Sleep On It

Sleep On It

30"x22"

Beauty asleep - trying my hand at long drips......

NAWA Show Reception at Strathmore Mansion

She didn't?....yep, she DID!

In a happy and somewhat wine-fueled state placing the red dot on "Barcelona!"

(BTW, The title is missing an "!" turned upside down before the "B"...

I do not know how to effect that.....)

Kristin with the ceremonial placing of the Red Dot on "RM1"

Nick's self-portrait "Breathe" - pushing the envelope of watercolor world!

Moi, Carol Carter, Sandy Ashton, Sandy Cawley & Kristin Pauly

At last meeting the wonderful Carol Carter....

With great enthusiasm and anticipation three of my art-loving friends joined me for the Sunday afternoon trek to Bethesda to see the NAWA show "Stepping Over The Line" at Strathmore Mansion. NAWA features six of the premier watercolor artists of North America - Keiko Tanabe, Thomas Schaller, Carol Carter, Mark Mehaffey, Kathleen Alexander and Nicholas Simmons - who have formed a group - the only one in N.A. I am assured - to exhibit together both domestically and abroad.

All of these artists have a presence on Facebook and I am privileged to be "friends' with most of them. So it was very exciting to be able to actually meet them and to see their work in person! And what an afternoon it turned out to be. Overcome by the quality of the work and the quality of the wine (?) - two of us "got off our wallets" - as my Canadian friends used to say - and splurged on two wonderful paintings by my good friend and mentor, Nicholas Simmons. It was unexpected and even the realization that I, most likely, cannot get "Barcelona!" (sorry Nick, I do not know how to do an upside down exclamation mark which precedes the B in Barcelona) into my car has not dampened my joy at having purchased this beautiful painting. (Roof rack anyone??) My bank account on the other hand..... :)

All of the other artists had wonderful paintings on display - I recognized many of their works only previously glimpsed on Facebook - and I would have loved to have purchased a few more had I been able. Maybe the next show!

Art work actually makes an appearance...

"Swimmer #10"

24"x18"

Finally a painting! No time this summer what with moving and traveling....This is my latest swimmer. I just didn't want to do blue!

La Belle Suisse

" The View" from my room

Looking down from the town of Gruyeres - cheese heaven

Lausanne

Before embarking on the ferry to Evian, France - of mineral water fame

Ferry crossing Lac Leman (Lake Geneva)

On the ferry crossing over to France - no passport required!

Ferry Flying French Flag Forward

(Sorry - couldn't resist)

View from a cafe overlooking the lake near Prealpina

View from the same cafe - no photoshop just the vivid setting on my camera

Chateau Surpierre where the Burki sisters lived.

Gabi Burki still lives there with her son, Philippe. Burki cheese was the family's living....

(more cheese!) ....now the towers need re-roofing...Mon Dieu

Looking down from the chateau..another view from the endless supply that make up Switzerland

An old family retainer - Gabi's great grandfather was responsible for this

The dining room - lovely fireplace - one could roast a pig if one was so inclined...

Castle gate gargoyle

I recently returned to Switzerland for a school reunion. This was not a place where I had the happiest of memories being separated from my parents at a young age and away from my sunny childhood days spent in the intensity of life in Calcutta. Expat Brits sent their children away to school when they were ten and so, in his infinite wisdom (NOT) my father decided to do the same and hey - I'd learn French!

With some trepidation I returned to Prealpina which has now reverted to being a hotel and the cloud hanging over those years disappeared. When I walked in I felt....... NOTHING. That chapter has been put to rest and I was emotionally free to admire the truly beautiful view I had gazed upon for six years with resentful eyes. It seems that it is true - face your demons and they will vanish.

As a side note - everyone who saw it was incredibly envious of our view. If we complained about the school - the comeback was invariably: "But the view!" This became a running joke and we decided to name our reunion: "But THE VIEW!"

My studio floorcloth

149" x 113"

Hemmed #4 (very heavy) canvas

Primed with white marine paint

Painted with fluid acrylics

Semi-gloss clear coat will protect it from furniture and traffic

I have moved and I am transforming the second bedroom into my studio. All those guests trundling through will have to share space with my paints and assorted artistic paraphernalia..... I know they won't mind and will love being surrounded by my bold - cough - endeavors. :) But the new floors I put down were too dark and did not reflect light from the wonderful solartube I had just installed. After pondering on many wacky ideas I came to the brilliant conclusion that I should paint - a la abstract expressionist - on a white floorcloth and put that down to, not only reflect the light, but to make a statement about the process of creation that I struggle with joyfully most days. And it is done!

Check out Kulula Airlines - a low cost South African airline - and their cheeky livery! Paint by Numbers and Flying as Fun - what a concept! :)

Pan Am #1

This is the first painting, somewhat rough, of a series on Pan American World Airways. Pan Am ruled! Just ask any former employee. A class act - gone but not forgotten by the thousands who worked for her - the "Queen of the Skies".