Today was a medical day.  Doctor visits and a little shopping. At least it is not snowing.  Tomorrow I will be able to work in the studio but also there are things to do because I am getting visitors from out of state.  They are coming to visit our uncle who will turn one hundred years old in July.  Now, this is not your ordinary one hundred year old man.  When you talk to him, you might guess he is a bright and energetic seventy year old.  Even so, I have to say he has aged about thirty years in the last six months.  So my cousins will be here with me for almost a week.  It will be a joyful time.  Painting will wait till the following week so there won’t be any ‘progress’ on works in progress.  It is easy to put things in perspective when you love your family and enjoy their company. Nothing is more important!  I am looking forward to this time.  Till next week, happy painting!  Diana

I had one of those down days and didn’t want to get into the serious business of painting.  I decided to take the canvas which was already toned and dried and begin transferring the sketch for Portrait of a Young Man.  Actually, this is a really important step because this is where you must be careful to get things right.  Of course we must always be prepared to make corrections.  That is a continual process.  But I like to get the early steps as accurate as possible so that the corrections are limited.  Now lets see if I can figure out how to get the photo image on the blog.

It is March 12, 2014.  Yesterday we did not need a coat.  Today there is sleet, wind, rain and probably there will be snow before the night is over.  I am so glad I moved my studio, formerly referred to as the art room, to the larger space upstairs.  The reason is because it has a heater vent.  I can get cozy and stay here all day.  I’ve been working on the sketch for a very large painting (40 x 58) that I hope to enter in an upcoming show.  I have no idea if I’ll be able to finish it on time.  I don’t want to rush it because I want it to turn out as I envision it. It is all about textures.  I’m also working on several small subjects too.  This is a little unusual for me.  Recently I painted five small (3″ x 5″) individual pieces to exchange with the others in a group of artists who meet once every six weeks. The gathering is social but it is also informative and encouraging.  It was really interesting to see the imaginative and unique images each person had brought to trade as was the custom of the old masters.  Next time we are challenged to create a project focused on a tiny glimpse of nature, such as a detail of a flower or an insect, etc.  Surprisingly, I had already begun a piece that will fit the bill.  I’m not sure if it should be labeled a still life or a landscape.  I may entitle it, “Hide and Seek”.  I will post it when it is complete.

I am almost ready to put my signature on the portrait I’ve been doing for our first foreign exchange daughter.  The subject is actually her daughter.  I’m hoping she will follow this site and read the blog.  I am waiting for her to  e-mail me and then I will begin to post the painting in progress images, one at a time.  I hope it will be a fun surprise for them.

Bruce has been preparing the stretcher bars for the large painting and also for a portrait I want to do of our grandson.  You can see a detail of the sketch for that one on demonstrations.  I guess tomorrow we will stretch canvas.  That is a job for two!

Well, since I cannot paint more after dinner because of the pain thing, I guess I will go mix up a batch of blueberry scones.  I wish you all could join me for a cup of tea and a scone.  Till next time,  Shalom, Diana