Lighter than Air #4

Lighter than Air #4 - 45"x24"

My kids are so big now, 17 and 20. I still see them this way in my mind, skinny and scruffy, and I'm surprised when they get off the airplane or commuter train and all so grown up.

A Toast #2

A Toast #2 - 30"x40"

After I painted this, Bonnie and Rich and Sandra happened by my kitchen and laughed at their portraits. Can't make art without friends.

Log Bridge #2

Log Bridge #2 - 60"x43"

This is based on a canal we hiked past up in Nevada City. That girl looks so confident; I'd like to be like her.

Rooted #6

Rooted #6 - 38"x47"

I just want to stay here all day.

Princess Cottongrass

Green Water, 48"x18"

 There's a Swedish folk tale called Princess Cottongrass. The little princess has wild wispy blonde hair like a common wild flower that grows in the far north. She falls in love with a moose and loses a heart on a gold chain, and she spends so much time looking into the water at the gold heart that she turns into the wildflower. You know, a standard Swedish folktale...

Stairway

Stairway - 27"x17"

I have two old suitcases of my mom's by my easel. They keep finding their way into my paintings.

Bringing Down the Paintings

 Every artist needs a friend with a truck, especially if paintings are 12 feet long. These two pieces have been up at my church for awhile. They started as ideas doodles on a church bulletin, were painted in my garage, and are now there again. If you have space for one or both, let me know.
Thanks again, Eric, for your truck...

Spark

Spark - 30"x24"

Lean in closer. It's dark out there, but there's light and heat if you're close enough.

Outstretched Arms

Outstretched Arms, 24"x24"

 Good morning. It's a gray dreary morning. This painting helps me get out of bed.

Reach

I love these clouds.

Flight

Who needs shoes?

It's Been So Long

Improvisation

In doing improvisational theater, you cannot say no because it breaks trust and ends the plot. This year I want to say, "Yes, and..."

The Crossing

Some paintings are like my kids--I linger at the door and watch them walk out of sight. This painting is like that. A part of me is hanging at the Studio Shop in Burlingame, Ca.

Pink Window, Blue Sky

I get glimpses of something bigger.
This painting is at the Harrison Gallery--(413)458-1700.

Waiting for Rain

She knows it will come.

Trapeze Couple

Trapeze Couple, 62"x30"

Sometimes I put a big canvas on my easel with no idea where it will go. This one begged for a trapeze.

Standing on Heads

I have a solo show at the Harrison Gallery in Williamstown, MA, opening this Thursday, Dec 15. Thank you, Jo, for letting the work shine.

Vantage Point

Vantage Point, 36"x36"

When I go to the art store, I buy large jars of blue...

Yellow Innertube #2, 24"x24"

 She's undaunted by the immensity of it all, maybe even delighted by it. I wish I was like her.

Breathe

A good reminder for a Monday morning...

New Start

I am thankful for new starts, for the black soil when I rip out my old tomatoes, for friends in far places, for miracles every day.

Rooted #5

 Some paintings come easy. Others keep going back to the studio. This was one of those. First i had a reader at the base of the tree, then dancers. More appropriate that it's my kids, still rooted but venturing out.

Sophie Modeling

 August. My son is home from college, and he sees us with fresh eyes. I guess we're not a typical family...

White Dress

Dancers, White Sky

Open Studios is over. Thanks to everyone who came. Thank you, Galen, for letting me use your space. Thanks to Jonathan and Marcus for helping us transport it all home and the the Van Gelders for keeping Sophie. And special thanks to Ed for hanging around all weekend.

The next event of note is the SFMoMA Artists Gallery Warehouse Sale. It starts tomorrow, May 4 and goes through Saturday in building A at Fort Mason. All the art there is slashed 50%, and it's a very lively and fun scene. I have six paintings there. If you don't see them on the walls, ask a staff person to bring them out.

Open Studios Today & Tomorrow, April 30-May 1, 2011

 It's that rush time, loading up the car and hanging at Hunters Point. This year I'll be at my regular space and room 1210 on the main floor of building 101. April 30 and May 1, 11:00 to 6:00. I hope you can come.

My Studio

A late-spring chaos has descended on my studio this week. Tonight and Friday I will transport about 70 paintings to Hunters Point for this weekend's open studio. There's always a point at midspan on the Bay Bridge where I ask myself, "Do I actually get to do this for a living?" Even though it's a tremendous amount of work, I wouldn't want to do anything else.

Hunters Point Open Studio, April 30-May 1, 2011
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Building 101, Room 1210, Hunters Point Shipyard, San Francisco

The Judges

These guys go with me everywhere. They never agree.

Girl with Hand Raised #2

I sat out on the back porch to paint this one on one of those amazing blue-sky-days after weeks of rain. The painting gets shipped off tomorrow for the Harrison Gallery's tenth anniversary.

Girl at Beach

Oh, I am ready for summer.

Lamp Lit Dinner Party

I went around and around on this one, changing faces, changing the sky. I wanted everyone engaged but no one dominating. it's that time when the meal is over but no one is a hurry to leave the table.

Torch in Forest

I'm packing up a crate today for the Harrison Gallery in Williamstown , Ma. They're preparing for their 10 year anniversary, so I'm sending this and two other paintings. I wish I could climb in the box and go, too. Thank you, Jo, for showing my work the past 3 years.

Two Boats

I would love some input on this one. Is anyone out there? Does anyone read this blog? What is in the paper boat? If it's a message, what does it day?

Vista

She's climbed a long way and still has a ways to go, but isn't the view beautiful?

Sidewalk Dancers

My kids posed for this one. After years of doing this, they are very good at holding still for long periods, arms aloft, quipping jokes while hardly moving their lips.I can figure out when I did a painting by how old they are in it. Soon I'll have to start asking the kids down the block.

Direction

The landscape here is inspired from Dore's illustrations for The Inferno. Does she have correct directions? Is she double checking her to-do list and ignoring the world around her? Or is she rereading a poem that reminds her of what is really important?

Rooted #4

This painting hangs in my bedroom. It's a portrait of my daughter. I use it to remember it doesn't all depend on me.

Arm Wrestling

So much give and take. So much pushing and compromise. If I just try a little harder... I can't let up for a minute.

Twilight Tango

Last week Sophie went on a school trip to El Salvador. It was the first time in 19 years we had no kids in the house for an extended length of time.It wasn't too bad. And then on Friday night, Noah flew home from Boston, followed by Sophie the next night. That was pretty good, too.

Three in Boat with Violin

It's been awhile since I wrote. My mom died after a life of struggle. Life seems very short and precious. Both of my kids are on other parts of the globe and are due back this weekend. Can't wait to hug them. I've been painting up a storm and loading crates in the Volvo for distant destinations. What a journey.

Suitcase and Pines

These trees were the view from a window at a house in Oregon we rented two weeks ago with friends. They are used to me painting at a table as the kids run past. Sometimes a lone teenager will join me and pick up a brush.

Torch #4

Welcome to 2011.
I'm trying to see into the future, but there are a lot of unknowns coming up. I prefer certainty...

Boat in Forest #3

Life is full of mysteries, discoveries on the road, absurd things that seem pointless right now but are wisely stored or remembered for later. The bird gave the young prince three flowers. The old crone gave the traveler a mirror and a comb. The princess saved her father's ring, even when she herded geese.

Juggler with Raven

 Small stage, small audience, a few dropped balls...