Someone Else's Cup

Someone else's cup, their souvenir from a visit to the Norton Simon Museum in Stockbridge. It seemed like a good still life model before I fill it with paint brushes.

Moving Eastward Across the Ocean

"Take a little piece of my heart"
Janis Joplin











Three coin purses from Japan, gifts from three friends, left to right, plastic, leather, fabric.

Moleskine Slideshow

Charlie Chan Meets Georgia O'Keefe

Magazine clippings and scraps get pasted on sketchbook covers to put a face on all the black books and to provide inspiration. Is Charlie looking at Georgia's painting for possible murder clues?

Pink Cupcake

Painting a pink fluffy cupcake is more fun than actually eating one.

Conversation with Hattie

Watercolor doodle painted itself while on a long phone call which came as I set up paints, water and sketchbook. I call this one "Conversations with Hattie". It is nice to listen to a favorite relative with stories to share.

Coronetta

My neighbor and I were admiring my calla lily. She said it's a coronetta (?) in Spanish, blew an imaginary trumpet. I can see the palace guards blowing Calla Lily trumpets as Cinderella emerges from her pumpkin coach.

Alas, my lilies have not returned after gravel was put down.

Sea of Jellies

In a jellyfish state of mind, June 2009. Volunteering a the an ARt Miles event atthe aquarium has me thinking of fish creatures. Painted a full page of small jellyfish, cut into business cards embellished with beads and slipped into a clear cellophane envelope.

Hearts and Flowers

Spontaneous fun splashes inspired by pastry photo on Carol Gillot's parisbreakfast blog. Always a sweet luscious zero calorie treat. Small watercolors to go with my morning coffee. "Be Mine" instead of the usual Be Mine seemed to paint itself.

Small watercolor sketches Feb. 14, 2011

Garden by Starbucks

Feeding Starbucks coffee grounds to my garden and lemon cake for me. The coffee has improved the hard clay soil after a few weeks.

Front Garden in Vitro

Section of front yard converted from lawn to garden with curved sections of gravel, sedum, yellow and magenta ice plants with Spanish lavender bushes.

Dialogue in Red, Yellow

Spontaneous paper collage that arranged itself, speaking in color and shape when there are no words, a letter to Vincent Van Gogh.

The following is an excerpt of Van Gogh's letter to his youngest sister, Willimien, written from the south of France.


"Here I need no Japanese woodblock prints, because I am here in Japan. This is why I only have to open my eyes and paint the impressions that I receive.

Ici, je n'ai pas besoin d'estampes japonaises, car je me dis toujours que suis ici au Japon. Et c'est pourquoi je n'ai qu'a garder les yeux grand ouverts et peindre les impessions que je recois."

Today, he would be given medication but there would be no paintings of blazing color and fire.

Emville Loft

M's loft in Emeryville. A short walk to the trendy Bay Street shopping area, a refreshing relaxing spot near the bay without the congestion and traffic of San Francisco and with a user friendly parking structure and next doorto IKEA, a place for light breakfast and decorating ideas.

Backyard Views

I don't think about posting sketches from my backyard because I see gardening chores that needs to be done. But the giant nasturtium along the fence and the pastel tops dancing in the summer wind seemed too seductive not to sketch.

Seafood Dream

The sushi bar's green plastic carousel travels around the counter to deliver food to patrons. Rush Limbaugh is to my left, pounding on the counter, making my order of tempura deep fried shrimp and yam slices jump and leap towards me to the rock music of "Barracuda". Someday, I'd like to meet the person that writes my early morning dreams.

Cartoon and dream sketched in February.

Omelet and Toast

Omelet, cooked in a dab of butter as recommended by Julia Child, avocado strip garnish. Sourdough toast with olive oil and garlic, topped with diced tomato. If I paint quickly, the model feeds me lunch.

Bird's Eye

Playing with shapes while watching Numb3rs. Inspired by a Laurel Burch earring. Some of the fun spilled on the page.