ART, ART, AND MORE ART

Today I am going to Weaverville. A wonderful little town in the mountains. It is quite a tourist town and many art collectors come through there. There are so many good artists in that one little area it's amazing.
This month I am one of three featured artist in the Main Street Gallery. I am really looking forward to this show it is going to be a good one. For this show I sent up a pretty good variety of work. I have a monoprint, watercolor, acrylics and oils, mixed media and collage. I really love doing mixed media pieces and collage. Actually I love doing it all. There are so many other techniques I want to learn, like encaustic. That has to do with wax. Heating the wax and adding color and putting things in the wax, or something like that. I understand it is very messy and can be dangerous if the wax gets too hot. Gee, maybe I won't do that one, I could burn down my studio for pete sake. Well, better get ready to go to Weaverville.
Have a wonderful day.

IS IT A DECK YET?

There were several relatives here this week. They came to help build me a deck for an outdoor kitchen. There were nephews, son-in-laws, grandsons, friends. I thought how lucky am I. All these guys in the family coming to help their ole auntie and grandma out. There were a lot of guys here but the funny thing is none of them knew how to build a deck. What I ended up with is a very expensive, high off the ground, something that looks like a cross between a launch pad and a bandstand. It is going to be very interesting when I try to set things up on it. Oh well, I can always build walls that are half screen, put a top on it and call it a sleeping porch. At least the kids will have a lot of fun camping out and playing on it. It is also very close to the pool so I can always put a board from the bottom step of the deck,bandstand, launch pad, to the pool for the kids to jump in the water.
They tried and they all meant well. Lucky me.
Have a wonderful day!

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

We are having a new show at our gallery in November titled What's Cookin'? It is all about food. The artist's can paint still life's, or they can get really creative and paint all kinds of crazy foods. I'm going to paint Beets sitting on a piano and call it, Off Beet. I think it will be funny to have an enormous beet sitting on a piano. My other painting I think will be a pond with Lily Pads, however, instead of flowers on the lily pads I'm going to paint fruit on the lily pads. Maybe I'll have some melting bananas coming out of a goblet sitting on a lily pad. Then maybe I'll paint a bunch of grapes hanging around another lily pad. Then maybe I'll paint a giant tomato sitting on a tiny little lily pad. The ideas are endless, and this is going to be one fun show. Oh, maybe I'll have a cupcake with a fish on top on one of the lily pads. Well, I better get busy and start getting all these ideas on paper. Oh by the way, the fish tacos we had the other night were incredible, absolutely delicious. Let me know if you want the recipe.
Have a wonderful day!

THERE IS NOTHING BETTER!

I have friends who live in Alaska. They go fishing. They sent me 200 lbs of fresh caught Halibut! My whole family thought they were in heaven. We have always loved our friends from Alaska, now we love them a little more, if that's possible. There is nothing better, than eating fresh caught fish, especially Halibut.
Tonight we are having fish tacos with lots of fresh veggies in the tortillas. Most of the time I grill it on our outside BBQ and baste it with a little lemon butter and fresh basil, right from the garden. It is absolutely delicious. I did share a package with my sister and a package with a very close friend, but if anyone else asks me if I have any fresh Halibut, I will take the 5th. I will be guarding the rest of my stash with my life. I actually moved a small freezer into the room where the dogs sleep. No one will get into that room without me knowing it. The dogs will let me know if someone is trying to sneak into my freezer. They have been told to bite first and ask questions
later. Fresh Halibut is like gold, it cost almost as much if you try to buy Halibut in the stores. Well, I better go, I have lots of fish to guard. Hope I haven't made you too hungry.
Have a wonderful day!

SATURDAY AT THE GALLERY

Today I will spend half a day at our gallery. I just know we will not have any visitors because the weather is much too hot for people to drive around gallery hopping. We do an Art Hop every second Saturday and we have a lot of visitors, however, we serve food, drink and sometimes wine. Today there is only tap water and no goodies. It will be a good day for me to catch up on my reading. I started a new book but haven't been able to pick it up but today I will.
Stay cool and have a wonderful day!

PINE CONES, PINE CONES, $.25 FOR PINE CONES!

Today my little grandson Dominic wants to earn some money so he is going to collect all the pine cones all over my property. I have six acres. He wants to be paid by the pine cone. So we have decided on 25 cents for each pine cone he collects. There are hundreds of them so he has a good chance of making some money here. He can get approximately 25 pine cones in his wagon. The pine cones are everywhere for the picking so it's not like he has to climb or scale trees or cliffs to get these pine cones, my property is pretty flat for the most part. The way I see it, one wagon full could be as much as $6.25 If this little kid fills his wagon 15 times, like he says he can, that will be $93.75 he will earn today. I think I better make a trip to the bank so I can have the cash on hand for him when he is done. I think he'll do it, he is a very enterprising young boy. We have also agreed on a spot in the far back of the property to dump the pine cones. It is so much better to mow when we don't have to walk around picking up pine cones first.
Have a wonderful day!

