Royalty in a Blue Chair

I paint a lot of yellow dogs, and there is no wondering why, when you see that half of my blog (such as it is) is about Chamois, my yellow labrador. Because I take my art on the road all over the west, I've met a lot of yellow dog lovers along the way. So I thought I'd post my latest yellow dog portrait. I call it H.R.H. (Her Royal Highness), right down to the Royal pearls!!! Chamois of course, is my model. The painting is 24x36 acrylic on board. It's up in Portland, Oregon in a show that I have at Realty Trust, in Lake Oswego.

Planting Time!!!!!!!

Yeah!!! It's Springtime!!!!

Here is the end of the picnic table I use for my pot planting area!

This weekend I planted all of my hanging baskets

then I planted violas and pansies in my blue and white pots.

I LOVE blue and white pottery,
and blue and white pottery appears in my paintings often....
I usually make up the design, I always think I'm going
to copy some beautiful pattern, but when the brush hits the canvas,
I seem to want to head down a brand new trail.

Chamois is helping in between chewing on a bone,
and keeping Tully away from her bone,
even though he has his own bone to chews on.

Some of my blue and white indoor pots with succulents!
Succulents, another obsession!

Talking to Chamois

Chamois is such a pretty dog. She likes to admire herself in the window in the evening. when the reflections are good. She's also on alert for any falling leaves, wind blown branches, and less interesting, a squirrel or chipmunk. She is lots lighter around her eyes and muzzle....quite the distinguished old lady, except when there is a tennis ball or stick around.

Chamois Sleeps (and inspires)

Chamois's bed in right in the middle of the studio, so when I turn around I get to enjoy her repertoire of sleeping poses. This is a pretty standard sleeping position and often shows up in my paintings.

Oh, so sleepy.

The cradle pose.Inspiring creativity. Tully likes to sleep closer to the easel, so he can be underfoot where he is safest.

What? You need some help with cookies?

Paris

It has been a dream for me to go to Paris for years, I had my reasons, I thought, but it didn't become clear to me until I actually went. I even have an french psuedo name, given to me by my friend Marcy, named Genvieve. Well, we found out St. Genvieve is the patron saint of Paris. So I had to go!

And so we did! We actually ended up staying in St. Genvieve's old stomping grounds, where a church and abbey were built around her tomb. This was right up the hill from where we stayed at Residence Henri IV (5*s) ...past a few artful bakeries, vitners, frommageries, markets, and other wonderful shops.

Every artist should visit Paris at least once. Just to see a favorite painting in person is worth the trip (me looking at a Bonnard I've had on my bulletin board for years, can you see it in the photo?). It seems the entire city of Paris is a monument to creativity.

I know from experience that being a painter isn't just about the craft, that's an important part, but there is so much more. A creative life is every day all day. This is no burden, it is a supreme joy. Parisians have made enjoying life into a fine art form, to be savored, thoroughly delighted in, paid attention to. Every evening there was be a line at the bakery for the dinner baquettes, everyone would have a bag from the market, today's dinner, and the flower shop stayed open late, in case you needed some flowers that night. This experience has inspired me to a whole new level of appreciation and enjoyment in my life.