Laurelines

On the mend with rocks and water, Montreal last sketches

Whew. My computer has been totally eviscerated, its contents moved to a friend's Mac while mine was cleansed and resuscitated. I have lost a lot of images and documents, but some of it we can retrieve. We think. And by 'we', I mean, of course, 'my husband.'
In the meantime, here's what I've got for you today:

Onomea Bay

Acrylic on board 11" x 14"

K four ways. We were sitting at the very front (what a nice nautical term) of the ship. Seen from the back, she looks so much like the little girl I took on so many trips across the years.

I worked, uncharacteristically, in a sketchbook in landscape format, thus the whole spreads look smaller than usual here. Click on images for larger version. Notice how patiently the other passengers were waiting to be rebooked after their flight was cancelled. Luckily, my daughter's and my flight was not one of the cancelled ones.

Mac Melodrama

The heavy velvet curtain has crashed to the floor.  The floodlights illuminate only dust particles. The diva is backstage having a meltdown. They've called an ambulance. A complete blood transfusion is required.
And I, the operator of an ailing MacBook Pro, am waiting in the wings until the fat lady can sing those Laurelines arias again.  See you tomorrow--- or a day very much like it.

Montreal moments

K and I had a wonderful time in Montreal, though it was way too short to even begin to see and do all that we wanted. She gives a lively account in her new blog of the trip, with lots of great photos.
I sketched as and when I could. You knew I'd find fountains. The fountain on rue Saint Sulpice in Montreal features trappers, dogs, and explorers, as opposed to the cardinals and mythic creatures of the fountain at Saint-Sulpice in Paris. We saw the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition at the Musée des Beaux Arts, which was stunning. I have another sketch from that show to share.   We took a bateau mouche tour of the Saint Lawrence river and we visited the Jardin Botanique, one of the largest in the world. I have more sketches to post and will do so in the next couple of days.  Then it's back to painting paintings---of rocks and water, what  else?

Post Monterey, Pre Montreal

Two daughters, two trips. And look at the coincidence in the fact that the names of both cities translate, roughly, as 'royal mountain!' I'm sure that means something.  Somehow. Somewhere.
K and I leave early tomorrow morning and return Sunday night. I'll wager there aren't lots of rocks and water scenarios in Montreal, though there is the Saint Lawrence river so qui sait?
We've had a very nonwatery period here---a whole week of record-breaking heat (several 100F days) and no rain in sight. I'm trying not to succumb to PTSD--- the memories of our recent, prolonged and intense drought are , however,  powerful.
And apropos of nothing watery, here is an ink and watercolor rendering of cardoons from my front garden:

8 1/2" x 11", dip pen and Higgins russet ink and Schmincke watercolors on 140lb CP Acquerello Italia paper.

For those of you interested in learning all about ink and wash techniques, please check out my dear friend Cathy (Kate) Johnson's website and Cafe Press store.  She's published over 30 art instructional books and is now offering a whole slew of  fantastic cds on ink and wash, plein air sketching, and other mediums and methods! There's no better source for art instruction than generous, ubertalented Kate!  See you in Montreal!

Monterey: rocks and water

I was SO inspired by the Monterey coast.  The play of water against rocks, the calligraphic shapes of rill and wave and swell, the high value contrasts, the splattered textures of spray and rock---it was pure heaven. And just when I was getting a feel for the the abstract shapes and the energy of it all, I had to leave. But sketches and photos will allow me to pursue these themes here in the studio.

Monterey trip sketches

Taking my daughter C to check out graduate programs at the Monterey Institute last week was a wonderful thing to have done. Having extended one -on- one time with her was such a gift and, of  course, being in that gorgeous part of the world again was balm to my artist's soul. For this seeker of watery places, it was a bonanza. I devoted most of my time to C, but I was able to make a few sketches, and make studies and  take photos for later paintings! I could ecstatically and most profitably take root in Monterey for a month or more, just to paint.

You can see that I had time to focus on sketching en route. I didn't know how much time I'd have for it once we got to Monterey, so I took advantage of captive models as I traveled.

  There was no dearth of rocks and water to focus on, of course, it being the coast of California and all. I have more watery sketches to share, so come back, won't you?