30 30 ARTSHOW

Today is a good day to be in the house. It is very hot outside and everything is sort of frying. So, as long as I have to be indoors, I thought I would do a little catching up on my blog. I posted a picture of what our 30/30 show was like, I mentioned it in one of my other blogs a while back, and it was a big success. We had tons of people and lots of positive feedback not to mention several sales. Everyone's work was spectacular. I posted a couple of mine so you could see what they look like up close. They are just little tiny tiles, actually hard boards but they do frame up very nicely. I'll post one that I had framed and you'll be able to see what I mean. I posted a bunch on my Etsy site too. I always love these kinds of shows, they are really a challenge but lots of fun.
Have a wonderful day!

30/30 Show - Study of Pollock

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Today is going to be another hot day. The family is coming over for a BBQ, swimming, the usual stuff. The kids will swim all day and tonight we will all go and watch the fireworks. Some of the kids will fall asleep because they are so exhausted from the sun and swimming all day and then they will wake up on the way home and cry because they missed seeing the fireworks. Life is tough. Remember, put your animals away before setting off any fireworks. Fireworks really scare animals, they panic and run. Some have gotten hurt and even killed by running into traffic or through fences, etc. I plan on painting today for awhile before everyone starts coming over. I plan to get at least two paintings started before I have to begin entertaining and chasing kids.
Happy 4th everyone and have a wonderful day.

HOT! HOT! HOT!

All I can say is, its been hot, very hot these days, well over a 100 degrees. I'm willing to bet that yesterday it was at least 105. I love the hot weather, however, scorching hot is not very pleasant. It's hard to work outside, it's hard to walk outside, it's just plain too hot to do anything. Even the pool water is like a bathtub. When it's that hot it's a good idea to stay indoors and read a good book. Hot hot weather is like cold and stormy weather in the sense that it is best to stay indoors. Read with the children, do puzzles, clean out those drawers that you always meant to clean out, get rid of all the stuff in your closets that no one ever wears. I never could figure out why they say to clean your house in the Spring. Everyone is doing Spring cleaning. The Spring is when everyone should be outside having fun, walking, jogging, working in the yard, the heck with the house, save all those extra cleaning chores for the hot hot weather and the stormy cold weather.
Have a wonderful day!

DIRT DIRT AND MORE DIRT

We are putting in an outdoor kitchen and the back lawn is being dug up as I type. I didn't realize how much dirt has to be removed. There is dirt everywhere. The only ones that love all this dirt are the little boys and the puppies. They are in heaven with all this dirt around. One of the little boys loves helping the workers dig the dirt, he isn't afraid of a little hard work. I on the other hand don't really like dirt at all. Somehow it gets all over the house, even if everyone takes off their shoes the dirt seems to find its way into my living room carpet, kitchen floor, bathroom floors and believe it or not, in the bedrooms. I don't know how that happens but it does. Well here comes the pups, they are here to tell me it's time for their breakfast. More later.
Have a wonderful day.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Today is a special day for all you dad's out there so Happy Father's Day to you all.
My dad is almost 91 and still going strong. He has a wonderful sense of humor and enjoys watching old westerns and eating seafood. Yesterday I cooked him lobster for dinner and he really enjoyed it. Today we are having a BBQ with the family. Hot dogs, chips and watermelon. There is no way this crowd is getting lobster, there are so many of us it's a wonder we can remember everyone's names. There will be lot of little kids here, all his great great grandchildren. He loves watching them swim and play. They all love their grandpa too. Well better go and get ready for the crowd that will be arriving soon.
Have a wonderful day!

THE POT RACK IS IN!

I have always wanted a pot rack and now I have one. After putting in can lighting in my kitchen the electrician asked if I was going to have a pot rack over my island. I have always wanted one but thought there wasn't enough room. Not so, said the electrician, there's plenty of room, even one with lights. I found one, brought it home and it was installed yesterday. I am really loving it. I even have some fresh Rosemary hanging from it drying. There is nothing like fresh spices, basil, rosemary, etc. So far I just have basil and rosemary started but the cilantro is starting to sprout. Anyway my pot rack is beautiful and I am very happy. Now my kitchen is a little bit more homey. When I get the painting done and the light over the breakfast table and the tile on the back splash it should be almost complete. The only thing I am having a problem with is the texture on the wall. I don't know exactly what I want so I'm leaving the walls in one section of the kitchen bare until I figure it out.
Have a wonderful day!

