paintpenink

2012-01-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

my clients in Seattle are buried in ice and snow...so I'm continuing on my painting binge. I finished "Eve" this morning...the background is working for me. The nameless woman is a semi-direct copy of "Gritty Jane's" with changes of course. I used a map of Louisiana for her dress and then collaged the background. I'm going to play a little with the background and have some more to do on her face. She will go to Kylie, who loves Louisiana and our family there.

2012-01-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

Happy NEW YEAR!!! For some reason the past few years have started with a bit of a painting binge...as has this year. So here are the two now finished.

2011-12-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy New Year and Happy Chinese New Year! Whew!

We are heading to be with family in the Northwest for Christmas. Mom and Dad are doing fine and the house will be FULL...at least 30 there...we'll see who shows up. We are very thankful to still have Mom and Dad both. And to have them in such good shape is icing on the cake...which they don't eat much of...cake that is...or icing. Anyway...it will be fun.

See y'all in the new year!

Soon to be our Christmas card

2011-12-02T15:26:00.001-08:00

another Multnomah mermaid...

2011-10-31T11:25:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Mother

2011-10-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

Add caption

some hats are very important

2011-10-27T05:42:00.000-07:00

it's fall!

2011-10-27T05:39:00.000-07:00

and finally today it's
going to cool down
into the 60's...I love
the 60's!

Dad's favorite Bible verse

2011-10-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

Does she make it to color?

2011-09-07T05:57:00.000-07:00

Architecture of my heart...should she get colored?
There's an unfinished drawing on my desk of
architecture of my heart as hat.

The building she's holding is the Vista House. It sits on a beautiful cliff above the Columbia River in Oregon.
It's just a few minutes drive from where I grew up. It's gorgeous. That's Multnomah Falls behind her, and
swimming around are the Chinook.

Family Reunion 2011

2011-08-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

It was the best ever family reunion...of the best ever family. I love every one of y'all. We had as much fun as we could pack into a weekend. Planning the next one already. Love love love!

my lovely husband

2011-08-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm having fun with my iphone camera...and Marvin was having fun at cousin Joyce's birthday party.

Nobody's gonna snatch my kids...

2011-07-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Multnomah Mermaid

2011-06-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

I try being serious and before I know it I'm drawing a mermaid with the Vista House on her head. I believe every body of water should have it's own mermaid, so I'll be assigning this one to Multnomah Falls...and maybe to my friend Jan who raises lavender.

Unity

2011-06-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

My church (clearcreek.org) is doing a summer series on the book of Ephesians.
And, bless their hearts, they are trying to feature the work of some of the church's
visual artists. So, this is the piece I will be submitting for their use. It's different for
me in some ways, and in others not. I've always used symbolism in my work...
granted not usually in such simple forms as this. But the idea came, stayed and
got itself on a canvas. The collage areas are from the same old Bible that belonged
to my precious mother-in-law. Old and worn and stained up pretty well...kind of
like a lot of us. And now being renewed. Like a lot of us. I'm happy with it. Hope
it works in the context it's intended for.

girls with wings

2011-05-09T06:36:00.000-07:00

Angels? maybe. I found an old Bible
with no cover and some serious stains.
I like it. Some of the pages became wings.

back home

2011-04-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

We were able to make the tight connections and arrived in LosAngeles an hour and a half before Cheyenne's "Homegoing" celebration. It was beautiful. Traditional in many ways and extraordinary in so many others. The services were held at the only Black Lutheran church I've ever heard of (I'm thinking Garrison Keillor needs to know about this place). It's a church full of wonderful people who had supported the family throughout Cheyenne's illness. The youth choir sang and were beautiful. They even called for help on one song...invited adult choir members to join them...so Marvin and I did, along with about 25 others. It felt so good to sing in a choir again. "How Excellent" was the perfect choice and we belted our tenor part with all the fervor in us. The church was packed and well-wishers were standing outside. Family wore purple, Cheyenne's favorite color. Rev. Lobdell gave a truthful and powerful eulogy. He told about Cheyenne's demand that her Daddy, and all those around her, "pray out loud" so she could hear their prayers. The procession to the cemetery was over 100 cars. Friends and family held a lovely service at the grave site and stayed until the casket was lowered into the ground, the hole filled and sod covered. Then a repast at the Jamaican club where Charlie and his musician friends perform. There was food and music and dancing and talking and a celebration of the life of Cheyenne. All through the day Cheyenne's powerful directing personality was present. "Cheyenne would have wanted it this way" was declared repeatedly. Now Tenika, Charlie, Altha, Ben, Chelsea, Caemora, Chad and the rest of the family, settle in to life without Cheyenne. We know her pain is gone and she is safe in the arms of Jesus. Tears will still be shed.

We will miss our sweet Cheyenne

2011-04-16T21:23:00.000-07:00

We couldn't love you more.

taco soup

2011-04-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

Art for Easter

2011-03-29T06:38:00.000-07:00

Friendswood Community
Church is once again
staging their experience
of Good Friday.

The themes are suffering
and renewal. I'm doing a
piece for each. They do a
wonderful job of featuring
the work of artists.

Everyone is invited.

My apologies for the
quality of the photos...
I will have them scanned
after the "show".

spring

2011-03-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

to my friends in Tennessee...
I miss the redbuds and dogwoods.

