Genesis: Passion Fruit

I think this painting is the most difficult one I've done in this series. I am still not quite sure it reads right, but I'm done with it, after many hours of labor. I'm at the finished point, where I don't have the slightest clue as to how to improve, or add to what I already have except for starting over, and that idea doesn't enthrall me at all! That shiny, wrinkly, dark purple skin nearly killed me, and the slimy part on the left is still not quite slimy enough, but it works reasonably well. Painting slime is a challenge I love! By the way, did you know that "passion" comes from the flower of this fruit where some person with lots of imagination saw a cross and nails, and named it after the Passion of Jesus on the Cross? Too bad...I thought of aphrodisiacs which shows you where my brains are!



Tropical Storm Debby

For those of you who have been to my house you know that I have waterfront property at times. Since the area drainage was improved about 5 years ago our little retention pond drains really fast, but today it wasn't fast enough for me, and as I write this at 8:00pm on Sunday night I wonder if my house will float away. I'm not sure I want to be in it when that happenes either. I'm reluctant to leave...it will be a trauma for both me and Miss Puss.

The torrential rains stopped just enough to allow a slight reduction in the water, which is now about 10 feet from my foundation, and it is coming down in buckets again. It is supposed to do this for two days!

I am sorry this is such an awful photo out my studio window, but those white things are ibis feeding at the edge of the water. It is somewhat disconcerting, and this was several hours ago.

Wish me luck!

Genesis: Passion Fruit

This is a work in progress. I'm not sure I have the left hand part of this quite right. It doesn't read quite slimy enough. The right side was so much work, and I'm tired of it! What was I thinking when I took on dark purple, shiny, wrinkles?

Genesis: Passion Fruit        Egg Tempera      6 x 8

Genesis: Habanero Pepper

Genesis: Habanero Pepper     Egg Tempera     $450

I am about to start the next one of this series...number 27. Yikes! You are welcome to say things like "OCD" or "screwy" in connection with this madness. I'm not finished with the Genesis series yet.

Black and White 2012

I am particularly proud of the June, 2012 Black and White Art Show at Carrollwood Cultural Center. We have about 140 entries in painting, photography, ceramics and sculpture. One sculpture was sent from Paris, France and a picture from Lincoln, Nebraska. We are definitely getting "out there".

I took some photographs last night before I went home, dog weary with the amount of work involved in this show. I had a remarkable turnout of help to hang the show, which was done in record time...two hours on Tuesday afternoon, but it was impossible to keep track of what was happening with teams of hangers putting up the work as fast as possible, so I had to do a lot of reshuffling on Wednesday afternoon while more helpers put up the labels.

The Theater Gallery is very difficult to photograph, since it is a very large venue and often is set up for cabaret style events, and at other times a formal theater with row seating for 225 people. Sometimes a small dance floor is put down, while at other times this space is used for private parties, weddings and civic events. These photos show the theater being set up for a rehearsal for a music production. Please excuse the trash can and other accessories that will be put away when our reception gets underway!

Theater West

 Theater West lower level

 Theater West Balcony

Theater West Balcony (2nd View)

Theater East

Theater East Lower Level View 1

Theater East Lower Level View 2

 

West Entrance - Sculpture and Ceramics

Star Spangled Art Show

I was presented this beautiful engraved wood plaque last Saturday afternoon at the Reception fo the Star Spangled Art Show at Carrollwood Cultural Center. I was so blown away I could only babble into the microphone. I had to finally stop and leave the stage. It was a very difficult show to manage, but I did not think it was such a trial that I deserved such an accolade. Many others had a share of this plaque and I hope I have thanked all of them. Without that help the show would not have been the success it was.

Before the show ends on Monday, June 4th I made this composite photo showing our Theater Gallery with the addition of the lovely logo Stuart Dwork gave for us to use for this show. This is the view from our stage where I was standing when I could not pull myself together when Mary Donovan and Cathy Williams handed me this amazing gift.