August 30, 2011 August 31, 2011

I just completed my second Chemo painting. I did this one on a sample of Waterford 140# CP paper that was given to me by a retiring docent. I like this paper. It held up well and didn’t ripple or buckle. For this super wet technique I don’t like the surface as well as the Lana and Kilimanjaro – too much sizing. This a small painting – maybe 8″ X 10″. The subject is scary but I think you can tell I also feel hope.

Chemo 2

Ken is holding up reasonably well. He is very tired and weak. The low point for his red and white blood cells will be over the weekend. I hope he begins gaining his energy and strength back next week. This Chemo is given on a three week cycle.

August 28, 2011 August 29, 2011

“Chemo, chemo, little cell killer…”

“Scorched earth, scorched body”

“Source of hope, source of healing”

These are just some of the thoughts I’ve been feeling. It is a real roller coaster ride. Chemo has such an intense effect on a person’s body but it may be the only hope for a decent quality of life. Anyway, again this experience with its highs and lows inspires me and, of course, the circles are back. (and Ken is tolerating his first treatment very well…thank you for sending those positive thoughts!)

Chemo 1

I like this painting very much and was struck by the fact that at its heart are the primary colors. I don’t know if this was came from my primal core (when I started painting in 2007 I did a series of 7 abstracts using just primary colors) but I know it was subconscious.

On a positive note, I received a purchase award at the opening of the Hoosier Salon Juried Show. Made me very proud.

 

August 25, 2011 August 26, 2011

This has been a really hard few weeks. Not only was Ken in the hospital for a week but we lost one of our dogs. She was a little, four pound toy Pomeranian and a cutie, cuddly, snuggle bunny. AND a very independent cuss. She was over 12 and had Cushings when we adopted her two and a half years ago. We were able to get it under control and she was a very special little character.

Ken started chemo yesterday. He didn’t recover well from his time in the hospital so the oncologist said “it’s time but it’s your choice”. The infusion yesterday went off very well. The low point for red and white cells is at about days 7 through 10. The pharmacy was running 2 hours behind so I had time to do some sketching while we waited.

Red Delicious Sketch 1

This time I did sketches of Red Delicious apples from a Whole Living magazine.  These were done with a BIC mechanical pencil in a 5″ X 7″ sketchbook.

Red Delicious Sketch 2

August 15, 2011 August 16, 2011

Maybe I am making them look too cute but I am enchanted by the strength and power of the Spirit Bear. They are such beautiful creatures. I think it is the ATC format. It looks like I am working very broadly when in reality the format is small. Anyway I am not apologizing and am very happy with the two ATC’s I’ve created. I know my family will love them.

Spirit Bear 2

 

August 13, 2011 August 14, 2011

In Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest lives a rare creature. The members of the Gitga’at First Nation call it mooksgm’ol, the spirit bear. Mooksgm’ol is a walking contrdiction – a white black bear. It is not an albino but a form of mutation that is also known as the Kermode Bear. The bear is a cream color and is particular successful at hunting salmon, who seem to be less concerned about white objects seen from below the surface of the water. These bears cluster on Princess Royal and Gribbell Islands  off the coast of British Columbia. They have been protected for hundreds of years by the indigenous Tsimshian people (The Gitga’at are one of 14 bands that make up the Tsimshian) who revere them and consider it taboo to discuss them. I learned all this and more from the lead article in National Geographis this month. This painting is an ATC. I love to paint ATC’s to give to family members with their cards at Christmas time. They get an original (if small!) watercolor painting along witrh my love during that festive season.  I will hate to part with this one.

Mooksgm'ol - The Spirit Bear

 

August 11, 2011 August 12, 2011

I received a piece of good news. One of my abstract paintings has been accepted for the National Midwest Abstract Show hosted by the Southside Art League of Indianapolis. It is titled Falling 2 and is one of the paintings I did earlier this year while my husband was going through the Provenge vaccine program. If you remember it was very traumatic for us and I was fighting uncertainties and fear. This is the second painting from that series that’s been accepted for a juried show. I guess it helps to let our feelings show. It is very hard for me to do but I can get release through my paintings.

Falling 2

 

August 9, 2011 August 10, 2011

The temperature was only 88 degrees today – a veritable cool spell. Maybe now I will stop whining. I have a new 100 Degree Summer painting. It is inspired by the heat and the storms that have come on the front edge of a cold front. Baxter, our youngest dog, is frightened of thunderstorms and I hope this painting reflects the heat, noise, flashing light and unrest we have all been feeling.

100 Degree Summer - Storm

This painting is on a sample of Fabriano paper. I prefer the Lana and Kilimanjaro. This paper curls and has a harder finish than the others I’ve been using recently.

August 8, 2011 August 8, 2011

Twenty one straight days of heat that is over 90 degrees. In Indiana, with the high humidity, That means it feels HOT – oppressively hot! And so my 100 Degree Summer series continues. Remember 100 degrees is over 90 degrees. When I painted this painting I was thinking about the sky and the sunrise and sunset and how everything is affected by the heat, humidity and dust in the air…beautiful colors for one thing.

100 Degree Summer - Sky Riot

August 3, 2011 August 5, 2011

It’s a celebration! This is my 250th post! Thank you for visiting and making this such a rewarding experience. I have learned so much from all of you and appreciate every comment made since January 1, 2010 when I started my blog.

Today the temperature is supposed to get up to ONLY 88 degrees (mid to high 90′s with humidity). A veritable cool spell. The painting I’m posting today is 100 Degree Summer 2. I painted this when I felt like I was melting, dripping, burning up. I was feeling darkness and stress.

100 Degree Summer 2

I also wanted to note that my last three paintings have been painted on Lana 140 # CP paper. One of Indiana’s premier watercolorists uses this paper. She is a teacher and a perpetual award winner so many watercolorists also use this paper and one recently retired and gave me several small sheets. It handles about the same as the Kilimanjaro I have been using. It has a soft rather creamy feel, absorbs color well and doesn’t buckle – even when it has been soaked.  I think it is harder to find than the Kilimanjaro and I don’t know anything about the cost  but it is a very nice paper.

August 3, 2011 August 3, 2011

Like a bad penny I am back. I hate jumping in and out of blogging like I have been doing but I have no choice. I miss you all. Ken was just released from the hospital after spending 6 nights there. It has been a very tough and frustrating time. When he went in he was dehydrated, low blood pressure, ear infection, cold sweats, chills, etc and extreme weakness. They have resolved all the little problems but he still has little appetite and is tired and weak. They said patients recover to 90% and hit a wall. The last 10% is your appetite and strength so not to get depressed, Just have a plan and work to get better and stronger each day. It doesn’t matter what you do or where you start – just start and try to do a little more each day. Sounds a little like art, doesn’t it?

I did have two paintings finished when he got sick so I have shot digital images and am posting the first today. We are still in this horrendous heat wave and are close to breaking an all time record for number of days in a row over 90 degrees. So my paintings are still driven be this stresser. This painting is called Sun Trails.

Sun Trails

When I painted this I was thinking about the double images you sometimes see when the weather is this hot. Also about the time lapse photographs taken of the moon or sun that show the sun/moon moving across the sky. I used a portrait view intentionally because I feel it is more powerful and that the sun is beating/looking directly down on me with no relief and no let up.