Winter rages on outside.  I’m 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 in it.  I am quite comfortable to cozy up in the room and stay all day.  I have been so busy working on several things.  I am getting a large sketch ready for upcoming shows.  I do not have a guess as to whether I’ll be able to finish this large (58 x 40) painting  in time.  I do not want to rush it.  I want it to be what I envision.  It is all about texture.  I’ve worked on a number of small projects too.  This is a little unusual for me.  I am meeting with a group of artist’s about every six weeks.  It is a social group but also it is informative and encouraging.  We assign ourselves a painting project and last time we took five 3″x5″  works to trade.  It was so interesting to see the different ideas the people came up with.  The next meeting we are to bring a painting that reveals a tiny look at nature or some detail of something like a flower.  What is amazing is that I was already working on a piece that I could call a still life or a landscape.  It sort of fits both worlds.  I will post it when it is finished.  I may entitle it, “Hide and seek”, but I’m not sure.

I am almost ready to pronounce my portrait done; the one I am doing to surprise our first foreign exchange daughter.  The painting is of her daughter.  If she has opened this site and looked at the blog, she will know something is in the preparation.  I hope to hear from her and then I will start to reveal the work in progress paintings.  I hope she enjoys it.  If I don’t get an e-mail soon, I will contact her.  She has a lot going on in her life so I need to be patient.

Bruce has just put together the stretcher bars for the large painting and also a smaller one for a portrait I’m doing of my grandson.  You can see a detail of the preliminary sketch on demonstrations.  I will post the work as I do it.

I am so thrilled to get the messages from all of you who are keeping up with my work.  I know it is a slow process.  Hope it does not get too boring.  I cannot paint after dinner because of the pain thing so before I sit down to rest, I think I’ll whip up some blueberry scones.  Wish you could join me for a cup of tea and a scone.  Shalom, Diana