Wittersley Road - and a Philadelphia Show

Wittersley Road, 10x10

sold

My friends Cynthia and Kevin showed me this lovely sight, just outside of their hometown, New Milford, CT. 

I found a place to pull over and paint, and watch the clouds roll in, and wonder if the sky would truly cook up a storm. In the time it took me to paint this, the thunderheads grew and grew, but never broke. 

I really like the way this painting captures the light, and the threat, too, way off in the distance. 

My painting in the landscape

***

IF YOU'RE NEAR Philadelphia, please come to the Manayunk Arts Festival this weekend. It takes place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. I'm in Booth 85... and I think that's on Main Street, but we'll see. This is a new show for me, and I'm excited about it! 

***

SO, SATURDAY IS the longest day of the year. And yet again, it seems that the days are going to start getting shorter - and summer's barely here. 

Today, I realized that that my consternation comes from being correct. The days ARE getting shorter - well, sunset is getting earlier - and yes, summer's barely here. It starts on the 21st. So all this buildup is spring. Finally, an explanation! Every year, I think - oh NO! The days are already getting shorter, and I haven't taken advantage of it. I haven't spent those long evenings outdoors, I haven't worn sleeveless shirts, I haven't picked strawberries or gotten really tan, or even gone swimming. 

Well, summer hasn't even started! I feel better about it all now. 

***

Dog of the Day

I met this fine French bulldog at the New Milford Arts and Crafts festival. Cute! 

Through the River (Again) - and a Storytelling Extravaganza

Through the River

Oil on black canvas, 24x36

sold

Yes, I have painted this before - but not on black! I love these four horsemen splashing into the water, with their heads low and lariats high. I really love it on the black canvas, which I think adds to the drama and the movement of the piece. If you click on it to make it big, you might see the smallest splashes of water, which I'm very pleased about. They came out great!

So yes, the urge to paint cowboys continues - and it makes me smile every time I see or start one of these paintings.

***

THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 20, at the Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT, my brother - Rand Cooper - will participate in a series called The MOuTH, (which by the spelling, I think must be sort of akin to the Moth Radio Series)... storytellers at the Mark Twain House will be sharing their tales of interactions with famous people.

Here's what Rand wrote in an email invite: "The theme of the evening is 'brushes with fame/the famous,' and I am going to be telling the audacious, incredible, impossible but TRUE story of how I once had this woman ..."

..."on my waterbed, live, in the flesh and giggling. And yes, it is who you think it is..."

Heck, I didn't even know Rand had a waterbed.

It sounds fun, doesn't it? The cost to get in is $5, and it promises an evening of fun entertainment. If I was going to be in that part of the world, I'd be there for sure.

Click here for more info, about the program and the Mark Twain House and museum. 

***

THE SHOW in New Milford was a success, and I couldn't be happier! I sold one small painting, of a storm near Tubac, and then my newest piece, "Long, Long Longhorn," sold to a delightful couple who were just in love with it.

It is always great when a painting sells, and I am always happy to see one of my pieces get a new home. But when a buyer is just absolutely head over heels over a painting, as crazy about it as I am, it makes it all that much more special.

Here's a picture of the new owners:

***

ON MONDAY, my friend Kevin Ireton and I worked on renovating my van. Well, he did the hard work, and I did the lackeying. The renovation has given me an astonishing amount of extra space, and created far better holding areas than I have ever had. Here are some photos: 

 Above and below, the van as it was (empty and packed) before the renovation. 

Above,, you see a cubby on the left for tent pieces that never quite fit underneath... An upright to store paintings securely, and a slot where I can put wet paintings to dry safely. 

Above, a second upright, and then, below, a shelf that attaches to that upright. 

And here is the renovated van, all packed - and with lots of room to spare! If you'd like to talk to Kevin about renovating your van, please email me and I'll get you in touch with him. 

***

Dog of the Day

It's George, Cynthia and Kevin's dog... Just out of the photo Zack, their other dog, is eating his breakfast... I thought George looked guilty, but Cynthia said she thought he was trying to make her feel guilty enough to give him a second breakfast. In retrospect, I think she's right. 

Sunny Valley - and Old Saybrook Coming Up!

Sunny Valley Road

Oil on canvas, 18x24

Please contact me for price and delivery options

I've been away from home, and away from Peter for a while now, and it shows on me, I think.  Peter sets me right. When I am with him, the gears that make me run mesh smoothly. It's easier to make decisions, and they feel more solid. 

But I have spent time with good friends on this trip, and am on my way to spend time with family, and I talk to my sister every day, and all that helps, too. 

I've spent some time thinking about what puts me right and what puts me wrong...

Bad food

Bad sleep

Mean people

No sales

These things all put me wrong. 

What puts me right, aside from Peter and home and family, is

Good friends

Good food, and especially cooking good food

Having an excellent audiobook

Meeting nice dogs. 

What about you? 

***

THE OLD SAYBROOK Arts and Crafts Show is Saturday and Sunday in Old Saybrook, CT. It's the 50th year of the show, and I am happy to be in it! I'll be in Booth 87, which apparently is near Main Street and Liberty Bank. So if you are around Southeastern Connecticut this weekend, please stop by and say hello! 

Dog of the Day

THIS IS SOX the final Lori Rowe Dog of the Day. Isn't he a cutie? 

Want your pet to be Dog of the Day? Send a jpg to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com