California Morning

I thought I’d posted the entry below when we were in California but apparently it didn’t get onto the blog.  Anyway, we’re back now.  Snow is melting and the temps are near sixty but there’s still lots of snow on the ground.  Ahh, Pasadena was such a nice break…..

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The weather has been perfect since our arrival from snowy Vermont. Yesterday I spent the morning at the Cobb Estate–a big park with hiking trails not far from where we’re staying in Pasadena. What a pleasure it is to be able to get out and do the landscape; I’ll have to wait until last April or May before it’s warm enough at home. I couldn’t believe how lush the hills were, with lots of wildflowers. Picking a spot drove me crazy because there was so much material; I finally decided cactus was not something I’d have another chance to paint. It seems the only time I use pastels is when I’m traveling and need the portability. It’s a different feeling from oils but I think it’s good for me to use another medium.

March in Pasadena pastel on paper 9 x 12 $150 matted but not framed

Airport Sketches

We’re in sunny California this week visiting our son and his family. We left Vermont with deep snow on the ground and the next morning had breakfast outdoors in warm glorious sunshine. The plane trip of course took all day but it did give me a chance to sketch.

At least when people are on their cell phones they don’t move around as much!

Cell phones, computers–what did people do in airports before?

This guy was a study in denim–I think of him as the cowboy.

A diaper change–now that’s something that technology hasn’t improved.

And finally–the perfect model…..

And Now for Something Completely Different…..

Sometimes I feel like cutting loose and doing some automatic painting–just slop the paint around and see where it goes Here’s one that began with some treelike shapes and drips of very thin oils. Little figures started to emerge along with a few birds. I love doing representational painting; actual forms are so interesting in themselves. But occasionally it’s fun to see what’s inside my head.

Pathetic Fallacy 20 x 24 oil on masonite $500

Back to Work

I’ve really gotten behind. The grandchildren were here for a week for their February holiday and since then somehow I’ve lost momentum. To speed things up I thought I’d do a landscape instead of a still life since landscapes generally go faster. This one was done partly from a photograph– it’s by the sea at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where we went last fall. A lot of the houses there have a different sort of roof and I liked the buildings standing far off by themselves with just a strip of the ocean showing behind and a lot of land in front. I’ve used much thicker paint here than I usually do.

Seaside, Cape Breton     oil on masonite     $700 framed

Town Meeting

Probably about the purest form of American democracy can be found at town meetings in Vermont, where everybody can have a say. The turnout is large and people are generally well prepared to discuss a wide range of issues. The head of our Select Board says the founding fathers here must have had a sadistic streak to set the date for it on the first Tuesday in March when the weather is almost always bleak. Today was cloudy but actually not too cold. (All during the meeting the snow kept falling off the roof in huge masses. ) I’m impressed by the care given to the preparation of the agenda and the spirited involvement of Strafford citizens. People are generally very thoughtful, polite and often funny, with Robert’s Rules scrupulously followed. There was a great deal of concern about the sorry state of the local roads–terrible potholes due to frost heaves–and how on earth the town could ever afford to repair them. One suggestion was just to break up the asphalt and go back to dirt roads which seem to do better in the bad weather. But the big item for discussion was a cooperative agreement with a lot of other small towns to bring fiber optic to Strafford. Of course it passed since it won’t cost the town anything. Now we’re pretty much assured that by the end of 2009 we won’t have to rely on dial-up anymore. Plus, we can get TV and telephone as well. And no matter how remote, how hilly one’s location we’ll still all be able to get connected. We’re very happy. Dial-up is so frustrating and it would be nice to get some television as well.

On the day of the meeting the road crew arrives at 4:00 a.m. to start the three big wood stoves on the only day of the year when the building is heated. All during the morning casseroles heat on top of the stoves and by noon you’re ravenous from the smell.

But this is probably the last year we’ll have the stoves. They’ll be replaced by propane heaters which will be more efficient and much safer. So many historic buildings in New England have burned down it only makes sense to get rid of the stoves and somewhat rickety pipes and install modern heaters. Anyway, the lunch run by the P.T.A. is wonderful–a huge potluck meal.

Children have the day off school and many come to the meeting. Here they are building a snowman and having a snowball fight during the lunch break.

What a great place to grow up!