All You Need Is Love

If I were looking at this for the first time,  I would guess it could be a scene from Anywhere, USA, but it is actually a scene from busy Beirut. 

Boy With Crocs and a Truck SOLD

Red Hats SOLD

I was in the right place----the Milwaukee Art Museum in the stunning Calatrava wing, at the right time---Art in Bloom exhibit when florists/garden clubs/grocery store floral departments interpret the art through floral arrangements.  These little ladies were nonchalantly sitting on the bench taking in all the excitement.   For those of you who don't know, the Red Hat Society is an organization with over 40,000 chapters in the US and 30 other countries, and typically its members are over 50, who subscribe to the practice of:

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me"

which is based on a poem by Jenny Joseph called "Warning." The Red Hat Society was started by a woman named Sue Ellen Cooper, the "Queen Mother," who felt that women over 50 were so accustomed to going unnoticed, and felt that had to change.  She wrote a book on the subject.  There are even stores that carry Red Hat Society items.  Think I am making this up????   Check it out.

By the way, my garden club won a People's Choice Award for our interpretation of "Buddha's Footprint." 

The Prophet

I was very hesitant to tackle this painting, which is of a statue of Kahlil Gibran located in Bcharre’ Lebanon at the Kahlil Gibran museum along with his tomb.  My daughter and I visited it in September of 2011.

Kahlil Gibran was a prolific poet and painter (watercolor, oil, and guache), most noted for his book, The Prophet, published in 1923, but still interesting and very pertinent in today’s world,  He left Lebanon at the age of 12 and moved to Boston. He came from a very poor family, but blossomed into a philosophical essayist, novelist, mystical poet and painter. He died in the US at a young age (in his 40’s) and according to his wishes, he was returned to Lebanon and buried in a 19th century monastery.   I was familiar with his drawings from his books, but not his paintings, which are truly beautiful.  He focused on the subjects of relationships, family, creation, the earth, etc. and his palette consisted mostly of the calming and mysterious greys we artists struggle to mix. 

Grimace

Meet Grimace, a most unusual dog.  He lives in a beautiful village in Southern Lebanon with a wonderful family.  Believe it or not, this little dog can take a pistachio, remove the shell with his teeth,  and then eat the nut.  I'm not kidding,  I saw it with my own eyes.  It's the truth.

Standing Figure, a Painting of a Sculpture

Sculpture by Diane Cochran, located at Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden.

Make a Wish: a Painting of a Sculpture

 Made a few changes to the painting to improve the contrast.  Unfortunately it is not photographing accurately despite several attempts.  It is not quite as dark as this.

This statue is at Monches Farm and has always been one of my favorites.

Spirit Woman, a Painting of a Sculpture

Another painting of a sculpture by Diane Cochran, which is located at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden.

Thinking of you: a Painting of a Sculpture

This gargoyle calls Monches Farm in Colgate, Wisconsin home.  I don't know the artist or the title.

"Young One: a Painting of a Sculpture"

This is a painting of a sculpture from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden.  I was surprised to learn that the artist is Diane Cochran, sculptor of The Man (previous two paintings), which was at the Mendocino Art Center.  Expect upcoming paintings to feature more of Diane Cochran's work.  I am really enjoying painting statues and working hard to get them to look like stone.

The Man, Another View

Here is another painted view of Diane Cochran's sculpture, "The Man" at the Mendocino Art Center.

The Man, a Painting of a Sculpture

The Mendocino Art Center has many beautiful sculptures, this one called "The Man" by Diane Cochran being one of them.  I wasn't sure it would translate well into a painting, but I enjoyed every stroke and am happy with the results.  Expect an encore tomorrow of a different angle.

Climbing

Reaching

Every Which Way

I love the way these branches twist and turn.

Sleek and Sexy

This scene captivated me in the lobby of a hotel in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, which is very upscale.  I not only loved the sofa and paintings, but the way the lights formed the shadows.

Down by the Canal

I don't know why I'm so fascinated with this barrier to the pipe that reaches over the canal.  This is the third time I've painted it.

Holly SOLD

This is a commissioned painting, a gift for the dog's owner.  Holly is a 13 year old Chinese Crested Dog, and she is hairless except for the hair on her head, ears and paws.  Within any litter, there will be pups with and without hair.  She has unusual markings, which made her a good show dog, but it was very demanding work and the owner decided against putting Holly through those rigors after a year. 

A New Day

The sun rose over Lake Michigan on this particular mid-April day (also shown in yesterday's painting) at approximately 5:15.  The colors of the sky changed from flaming reds and oranges at 5:15, to more muted as in this painting just two minutes later,  then back to fiery again.  I will never tire of this awe-inspiring sight.  It's worth getting up early to see.

Sunrise Over Lake Michigan

The Lake Michigan beach in Milwaukee has such a beautiful view of sunrises.  I was able to capture this scene one early morn with my camera---it took my breath away.  Unfortunately, this painting is not an adequate representation of the actual view.