Glacier Day

Menenhall Glacier

Misty Juneau
8" x 10" Oil on RayMar Canvas

This little piece of Alaska's beautify is available.  Please contact me HERE for more information.

I’m pretty excited. We left Juneau this afternoon and I’m sitting here right now in our cabin (which is in front of the ship and has a 180 degree view) as I type this blog while looking beautiful scenery and stark white and green ice flows pass as the ship makes its way up a fjord toward the Sawyer Glacier. When we started the ice flows were small and not dangerous, but they are exciting and sort of signify Alaska to me more than anything. As we near the Sawyer Glacier, Gastone and I are delightedly pointing to one spectacular scene after another. Tyler is watching with a group of kids from above… (in the cold.) Today was terrific! We all slept in and took our time leaving the ship. Gastone haggled with one of the tour guys out on the dock (something he LOVES doing) and off we went on a van adventure up to the Mendenhall glacier! Instead of the grey wet gloom we’ve been experiencing since we left Seattle, we actually had a somewhat clear day. There was COLOR! We saw some beautiful areas and the guide was very informative and entertaining. I took a ton of pictures.

While we were in Ketchikan yesterday, we had seen salmon starting up the river in thick schools jumping and climbing over one another. Today was a starker and sadder sight… these were the salmon which had already spawned and morphed into something that didn’t seem like the fish I “know” as a salmon. These creatures were struggling along a rocky stream… I cannot imagine how …and were dying because the tide was out. We saw quite a few bald eagles fly right by. The birds and local cats were having a feast.

When we got back to the ship we ate outside (It wasn’t raining today.) and then I painted while Tyler played with his friends and Gastone snoozed. What could be more satisfying?

I am still enjoying learning about these water based oils. I am so pleased that I brought them as they feel good as I paint, they mix well and they are just a dream to clean up! I painted one of the many streams between Juneau and the glacier. There is an almost constant cloud cover, but today it was more a layer of mist than anything else. I had such fun trying to capture this scene… playing with the creamy new paint.

Summer is over in Alaska. The trees are turning and we may have had one of the few last days of “warm” weather. Juneau got up to 57 degrees while we were there!   Quite a change from the 112 I left behind in LA!

Enjoy what is left of your summer.

Sawyer Glacier

Sawyer Glacier from our room

North To Alaska

Inland Passageway  5"x7"

We’re on our way north toward Alaska on a Norwegian cruise ship.  We’ve been on many, many cruises over the years, but this is the first to Alaska and the first on NCL.  So far we really like it.  It’s quite a bit different than the various cruise lines we’ve been on before and the differences take some getting used to but so far I’d say they are very positive.

Gastone has a dragon roll

Our bedroom

Additionally my husband splurged and reserved a suite.  We’ve always been just fine in the little rooms we usually stay in but this one is beyond amazing!!  It’s up in the very front of the ship and has windows that look out with a 180 degree view of everything ahead!   When I got back to my room tonight I was treated to a really beautiful sunset.

Today is a sea day so we pretty much just hung out.  I exercised, read, ate, watched people, finally finished watching my Scott Christensen video and painted.  Tonight we went to the captain’s cocktail party and to a special sushi dinner.  We may go to a show later tonight but, I’ll probably just sleep… always a good thing.

I brought along a set of water based oils.   They were on special one day at the local art store and I thought they might be useful for the trip.  Earlier in the month I had tried using acrylics again and once again discovered that I don’t like them.  But surprisingly I really like these oils!   They are a brand made by Holbein called Duo Aqua Oils.  They are buttery and mix well in ways I’m accustomed to.  Unfortunately I also was using a little 5x7 canvas board I bought because I was running low on my usual RayMar board.  The weave on this was really coarse and I didn’t like it.

My painting was a fun pass-time.  I used only primary colors and tried to mix greys to match the grey day.  I imagine as the water-based oils and I become more familiar I’ll be happier with the results, but for today…  It was a good day!

