Happy New Year! Do you like those end of the year round-up lists? Here’s one for you, almost entirely made up of links to previous posts. (Each one will open in a new tab.) We remember the things we review, so let’s go. . . 11 Things I Learned in January 8 Things I Learned […]
Painting a Poinsettia
After showing you the poinsettia painting, I discovered the photos of it in progress on my camera. (Camera?? Yep. Not a phone.) It took about a week to dry before I could incorporate it into my fakey Instagram life photo. This is what my real life looks like.
Finished
A little unfinished business here on The Blog: finished pieces you haven’t yet seen in their official photographic documented form.
Christmas Ornament Story, Chapter Four
The crowd shuffled back down the hall when the party was over. The conversations were so much fun. I heard people going on about the bathrooms (“Fine facilities!” in a very Southern accent), talking about how many paper napkins with the White House emblem that they stuffed in their purses, and the cameras never stopped […]
Happy Christmas!
Christmas Ornament Story, Chapter Three
About getting “gussied up”. . . I faxed the White House a second time to ask about the dress code. Here in Tulare County, “dressed up” means that I iron a polo shirt for Michael to wear with decent jeans. “Formal” means his best Wranglers, boots, and a “sport” jacket. (“Sport?” What, is he going […]
Christmas Ornament Story, Chapter Two
Once we knew the date of the White House reception, I began making plans. We have very good friends in Pennsylvania who invited us to stay with them AND, get this, loaned us a car! So we flew into Harrisburg, which has rocking chairs in its airport. (Now that is a bit more common than […]
Christmas Ornament Story, Chapter One
I’ve told this story before, but hope I have new readers since that original telling. Here goes. . . In August of 2007, I was asked to paint an ornament for the White House Christmas tree, representing Sequoia National Park. My first thought was to moan, “Not another freebie”. An invitation to a White House […]
Starting and Ending
I started a new citrus painting, much like a recent one (that is still too wet to photograph well.) Really, it is different from the other one. . . see? Citrus sells steadily in Exeter at the Mural Gallery, so it is good to always have another one ready to go. Finished and delivered this […]
Secret Painting Class, Day Two
The poinsettia as an oil painting subject was challenging. One of my students requested that I demonstrate rather than just explain. That was a big “duh” moment for me. I should have thought of that myself! I’ve been in workshops before where it seemed as if the demonstration was a waste of time. This is […]