I LOVE CRAZY BANANAS

The picture I just posted, Melting Bananas is a favorite of mine. It was so much fun to do. I painted this one for a food show and it also took second place in a still life exhibit. I love doing crazy abstracts that make no sense like melting bananas, or flat pears, or smashed grapes. This particular painting is done in acrylic but doing paintings like this one in watercolors is just as fun especially when the colors flow all over the canvas. I'm going to my studio in a little while and try and come up with a painting with a theme for Stars and Stripes for our local fair.
Have a wonderful day!

Melting Bananas

FANS and LIGHTS and LIGHTS and FANS

The last couple of weeks I have had new lighting and fans installed in my house. I'm in love with my new fan in my living room. It is a double header, two fans on either side, and they tilt in all directions. Boy does this fan move the air around. I love it! I also love my new lights in my living room. They can be turned every which way and show off my art work. I had them all on last night and went outside and looked through the window. Boy did the art work look good. No more dark places in the living room either. I have a new fan in the dining room and in my bedroom and in all the other bedrooms in the house. I have a new fan in the puppies room too. Last night all the kids in the house told me I had enough fans in the house and I couldn't buy any more fans. Hmmmm, I might need one over the table in the breakfast nook.
Have a wonderful day!

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Yesterday I finally got my new lights in my kitchen. I had that recessed lighting put in, can lighting I think it's called. It looks great and it is so nice to have decent light to cook by. I'm very excited. I'm also going to get a pot rack over my island with lights on it. I can also turn on different ones if I want and not have all of them on at the same time, and I'll be able to dim them too. Now all I have to do is finish the texture on the walls, hang up the art work and I'm ready for a party. Gosh, what should I cook. Think I'll visit some of the Italian sites I follow and check out their recipes.
Have a wonderful day!

THINGS ARE JUST TOO SLOW!

I am re-doing some of the rooms in my house and getting rid of a lot of junk, just got a 20 yard dumpster and it's almost full, geezeeeeeee! I have a lot of help from my family, grandsons, nephews, granddaughters, daughters, etc, and it's wonderful to have all this help. My studio has never looked so good. Now when I go in there to paint I can find things and there is so much more room to move around. I love being out there, I think I want to live out there . The only drawback to all this family help is you are never working on your clock it is always their clock. It seems I have been trying to get my bathroom finished for a couple of weeks, I want it painted and the trim and baseboards replaced, oh, yeah, the door put back on. It's always nice to have a bathroom door on one's bathroom, at least it's inside a bedroom. I have also been getting my weeds weed-eated, is that a word, for the past three weeks. It seems like the yard gets worked on sporadically so by the time the second batch of weeds are eaten the first ones have already grown back. It's a vicious circle with weeds. Oh well, I wouldn't have it any other way. Of course if I were rich, I could have things done on my clock.
I wonder if there is a millionaire out there who would want to adopt a nice Italian lady. I can cook!
Have a wonderful day!

CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES, HELP!

Today is our chamber of commerce luncheon we are hosting at our gallery. I must have made a 100 little sandwiches. My goodness, what a chore. I have to admit however, they are very good. But...when you are shoving every fourth one into your mouth, they are very tiny sandwiches, also very addicting, it's a no wonder I don't ever want to see another chicken salad sandwich.
Have a wonderful day!

WOW! I'M IMPRESSED!

Just looked at Bollandi's new soap line. Oatmeal, wow, it's beautiful. A total work of art. I would love to paint some of Bollandi's soaps in watercolor. How awesome would that be?
Today I am hoping to get my bathroom finished so I can put the door back on and move things back into my cabinets. I am having the bathroom redone, just some cosmetic work. The cabinets are being re-stained a beautiful dark wood color, called Jacobean. It's a wonderful color, so dark and rich. Reminds me of a decadent tall dark piece of chocolate cake. I am also having some work done on my kitchen. I think I want one of my walls plastered, like the side of an old building in Italy. I know, I know, everyone says it will get greasy and things will stick to it because of all the cooking I do in my kitchen. Well, I am looking into some very good sealers, then I'll be able to wash the wall and it won't get greasy or steamy or sticky. Hmmmmmm?
Have a wonderful day!

