End of season

We just got back from New Orleans and our last art show of the year.  It’s kind of sad and I already miss the excitement of “where are we going next?” and fun of being on the road, seeing new sights, meeting new people…  If it weren’t for the shows I might be a hermit, never leaving my studio or talking with anyone besides the cats.  Thank god for the forced deadlines and the forced exposure.  I thrive on it, maybe even need it.  The expression on people’s faces when they see my work, the kind words, the ultimate compliment when my art becomes a part of someone’s home…  Wow.  Russ loves the travel too, he says it satisfies his wanderlust. 

A few weeks ago we got a new, double-sized booth tent.  It’s not that much harder to set up and take down, but the rewards… oh it’s like a luxury suite!  The expanded size lets us show the larger paintings to a much better effect.  You can actually stand inside the booth and look at the work without feeling claustrophobic.  Nice.  I'm looking forward to using it for next year's shows!

blackbirds

Last month Russ and I were in the DC area doing the Bethesda Row art fair and visiting his sister Suzi.  On Monday after the show, we went for a drive along Skyline Road, just at the beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Oh, it was glorious.  The trees in all that gold.  You’d think you’d become blasé about seeing one gorgeous tree after another, but no, the eye continually seeks out the next visual treat.  By evening, I was telling myself, I’ve got to paint with more gold. 

So, in my studio last week, I took out a canvas, covered the entire field with shades of yellow and ocher, even using my hands to help spread the water and pigment (leaving me with yellow fingernails for 2 days after).  After that dried, I did some trees, but not just any trees, some trees that resembled wise old witches!  I learned this style from studying the works of early 20^th century Chinese masters.  The piece was starting to come together, but it lacked something I couldn’t put my finger on.  After staring at it for two more days, it became clear that those trees needed some birds.  At first I thought maybe a flock of blackbirds scattered over the branches.  But no, that’s not meaningful enough.  Ah… a pair of blackbirds in conversation, right off the center archway.  Perfect, exactly the mood I wanted!

Julie