Just Call Me, One More Time

I've had this prehistoric telephone on my mind for days, just had no time to get back to it. I painted it a while ago, and meant to do a larger version. In the meantime, it's been floating in and out of my brain. I finally had some time today, and here we are! The telephone one more time!

Light and Dark Value Plans

This is the homework assignment for Tim Horn's plein air class. We were told to paint a cantaloupe slice showing the lights and darks, using a value plan prior to painting. This process is described in Kevin MacPherson's, "Landscape Painting Inside and Out", pages 58 through 61. Here is both the value plan, and the painting. In regard to what I painted on the first day of outdoor painting, let's just say, we're all learning.

The Algonquin's Celebrity Cat, Matilda

I just had to post a picture of Matilda, the Algonquin Hotel's celebrity cat. The Algonquin Hotel has had a resident Matilda, since way back in, 1930 . The current Matilda has been on duty for only about 4 months. Her predecessor, served for 16 years, and is now enjoying early retirement at the home of one of the Algonquin employees. I just love this tradition!

Baltimore, New York City, and the Famous Artist, Kelley MacDonald

We just arrived home from a week in Baltimore and New York City. While in Baltimore, I visited the American Visionary Art Museum. This museum is a one of a kind wonder! The top photo shows the out side of the museum , covered in a mosaic of mirrors. Parked in the front entry, is an old bus covered with an assemblage all sorts of old found objects. The total effect of the architecture, and the bus, alone, make a dramatic impression, well worth a visit. Inside the current exhibit is titled, "What Makes us Smile", also very entertaining. All of the work in the museum is done by outsider artists, from all over the world.

A few days before leaving for our trip, I emailed Kelley MacDonald, saying that we would be in NYC soon. It just so happened that she and, her husband , Tim, would be in leaving NYC, as were arriving. We had the good fortune to meet for a glass of wine at Penn. Station. Kelley, is a very talented artist and blogger, that I met in Carol Marine's class in 2008. She and Tim, are wonderful people, and made our trip to NYC all the more special. Please take a look at Kelley gorgeous work on her blog.

We loved NYC! Being California natives, we have not had too many chances to visit this exciting city. We can hardly wait to go back. We stayed at the historic Algonquin Hotel, ate at wonderful restaurants, saw the Edward Hopper exhibit at the Whitney Museum. Of course, no pictures allowed. Since it was pouring rain, I did not even get a photo of the outside of the museum. Oh well, we loved the Edward Hopper exhibit. So amazing to see work in real life, that you have only seen in photographs. With hundreds of galleries and museums, we only wish that we could have stayed longer. Ah, so much art, so little time!