Sidewalk Splendor

Sidewalk Splendor
5" x 7" Oil on RayMar Canvas Board

$75 + s/h

If you are interested in owning this little gem, please click on the link above for Pay Pal information. - Thanks!

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This small format painting is one of a series painted of the lovely flowers in my neighbor's garden right next to the sidewalk.  Each year the garden is a bit different.  This year the flowers seem to be grouped or at least they are growing up in similar groupings.  

I hope you will enjoy this and my other paintings of my neighbor's garden.

Good news:  
Dad is home.  Dad is getting better every day.  I'll be leaving tomorrow morning for a long anticipated vacation.  We weren't sure I would be able to go, but I think he's well enough to stay as long as the caregiver comes in regularly.  She may even spend some nights for a while so that she's sure he's okay as well.   Gastone and Tyler have already left for Seattle, but I'll fly up Saturday morning and join them on the Alaskan cruise.   Maybe I'll even find something interesting to paint while I'm traveling!   

Wish me bon voyage!

Tired Of Doing Nothing

Doing Nothing
It is amazing to me how exhausted I can get when all I do is sit in the hospital room with Dad... fluff his pillow, help him walk the hall ... all in all very little moving around.   And yet, I get home in the evening totally wiped out.  WHY is that??

I tried to paint last night but just gave up.  Luckily I had decided not to work on the floral I started because I think that one is going rather well.  This one was going NOWHERE and I just decided to wipe it off and go to bed.

Going Home
Happily we'll be going home today!!!  Little by little all the tubes and staples that have helped Dad recover have been removed.  Today the staple remover took out 15 staples and he now is fitted with little strips .. called seristrips I think.  Dad asked if his guts were going to fall out when the nurse started removing the staples....  

The Painting
Because I don't have a new one, I have a light little figurative I painted last year called "Working From Home".   That's what we all want to start doing again!

If you'd like this little relaxing painting as a good reminder of where you'd like to be working, please click the PayPal button for more information. 

Enjoy each and every moment you have!!

WIP -- In Life and In Painting

PROGRESS
Progress is fragile, but as long as it is progress we should celebrate!

Dad's surgery did what it was supposed to do.  YAY!!!  It is healing.  Progress.  Setbacks are frightening, but fortunately only temporary, and he's still doing a bit better each day.   There are times when I take a break and go downstairs to visit the Memory Garden with it's beautiful water lilies and curious koi.  I usually get here by 7:30 a.m. and don't leave until late afternoon or evening.  Dad's caregiver, Judy, or my son, Jon-Paul, often stay with him when I'm not here.

As Dad just now said... "What a summer!"

Yesterday Dad scared us all with a collapse while we were trying to walk, but thankfully by evening he was better and up and walking again.  The progress isn't always as fast as we would like it, but it IS progress.   I actually think my Dad will be home and functioning close to normal within the week.

PAINTING

The painting I'm working on is a still life inspired by the absolutely beautiful floral creation that one of Dad's thoughtful neighbors sent him here in the hospital.  She's a sweetheart and often brings over fresh fruit or veggies from her garden.   She emailed me to see how he was because she hadn't seen him or any activity around his house and she was worried.  Both of us so appreciate her lively updates on the neighborhood and watchful eye.

I really liked not just the flowers but the way the stems were arranged inside the bowl.  The light traveled through the north facing window and the bowl.  Delightful little peaks of sunlight were shining between the stems.   I sketched it out and when I got home late yesterday evening, I sat down to try to paint it.

First I blocked in the dark areas with a combination of cad red, alizerin and FUB.  From there I began to block in some of the greens, the stems and the lighter areas.  I began some of the flower colors and the light and shadow shapes on the surface where the bowl of flowers was placed.

However, I was exhausted and gave up.  I figured that if I kept working I would surely ruin it.  I also knew that today I would need to get up early again and drive off to the hospital, so I needed some sleep.  As I look at it now, I see many things that need to be done... but it is progress...

Two works in progress... (WIPs)....   Dad and the painting.

Have a great day doing whatever gives you joy and satisfaction.

