my favorite thing....

I love, love, love the fog.  It creeps in every evening and blankets the mountains in coolness but hangs low enough to let the stars have their moment. And it has given me a great photograph (aka: procrastination tool) to share while I deal with a bit of a block on how to proceed with the top portion of my "big" painting.  I always seem to have an issue with finishing a piece once I divide it (remember this?).  I have an idea of where I want it to go but am not ready to commit yet.  You know I think I'm also still adjusting to my new space and am trying to get comfortable there.  In addition,  I had lots of life's messiness to deal with last week which led to 3 or 4 non-painting days (which makes me very cranky).  That said, today was lovely and cool and I got in enough studio time to work up two new pieces to share tomorrow.  Sweet dreams.

food and shelter.....

Community, farmers and yumminess....isn't that what it's all about?  I have become slightly addicted to the farmer's markets (as they can be on most any day in these parts) and am always in awe of the beauty of real food.  But what I really enjoy is talking to the farmers and finding out new ways to work with and honor ingredients (note the heirloom tomato and gruyere tart which will be making a repeat appearance tomorrow evening).  I also have found some amazing local cheeses, breads and  jams and  (and to-die-for hand made enchiladas and salsas which was a saving grace after managing home work and soccer for two yesterday!)  There is a great line in the beginning of the cookbook "How to Eat Supper" by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift:

The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who wake up thinking about what they're going to eat for supper, and those who don't." I'm decidedly in the former camp.  But enough about food (well kind of...)  My supersized encaustic piece ( 36 x 36) is a bear to work with but I really love the idea of working large.  This painting is in process and has to do with houses, communities, farms and the cosmos.  Did I mention than from our patio we can see about of billion stars and the planet Jupiter almost every night?  With my son's telescope we have been able to see three moons orbiting Jupiter and craters on the moon....how awesome is that???

More tomorrow-

P.S.:  I wish you all at least one bright star to wish upon tonight...

new studio+new work

I have lots to share today so let's get started!  Above  is a peek at my new work space.  It is slightly larger than my last studio but I need to do something about the lighting (a floor lamp perhaps...) And (this is a biggie) I need to get used to working with the garage door rolled up (which leaves me  exposed to neighbors and dog walkers in this very pedestrian town). That being said I am still sooo grateful to have a dedicated spaced to work at home....and speaking of work here are two new pieces I completed over the weekend.  Both pieces deal with my oh-s0-familiar subject matter of house, home and identity but my thoughts on these subjects is changing (more on that tomorrow and a peek at a 36" x 36" piece I'm working on (yes i said 36 x 36 !).  See you tomorrow!

 
                                        " they told me the trees were magical"

                                                                  3.5 x 5 

                                             encaustic on solid maple block

                                                                 "identity"

                                                                      6 x 6

                                                      encaustic on maple panel 

Here's how one of us is adjusting:

Yes this little guy is doing just fine.  Yesterday at school he was "person of the day" and can you imagine anything better that that?  Well today was "red day" and we just happen to a have a super hero cape which is red (so it can get better...note the "lord of the flies quality to the 5 year old gang in red as they gather sticks and climb across the rocks in the creek).  We also had a three week monopoly tournament for which the grand prize was breakfast in bed (Sage actually helped whoever was winning but that did not dampen the sweet reward).  And we have our first ever pseudo organized sport (saturday mornings will never be the same).  So as you can see our littlest member is thriving here in our new town.  I have to say the other two are doing pretty well too.  Tomorrow I will write about how  bogged down by "stuff" I felt once we moved and some of the changes we have made to adjust to our new environment and  then on Monday I promise to start sharing new work....sweet dreams and hopes that you may be able to think of yourself as " person of the day" tomorrow!

the journey west....

six days

six states

six travelers (5 human + 1 canine)

12 versions of "route 66"

one fabulous book on tape

road food

intense heat (113 degrees in AZ)

unexpected cold (47 and foggy in Mill Valley)

an i told you so (i had suggested bringing fleeces)

lots of laughter

a few tears

a new home

more tomorrow....

Hi Peeps!

How I missed you!  I finished setting up my new work space yesterday and can't wait to start painting once I finish giving you the skinny on what's been going on around here.  Since I last wrote here are a few of the things that have filled my days:

packing

driving

unpacking

nesting

mothering

cooking

eating

hiking

exploring

biking

crying

laughing

talking

playing games

filling out paperwork

more paperwork

stargazing

more unpacking

yep...it's been a busy couple of weeks. 

 We are settled in for the most part and school has started so I'm back to work in earnest.  My plan is to share a bit about the cross country trip and my new home and studio this week while I get started on  a few pieces inspired by my new surroundings.  

PS:  Thanks to everyone who convo'd and emailed me about the Somerset Studio and Artful Blogging features! 

a mixed bag (of excitement and exasperation)

WooHoo!

 My work was included in the Summer "Sisterhood" issue of Somerset Studio Magazine and  I can't tell you how excited I was to see my work in print in a real magazine.  This excitement was short lived however as things are becoming increasingly hairy around here.  I am not one to lose, misplace or forget things but I seem to be on overload and this is exactly what I have been doing.  I have misplaced test scores and prescriptions, left behind beloved blankie and bears and  missed appointments over the past week.  We are set to move near the end of this month and it is time for me to start packing up my studio (along with the rest of my home).  I am reluctantly reporting that I need to bid you all adieu for a bit.  It is difficult for me to commit to not writing because I so enjoy your company but I am really not good company for anyone these days (and I have much to get done in the next few weeks).  I promise to take lots of photos as I pack, travel across the country and set up a new studio and life among the redwoods of Northern California.  I will be back September 1st with stories to tell, pictures to share and (hopefully) lots of new work.  Until then here are a few places you can find me this summer:

Somerset Studio        July/August 2009

Artful Blogging           August 2009

Public Bookstore       Summer 2009

The Buzz (podcast)    Coming Soon....

ps:  i'll still be checking in on all of you!