Almost There

1994.
My realtor brother Tom has told me, everyone knows moving is second in stress only to the death of a spouse. Third is moving a dead spouse.

Over the Sea 15

Signed the documents today, keys tomorrow, move on the weekend. At last! Even eeked this out last night.

1992

It was a good year although my cat caught Bubonic Plague! Ate an infected mouse. I took him to the vet to check out a strange open sore on him and the next thing I know the State Epidemiologist is on the phone. Travis was quarantined! He was even written up in Cat Fancy magazine! Plague isn`t common in city cats. He lived to hunt again.

Arizona Mountain

The closing on our new house is delayed which means our move is postponed a week. This is not good. I broke down my studio a week ago and we are living among stacks of boxes. Last night I unpacked my watercolors and set up a small painting area. Anxiety is going to make me reconcile with that medium. This could turn out to be one of those instances where it will seem like it was meant to be. Or not. Nothing worthy was created yesterday but I did feel lighter.
This is another landscape I found in storage as I packed. It was painted from memory after flying over Arizona.

Spring/Lake Peak from Chimayo

1989.
That groove between the foothills running up into the mountains is so fascinating. I think it might be the watershed of the Santa Cruz River. I drew and painted it many times. In beautiful fertile Chimayo New Mexico, the views are stunning.

From 1990

Most of these abstract works of twenty years ago were never shown together but some did sell.
We`re inching closer to our move. Signed the documents for the sale of our current home yesterday. We`re scheduled to close on the new place Friday. Getting the keys into our sweaty hands is another matter.I think I`ll need to postpone the contractors for a few days. New lighting and a venting system for my studio have to happen before I can settle in down there.

Night Flowers

1988.
My work is being shown at the White Bird`s Spring Unveiling. I guess that refers to all the work created over the winter being exhibited for the first time. This is certainly true for me. Twenty small paintings, three medium and four large canvases are being picked up on Wednesday. If anyone happens to be in Cannon Beach in May, please take a look.

Untitled [magnolia]

I found this going through old paintings I pulled out of storage. I think I like it even if it`s too red. One thing has really been obvious as I`ve sorted through tax returns, bank statements, magazines, legal papers and letters, paper is on the way out. Thank God! I am so tired of shredding stuff with my social security number on it. We all probably know someone who has been a victim of identity theft. What an ongoing living hell that seems to be!
Recently I bought a big fat expensive book on Nordic landscape painting and quickly realized I could have seen nearly all the images online, for free. With my eyesight, reading has become so much easier on the computer too. I want as much stuff as possible digitized and on a hard drive or on a server somewhere. I can`t keep moving these boxes. Down with paper! Unless it has a watercolor on it!

Moonrise

1990.
My studio is all packed away and I, realistically, won`t be able to paint again until mid-May. This is daunting but I can always draw. I wish I could do it like my friend David Shratter. He sits anywhere and just begins.

From the Foothills to the Peaks

This kind of abstract 'mythic' looking landscape was also what I was painting about 20 years ago. I lived near the mountains in New Mexico and traveled throughout Colorado. I was obsessed with those high altitude vistas. Now I paint swamps,creeks and fog.

Huachucha

1987. This was a breakthrough at the time. I managed to skew the balance in a new way. It was painted almost to the end with it`s bottom being the top. When I turned it upside down, another possibility opened up. The title came from a place name in Arizona.

Another 1992

No idea of the title.
Today we tackle closets!

Canyon

1992.

Three Comice

This is the pear painting mentioned in my interview with Maureen. My BFF George bought it years ago. Take a look at her beautiful glass.

Winter Slough Study

Winter 09

Red Morning Slough

A true 'daily painting'.

The Cliff Joins the Water

With the distractions and my short attention span, I surprised myself with this. We were walking along a creek in our new town, the water was low and the new growth was busting out on everything. We came upon a little 'amphitheater' with a sliding waterfall, huge boulders, sloping cliffs and still, clear water. Growing up in Southern California, I would have hiked for hours to see such a thing.
Part Two of the interview with Maureen Doallas has been posted on her blog, Writing Without Paper. Thanks Maureen!