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Oh!... More good news.........I found out yesterday (even though I couldn't go to the awards ceremony) that I received an award for one of my two paintings that were juried into the show in Camarillo at SCIART.  It is always satisfaction to know that your work has merit ... at least to someone!!

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FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER
I almost forgot... Today I've finally finished editing and will send out my free monthly email newsletter.  If you'd like to receive an update each month, please sign up by completing the information on the linked page below.   THANKS!!!
http://marianfortunati.com/email-newsletter

Plein Air Regional Art Exhibit

When I found out that Dad's surgery was going to be Monday, I thought maybe I couldn't submit work for this regional plein air show in Camarillo.  I had wanted to participate because one of the jurors was an artist I admire named David  Gallup.  I'll be taking a workshop from David and John Cosby in late September.  I'm very excited about spending an adventurous week in the Channel Islands learning from these two fabulous painters.  There may still be a chance to sign up if you're interest.   Check out David's website if you'd like a bit of painting adventure.

Anyway, a friend I met while taking an art class with Johanna Spinks and with whom I blog came to my rescue.  Shelley Smart whose blog is titled "A Year At The Beach" generously agreed to drive to Camarillo and drop off my paintings for me.   Thanks again, Shelley.

The good news is two-fold:

1. MOST IMPORTANT.... My Dad feels better and the plumbing is working as it was meant to work!!  YAY!!!!
2. Also wonderful is that my two paintings were juried in to the show.  Originally I thought the show would be only one day, but apparently it will be up until September 27th!!  (My Dad's 92nd birthdate.)
 

A Beautiful Day

California Colors

Here are the two plein air pieces that were juried into  in the show.   If you are in the area, please go on by to see the work.  It's a nice new gallery in old town Camarillo.

www.studiochannelislands.org/

 

Statistics

Wind Dancers
10" x 8" Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel

If you are interested in this painting, please click HERE for PayPal and other information.

Passing the time
While sitting here in the hospital with Dad, there isn't a whole lot to do except read, watch TV and surf the net.  Luckily for me, the hospital provides wireless internet to visitors and patients.  For some reason I cannot understand, I cannot get my email through Outlook while here, but only by going to the web based application, so viewing attachments and even embedded pictures isn't happening.

Blogging
Anyway, I've spent a heck of a lot of time blogging since early July when Dad first got sick.  I've been trying to keep up with my painting and most of the time I have managed to squeeze in time for a small painting every other day.  I write my blog, try to respond when kind people comment and visit many other blogs to see the wonderful creations they have made.

And I check my statistics. 
I look at Google analytics for both my blogspot site and my FASO website and the FASO website has its own set of stats.  Of course they show the information in different ways, but it's basically the same information.   Interestingly in the last few months, my visitors and page impressions have increased significantly.  In fact for some odd reason, this month my FASO stats projects that my visitors will increase by 21% and the impressions (I think that means pages viewed) will increase by 56% over last month which also ended with the highest stats I've ever had.

But what do statistics REALLY mean??

I surfed around and found some fun quotes related to statistics:

• "There are three kinds of lies:  lies, damned lies, and statistics."  ~Mark Twain, autobiography, 1904
• Here's one that made me really laugh - "The average human has one breast and one testicle."  ~Des McHale
• "There are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you make up."  ~Rex Stout, Death of a Doxy 
• "Do not put your faith in what statistics say until you have carefully considered what they do not say."  ~William W. Watt 
• "Statistics are like bikinis.  What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital."  ~Aaron Levenstein
  
  
  
  

Waiting

Have you ever noticed how much more slowly time ticks by when you're waiting for something as opposed to doing something??  All the more reason to enjoy life each moment while doing what you love to do.

Couldn't paint today.  Would have loved to go out with friends, but stayed here waiting with Dad for his surgery.  Now I'm waiting for them to send him up to his room from post op.   The surgery went well and I'm hoping that he'll be home and doing what he loves doing again soon.  Time right now is going very slowly.

