Yesterday's events were horrific.  But what I am having an incredibly difficult time with…is how to live in a culture where people are more passionate about retaining their access to guns instead of using that passion to protect the most vulnerable among us.  I don't only mean children but anyone struggling to survive, be it homelessness, poverty, lack of education and those suffering with mental illness.  To me, that is the true horror.  

All I could do this morning is go to the studio and grab my large white canvas - 60"x36" and just paint until it was too wet to continue.

no words for today's horror.

instead, i opted for art. 

this photo, which i took back in january 2007 is a small attempt at touching today's events.

Yesterday I walked past our ice rink downtown.  It was about 3 pm and so, fairly quiet in the middle of a workday.  I am so going ice skating soon.

Today's lunch.

The salami was pretty damned good although the wine had seen better days.  I spent 9 hours in the studio, committed to finishing a project on the computer begun a few weeks ago.  Finally completed it about an hour after I got home tonight and then began another.  Two hours into that one and my eyes are tired.  After this entry I'm powering down and will curl up in bed and watch something mindless on tv.

from Saturday, in Bushwick.

I'm back from a weekend in NYC.   It's the first time in about 40 years that I've been there during the holidays.  

Purple yam cake from Red Ribbon Bake Shop in Queens.

Graffiti cat on the Lower East Side.

Bushwick graffiti.  Balloon hat and more cats. 

A food truck parking lot in Bushwick.

Sunday morning brunch at Court Square Diner in Long Island City next to the MoMA PS1.  You can get a $9.95 brunch that includes your food, coffee and a bloody mary or mimosa.  And it's quite good!

Taken from inside PS1.

I splurged today.  Serious splurge.   An iPad Mini.  Slowly learning my way around it and it's a little frustrating, but I'll get there.  I've been thinking about an iPad for over a year...waiting until I felt I actually needed the portability.  It's time.   

Hopping a 7am bus to NYC tomorrow for the weekend and looking forward to seeing friends. 

Photo taken at a new friend's home while dropping off a book and getting a studio tour. 

I so scored today!  

This morning I completed a portion of a project at the little community center where I'm temping. The ED said he wouldn't have anything else for me for another 2.5 hours. So I told him I'd be happy to get off the clock and return later which allowed me just enough time to get to the studio, lay grounds on three canvases and even begin two painting studies of the new series. Super jazzed.

Here is one of the two pieces.  It's 11"x14", acrylic on canvas.  Based on a photo I took at one of Sarah's gigs at Rockwood Music Hall in the lower east side.

When I have to paint…I have to paint.

because i need to be working on different paintings at the same time, i was super excited to begin a new series today.  i worked a few sketches over the weekend before the open studios and was aching…aching to hold a brush.  

today was supposed to be the day.  but my one day temp job has turned into three days.  so unless I can complete this work project early, painting needs to wait until thursday.  

anticipation.

another new fence painting from the beach series.  this one is larger…36"x18", oil on canvas.

open studio this weekend was amazing, with lovely conversations and a magical moment with a final visitor that brought me to tears.  thank you all who came by.

on another note, i was planning on a fairly slow travel month but last night i found myself with 3 trips to nyc within the span of 10 days.  it's gonna be a crazy few weeks.

life is unexpected.

It's World AIDS Day. Thinking of everyone I loved who I've either lost or are currently living with AIDS/HIV. In the studio and decked my little tree today with red ribbons for all who are in my heart.

I don't have enough ribbons.

Little painting I did for this weekend's holiday open studio.

"Edgartown" - 14"x11", oil on canvas.

Yesterday's painting music:  Manner Effect, Meklit Hadero, Miles Davis, Nina Simone and Odetta.   Note this playlist on my Nano was not on shuffle.

It was good studio time.

This was the yesterday sun about 7:30 am when I arrived at the studio.  It then quickly disappeared into a "want to snow" sky.   The reason I could actually be out of the house that early is because for the last two days, I've actually slept 7-8 solid, deep hours.  That hasn't happened in over a year.  Not only getting into the studio early but doing it with rested energy has been a joy.  No fuzzy head!   #sometimesmenopausesucks.

some more ornaments from my studio tree...

this one I purchased last year in honor of all the life drawing classes I took in college.  Note I also have a disco ball ornament.

I love my little flamingo.  I've had that ornament since the late '80's, to remind me of a friend who snuck two pink flamingos on my front lawn in the middle of the night.  They even had name tags:  Pierre and Cleo.

Of course I had to pick up a little Seattle ferry ornament.  I totally love ferry boats.  And my old studio was right across the street from the ferry terminal.

My little whale ornament is from the early '90's.  I heart it too.

While on vacation with Mark and Eric in Southport Island, ME this past summer, I found this pretty awesome lobster.  And its body is bells!

From my little tree...

...yes, pigs can fly. 

I'm having a holiday open studio!

If in the area, come celebrate the season, say hello, revel in the little pink tree and look at my new work!  

There will be food, beverages and many works under $100.

Saturday, Dec 1 & Sunday, Dec 2

11 am - 4 pm

address of studio (not my mailing address)

The Mills  

545 Pawtucket Ave

Pawtucket, RI 02860

at the fork of N. Main and Pawtucket Ave on the border of Providence/Pawtucket.

cheers!

www.mariegagnon.com

Back in Providence.

Thanksgiving consisted of two parents, two sisters, two brothers, two sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, a niece, a buttload of nephews, a few friends and a my pretty pony.

After dinner, because it was a warm day, there were a rousing few games of touch football.  And S's boyfriend then sat at the piano and we had much boogie woogie playing in the house.  I even had the opportunity to play a duet with him which was loads of fun because it was the first time I attempted jazz on the piano.

It was a good day.

I've been in western MA since yesterday...returning to Providence Friday evening.  Spending the holiday with my family.   It's been a restful and lovely time.  I haven't even taken any photos.   So here is another from my recent Seattle trip.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I am super-stoked about this painting and am quite impatient because I really can't wait to work on it again. But I have to. Have been seriously thinking of swapping to acrylics so I can work faster on the ptgs...without the wait time for a little drying. But I really hate working in acrylics except for a few rare cases.

As I just wrote to a friend, maybe it's character building.  It's really tough to be so excited and not be able to continue because the paint is too wet.   It's extended foreplay.     

24"x12", oil on canvas.