Don't Upset the Apple Cart

One of my favorite summer treats is a juicy crisp apple. This small painting was part of a fabric pattern I created years ago.

Aphrodite @ the MOA Sketch

I've been very distracted by nature lately, so back to the drawing board! My last post (before all the Nature stuff) was my painting of Aphrodite at the Mall of America.  Here's the study from my sketchbook. I'll add the painting again, too, so you can see the before and after effect. The sketch is pretty worn, but you can see all the notations I made to remind myself of colors and other details once I got back in the studio. I love sketching on location, it makes for a personal connection to my work that doesn't happen with photos or other scrap references. All those "in-love" flying people? Well, they were there, you just didn't see them. You must look again when you go shopping.

The Storm

It's been quite a week! I've been without power for five very long and hot days! Over 600,000 people lost power, and wouldn't you know it, my home was in the last remaining 1% to have power restored. It has been a very rainy month, so when the storm rolled through with straight line winds, huge trees just toppled over because the saturated ground could not hold the roots. Everywhere I look I see trees down with huge root balls sticking up out of the ground! The wind was so fierce that almost every house in my neighborhood including my own above, had a tree or a limb come down. Fortunately no one was hurt, and my roof was not damaged. It was not fun, but it was a bonding experience for my entire neighborhood, and we are now in the planning stage of the Post Storm Party to be held in the cul-de-sac next week. Welcome to summer!