I think Dad was worried that that he wouldn't be back doing his "normal" things ... at least right away.... so he worked his "fanny" off for the last three days and finished the video he was making.  He did a great job and had it all ready to mail off to the contest "just in case".  He showed it to the family who gathered together at dinner last night to celebrate Gastone's and my 39th anniversary.  Gastone cooked.  I cleaned. Everyone ate and we had a great time.  It was a great way to pass the time -- enjoying one another's company.   This morning before surgery, he has decided that he has a few more things to make better before he sends the final video off to be judged.   Typical artist, eh??  Always doing one more thing to make it better!

The painting I'm posting today is one I did a while back as part of a paint out for the California Art Club.  I liked it but another painting I also submitted (which I also liked) was chosen to go into the gallery show in South Pasadena.    It's amazing how quickly time seems to fly by when you're painting outdoors.  The shadows change constantly and so you have to decide where to put them and then just leave them there.

This painting is called Dappled Sunlight.   If you're interested, please click on the link HERE for more information.

Monterey Cyprus .... (And Happy Anniversary To Me!!)

High On A Rocky Coast
10" x 8" Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel

I'm home from Dad's for the evening.  I decided to try to paint a little landscape of the coast around Monterey.  I had fun with it... trying to use interesting brushwork as well as to work on developing believable rocks.   For some reason, painting rocks, is often difficult for me.   As I'm looking at it, now I think I need to push the values a bit so that there is more contrast.  Those paintings I admire seem to stand out because of their value patterns.  They draw the eye and make the composition.  I know some of you complete a painting and more every day, but I'm finding it tough to complete one every other day.   

ANNIVERSARY
August 15th is my anniversary.  It's hard for me to believe, but as of the 13th I have known my husband for 40 years.

Last year I posted photos and talked a little bit about how we met and married one year later in Venice, Italy.  If you're interested, you can read the story.

LOVE STORY

I imagine (and hope) that there are many couples out there who have had long and caring marriages... but I do think mine started out a bit differently than most.

We'll celebrate together with the family on Sunday evening.  My husband, Gastone, is a fabulous gourmet cook and he'll bring over something to Dad's house to cook for all of us.  I think my son and daughter in law will join us as well   This will be a great way for us to keep Dad's mind off the surgery he will face on Monday morning.

Opening Reception at VOCA Gallery
Tonight Gastone, Tyler and I drove to Venice, CA for the opening of an exhibit in a small gallery where I had some paintings juried in.   I used to live in Venice, CA when I met my husband while I was on vacation in Venice, Italy.  As you can imagine, they are quite different places.  Venice, CA is really still very much of a young beach / hippy / eclectic / strange part of L.A.  It's crowded with people -- the beach crowd -- the homeless -- those who like to watch people -- artsy crafty -- hip -- street vendors -- street entertainers -- all sorts of people.  It was a fun cool night and Gastone and I had a good time reminiscing about the time he flew out to California to visit me in Venice before we got married.   Things have changed... but not really.

I had two paintings in the show and they seemed not to fit in really well.  Most of the work submitted was abstract or semi-abstract.  One of my entries  was a plein air seascape with rocks (and sand embedded in the paint.) and the other was of a little boy walking to the beach.      Hey... I guess that's how I roll... I yam what I yam... a realist.


I wish you all the blessings and good fortune of being with people you love, respect and care for.

Summer Flowers -- Joie de Vivre

Summer Flowers
9" x 12" Oil On RayMar Linen Canvas

If you'd enjoy owning this painting click on the above link for Pay Pal information.

My Neighborhood
I love where I live.  When we first moved in fifteen years ago, I was afraid I wouldn't.  I really thought where I lived before was special too.  I wasn't sure about the new neighborhood or the neighbors -- would they be snooty?  Would I fit in? 

To be honest, I still know very few of my neighbors.  It's my fault not theirs.  Until two years ago I was working most of the time.  Add to that I like my family and tend not to be too social.  I'm also very comfortable with my own company. 

