Monday, July 28, 2008

Sunday, July 27, 2008




Pete's visiting from Boston. Yesterday, after brunch, he, Matt and I wandered downtown.




Between Seafair and simply being summer in Seattle, there was all sorts of curious fun to be experienced.


We saw a bunch of brims~





Guitar hula hoop man~



Quirky man~



And the saddest balloon man I've ever seen.



My heart really hurt for him.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Friday, July 25, 2008

Rose and I are still working together. Even though she's due this week, she'll be coming into the studio this afternoon (unless something happens before).

More Rose paintings...

this one is from, I think, the last Friday in June.



A painting from last Friday's sitting with Rose...



And, this from 3 days ago. I've begun a group of paintings, based off of all the little life studies and am working on a greater focus of color. Painting these are really scary and hard. I feel I don't know what I'm doing.

And at this time in my life, as I wrote a good friend recently...



..."creation hurts."

But how can we not create?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008





Thanks to an old friend I'm reconnecting with...they pointed out the dummy to me and wanted a photo of it. It's definitely sexy.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

As you can see, I've slowed down on the photography and the blogging. I miss it, but don't have the creative energy for a disciplined approach at this time. Images and entries will happen when they happen. Right now, it's taking all my energy to force myself into the studio and paint. In addition, I'm doing some major house cleaning…slowly tackling corners. And I have some intense deadlines at work.

Most of this weakness is due to lack of good sleep. I function best on 7 plus hours but have only been getting 5 or less. I have no problem falling asleep yet instead can't stay asleep. There are so many thoughts swirling through my head. I'll wake about 3 or 4 am…in heart pain which then leads to tears. It's been that way for too many months now. There have been many losses this year (and that's not including that dad stuff).

The shortened, disrupted sleep means I become incredibly sleepy about 1 or 2 in the afternoon and then need to crash early. Getting into the studio takes every ounce of physical strength I have because after work I'd rather just go home and lie down. But I've noticed that painting centers me. It's where I can find some internal strength which makes this practice critical.

So...being aware of my limited amount of stamina, it gets rationed out because I'm determined to churn out what I need: painting, daily life stuff, and yes, having fun and adventures as they arise. And breathing.

Sunday, July 20, 2008









I love being on the water. I've canoed, assisted with sailing and spent much time on various boats while living in the northeast on the coast. Although Seattle is surrounded by water, I haven't spent near enough time enjoying it.

Today, M and I went kayaking. It's something I've wanted to try and yet, have always been apprehensive. I'm thrilled to have a friend here who wants to do this kind of stuff.

After a bit of getting used to it, I floated and paddled. Water centers me.

Always.

It never fails.

It was a good couple hours in the sun on Lake Union. We saw many seaplanes take off and land, loads of tour boats and sailboats. Watching the planes brought out the kid in me.

Northwest Outdoor Center is a wonderful place for rentals. Reasonably priced and easy to rent. I'm going to do this at least a few more times over the summer. Even an hour a week would be good for me.

I didn't take the camera on the boat so these shots were taking from the dock after returning the kayak. I returned my kayak before Matt and waited on the dock hoping to capture a shot of him paddling back in. For a couple minutes I went to the car, and so missed his return.

I'll pick up an inexpensive underwater digital camera for these adventures. And next time, I'm headed for the floating homes and off to Portage Bay, and to the Montlake Cut. Also, we spoke of going through the Ballard Locks. Just the thought of being in a kayak in the locks, next to massive ships is thrilling.

Next time...definitely a camera in the kayak.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Friday, July 18, 2008

More from Quinn's Pub~





Thanks to Matt sitting next to me, he pointed out the needle from the window (which I couldn't see from my seat). Leaning into him, I captured this. Per his suggestion, it was going to be my daily photo for Tuesday. It didn't happen because sometimes life gets in the way.
Celebrating Phil's birthday on Tuesday at Quinns, I shot a buttload of photos. The trouble is sometimes quantity makes editing tough.






It was pretty much the only time this week that I've used the camera.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Thursday, July 10, 2008





Arrived home yesterday evening, greeted at baggage terminal by a friendly, loving face with a healing hug.

Dad's health is...well he's alive....barely at times and better at others. Mom is planning for his funeral because she wants to stay real, while still hanging onto any shred of hope and wishing for a few more years with him. That place of unknown is a tough one. I know it well. My siblings are in various forms of denial and one of them taking on all the responsibility of looking out for mom and dad. All I could do was be some type of support for each of them, wherever they are at.

We honestly don't know what will happen or when. It's crazy.
The future is one huge question mark.

My cold from last week has now settled deeply in my chest and between a few no sleep nights and being "on" not only back east at the hospital but mostly for the last month, I'm exhausted and spent. The next four days are strictly about serious self-care. No plans. No commitments. Very little talking and listening. It also includes no socializing, painting, photography and writing, unless I receive a powerful burst of energy. I'm practicing my "no, I'm sorry I can't help or be there" reply.

It's been a tough 5 days that was broken up by a few miraculous, healing moments of some old family wounds. I'm still stunned and although I will write about some of it, need to regroup first.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Friday, July 04, 2008







Some of my posse huddled together in the corner during the First Thursday Art Walk. Dear Connor even showed up and spent the remaining time with us. He had flown in for the weekend and I feared I wouldn't get to see him. But we managed to get together afterward...late at night, sitting at a sidewalk table on Broadway, talking while he grabbed some food.

The crowd flowed easily. It was a nice evening. Rose and her hubby showed up about 6. She looked absolutely wonderful. I was going to get a photo of her, but by the time I grabbed my camera she needed to leave for another commitment. My super amazing most fabulous doctor even showed up. I had made an emergency appointment yesterday, due to being so sick. I wanted to make sure I wasn't majorly infectious. Explaining the situation and that I'd be flying out this morning, Doc asked me how she could support me. A while later, she showed me some papers. They were copies of her favorite poems. Opening to the middle she had me read one in particular. I began to cry and she leaned into me, holding me close.

My doctor rocks.

This is part of the installation from last night's showing. Note the crookedness of the hanging. It comes from having the harshest cold I've had in many years.



My plane leaves in about an hour. There's a bunch of emotion bubbling under the surface. The photos aren't very good. Again...let's blame it on the cold.

Have a good holiday everyone. I plan on posting while I'm back east.




(Yesterday's daily photo posted a day late)

Wednesday, July 02, 2008



(I hate colds)

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

It's been a complex time. So much is going on. One of the tough things has been some family stuff. Friday morning I'm flying east to visit my parents for about a week. Dad is quite ill and I need to see him. I've spent much of the last 36 hours on the phone with family.

In addition, also in the same 36 hours, I've been dealing with the nastiest cold I've had in years.

On the other end of the spectrum is this:

I'm truly excited about July's First Thursday Art Walk. As many of you know, for the last 4 weeks, every Friday, I've had the honor of working with a model. Rose (aka Imp of Satan) is pregnant and due in about a month. Together, we've been creating a celebration of life, comprised of many small oil sketches on canvas.

Hope you can make it!

Thursday, July 3, 2008
6-9pm
619 Western Ave, Seattle
4th floor South - The Sophia Room.