We Like The Moon

something to make you laugh....funny silliness

July 25, 2010

wow..things have been a bit tough over this summer. Today I am dealing with a stiff and sore neck, headaches and knee pain..gosh getting old and being out of shape are a double whammy!!! I did get to the studio for a bit today but pain sent me home. starting the second iris painting and a landscape based on the small plein air one I did of a hayfield. Plus my neighbors freaked out on me because I left a flyer on animal rights rules in our town in their mail box. Hey just info ..since they keep moving their sheep paddock closer to my house. can't get any closer without getting into ordinance trouble. Plus they continually have too many sheep than they are allowed and their 8 yr. old son was trying to kill their chickens with a rake the other day. they have been very unfriendly since the day they moved in and spurned all efforts to friendly overtures from me and other neighbors. Literally turned their backs to me when I said hello!!! Then their calf pushed through our chain link fence and then their sheep got through and they were very harsh with handling them. I just wanted them to know that they have to obey the same laws I do. There was no threat or accusations on the flyer..just info on how many lg. animals allowed per size of lots. it is good info to have but we suspect they were planning on bringing in too many sheep again and are angry because they are being informed of the rules.They came to my door and demanded to know if I had a problem with their animals..no Hello or can we talk..just tried to intimidate. I told the truth that I didn;t have problems with their animals since they are in compliance all of a sudden! then I sent them on their way. Not wanting to have a confrontation on my front porch that day. Oh well.
I gave up the community ed. watercolor class as I would have gone in the hole just getting there for fewer classes. I was told there was an opening for oil ptg. teacher too and said I would do it but then they hired a student of the former teacher even though I was willing to work for the same money and have a degree in painting! So I decided that one class wasn't paying enough. I gave up the drawing class too as I was down to only one or two students and had no place to teach.
I decided not to enter any more shows this year but then a good opportunity has come about for old painters (50+). and free entries. so I will attempt to get something ready for that and open studio in september. I will just try to keep painting, and try to keep the studio for the rest of the year too. It is helpful to not have the stress of the classes.
Just money issues as usual. trying to save money for hay, money for studio rent,,catch up on other things..there is never enough when it is needed so everything is late..
These things wear on me emotionally..plus the other day I was painting up the canyon just a few miles from my home..a lovely place, American Fork Canyon, but coming down I found an injured fawn in the road and had to move her out of the road and report her to the rangers. I cried all the way home for her..you would think I could be more matter of fact at my age but it just tore me up.
needless to say my art suffers at my emotional life!

July 10,2010

What I did today..12x12 inch oil on board

July 9,2010

I haven't been here for a bit. I did a plein air competition last week and felt better about what I produced. Four 8x10 oils in a few days. It was hot but easier since I went small and quick. I didn't win anything or sell anything but that is ok. I connected with some fine artists and enjoyed the dinner with them. Today I got back into my studio and started painting one of 2 Iris paintings. Not abstracts but I wanted to do some of the planned paintings and while doing them I hope to work out how to start doing something different. I have 2 other planned paintings and 4 wooden cigar boxes that I want to paint and create checkers games for the insides. I also have two more wooden "altar" pieces that I planned and have never gotten to..so I will work on those. I have decided to try to keep the studio space for a while. It takes me so long to dung out and organize spaces so I have space in my home. I need a place to teach classes and it would be great to create that space at home..but to do that means getting the oldest son to pack up his belongings in the basement, for me to completely clean out the other basement/laundry room and move some items to those spaces. Then Hubby will create a wall and door for the large room I want to use so I can keep kitties out and keep students in their own space with no distractions.
Just a lot of work. I spent time at home doing a lot of nothing. Hanging out, taking naps, reading magazines,generally recharging the old batteries. Now I feel like working again. I will be teaching the watercolor class again for community education, and I still have the watercolor workshop to attend, I will be tent camping to afford that one!
So here ae my 4 little paintings. They do look nice in my living room with their 3" mahogany plein air frames.