Carnegie late summer afternoon

I have been playing around with cropping and find it so interesting how it can drammatically change the impact of a painting. This painting is fun as a tryptych

Soulful

I am an absolute fan of live jazz and it is always such a treat to listen to our brilliant friend Josh Dunlevy on his sax. This is a crop from a bigger painting of ther Jazz band with Josh Dunlevy and Daniel Baker

Old Man

This was a sweet old man very focused on his sketching and I switched my attention on him because I started to mess up on my painting. So I flipped over the board and caught him from behind. This is a cropped image for a bookmark. I like how the grain of the board made him look as if he is out of and floating above the universe

Dowager Duchess to Tea

I remember reading how Singer Sargent would paint fast and with a sure hand. Ive been trying to work fast and even faster. We are lucky if we have 2 hrs to paint a figure and once I get home I cannot seem to 'finish 'them and tend to mess up. So I end up with oil sketches and here is one of Kathleen Mitchell modelling her antique clothing. She seemed very Dowageryish and Duchessy to me. Although if you know Kathleen, you will agree she is not in the slightest bit frightening

Reflecting.....goose goose duck

I am dithering. when i first spotted these geese and a duck chatting away i was enamoured by their wonderful reflections. Steve Leonardi suggested i call it, 'goose goose duck' which made me laugh. It was one of Oliver's favourite games as a small child and Steve was his swim coach. So perhaps it is 'Reflecting.... goose, goose duck'

Gretchen and Emily at the County Fair

I always love to visit the animals at the Washington County Fair which is held in August. I loved meeting the delightful young owner of these happy pigs. She showed me how they would roll over to have their tummies rubbed. I am a great believer in happy pigs making delicious pork.

Heifers Davis School Road

I have had my eye on these beautiful heifers and their calves for a while, especially when the evening sun lights them up. Little did I realise the bull was in with the girls. As a sign says,'If you think you can make it over the field in ten seconds, dont. The bull can make it in nine!'

Later I was delighted to meet Lorraine Kraeer, their owner, who loves them with a passion. I gave her a print of the painting as I sold the original at Art in the Garden. She was quiet for a while and then she and her grand daughter started naming the ones they recognised! I am sure I am not a lone in preferring to eat meat from an animal that has had a happy life.