Thursday, March 19, 2009

Painting Large Again - and Asheville

Tonight was life drawing night, but I was too tangled up inside about my day job to go. Then I talked to Dearest for an hour and was better. Too late to go, by then... So I took Daughter to dance and worked some more in the car on my laptop while I waited. That also helped me to feel less overwhelmed.

Then I got home around 8:30 and painted this in two hours (it was white paper with some pencil lines when I started). Watercolor, 18 x 24. Fast, for me. Not done, but a long way from the start. This felt really good to do. I haven't painted large in weeks.

This weekend we left the guys at home and went to visit UNC, Asheville. Here are some photos. A scene on the street of Asheville (Catholic basilica downtown). OK, so it's more about the tree - what do you expect? A shop where Daughter bought a yellow beret (on her list for a while, but we hadn't seen berets anywhere until this hippy town) and Dearest let me twist her arm to try on a dress which I later persuaded her to buy. And the last photo is of my girls, seen from inside a shop they had just left - with huge amaryllis in the window.

12 comments:

Summer Kinard said...

I saw the painting and immediately thought, "Sluuuuurp!" What a vivid juicy painting, full of sun and light. Thanks for that.

L'Adelaide said...

what a lovely sunny painting!!! I adore the yellows and , course, oranges...thanks for your comment on my blog, letting me know i'm still alive, well sort of , in blogland....i don't want to move to wp but may take the blog private on blogger...i'll see....i'm trying to take care of things on my own right now and we'll see...thank you for your support ...

hope you have painting time this weekend...sounds like you might need some.

Michelle said...

Wonderful!

Anonymous said...

I love the way to put the colours together, I love the flowing curved lines.

Genie Sea said...

It looks like a fruity landscape. See the orange slices? And the grape juice falls? YummY! :)

The photo of your daughters is lovely. Flowers against a backdrop of flowers :)

Summer Kinard said...

My CDs are in. Any dedication you'd like, or just a signature?

lisahgolden said...

Wow! I love this. The color, the movement. It seems to shimmer. I'm so glad you're getting a chance to paint some.

I love it that you convinced your Dearest to buy a dress for herself. Sometimes we have to be pushed to treat ourselves.

So did you daughter enjoy Asheville and the school?

Regina said...

Your painting makes me jealous to paint big! Love the colors. My paint has been neglected this week while I catch up on framing art for my upcoming show.

I find working in yellows really helps move my mood up. It's been a very therapeutic color for me the past couple of years. I hope it worked for you.

Unknown said...

I can understand why you'd find it satisfying to paint "big" and the result is stunning.

I can identify with feeling tangled up about work. I've had a rough couple of months. I wish I had an outlet as you do.

That looks like such a cool shop. We have a few of those in the college towns.

A yellow beret. How cool is that?!

Nice to have stopped in, as always, Steve.

All the love,
Gina

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I love the way you use color, especially yellows! Looks like a fab piece in progress.

Love the long hair on your second daughter.

tammy vitale said...

I Love Asheville. Have only been once and it is 9 hours away from me...so it will be a while before I go back. But if I were closer, I'd go all the time. That painting reminds me of Walter Anderson who was from Mississippi - the colors and the movement. High praise. Next to Van Gogh I think he may be my favorite painter.

Linda S. Socha said...

Beautiful picture and great photo...such a nice feeling.You do such beautiful work
Linda