us as a family, but also a time to be in a country setting on Oahu, the North Shore. So different from downtown Honolulu and crowded Waikiki. Here is a small photograph taken by the bride-to-be, Kim.

Finished painting and view of fireball in San Bruno

Finished the paintings (2) on site when I was asked to do a public demo. It turned out to be a nice enough day that I actually enjoyed the experience. You must understand a studio painter such as myself rarely enjoys "plein aire". However, these show the details of the finishing touches. The one called "Boots" sold on the spot.

However, I just want to comment on our traveling from San Francisco at 6:30 last Thursday. We saw a huge ball of fire and it probably doesn't show up easily, but it was the devastating fire in San Bruno. We were just 15 minutes after it started. Very scary and we feel for all involved.

Western Themes in Watercolor and Acrylic

These boots are my recent painting of a Western Theme coming this Sunday. I still have more work to do on the painting which will be a good activity in public. I felt I had to start a painting so it would look like I was accomplishing something. If I just started it, what a bland looking piece of paper it would be.

The other image is of a lightning storm and a cactus will go into the right corner and will be finished in front of a crowd of people...I hope.

Light of the World

"Live as Children of the Light" is a watercolor with highlights of ground glass on the light. It is presently shown at the Sequoia Hospital exhibit, "Light of the World" arranged by the Arts of the Covenant. Do you recognize the passage of scripture?

The address for the exhibit is: 170 The Alameda in Redwood City. It is open to the public and is displayed in the corridor near the entrance.

This is a reminder of the trip we had with our daughter's family to Hawaii. She is not shown in the picture, but her husband was down at the water's edge with two of our grandchildren. Soon we will be traveling to Hawaii for a wedding. What a fun place to be married. Both the bride and groom live on the North Shore of Oahu.

"Final painting of "Morning Has Broken" and fave recipe

This is why I wait a week or more before I feel something is finished. I just stare at the painting to keep checking what is it that bothers me. I found the "Morning Has Broken" was too light in value. In other words, there needed to be a lot more contrast with the dark of the water and sky and the light peeking through the clouds. Now I feel,for sure, I am finished.

The next painting will be one of the Heavenly Light series I will be doing. I am very into collage with the water media on hand-made paper.

In thinking about writing a blog, I think I should share a part of my life. I spend time trying out new recipes. I love to try two or three new ones a week...not always an entree, but a salad or cookie or something. This one has been requested. No I didn't create the recipe, I am just passing it along. It was a hit with some friends recently and it is good to have because it can be made ahead and reheated with the cheese at the last minute. Hope you like it...Lasagna Soup

Cheesy Spinach Lasagna Soup

Serves 4 generously

1 pound Italian sausage, squeezed from casings

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons dried basil or 2 Tablespoons fresh basil

2 teaspoons oregano

`1 teaspoon anise seed

4 cups of chicken broth

1 141/2 ounce can petite diced tomatoes

1 8-Ounce can of tomato sauce

1 cup mini farfalle pasta

2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

8 ounces fresh mozzarella, diced ( I used smoked mozzarella)

1/2 cup fresh Parmesan, cheese shredded

Brown sausage in a large saucepan over medium heat until crumbly. Remove the sausage from the pan and drain all but 1 Tablespoon of fat. Add the onion to the pan and saute over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes

Return the sausage to the pan, stir in the garlic, basil, oregano, and anise seed, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, and bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta and cook according to the package directions, until the pasta is al dente.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the spinach and mozzarella. Serve the soup immediately, topped with Parmesan cheese.

Per serving: 303 calories.

When is a Painting Finished?

Okay, so it's hard for me to know when to leave "well enough alone." I have done some touches to the painting, "Morning Has Broken" and I think I like it now. Please see when I darkened the clouds first and then see when I lightened the sun's rays.

You can also see that I gold leafed the ball or sun as it needed a little more definition. This painting is called,"Morning Has Broken" after the song.

This is now ready to be in the "Then Sings my Soul" which will begin October 1, 2010, Sunnyvale Art Gallery, 251 West El Camino Real, Sunnyvale and will go to West Valley Presbyterian on October 29, 2010. "Then Sings My Soul" will be at WVPC, Cupertino, Until November 28, 2010.

"Morning Has Broken"

I have worked with another piece of Styrofoam. This time I decided to use reflective material, but no embedded lights in the work. I don't know if this comes across, but the "sun" is a ball similar to a snow-globe with glitter inside. I hope it is effective for a feeling of a sunrise.

I chose to use a view from the Marin Headlands with the background of San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge. I am hoping you get the awesome feeling when the sun just peeks through the clouds (or fog) as may be the case. I'm showing you tow images. One is where I made a few adjustments to tighten up the painting. I think it looks better. What do you think?

This painting will be going into a show at the Sunnyvale Art Gallery in October about favorite hymns. One of my favorite is "Morning Has Broken." what is your favorite inspirational song?

Eclipse begins a new Heavenly Series

I have just started with a new "sculptural painting" I call Eclipse. Only a few people have seen it, but I have received really a wonderful response. There are LED lights embedded into the piece giving a glow of an eclipse as real as it could be.

In August, 2008, Andre and I witnessed a solar eclipse in the high desert country of China. It lasted only a couple of minutes. However, the light in the sky became very eerie, and it was so amazing. One could see how ancient people were often terrified of eclipses and saw them as bad omens.

Please see this one as a heavenly creation of God in the sky. I hope to follow up with more heavenly pieces showing sunrises and lightning and galaxies and so much more.

The Eclipse will be shown at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City for the month of August and September through the Arts of the Covenant exhibition called, "The Light of the World."

This is the hummingbird canvas and I can't tell why I'm having so much trouble loading the pictures of my small canvases. I have some of these offered on Ebay as well. Hope you can find a place for these.

Small with large impact

Here is another small painting of a hummingbird with a flower and you can see the faux-jewels. These are lots of fun mixing into a wall of photographs to lighten up the heaviness of all pictures.

Something happened and there were no pictures that were downloaded. Let me try again. I want to show my small paintings that are no larger than 4 X 5 inches and are canvases painted on the edges and decorated with faux-jewels and tiny flowers.