A GREAT MOTHER'S DAY

Today was a great day. I woke up to a big hot tasty Latte, then some breakfast, mighty tasty, eggs with cream, toast with marmalade, and tiny tiny potatoes. I received flowers, gift certificates, movies and an offer of a blue popsicle. It's been a very good day. Now I think I'll go and play with my puppies for a little while. Then the family is coming over and we are going to cook pasta and veggies. My favorite.
Have a wonderful day.

TODAY IS COSTCO DAY!

Today I have to go to Costco and buy the goodies for the 30/30 shows reception. We are expecting at least 200 people to come through the gallery. The 30/30 show is a spectacular show and so many different pieces of art. They are paintings done on 6"x6" boards and then hung. Each artist does 30 pieces in 30 days. We have hung close to 600 pieces. The gallery looks so great and very impressive. We like to have lots of things for the viewers to eat as well as to see. Our sales always seem so much better when buyers are fed.
I have posted a few of my 30/30 pieces from our last show. I only had a few left so I put them on Etsy and posted on my blog. Take a look.
Have a wonderful day!

WOW! THE BOYS CAN REALLY COOK!

Saturday was my son-in-laws birthday. My daughter was sick with a cold and didn't want to cook and spread around her germs. I'm glad she is so considerate. Well, we all looked at each other and said, what about the birthday dinner we have planned. I certainly didn't feel like cooking over a hot stove and oven and doing all that work for 15 people, besides I'm no spring chicken. So...my teenage grandson said, I'll cook! His brother said I'll cook too! So.. off to the store we went and bought everything we needed for dinner. The boys made Chicken Crosta, hope I spelled it right. It's chicken breast with mushrooms, that are sauteed in butter and wine, then wrapped in puff pastry. When done it's served with Bearnaise sauce.

These boys fixed the Chicken Crosta, steamed broccoli, red potatoes in parsley and garlic and for a special treat I made polenta for my son-in-law, it's one of his favorites. Then we had fresh sweet watermelon slices on the table. The little kids loved that. What a delicious dinner. I had no idea they could cook like that. Hmmm, maybe we should have our own restaurant!
Have a wonderful day!

Black Chair

OKAY, WHAT HAPPENED?

I was writing away about my art shows, getting ready for some new ones, wanting to enter into some competitions and trying to get my house ready for the summer, when I took a little rest to read what I had written and I noticed this Monetize a the top of the page. I got curious and clicked on it, just to see what it was, and everything I had just written disappeared. So now there is a half finished blog floating around the internet somewhere.
Like I was saying, it's been a while since my last blog because I have been so busy with art, everyday stuff, fixing up my house and of course helping to take care of our beautiful puppies, Bella and Leo, King Leonidas and Queen Bella that is. Let me tell you, they both think they are royalty for sure. Bella walks into a room and expects all to bow to her and pet her head immediately. Leo comes into a room as if he were just shot out of a cannon. He wants everyone to notice him right away. One thing I can say is we are a fun household and Leo and Bella make it a very playful place.
Last night I had my grandson's family over for dinner. He has two darling little boys who are a lot of fun. I went to Costco and they had fresh Alaskan Halibut. I just put some lemon pepper and garlic on it and grilled it on the BBQ. I can't tell you how good it was. Even all the children ate it without turning up their noses. There wasn't a crumb left over. Well I have lots to do today as usual so I better get started. Here's another piece of art work.
Have a wonderful day!

PHEW! I'M FINALLY DONE!

Yesterday I finished and delivered all the paintings for my art show at the Silk Purse Gallery in Redding, CA. I have 20 paintings that will be hung in the gallery along with my colleague and artist friend, she also has 20 paintings. We will be featured together and our show will open April 3 and close in June but I forgot the date. What's great about this show is our styles are totally different. There will be a lot to see. My friend is more of a realistic artist, she does pastels, and oils and a little watercolor. Her paintings are of landscapes, seascapes, mountains, etc. Her work is absolutely beautiful. My work on the other hand is so far from hers. It is big and bold and I use lots of bright colors. I use acrylics and oils for my paintings, I work in watercolor sometimes too but I really prefer acrylics and oils. My trees are hot pink or turquoise, sometimes purple, I love shapes and lots of thick paint and some splattering. I'm very abstract and I love it. I do realism sometimes, however, sometimes I cry because it take so long, because everything has to be so perfect and I'm not the most patient person. I like to see results right away. I really like things that are slightly off center too, kind of like Henri Matisse. I dearly love Matisses' paintings. I also love Wolf Khan, Van Gogh, Kandinsky to name a few. Hopefully we'll sell a lot of paintings and I can go on a vacation, maybe to Italy, just kidding! I'll post one of my paintings from my show. Hopefully I can remember how to do it.
Have a wonderful day!