Insect Fettish?

Today was my 2nd painting studio class. It was another good day of painting and I am also getting to know the other painters there. Its a jovial, friendly group. I am truly loving every minute of it.


So, here is the progress on my painting. I got comments like:
"Its so pretty and happy."
"Oh, BEES!"
"That's so unusual and interesting."

Most were bewildered when I said, "This is just my 'background' pattern."

Anyway, last week when I was thinking about my idea and got the image of bees from a paper products catalogue, I also realized I have probably been influenced by ANOTHER original work of art already hanging in my house: Dragon flies by Holly's hubby David Graff.


You can see more of their art at their website, which is pretty dated and clumsy.
Gilt Gallery Studio website.

Painting Class #1

Last Monday I started my first open studio painting class. It is at the Pullen Arts Center and the class is through the city of Raleigh.

I have been excited and nervous about getting back into painting. Its not really a class, although there is an instructor -- but he's more of a facilitator. Anyway, students/artists sign-up essentially for studio space and work on their own projects. Its every Monday for 3 hrs.

The night before I pulled all my painting stuff out and had most everything I needed. It was weird. Between the tubes of oil and the brushes, it was like revisiting old friends. I had no idea what I was going to paint and not a creative nugget in my brain to play with. I decided I would just allow myself the freedom of learning how to paint again and do a simple excercise of painting a pic of me and Danny (oh, dear. how original).

So I get to the class with my suitcase of supplies and there are 10 other students. All of which are 60's and up. I expected as much. They are retired folks except a mother and her teenage daughter (homeschooler?) and this dude who is my age?? or younger with lots of tatoos and very cliche "artist, rebel" look. But in fact, he looks like a poser. And please don't think me rude, but his paintings are aweful.

Everyone else is painting what you expect elderly white grannies to paint (why's it always got to be about race and age, Jacqueline??). Landscapes, and flowers, and city scapes and waterfalls, and fruit. Don't get me wrong, many of them have got some skills and serious talent.

Anyways, they all know each other. The mom + teenager and I are the newbies. I say hi, introduce myself, put my iPod on and go to town.

Ahhhhh, my old lover turpentine. Ahhhh, my friend palette knife. Ohhh, my inspiring spirits oil paint. If ever it was confirmed for me, I am a painter NOT a cake decorator! I haven't painted in years and it was like riding a bike.

So, surprisingly, I got an idea for a painting as I was setting up my space. I was inspired by a pattern I saw in a paper products catalogue. I can't believe how much fun painting is. I'm so sorry I had forgotten. I am so happy to be painting!!!


Here is my painting from class one. I will be posting its progress as I develop it. I hope it turns out pretty decent....

Holidays in Review

We headed to Harrisonburg Christmas morning with leftover turkey Christmas Eve dinner. My mother raved about how delicious my turkey was: "So joooooceeeee!" She was very touched by the fact that we showed up on Christmas day. She even broke down and cried when she read my Christmas card. We tried to spoil her with many gifts; some even from BamBam and Bitty -- which cracked her up.


While in Harrisonburg, I got to visit my dear friend Allison, who I use to work for at Massanutten. She is the first person to hire me after college. It was a really special treat to catch with her and see her adorable daughter Jane and son Walker. And it was meaningful for me to have her meet Danny. We have one of those friendships that seem to pick up right where we left off. It always makes me sad we aren't a part of each other's lives more regularly, but we've promised to change that in 2009.


Christmas 2009:
1. Ate. A lot.
2. Shopped. A lot.
3. Got pink lifting gloves from Danny!!
4. Got framed art from Lauren (drawing she did that I love).
5. My mom gave us $150 worth of Hickory Farms sausage and cheese. That's A LOT of sausage and cheese.



New Year's Eve
Danny took me to Second Empire a restaurant in Raleigh, I've been dying to try. I barely squeezed into a froo-froo dress, slapped on some eye shadow, made my hair gorgeous (Stacey would have been drooling) and we had a romantic dinner. The waiter was excellent, the wine was perfect, the food was incredible. I know that I don't NEED fine dining in my life, but really, I just LOVE fine dining. I gotta have it once in awhile....

I started with baked west coast oysters: cipollini onion puree, wilted spinach & Yukon gold potato phyllo cup, chorizo sausage, julienne vegetables, hollandaise sauce. My entree was roasted Pennsylvania duck breast: sautéed spinach & tatsoi greens, apple curry Yukon gold potatoes, baby carrots, root vegetables, horseradish & molasses sauce.

YUMMY!

New Year's Day
We invited friends over for warm mulled spiced wine and yes, sausage and cheese.

Happy new year everyone!