A Sunny Day By The Bay

Saturday was the So Cal PAPA Back Bay Art Show in Newport Beach.  It was really wonderful to get down there and see the great work.  This painting was done from a photo I took that day as my husband and I walked down to the Muth Center where the artists were exhibiting. 

10x20 oil

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Pleasant Afternoon

Pleasant Afternoon is the product of an afternoon painting session in Cynthia Grilli's backyard.  There were seven of us painting and just enjoying a beautiful day.  Everyday I get to paint is a beautiful day.

16x12 oil on canvas

The Crowd (Undone)

"The Crowd," is another in my Lalapalooza paintings of people and crowds.  This is not done, but might finally be on the right track.  This painting has gone from undefined to defined to undefined.  The chance to try things out and think about how much needs to be said is a process.  This is a teaching painting.  Playing with brushwork as a means to say it in a stroke.   Hard one for me to do.  At one point there were arms and legs everywhere.  The battle to say everything goes on.  I guess saying a lot is not a bad thing if what is said is direct and selective and doesn't take away from the main concept.  

That is probably why this is a teaching painting of me.  I am working on technique in an individual way.  At least I did that through most of this.  Having a painting hold together as a finished statement means there was an intent.  There was a theme or story that is abstractly pulling from underneath and weaving the poetry together.  For me, this is a crowd of people of all kinds that have arrived at a specific place, at a specific time, for the general reason of experiencing sound.  My experience in this place was tied by sound and I was there happily for my husband and three sons.  So I enjoyed watching the people who walk and talked and just moved from event to event in a wave.  These masses of people inspired by sound to travel to this place in Chicago fascinate me.  And so I will continue.

Checking The Lines, Irvine Lake

Irvine Lake is a local fishing venue not far from my home.  I was out there for a concert on the shore and decided to take in some of the activities via my camera.  Not much for fishing myself, mainly because I have only fished once from the shore.  Might be something to think about taking up.  Seems relaxing and tranquil from what I have been told.  My husband has spent some time out on this lake and enjoyed himself.  It could be fun to paint out there.  

6x12 pastel on Wallis paper

Mov'in To The Music

Music festivals like Lalapalooza take place in huge parks with enough land to accommodate several stage areas.  This keeps you moving all day following the music that you want to hear.  Throughout the day there are musical events happening on five and sometimes six stages so you follow the program and make the day what you want.  This is fun and involve an amazing amount of walking.  You may find yourself acres away from the next venue you want to see.  So you get up and move fast, grab a bite and run to get a good spot until the next time.  These performances go on into the late hours of the day.  I must say I pooped out and my husband and I had dinner and returned to the hotel and enjoyed the lights of the city on the way.  Now for the boys...They ventured into the early morning hours, enjoying the night life of Chicago.  What is a mother to do?

This is a 12x16 pastel which is more of a study for an oil I think.  It is a little rough and experimental.  I did it with an under painting that got covered up for the most part on an Ampersand white pastel board.  I like them as they are very stable.

I was drawn to the scale of the figure in the foreground and the buildings in the back ground.  I also took this photo while laying on the grass looking up which created a bit of an ants eye view.  I may have exaggerated that as he has a small head and big feet.  

So there it is for today.  Have a wonderful weekend.