Rain

It was raining here tonight. It was a soft and steady calming rain. It inspired. It always does.

...for she danced in the rain to a beat he could not hear, but the cacophony of droplets splashing from her feet, non the less, enticed him....

"Rain II"
Graphite and Watercolor on archival bristol

Have Canvas Will Travel

The tree wanted me to mention
that he practiced all morning for this shot.
He did good for his first photoshoot I think.

I've come to learn that those who are ambidextrous (which I am) probably have some sort of brain damage. Well, that really doesn't surprise me. Neither does the urge to drop everything in the office/studio and pack up a plastic container full of art supplies, including my canvases, and drive onto the backroads till I found the perfect painting spot and set up shop.

Yeah.....I set up a painting station right in my Chrysler on the side of a road in the middle of...I have no idea what country road. Street names and directions hold no weight here. It's about composition, shape, line and color when searching for landscape fodder. I just keep driving till I find the perfect spot that inspires. The cup holders, the arm rest and the passenger seat all proved to be perfect for the session once I found the perfect landscape painting spot and the huge bin I threw everything in was choice. It held everything neatly and cleanly and offered a buffer for spilling paint from the palette.

The entire session took about three hours. Only one person stopped to help the "damsel in distress" and they seemed disappointed I wasn't in need. Sorry dude....move along!

I documented the painting process of this landscape painting done in acrylics. It has approx three more hours until finish which will be completed in my studio using photos taken on site. I've mentally cataloged the entire scene and will use the photos only as back up should I need a bit of reference, in particular with the trees in the foreground.

Huge plastic bin containing
everything I'll need for the adventure.

Cup holders and arm rest
come in hand during the session.

Laying down gesso. Its sorta like
primer for walls and preps the canvas







Then is started to rain
which greatly changed all the colors



After hour three with
three more hours left till finish

"Rain"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Rain II"
Graphite and watercolor on arrival brisol.

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about dancing in the rain."

Rain, rain...YEAH!

Button Boxes now for sale
$18 each ppd (in USA)

All have SOLD!
Thank you so much!!!

I served pancakes and waffles today cause it's raining and we are celebrating. Ok, well, I am the only one happy about the rain. LOL My husband and son both gave a collective sigh when they heard the rain come down a bit harder while we were all snuggling in a group hug this morning. Rain...hubby...my son and the rain beating on the pavement cleaning the city free of its grime. A perfect start to a morning! After 18 years of getting to know me my husband has come to just accept the fact that rain makes me giddy and happy.

Hopefully the rain won't distract me too much today. Between the housework I put off all week and the many projects I am involved in my head is in overdrive this morning. Overdrive is not necessarily good cause the gears sometimes get all gunked up and confused. I've had to write down everything I need to accomplish today on paper. It's the only way I can keep things in order and running smoothly. If given the chance I WILL just stare out the window and into the rain for the whole day.

One major "to do" is the sale of my little Halloween mice boxes today. I really like the way they turned out and I am selling them this morning. (First come, first serve) If you like any you can email me at studiodanza@optonline.net. Please be sure you visit the Danza Ceramics News Group if you need more information and please join in order to hear about future offerings. My personal favorite out of this batch is the little ghost mouse. He looks sorta sad and mushy about trick or treating. For some reason that is striking a chord with me.

Another major to do, besides get the dust bunnies under control here in the living room, is make more headway on the new teapot I am making for my church's fall outing. I threw the bowl portion, the spout and the lid. The bowl trimmed up perfectly yesterday, but the lid left me frustrated. No matter how I trimmed the rims I couldn't get the lid to sit perfectly on the top of the bowl. That is an important aspect to a teapot. Can't have tea spilling out from a lid that shimmies. This is how I solved the problem:

Pretty, but not functional.

So I cut off the handle.

Turned it upside down...

...and WALLA! It now sits perfectly!

It has a Japanese feel now. I can't help but see a fish tail coming out from the very center of the lid. I suspect I'm going to run fully with the water/fish theme. Such a theme would certainly make the tea cups much more interesting in the end. This has been the most challenging project for me to date. I haven't even gotten to the glaze stage which is the most difficult stage for me.

Well, those dust bunnies never disappear on their own, so I'm off (with another fresh cup of coffee in hand) to disrupt their little party. I'll leave you with a little Garbage. It's the song that has been in my head all morning. :)