This and That

Autumn has officially arrived and with it has come deadlines for class samples. I've had a lot of work this month; preparing for Art and Soul, arranging next year's schedule. I love it but I've kind of been flying around.

Here are a couple of little teasers for classes I'll be teaching next year. I'm excited about both the new and the old venues; I'll not be jurying for any art fairs at all next year so that I can have all my time for teaching. Because I love it. Really love it.

Remember the big Eiffel Tower I painted for a wedding a few weeks ago? Well, dear Justine and Kurt were married last weekend and their wedding photographs are wonderful. The painting was a backdrop for a photo booth at the reception. Those pictures will follow but the wonderful fairy-tale wedding photographs are here.

These photos are courtesy of La Vie Photography, who did an excellent job of capturing the beautiful wedding and the lovely couple. Weddings. Who doesn't love beautiful weddings?

Here is Justine with her Marie Antoinette wig posing in front of the backdrop I painted for her. You can see more shots of the photo booth on the La Vie site. Congratulations, Justine and Kurt. Your wedding was fabulous and the whole world wishes you a long and happy life together.

This is the painting I did for Justine and Kurt. It measures 18 x 24" and is acrylic, resin, collage & mica.

Meanwhile the harvest is in full swing here. Tomatoes today, grapes into raisins tomorrow. The variety above is a yellow paste that we call Orenco Gold. John grew it out from a yellow sport of a paste tomato; we love it for colorful salsa.

I'm not quite ready to leave Squam yet. Above is a painting done by Theresa Patton in her journal. She bought her first art supplies for this class and I think she painted beautifully, don't you? What a thrill it is to find that you can do something that you hadn't tried before. It's like discovering treasure.

Here is a clever idea for all you crafters out there. Take the signatures out of a sturdy book, paint the cover in a gorgeous manner . . .

and sew in holders for your brushes. Fabulous idea! (thank you to the student who shared this)

And now for some random journal pages.

While I was at Squam I finished out one journal and started the next.

Some people fill a journal a month while mine take about 9 months to fill. Because I write so tiny and cannot bear to turn them loose before I absolutely have to.

I liken it to the way I try to cram too much into every single day, month and year. I want all the cookies. I am so grateful for my many years. The experience of being alive, of watching the changes, of laughing and crying and coping and sharing is so amazing.

Over and out.