One of my New Favorite Things

I like people, I always have. My parents were people, my sisters were people, MOST of my old boyfriends were people.....

No just kidding. But I still really like people.

I've spent a lot of time talking about how art is inclusive and how I want my gallery to become a safe place for people to come and create or talk about creating. It's not always clear as to how to do that but I feel I'm on the path. My studio is a very small space 11' x 18' but it has big beautiful windows looking North on the street.  I like sitting at my drawing table and painting. Sometimes I'm not paying much attention to what's going on. I get lost in my art. Sometimes people will venture in and sit in my comfy white chair to talk with me a bit.

But as the days have cooled down I have kept the front door open, and all of a sudden the world on the street changed.

 I  keep on painting as I want but a simple hello from the inside of my studio (me) has opened a wonderful world of the residents and visitors to Rockton. It has been a pleasure slowly getting to know these people. They're not eccentrics like those found in Savannah Georgia in the book, Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil. No One is tying strings to flies and walking them around as pets. But, let me tell you these people are just as fascinating.

There's the cute young couple who have just adopted a new puppy. It is their baby, and it is so fun to watch their excitement. There's the older woman walking her dog who has incredible stories of escaping from Germany in her youth. Just getting to know some of the other shop owners has been a lot fun, and very helpful. It's great to be able to shout out people's names as they pass by. And my thoughts are... oh my gosh these people make this little town even more charming than it looks.

I also love it that some people feel comfortable enough to stop by and paint WITH me. When I have a larger place this will be a part of the weekly schedule but for now I have some friends who call up and say lets paint together tomorrow. I've even had classes out on the sidewalk. They're wonderful!  Facing North, the building always puts us in shade. Perfect for painting. Perfect for getting to know even more of these people who are passing my gallery.




And just to be clear... There are plenty of non- people I adore too.

Cooper, my studio Manager

See you Friday with 

my first 30 in 30!

 

Living Life at the Speed of Summer

 The Speed of Summer

What a busy summer! What's next? Today a wedding reception for my nephew Paul and his lovely wife Heather. The next two days; move my daughter out of the apartment she lived in while at college and bring her home. Then Wisconsin followed by my first gallery show on August 22nd. I'm excited about the show but I am realizing that I have a lot of work to do before it opens including finishing a painting.
So that's my excuse for the poor blog schedule. No excuses... I did miss you though.

My garden is at its peak! I have taken many new photos for lots of new paintings .

For the first time that I can remember I am longing for the cooler days when life slows down a bit and there is more time for painting. Am I nuts! Don't I remember last winter?  I just want to paint more. I will be starting another 30 in 30 on September 1st. I can't wait! Why don't you join along? There are over 350 artists from all over the world signed up already.  Join Leslie Saeta and the rest of us at http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/ .

I started a new painting this week. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to paint all day while Mark and Matt were at the Oshkosh air show.   

I had my trusty buddy, Cooper at my side.

I went inside when I heard the thunder. Really? Rain so hard when the sun is out? It was beautiful though, and I was able to resume painting at the kitchen table.

Coop helped pick out the colors.