Kitty portrait

The dental procedure is over and I did have a good morning prior to spending 3 hours in the chair. I finished the picture of my Yakov so I am posting it - it's 10" square. Since my verbal skills are not up to par at the moment, I will sign off now, certain that I will feel 100% by tomorrow morning.

Some weeks just need to be over!

Today I spent most of my morning at the dentist's office and am now feeling a bit better due to pain medication. I am working but am posting a portrait study since I have not finished anything today and am too spaced out to worry about it. This portrait is 12" square and I liked the feeling of it despite (maybe because of) the sketchiness. I have to go back for more torture tomorrow afternoon but hope the antibiotics and vicodan will lead to a productive morning. I am leaving for Block Island with a group of friends and artists on Monday for a very welcome "mini-retreat" and cannot wait.

westport today

I left as early as I could this morning since the construction guys were setting up and noisy before 7am. I have been fascinated by dark water recently so this scene attracted me. It was quite peaceful and soothing and I feel mostly normal today - no tears. I came home for lunch to deafening noise and dirt everywhere so I went to do some errands and vote until they were gone. This picture is 10" square.

outdoors again

I had to get out of the house today so I went to Seapowet, just to do a study since I am still not quite myself. It was hot and windy and nearly deserted. I will work on the kitty-portrait later. This picture is 8X10." They are installing new gas lines on my street and it is so loud that I can't hear myself think, thank goodness it's almost quiting time. They will be directly in front of my house tomorrow so I will definitely be away to paint.

art and music

I had lots to do this morning so I didn't begin this picture of Yakov until I got home from the shower when it was getting dim and very foggy. I never tire of the fog, the way the world seems soft and different. I was better today as far as the sadness went, the music that made me desperate two days ago filled me with appreciation today. I have tons of it saved on my computer and play it on "shuffle" so it surprises me - all of the Putamayo stuff, Joni Mitchell, Tupac, Iron & Wine, lots of Spanish stuff and so on. I was thrilled at how happy beginning this picture made me. I am posting it in the underpainting stage because it is interesting to see and because I am too tired to go any further tonight. I have never before painted a picture of an animal - this is from a photo of Y. sitting in pans on the stove. It was impossible to take a picture due to the lack of light but I did capture the sense of her. Pain and sadness are quite exhausting and I feel blessed to have the ability to process the world through art. In a world that seems to value art and music less and less I am grateful for them, more than I could ever have understood only a few years ago.

crying and accepting

I am posting a 10" square picture that I began the day Yakov disappeared.........the day that I was so busy and didn't pat her head when I left. Yesterday was bad - all the sadness that I had held somewhat at bay when my mother died on July 1 combined with the sadness of the certainty of Yakov being gone and I turned into a crying mess. Last night I was unable to do anything except watch episodes of "Lost" on my laptop (I brought it into bed with me!). Today is somewhat better, acceptance seems to be arriving......the grocery store was tough though (not buying cat food). I have stretched a canvas specifically to paint her and hope to begin in the morning although I have to go to a bridal shower in the afternoon. This pickle picture seemed way too cheerful when I sort-of finished it this morning but I am posting it anyway because I do like the pickles despite the plate being sketchy.

Yakov, I miss you

My cat is missing.............yesterday was such a blur of appointments and things I had to do. When I left the house around 3:30 after only having about an hour and a half to paint between things I had to do, she was on the front porch. When I got home at nine, I couldn't find her anywhere. She's still not home and it's nearly two and I know she's gone. Poor old girl was still happy despite the fact that she was nearly 19 and had hyperthyroidism and had become nearly totally deaf and blind. So, I am posting a picture of her today (one from a few Christmases ago when she was still a little chubby) - I can't paint because there are way too many tears in my eyes to see clearly. That and the fact that I keep going to the porch to see if she's there. Godspeed old girl, you will remain forever in my heart.