However, I do enjoy lovely things.  And I love this neighborhood..-the hills -- the animals -- the gorgeous skies and sunsets -- the view across the valley -- It just makes me glad I'm alive to see it.  We have a neighbor a few houses down the hill who has a beautiful bed of flowers in her front yard near the sidewalk.  Each year it's a bit different.  Several years ago it was so magnificent that I painted it.  I called it "Sunny Day In The Neighborhood" and it took a first place in a juried show in Studio City.  It also sold -- always a good thing.  Since then, the flower bed has been nice but not as stunning as it was the year I painted it.  This year it's stunning again.  The flowers are different but somehow they just stopped me in my tracks and I had to paint them.

What a good time I had sitting there trying to recreate the feel of the flowers as they danced in the light breeze.  They are so light and ... well ...  happy!

Dad's Busy Creating Too
Dad's out of the hospital for a few days and I wanted to celebrate.  He's happy to be home and today he's feeling much better than yesterday.  He'll have to go back in next week but we're all hoping that this upcoming major surgery will be the last one.  After all -- he's already had five surgeries since July 5th!  But he's a trouper and since he only has a few days before going back to the hospital, he's trying to finish up his latest video so he can get it in to the contest before the deadline.Guess who he asked to be his narrator?  ... Saying believable lines in front of a camera is a lot harder than I thought...  But we have had some fun with the bloopers!

Let's all celebrate beauty and creativity and a joy of life -- Joie de Vivre.  

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER
I almost forgot... Today I've finally finished editing and will send out my free monthly email newsletter.  If you'd like to receive an update each month, please sign up by completing the information on the linked page below.   THANKS!!!

http://marianfortunati.com/email-newsletter

Still Here

Taking A Break
8" x 6" Oil on RayMar Canvas
$100 + s/h

Still Here
My Mom passed away a few years back after living with Alzheimer's disease for over 16 years.  My Dad was her caregiver and they both shared their great outlook and spirit with one another each morning as she awoke.  Dad smiles at himself in the mirror each morning as a way of saying "Hello!  It's another beautiful day.  Let's get out and do something interesting!"   Mom remained mostly cheerful and content even to the end.  When we'd ask how she was doing, she always answered "I'm still here!" in a happy voice.

Well... we're still here... and both of us are becoming pretty tired of it.  For the last three days, we've thought that Dad would be going home.  I've brought my packed bag of "STUFF" with me anticipating spending the night at Dad's.  But he's still here in the hospital.  We were sure that he'd be home by lunch today...  But some confusion between what one doctor ordered and what a stand-in doctor ordered resulted in yet another delay.   Hopefully Dad will be home by dinner time.  I'll let you know.  It's one thing to say you're still here meaning happy to be alive... It's quite another to say you're still here when you want to be home.

Taking A Break
Yesterday while Dad was taken downstairs for an MRI procedure, I walked to a nearby park (Johnny Carson Park - across from the old NBC studios) and sat on a rock and painted a small study of the bridge and trees in the park.  Before I knew it the clicking clock and marauding black ants insisted that I return to the hospital room, but I enjoyed the brief respite outside in the park in an unusually pleasantly warm day in Southern California's August.  Too often we're experiencing triple digit heat, but this year.. It was just balmy!

Acrylics and Oils
I had brought some acrylics to try them out thinking they would be less cumbersome to carry around than oils.   I hope all of you acrylic lovers forgive me, but it will take a LOT more painting with this medium to even come close to loving it.. or even liking it.  I quickly abandoned the acrylics and painted over them with oils...  They are so buttery and easy to mix... What do I care about how difficult they are to transport and clean up... Oils are worth it!

Taking Photos
I  took this photo early this morning before it was very light and it just isn't right -- it wasn't right inside with lights on nor outside with the dim light of a foggy morning.    It's amazing how different a painting looks when it's in natural light or incandescent light.  I will try to take the photo again if I get home before it gets dark.   Okay... They told me Dad's spending another night (drat) so I came home.  The small painting on the left is the one taken in poor light... The one above was taken this afternoon and looks like the real painting!  (WHEW).


