Chilly Views from Warm Car

Longfellow House (new home of Minnesota School of Botanical Art)

In warmer weather I often go to Longfellow Gardens which is part of Minehaha Park. Close to the falls, and owned by Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, the location is quite pleasant even in winter.
On recent days the working comfort of the car seems to be a kind of studio.  Its been sunny and for us, relatively warm in the 20's and 30's.  This is good sketching weather. This toned paper is kind of fun to try snow views, however the paper itself is too lightweight.  I bought this journal rather than construct it myself so I use what's here. No complaints. I had some enjoyable times.

Mendota Heights, MN

Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis

Silent No Longer

The December 14 events in Newtown, CT require that we change here in the United States.

The current situation with too many guns and lack of community and lack of adequate mental health treatment must be addressed and adjusted and revised.  Barack Obama's words are meaningful.  Promises were made.  Resolve must continue.  

Our families and children and grandchildren are our greatest strength.

Our determination to change cannot waiver.  Change is already long overdue.  More guns have not been and will never be the answer. 

Anthony Main. 2nd grade

"...There’s only one thing we can be sure of, and that is the love that we have for our children, for our families, for each other. The warmth of a small child’s embrace, that is true.

The memories we have of them, the joy that they bring, the wonder we see through their eyes, that fierce and boundless love we feel for them, a love that takes us out of ourselves and binds us to something larger, we know that’s what matters.

We know we’re always doing right when we’re taking care of them, when we’re teaching them well, when we’re showing acts of kindness. We don’t go wrong when we do that.

That’s what we can be sure of, and that’s what you, the people of Newtown, have reminded us. That’s how you’ve inspired us. You remind us what matters. And that’s what should drive us forward in everything we do for as long as God sees fit to keep us on this Earth.

“Let the little children come to me,” Jesus said, “and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Charlotte, Daniel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Madeline, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, James, Grace, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Benjamin, Avielle, Allison, God has called them all home.

For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on and make our country worthy of their memory. May God bless and keep those we’ve lost in His heavenly place...."

Barak Obama    December 16, 2012  Newtown CT

Home and Away

With lots of time at home when it was stormy, I finally completed my knitting.  (Wigglewrap pattern by Sally Brandl) and then I went traveling to visit family and loved seeing all the snow on a sunny day.  When the light was still new in the morning I did this quick sketch at a little parking lot close to an exit on Wisconsin's I-94.

Tempest in a Teacup

My painting teacher in college used to say "Your painting is only as good as the drawing underneath"
These wonky teacup paintings, (as well as the little portrait) had no drawings underneath and so have their own strange character.  I'm just glad to be painting again, as I became preoccupied with knitting and also assorted holiday interests.  Another preoccupation has been waiting for significant content to "call out to me".  It turns out I need to fight my way out of that kind of circular thinking and just take out the paintbrush and get going on whatever is at hand, without fretting about how "good" the result. Best Wishes for  2013 for all of us!

Minnesota Storm

Knitting and Snow....the perfect combination  Warmth and Beauty in early December

The Blue Marble self portraits

"Forty years ago today, Apollo 17 astronauts took a famous photograph of Earth. It's now known as "The Blue Marble," because that's exactly what our home looks like: a blue marble floating against the vast black velvet backdrop of space. The photograph was the first clear image of the Earth, because the sun was at the astronauts' back, and so the planet appears lit up and you can distinctly see blue, white, brown, and green. You can also see a cyclone forming over the Indian Ocean. The photo became a symbol of the environmental movement of the 1970s.
The crew of Apollo 17 was about 28,000 miles away from Earth when they took the Blue Marble photo. It was the last time that astronauts, not robots, were on a lunar mission — since then, no humans have gotten far enough away from Earth to take a photo like it."

from the Writer's Almanac for today Dec 7, 2012      Host: Garrison Keillor
Writers: Betsy Allister, Holly Vanderhaar

Florida Watercolors

Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park, Gulf, Florida

sand dunes at St Joseph Peninsula state park

These were done quite a few years ago.   I have recently been doing some gouache copies of work and do not want to post any of those since they are quite derivative, so here's at least more original work.