Monique

2011-03-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to connect with a beautiful young woman a few months ago. She was just a toddler when I first met her and we became friends as she grew up. We loved to paint and draw together. I left her in Seattle when she was still a little girl. She's a beautiful woman now. This is a painting I did of her when she was about five. What a beauty she is...inside and out. Thanks for sending me a photo Monique...and thanks for keeping that painting.

an angel among us

2011-03-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

Our precious niece, Cheyenne, is fighting for her life.
The cancer that took her leg is filling her lungs.
We are in constant prayer. She is a delight. We love her so.

how images seal themselves

2011-03-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

I was thinking that I should say something about the repeated
use of the dove/flower image in my work. My recent painting
for Easter is only the latest in a long repetitious line that started
at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle. Mt. Zion's sanctuary
is beautiful in reds and purples, huge unfinished log pillars and
a magnificent fabric banner at it's center. Admittedly, until writing
today, I had never read the intended symbolism of the designer,
Larry Metcalf, Professor of Art at Seattle Pacific University.
I love the banner and spent many many hours admiring it. And,
the image of a dove with the trumpet flowers began pouring itself
into my doodles and drawings. It turns out the flowers are
described by Metcalf to be hyssop, symbolizing penitence and
humility...totally different than my interpretation of blessing and
abundance...the heavens pouring itself into our (my) lives and
the resultant puddles of blessing that should flow to others.

You can read about
the sanctuary design
of Mount Zion at
www.mountzion.net.

It is a thoughtfully
beautiful place.

I'm thankful for the
years I spent sitting
in it's beauty.

I'm still not a baptist.

renewal

2011-02-26T15:32:00.000-08:00

We spent the last week in Dallas...
Marvin at a conference, me in the
hotel room working and painting.
This piece is about Renewal.

2011-02-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

still working with the watercolor pencils...not as frustrating now...still a long way to go.

no title yet

2011-01-31T17:52:00.000-08:00

today's work, still using the watercolor pencils,
this time pastels and line work with a sharpie.

trying some new techniques

2011-01-28T10:04:00.000-08:00

My learning style is so impatient. I'm trying to figure
out how to use my watercolor pencils...and don't
even think about going to the net to see if there are
suggestions...just wade in and see what happens.
I'll keep working on it.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

We are looking forward to a New Year...as always.
I'm sure there will be surprises! And it's time to hit
the canvas and do more painting.
Always a good resolution.

2010-12-21T12:46:00.000-08:00

It's the end of the year. Good things and not so good
happened this year. But the truth is, every year is good
when considered in the whole. I love my husband
more every day. I'm a really lucky person. So, for now,
Merry Christmas to all, and here's to a good 2011!

Three Fishead Ladies...so far

2010-12-15T18:51:00.000-08:00

things you find when cleaning the office

2010-11-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

Black Madonna

So, this morning I lost something that I needed
to find, which led me to the space between my
desk and file cabinet where I keep flattened boxes
for mailing...and other miscellaneous stuff that
tends to get slipped in there. I didn't find what I
was looking for (until later) but I found an
envelope with some drawings I haven't seen in
a while. Here they are.

I call this one the Red Hat Baptist

not sure what I had in mind here...tattoos?

an old etching of my Grandma

the fish head series

2010-11-23T14:43:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize I was doing a series...but I see it forming.
The fish head women. Red fish head here.

Blue fish head a few weeks ago.

look, wait, don't do it...

2010-11-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

I had a smooth flight to Seattle this past weekend...and drawing this passed the time...

I'm so glad my friend Jill reads the NewYorker...this is as true as true can be.

2010-11-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

The Straightforward Mermaid

by Matthea Harvey August 16, 2010

The straightforward mermaid starts every sentence with “Look . . . ” This comes from being raised in a sea full of hooks. She wants to get points 1, 2, and 3 across, doesn’t want to disappear like a river into the ocean. When she’s feeling despairing, she goes to eddies at the mouth of the river and tries to comb the water apart with her fingers. The straightforward mermaid has already said to five sailors, “Look, I don’t think this is going to work,” before sinking like a sullen stone. She’s supposed to teach Rock Impersonation to the younger mermaids, but every beach field trip devolves into them trying to find shells to match their tail scales. They really love braiding. “Look,” says the straightforward mermaid. “Your high ponytails make you look like fountains, not rocks.” Sometimes she feels like a third gender—preferring primary colors to pastels, the radio to singing. At least she’s all mermaid: never gets tired of swimming, hates the thought of socks.

The Sketchbook Project...arthousecoop.com

2010-11-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

2010-08-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

Time in Charleston SC and a couple new watercolors

13 pages from my Moleskines

2010-07-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

2010-07-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

2010-07-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

2010-07-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

bird braid

2010-07-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

inspired by my niece Tanika braiding her hair...and thinking she looked silly

2010-05-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

2010-05-20T19:20:00.001-07:00

2010-05-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

2010-05-20T19:09:00.001-07:00

recent stuff

2010-05-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

The plates were a really interesting and apparently well worn process. I had no idea kids have been doing this for years. You draw on paper with crayola markers, send it off to the melamine plate makers and they send you back a lovely plate that is reputed to last for years. The colors are much more vibrant than I thought they would be. This was done as a fund raiser for a friend's friend at church who is having some serious health and thus work issues. I understand it's going to happen again in the Fall. Christmas presents? The trio watercolor is for my sister Tami and her girls...they are coming to visit next weekend. The photo colors are rather muted but you get the idea.

2009-12-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

New Christmas drawing

2009-12-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays Everyone! My niece Sydney is schooling me on the blog o'sphere...and it's slow going. I mangaged to produce a card drawing for Christmas...spurred on by a printer's sale. It was a dear deadline that did it.

Janelle is graduating on Friday and we're very excited! It's a wonderful accomplishment. We look forward to her next step...the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy). The time she has been here has flown.

I'll come up with something more imaginative next time...maybe.

2009-08-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

2009-08-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hello out there wherever you are...

2009-08-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

After many inquiries, I've decided to open a "presence" on the web. A place to post drawings that I do just for my own pleasure. Not for vocation...just for fun. So here we go. Hope you enjoy. I'll add more.