Paint and Eat

With Mexican avocados (that seem to always be ripe) readily available, and my penchant for them, it's hard not to want to eat one every day.  Plus, once they are cut open they begin to turn an unsavoury looking brown grey colour, and so it was best to eat it immediately after the painting is finished!


Avocado   unframed oil 5" x 7"   $100.   SOLD

I thought you might to see how the painting began

And perhaps my snug quarters ...

But I'm quite happy spending a few hours here in the tiny condo kitchen ... before going off to the pool!

Experimenting

Even in paradise it can be cool and rainy.  Such was yesterday.  After stepping out to buy Bill new tennis shoes, another Michael's fix for me (more rubber stamps) and lunch at The Fisherman's Market we came home and settled in for the remainder of the day.  I set to work on the dining room table.



I began by drawing, using coloured pencils and a fine tip artist's marker, on a tinted panel.  I then painted over it all with acrylic paint.  I stamped, scrapped, splattered and scrubbed until I was happy and the piece looked like this ...



Avery With Flowers in Her Hairs   mixed media 12" x 9"   NFS



Full credit to Maria Pace-Wynters for the inspiration here.  I hope she isn't upset with me for trying on her style.  On the Internet, I happened upon her blog and follow her exciting and innovative art with great interest.  Please see her work here:  http://mariapacewynters.wordpress.com

The Living Desert

The Living Desert was established in 1970 by several trustees of the Palm Springs Desert Museum who foresaw the impact that resort development would have on their local desert ecosystem.  1,000 acres (of the 1,800) remain in their natural state and the first rate facility is home to a great number of desert animals from around the world.



Grévy's Zebra is the largest of three species of zebra



Bill and I visited The Living Desert, on our first trip to Palm Springs, in February of 2008 when I was gathering reference material for my big cats solo show called WILD!  I was thrilled to see as well as bobcats here, this cougar here ...

The cougar with a serious stare

Daily, there are two Wild Wonders Shows at the park's amphitheatre which are always worth taking in.  Among the animals featured at the 2pm show on March 18th was this serval.  As a lover of the world's wild cats, he was, for me, the best in the show!

From the African Savannah, a serval

For the entire photo essay click here:
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=630687&id=715295437&l=08e9f3a174

Lime Light

In keeping with the citrus theme, here is the painting I did yesterday morning.  Afterward, I did not eat my subject!
  

Lime Light   unframed oil 6" x 6"   $100.   SOLD



El Paseo Drive

El Paseo Drive

With my people, I spent the afternoon at this exclusive shopping area in Palm Desert which easily rivals Rodeo Drive in Beverley Hills.  There are exquisite shops and so many commercial galleries here ... oh how I wish they would permit photography!  One of my favourites is CODA ... their variety is most impressive.  www.codagallery.com/palm_desert/index.php



The shop windows are dazzling

For more photos, please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=628817&id=715295437&l=b555236ac8

Slices of the Good Life

Unlike the condo we stayed in last year, the patio in this one is not particularly conducive to painting.  But one must adapt.  I like the shiny, white, kitchen tiles here.  I set up my arrangements on the elevated portion of the counter above the sink and by the window.  Yesterday morning I painted this ...


Slices of the Good Life   unframed oil 6" x 6"   $100.   SOLD



Then I ate my subjects, I took the rest of the day off and went to the pool.  I had to ... it reached 32C!

2011 La Quinta Arts Festival

Yesterday, with Peter and Geraldine Shostak, I reveled in the expansive La Quinta Arts Festival at that city's Civic Centre Campus.  The 29th annual show featured 230 artists from 44 states, Canada and Mexico.  Hats off to all the artist and artisans doing this show for four days 10 - 5.  I remember the level of commitment needed to do multi-days show. 



Peter at Diane McClary's booth



Flat art included painting, drawing, pastel, photography and print making. There was all manner of glass art, ceramics, fiber, jewellery, wood and sculpture.



Bronzes by Wendy Salin

It was an absolute feast for the eyes in a spectacular setting.  To see more photos, please click on this link ...

https://www.facebookphp/?aid=627204&id=715295437&l=7fea73b6bc

Palm Springs

Arriving in Palm Springs, March 3rd

I am very distracted and busy enjoying summer life here.  Palm Springs is just one of several cities in the Coachella Valley ... www.stacyeder.com/lifestyle/cities.htm 
and there is much to see and do.  Under bright blue skies, palm lined boulevards, green golf courses and flowers greet us everywhere.  Only a few blocks from us our friends from Canmore also have a condo for the month of March and we play with them often. 

The pool at our complex always beckons ...


Me in the Esprit pool


... making it easy to forget about painting.  However, March 9th, I did paint my first of this trip ...

 Hand Picked Lemon   unframed oil 6" x 6"   $100.   SOLD

I'm sure you understand.

For more photos please click on these links:
En Route and Arriving at Palm Springs:
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=621808&id=715295437&l=06c388e68a
PSCA Condo & the First Days

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=623580&id=715295437&l=b11a702c4a

Life in Palm Springs:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=625425&id=715295437&l=cae97182f2

Left Behind

Painting, in progress, on the easel at home
Table Mountain 30" x 24"

Starting back in early January our minds have been on escaping the long, unrelenting Alberta winter.

The morning following "The Homecoming" we pointed the car south and began the three day drive to Palm Springs, California.  It was 21C when we arrived, on March 3rd, and since then the temperatures have risen even higher.  We're enjoying the green grass, palm trees, sun, warmth, tennis, the pool as well as the shopping here. 

Thus far, I have made one 6x6 inch painting but I can't seem to add photos to any of my blog posts.  So, until the problem is resolved I can only show you this painting which I had uploaded to a draft post while we were still at home.

They're Back

Last night we met a plane at the Calgary airport.  It delivered to us our most precious cargo ...

Adam and Laura, so very good to see you!

They family rejoiced and feasted (thanks to Larry for the fine meal) delighted in being all together, if only for one night.  More photos here:
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=620790&id=715295437&l=3401a45b36

And now to get out of the winter that just won't quit ... California here we come!