August 26

 One day left in my forties. There I said it. I don't like it, but I said it. The past ten years have been pretty cool, for the most part. There was shit, but there was a lot of fun. I can only hope the next decade will be even better. But yeah, I'm not happy about 5-0.

I plan on painting this scene. This is a pretty common sight around here. Bikes, usually old rusty bikes, leaning up against dune fence, trees/fence casting cool purply shadows, and people heading to the beach in bright yellow sunshine. Love it. It's serene, and cool, and just sums up Rehoboth. I painted a similar scene years ago and it sold right away. I guess other people think it's cool too.

 This is one of the nice things about living here. I can go sit on the beach over my lunch break. Granted, I don't have a towel...or a chair...or a bathing suit, but eh. I make due.

And this cute little place is right here in the neighborhood. The other day it looked just like something out of a fairy tale. Very Hansel/Gretel. I wanted to go in. I didn't, and stayed out of jail.

Swirly Middleburg

This is one of my favorite places - Middleburg, Virginia. This is a small view of Brian's backyard (my dear friend Lorrie's boyfriend.) It's really a plein air heaven out there. Stacy and I got some plein air in under a very dramatic puffy-cloud sky.

Take Me to Church

August 21 - hitting the brakes

Why is it you never hear people say, "wow, where did winter go?" But you hear "wow, where did summer go?" Because people LOVE summer. And it always goes so fast.

This month has been rather turbulent. We lost a well-known local restaurant owner, Matt Haley. He owned many restaurants in the area, was involved in community theatre, and began a charitable organization called Global Delaware. We were on-stage together about 8 years ago in a silly Christmas show in Georgetown, and he kept us laughing. He died in a motorcycle accident in India, doing his charitable work there, before visiting the daughters he adopted in Nepal. He had spent time in prison for drugs decades ago, learned about cooking in prison, and grew from there. He is an example of how we can all rise above seemingly impossible challenges.

Robin Williams, Lauren Bacall and Don Nardo also died this month. I've never seen the public so upset over a celebrity death before Robin Williams. He was another well known and well loved person. The world will certainly miss both these men.

Things are starting to quiet down a bit here, at work and in the town. Some kids are back in school or going on Monday. That always thins the crowds. But sometimes it's nice to just have quiet. I'm okay with it. And tomorrow will be my first day off since August 3. I am really looking forward to that!

Peace out!

Summer

Weekend 2 and the last day of the Outdoor Show 2014. A tremendous amount of work, but a very good show. We had the most amazing weather, both weekends. This summer has been the best weather that I can ever remember, actually.

Friday  night started with a peaceful post-work kayak through the canal. Only a few slow moving boats. The photos below don't really do the beauty of the evening and the place much justice. The Japanese style house is one of the houses seen from the canal. It is very unusual for the area, and it is just exquisite. There is a beautiful bamboo fence around it and lots of Japanese touches here and there.

The "bartending" photo is me passing out Dogfish beer to our artists at the artist reception Saturday night. Dogfish makes A LOT of different beers. That's Matt Carter in the background, and he gave us a quick rundown of some of the beers we were serving. I should have taken notes. And the damned artists wanted to know...what's this one? what's this one? JUST TAKE THE BEER, IT'S FREE AND IT'S TASTY AND GO AWAY. 

The bottom shot is a great photo of my mom and dad, sitting in one of my favorite spots at RAL. They both look happy and healthy. I just love it. Dad has come a long, long way from last year.  :)

If You Forget Me

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine. 

Pablo Neruda

Day two and a lovely one.

Great turnout. Sold 3. Peaceful. Got some sketching done. Now time to relax!

Her.

Love this. It makes me think of "She" by Elvis Costello, which is a heart-breakingly beautiful love song.

August already?

Summer never fails to disappoint in its ability to make time speed up. It flies by in a haze of fun and laughter and AMAZINGLY GOOD WEATHER....wow...we have had the best summer weather I can ever remember. 

This is the first weekend of the RAL Outdoor Show, and I'm showing. I feel so blessed that there's no hurricanes, no sweltering heat and no rain. It's been heavenly and we had a huge turnout of people. Today is day two, and I'm getting ready to head back from 10-4. 

This is a photo of my  newfound cousin David. He is part of my birth family, some of whom I am just getting to know. And speaking of feeling blessed, you can see by our smiles that we are immensely pleased to have found each other. He is a wonderful man, and we have instantly clicked. I think it's safe to say that there is a strong family resemblance as well. And he has informed me that yes, we are Native American, as I expected.

Sometimes life just gives you a big old cupcake instead of a sh*t sandwich.  :)

So, here's some pics of my booth this year. I'm on a bit of a hill, so it was interesting setting up on an angle.

Happy Sunday!

Morning plein air

One of my favorite things to do is get out and do some plein air on a beautiful day. Today I took the morning off and headed to Gordon's Pond. I got two relatively large (16 x 20 and 20 x 24) done. There's still some tweaking to do on the path painting, but it's pretty close. It's always a challenge to work quickly, with changing light, bikers/runners/pedestrians stopping to chat and the occasional greenhead. (One of which died in agony after sticking himself back-first to one of the wet paintings. He deserved it.) These two will make it to the RAL Outdoor Show this weekend, wet but there.

 

Stay or Leave

Great song, great video

RAL Out door Show 2014

Yes, it's that time again, amazingly enough.

I will showing August 9 and 10 this year, working the second weekend. Hope to see you there.

12 Dodds Lane, Rehoboth DE (in Henlopen Acres)