Morgan

Morgan

Oil on canvas, 12x12. Commission

For those of you who are not nuts about dog paintings, don't worry! Landscapes are coming - but I still have dog commissions to finish, and for that, I am thankful.

This one delights me on all sorts of levels. The lovely woman who commissioned it had me paint it for her mother, as a Mother's Day present. The gesture - and the dog, too - touched my heart. And the woman who commissioned it could not have been more charming or engaging. I liked her from the moment she said hello - last fall! She remembered me and came back to LaSalle Road last Saturday to find me and have me make this painting.

On quite another note... I've often wondered just why one juried-show entry will delight one juror and, apparently, turn the next one off. It's opinion, I know. I know! It's whether the juror slept well, or had the right amount of coffee, or  was simply feeling frumpy and crabby one afternoon. It can be something as ephemeral as that.

But maybe it's something even more ephemeral. For the longest time, it seemed that if I wore a particular pair of earrings while I delivered work or filled out an application, I got in. Then, well, that pair of earrings seemed to be less effective.

I thought for a while that it was my "Wisdom, Montana" T-shirt. If I wore that when I applied - and particularly, if I wore it while I made the painting AND while I applied, I would get in. That wore off, too.

Now, Lori Rembetski, a friend and marvelous sculptor, thinks she has it, and I think she might be right: The key is Greek yogurt. If you have Greek yogurt in the fridge, you'll get into the show. That's her suggestion, and when I think about it, it seems to explain everything....

For those of you in the area of southeastern Connecticut, I have pieces in the Mystic Arts Center show "Long & Lean," and in the Hygienic Gallery show, "Fifth Crossing." The Mystic show's opening reception is Thursday evening, and the show is up through May 22, and is really interesting.

The Hygienic show's opening reception is Saturday, and that show also is up through May 22. I haven't seen the Hygienic show yet, but it promises to be interesting, as most Hygienic events are. The Mystic Arts Center is located on Water Street in Mystic, Conn. (in the parking lot); the Hygienic is on Bank Street in New London, Conn.

Labradoodle II

Labradoodle II

Oil on canvas, 12x12, commission

After I finished the first labradoodle painting, I had an idea for another one.

This happens to me sometimes. Midway through one approach, I am struck with the notion of an entirely different approach. It's fine, good even - though I do wish sometimes that I could get to the second idea without going entirely through the first one.

This labradoodle, I made using a technique that I am finding I really love. I take the palette knife, load it with paint and medium (and I have to say, the transparent colors work best here), and I push the paint, hard, into the canvas, scrubbing and jamming and really smashing the paint in. Then, I overlap it with the next palette-knife full, doing the same thing. I do this again and again, and finally, at the end, go over it, in places, lightly, with a sort of frosting of paint - if the subject calls for it.

At any rate, it's a fun thing to try, and gives a cool, glowing effect. I think you can see it if you click on this painting, and make it big.

Thanks for reading! And don't forget the opening of the "Places & Pets" show, Friday, 5-7 (or 8) at the Lighthouse Gallery, 744 Long Hill Road, Groton. The show will be up all month, but come to the opening if you can!

Pug No. 3

Pug No. 3

Oil on canvas, 12x12, commission

I must say, I love this painting. The pug had such a top-dog attitude in the photos I had, and yet, he seemed worried and about to run - all at the same time. I had fun with his expression. I bet he's a corker of a pup.

Snowing again this morning, a beautiful, straight-falling snow that began as the sun came up. Puffy, our mean and always-dirty cat, is sitting at the back door, watching little birds peck seeds on the back deck. For her, it must be like watching TV - food TV, probably.

Puffy, watching.

The studio is almost finished! The electricians are coming back today, a door and a banister are going in, and that's it. I will post photos when it's all done.

Before the work could be done, we had to move nearly everything out of the studio. I had not realized how much junk I'd already brought in there until the place was empty - and it was then that I realized how much I like it - and need it - nearly empty. So the challenge now will be to take the right stuff back up there, and find a place for everything else.

Kisses for Baci

Baci
Commission, oil on canvas, 12x12

Baci, according to the woman who hired me to make this painting, means "kisses" in Italian. And Baci gave and received, for years and years.

Baci is dead now, but lived a long and joyful life, according to Samantha. The big dog - an English mastiff - was always with Samantha, and when she and her husband had a child, Baci loved and guarded the baby, as well.

I know, when an animal enters my life, that chances are I will outlive it. I know that my welcome, my warming heart, my open door, let pain and loss in, along with all that love.

I would not trade one moment's awful grief for one moment's pure and loving joy.