Sunday, October 31, 2010



While out last night enjoying the festivites...

...Happy Halloween





Saturday, October 30, 2010





Although we have many wet days in Seattle from autumn through early summer, umbrellas aren't often used. Today there was an abundance of them. I'd see large groups of umbrellas walking together. Of course by the time I pulled out my camera, there were still many umbrellas but not in big bunches.

The weekend is almost half over and it's a busy one. Some good studio time, finally had the opportunity to get my hair cut and now home before heading out again this evening. And more social stuff tomorrow. I wanted to attend this morning's rally to restore sanity but with art walk this week, I chose painting time. Instead, I managed to briefly check it out as the bus passed by. Here are some photos from the rally, posted in the Slog.

Friday, October 29, 2010





It was a magical afternoon in the studio, working on illustrations, doing some writing that had been previously stifled by major procrastination and worked a few paintings.

At one point when I headed out to grab coffee, I saw the light flooding into the hallway from the freight elevator. I had to run back into the studio to grab the camera.

Heading down to the studio about 1:30 I saw a 6 foot white bunny walking down the street. Coming home this evening, I spotted a large tiger. Halloween is one of my favorite times. One year, I'll have enough creative energy left over to do a costume. This wasn't the year. My fingers are in too many other projects right now.

Here's a new painting from two days ago. It's 12"x12", oil on canvas





And this one is 20"x16", oil on canvas. It's a second brushes/viaduct painting. I decided to leave the first one as it was.



Thursday, October 28, 2010





A couple nights ago I was walking home from the studio and saw this very large, beautiful leaf on the dark, wet pavement. Stooping to pick it up, I carried it home. To give an idea of size, the leaf is laying on a large full sheet of paper towel, about 10" square. And it's still sitting on my kitchen table where I can enjoy it.

Later on, a friend on FB posted a wonderful video of the Bill Evans Trio doing a brilliant rendition of "Autumn Leaves".

I love fall. Its many contrasts, sharper winds, warm days and cool days. Sunny and rainy. The days get shorter and in that, the foreshadowing of slower times of winter. The season creates greater space for reflection. Gardens rest in the winter.


The Bill Evans Trio (thanks to a friend for the link)




After listening to the Evans Trio I searched for other versions and found the soulful Eva Cassidy.





And a classic - Edith Piaf singing in english and French


Wednesday, October 27, 2010



This is what happens when the Finance Director and the Database Manager have scrambled brains from dealing with numbers...





...he pulls out his iPhone, squeezes into my chair and takes a few pictures with PhotoBooth.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010





Look at who we bumped into at the SAM?

Bill and I spent an intense almost 2 hours in the Picasso exhibit yesterday at the Seattle Art Museum for members day. On our way out, we bumped into Stephen and Gryph who were headed into the exhibit. It's always a treat to see S & G. Regarding the exhibit, I took notes and hopefully will write them up later today.

Monday, October 25, 2010



Here are the sea lion photos I shot in b&w last Monday in Newport, OR.




























Sunday, October 24, 2010



I finally had a moment to go through my sea lion shots. Here are some I shot in color.
























Some of the new work (all in progress).
I began the extreme horizontal piece yesterday and look forward to going into it again today. It's 12"x48".





Yesterday was one of those days that made for highly productive studio time. It was a rainy day which meant I'm not pulled to spend time outdoors. Cool. Grey. Wet. The energy was perfect. The vibe, luxuriously creative. Maybe it was the full moon.

I spent the morning doing research for the remaining illustrations, headed to the art store and then into the studio. My studio mate was coming in and so I brought a bottle of red, three apples, some cheese, crackers and a couple itty-bitty halloween chocolates for dinner in the studio.

Mid afternoon I took a break to get coffee on First and ran into a massive group of zombies headed to Occidental Park. There must have been over fifty of them. Stepping into the shop, 10 zombies were in line to use the bathroom. I guess even the walking dead need to pee.

It was a slow and easy time: toning new canvases, working drawings for the book, and then beginning two paintings. One of my walls is now full of work in progress. I arrived home about 8 pm, satiated and glowy.

Saturday, October 23, 2010





Monday, on our way home from the coast, we had a lunch surprise.

Being hungry we drove past a little cafe and decided to stop, having no idea that it was a James Beard award-winning restaurant. The Otis Cafe is a gem. Very small, only 26 seats, you have to walk thru the kitchen to get to the restroom. On the way back, you may be lucky enough to see a table filled with freshly made pies. The coffee mugs framing the doorway to the kitchen are all personalized. There is one empty hook with a little sign that says "we miss you...". I wonder about all the stories in those mugs.

I'm still kicking myself for not listening to my intuition and picking up a few loaves of their black molasses bread and a loaf of whole wheat sour dough. This treat was written up in USA Today a few years ago. You need to scroll down to find the blurb on the right hand side. I couldn't help but take loads of photos while enjoying my lunch.












Close up of the very cool wall thingys...



Friday, October 22, 2010

Thursday, October 21, 2010





On Sunday, Craig and I went up to Cape Perpetua. That road down below, is what E and I sped down in his Miata.


I shot 2 sea lion videos on Monday. Still brand new to video, it's clumsy and overexposed. The sunlight was excessively bright and bouncing off the water. I'll have to see what I can do with my camera in video mode, to adjust that for the future.

The first one is from a pier a little further away and the second from the pier directly above where they were hanging out. I intentionally shot the videos because I desired to capture their sounds. It makes me happy.






Wednesday, October 20, 2010





From my beach walk on Saturday...

Sunday I experienced something new.

We met longtime friends, H & E, at the Green Salmon for breakfast and then a few of us headed down the coast together. I hopped in E's red '91 Miata. The sun was brilliant and the top down.

101 between Yachats and Florence is a hilly, very curvy road. E asked me how daring I was feeling. I steeled myself and told him to go for it. Although I've been in convertibles before (which I love) I've never sped (at excessive speeds) and especially while on little roads. Each time he chose to pass, I'd internally grip my fingers onto the seat while on the outside, attempt to keep cool.

I felt I was in a James Bond movie rushing down one of the Riviera roads. It was exhilarating and at times more terrifying than much else. And I loved it.

Here are a few of the photos I captured while speeding down the road...










Here are a few of my sea lion photos. There are many others to sort through but a friend asked, and I gave. :-)