Saturday, September 23, 2006

Day 5













Despite only having about 3-4 hours to work on Friday, I kicked butt! First of all Doug was in NYC for the day so I was able to play my music loud and sing along. Doug works in the room right next to me and can pretty much hear whatever I do. And even after 18 years I still feel embarrassed to really sing so that he can hear me. It's for his own good really, not to mention the good of our marriage. I do sing in front of my kids but that's because it embarrasses THEM, not me. Now I think whenever I hear Young Americans by David Bowie it will remind me of a party in college* AND painting the barn roof red on this painting:













So I worked on that piece as well as the other 24x36 piece and I am very happy with how they both turned out. I have to do just a bit more work on them, still not sure about the color of the path in the landscape, but essentially they are close to finished. This is the landscape, plus a close-up, that will be going to another gallery this coming week.
























I had planned to gesso some more panels Friday night but after unpacking a shipment of like, 900 more panels, making dinner and doing a few things around the house, I decided to prepare the panels on Saturday and do the under paintings for the next batch of barns on Sunday. I am pleased with my progress but it could still all go to hell if just one little unexpected thing happens.



* Young Americans always bring to mind an image of one of the first college parties I was at on Labor Day weekend in 1983. It was in a crowded apartment on campus and the school had kindly supplied a few kegs (aahhh, the pre-politically incorrect olden days). This guy, Joe, was doing a great dance with a girl while everyone else watched and sang and cheered them on. I think he was a junior and so I only knew him slightly. He was so beautiful (ok, I had had a few) and I couldn't stop watching him. At that point, I don't think I had ever seen a man really dance (in person that is), with spins and hips and rhythm and so I was transfixed. A few weeks later he and I were talking and I mentioned that I enjoyed the party and his dance in the middle of it all. He laughed and said everyone was commenting about it, but he had had a lot of beer and didn't really remember dancing that night. Figures. An image that I will recall every time I hear a David Bowie song for the next 20+ years and the person in it has no memory of it whatsoever.

3 comments:

Diane Widler Wenzel said...

Like seeing your studio in the photo. You work sitting down? Sorry to read that you are having difficulty sleeping. Do you have an air purifier?

tlwest said...

I have difficulty sleeping at certain times of the month-- try a cup of chamomile tea before you go to bed. That usually works for me if I remember to do it...

Tracy Helgeson said...

Thank Parapluie and Terri, The sleeping issues have passed now that I am feeling a bit less stressed about getting the work done.

No air purifier, but we really should get one given all the cat dander floating around.