Pondering Fall Leaves

Remember that big pile of fall leaves that we used to jump in?  Remember the crunching sounds we heard when we ran through them?  Remember that distinctive smell when we burned the pile after we finished playing in it? I am also remembering the hot dogs and marshmallows we roasted on that fire... sadly we have learned that some of these things were not good for us, but the memories are priceless.

Well, now that all the pictures are framed and ready for the show that we are hanging next week, I had time to look through old photographs and see what I wanted to paint next.  And, I came upon several of a granddaughter who is about to turn 13 - can't believe that - when she was experiencing her fist pile of leaves. She wasn't too sure what to do.  As the oldest child, there was no one to run through them with her, so she spent some time just sitting in them and pondering.  I remember snapping several photos at the time - I love this one the best.

It's still a work in progress, but that birthday is coming up fast...

His and Hers

Several years ago, George and I did a His and Hers Show - his photographs and my paintings.  It was a small collection of our artwork in a rather out-of-the way building in St Michaels. Since then, we have talked occasionally about showing again, so when I heard that there were some unclaimed months on the sign-up sheet at the St Michaels Library, I filled in our names for August.

As part of the preparations, we talked about making a sign to go with the show... hmmm, what to do? We tried a couple of different things - and since we 'do' different art, nothing was quite right.  So, we decided to go with our differences.  "His" in black and white with a black and white photograph.  And, "Hers" in color with a watercolor/pastel painting.

On August 1st we will hang our show - photographs and paintings. It has been fun preparing and comparing.  (You show me yours and I'll show you mine...)  We'll show YOU all of it.  Drop by the library gallery anytime in August and/or come to the artists' reception on Thursday, August 23 at 5:30 when we will talk about putting it all together... and our experiences creating the various pieces of artwork.

First Date

A few years ago my daughter sent me a photograph of her youngest daughter (who I think must have been about 4 years old) walking to the Timonium Fairgrounds - Maryland State Fair - with a friend.  I think they must have been told that they needed to stay close together and not get lost in the crowds.  I remember thinking at the time that this these two little ones would make a wonderful painting...

In August, George and I are presenting his photographs and my paintings in a "His and Hers Show" at the St Michaels Library.  For the past few weeks we have been organizing, painting, printing, framing - generally trying to get ready.  Just a few weeks left...

I decided to do three groupings: landscape, still life and figures.  As I was going through my figure paintings trying to decide what to show, I recalled that I had not yet painted the two children.  So, I did the watercolor underpainting and then (after it dried) began the pastel.  Now, I'm not sure what to do...  I love this, but... what to do next?  They probably need to be walking on a path or something...or maybe just some kind of non descript, suggestion of something...

Help... anyone?