Have a lovely day and always be happy that you're "still here".

Pearries and Chers

Pearries and Chers

8" x 6" Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please click on the links above for further information.

It's a crazy mixed up time in my life right now.  Nothing is the way I think it should be. Dad's still in the hospital.  Nothing seems to work as we all hoped it would.  But we still have some belief that things will turn around and return to normal or something approaching normal.

Yesterday I left the hospital in mid afternoon when Dad's caregiver came.   Of course he's fine in the hospital with all the good care he gets, but as you can imagine...  it's BORING and with tubes in every direction, difficult to move the way he'd like to get this and that.   So I'm a diversion and a go-fer.  

I did bring in a DVD which we began to watch.  It's called "The Art Of The Steal" about how the city of Philadelphia and the big money people managed to move the multi-billion dollar unparalleled post impressionistic art collection housed in the Barnes Foundation by overcoming the specific intent and purpose of the trust that Barnes set up to continue housing his collection as an instructional setting for art in the building in lower Marion, PA which he built.   VERY INTERESTING... I recommend both seeing the collection before 2012 when it's moved, and renting the DVD.-- (I got mine through Net-Flix.)

Anyway after spending some time with my husband and Tyler in the afternoon, I decided to go upstairs and paint.  I had stopped at the store on the way home to get some fresh fruit.... all I had at home was dried up citrus.   I got a lovely red pear and some cherries and sat down and had a great time.

One of the bloggers I enjoy is Dori Dewberry.   She can paint just about anything with a joyful brush and lively color.  I particularly enjoyed her recent adventures into "pear-dom" and thought I'd like to try applying paint in mosaic-like patches like she did.  Although I ended up painting it my own way, I do really like how my pear and cherry painting turned out.  I really had fun as I mixed up the paint trying for interesting and beautiful colors -- complements and otherwise.  I think when color sings to you, you really need to listen and apply the paint the way the muse tells you.   For a while now I've tried being more generous with the paint and applying it in one stroke over another -- not mixing and blending as I once did.  I hope you enjoy viewing the "fruits" of my journey as I did painting this beautiful summer fruit.

Lean On Me

Lean On Me
8" x 6" Oil On RayMar Canvas Panel


Things are still rocky with Dad.  They tried out capping off the nephrostomy, but it didn't seem to drain into the bladder with the new stent as we all hoped, so they opened up the nephrostomy again. 

I wish I understood more about what the options are at this point.  I think everyone's puzzled -- never a good thing when referring to your body. 

The good news is that he's in better spirits today.  He was up and we walked around the floor a bit.  We're hoping that once his body rests up a bit and gets stronger, things will start flowing...   so to speak.

I just can't seem to find much time or energy to paint new work, so I'm re posting this little painting called "Lean On Me" which I love.   Click on the link with the title if you'd like more information.  It was from one of my trips to the poppy fields in the Antelope Valley a few years back.  The couple was just sitting there in the warm sunshine enjoying one another and the beautiful vista in front of them.  Gosh we are so lucky to be able to witness the drama of the changing seasons and the colorful panorama created for our pleasure!


Be well and enjoy every minute.

A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Memory Garden

8" x 6" Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel

Dad's Fifth Surgery
Okay...  So Dad just got out of recovery this afternoon from his FIFTH surgery since July 5th.   Both of us were having trouble keeping track of all that has happened to him so Dad asked me to write it all out.  Good grief it's like one of those hospital dramas.  While I'm happy he's managed to survive.. I almost feel like we're living through the ups and downs and experimental aspects of an episode of "House" -- only without the surly doctor.  Dad is now lying here with TWO tubes draining his kidney....  One -- the nephrostomy which is still in place out through his back and another draining the usual area.

They kept the nephrostomy in this time as insurance so in case the stent fails, they won't have to perform a THIRD nephrostomy.  (Today's surgery is the third attempt to place a stent in the ureter to drain the right kidney...  Hopefully a more successful placement than the others.)  I'm thinking they will cap off the nephrostomy before he goes home and if all is stable for a while, Dad will come in to have it removed at a later time.

