I just finished a big job in SF yesterday, so I haven't painted much since Monday. Instead of an update on my work, I want to show the world the dragon sculpture Emily made on spring break. We also painted our funky piano but I'll post those photos later. For now, April and I are headed for Carmel for the weekend.

Flowers for April
(work in progress)

This is my challenge for the week, to move forward on this painting for April. She brings home fresh cut flowers every week, so I thought I'd return the favor and paint the flowers we so much enjoy in our home. Full circle right? We'll see how far I get, I've got a busy week in San Francisco finishing a project, but my design class is on spring break, so no teaching on Thursday. I feel I've got so much catching up to do with my art...I should be a lot further along at age 50 than I am.

Truffles
6" x 8"
oil on panel
2010

The submission deadline for this year's 50/50 show is fast approaching. If I get in, my theme this time will be "Objects of Desire". That should give me a wide array of subject matter to work with. Our girls were home on spring break this week so I took them out to buy truffles and kept a few handy to paint. They started to melt under the lamp, but I was able to capture them with paint before tragedy ensued. In my outlook on the world, chocolate truffles would certainly qualify as "Objects of Desire".

Studio music this week:

Pat Metheny- The Way Up and As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls

SS Rain
oil on cradled panel
11" x 13.5"
2010

This one's a little bit more whimsical than the skull painting, but I worked on it at the same time and finished it this afternoon. I was at my pal Shawn's recording studio two weeks ago listening to his latest work, one beautiful piece he recorded was called Rain. I went home and quickly drafted a one page film treatment for a short film based on his composition. Paper boats feature predominantly in the film concept, so I though I'd make a small still life study to go along with it and get some more painting experience to boot.

Have a Drink On Me
10" x 10"
oil on cradled wood panel
2010

I need a drink right now, this one was tough and it's self-imposed challenges like this that can cause an artist to question one's sanity and then go deep into drink. But I won't, I'll just relax for a bit and massage my sore art muscles. This was good and fun, satisfied with the results. Now I can return the fabric back to the sample closet at school, happy to never look at it again!

Studio music this week:
Peter Gabriel- Big Blue Ball
Nancy Hall and the Curios- Pillow Book

Have a Drink on Me
Still in progress!

I was hoping to have this done by yesterday but the tapestry is taking so much time. I started a little bit on the skull itself and the reflections in the flask are about 50 percent done. Maybe I'll finish tomorrow, we'll see...

Work in progress...

It has been a very busy week, so I haven't put a lot of time into my artwork since my last post ten days ago. But I did get started on this small still life which I will finish by the end of this week since I have a few days off. There are many challenges in this set-up: the busy fabric pattern, the distorted raccoon skull in the flask, all play into a visual puzzle that is going to test my skill level. I think I'm going to call this one "Have a Drink on Me". See you at the other side of this week, everyone!

This week's studio music:
Midnight Oil- Diesel and Dust
Sheila Chandra- ABoneCroneDrone