Painting by the Koi Pond
In all Dad's past surgeries I have waited LONG, LONG hours doing nothing while waiting anxiously for news.  Today I came prepared to paint while waiting so the time would pass more quickly.  The good news is that the surgery as well as the recovery took much less time than anyone expected.  the bad news is that I only had time to eat a bite of lunch and dash off a little painting of the koi pond which is in an area of the hospital called the Memory Garden before the nurse called me and told me Dad was back in his room.

Short And Sweet
Perhaps if I'd had more time I could have noodled this little painting to death.  As it was,  it was a quick study of the pond and a good way to pass the time. Unfortunately the photo I have of it, isn't as great as it should be.  I may try to re-shoot it tomorrow morning.

I've had a heck of a time trying to find time to paint these last few weeks.   I have learned that I have to work up to a painting... My painting time is far more than painting...   It's looking through references or thinking about locations to paint...  It's almost visualizing myself actually painting the scene... kind of virtually painting it.  It's getting psyched up to do it and then it's the surrender to the brush.   It all takes time and energy.  It's surprising to me that sitting in a hospital room doing nothing wears you out so much.  Although I suspect it will be a while before things are back to normal... for Dad or for me..   At least there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

With WiFi free here in the hospital, I've enjoyed visiting your blogs and websites and enjoying your work.  Thanks for being there and for sharing YOUR journey!

Glowing In the Dark.... Feeling Abstract

"Flower Power"
10" x 8" Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel

INSPIRATION
When Dad was home (last time for 1 and 1/2 days), I went to Trader Joe's to get something to fix us for dinner and brought home a potted flower along with the groceries.   I thought I would give it a go as a painting "model"  if I had any spare time.  I put it on the floor of the kitchen and the light shined through the kitchen door/window onto the flower leaving a dark shadow next to and across the plant.  I decided to try to change up the colors a bit and make it more abstract than realistic.   I'm in that kind of mood right now.... sort of not based in reality.

PLAYING WITH PAINT
I used a dark toned panel and started laying in odd colors of paint with the palette knife.  I finished up with the brush... still have trouble with accuracy on the palette knife.  I played a bit with color and paint... Sometimes that's therapeutic.

WEIRD SCIENCE
Dad's still in the hospital.  They have now tagged some of his white blood cells with an isotope which they hope will run through him and gather together to "party" where-ever it is that is causing the infection.  This gave both of us a boost as it seems very logical and my engineer Dad thought it was a well-thought out rational plan.  It is really amazing what science can do.  Who even has heard of Indium 111??

The nurses and other staff welcomed Dad back and have been cheerfully keeping him in as good spirits and meeting his needs as well as possible.   Hopefully the doctors will knock out the infection and do what they must to get rid of the source very soon.  We began this up and down hospital home roller coaster a month ago in early July.    Maybe between the weird science, the many good wishes and prayers and my Flower Power, we can get Dad back to his former health and happily home making videos and writing stories.

Roller Coaster

Regal
10"x8" Oil on RayMar Canvas Panel

This will be a short post.   Dad's back in the hospital again.  Apparently all of those nasty bugs in his system were lurking around inside just waiting for the "big gun" antibiotics to be taken away.  So after getting home from the hospital on Friday he had a pretty good day on Saturday and then was back in ER on Sunday.  This is no fun.  Even my ever-positive and wonderfully patient Dad is getting fed up with it.  Think good thoughts, please...  We'd all like him back in action, getting his latest video about his silver cane project shot and edited in time for the September first contest deadline.   It would be great to celebrate his 92nd birthday with another contest award.

I'm re-posting a painting from earlier this spring.  (Haven't had any time to paint lately.)  I painted irises from a lovely garden in Pasadena called Arlington Gardens.  It is a community developed and cared-for garden and is a little slice of heaven in that neighborhood.  It was a magical place and the first painting I painted there already sold.

Remember to enjoy each day and squeeze all of the good times out of everything you do!