COCONUT COASTERS

Here is a look at what came out of the kiln yesterday. The large pineapple-papaya platter looks really good with the coconut coasters.

Large platter is $135.00

Coasters are $29.00 for a set of 4

MORE CLOUDS

On Friday I went to the same location to paint the clouds and sky again. The clouds were completely different than they had been on Thursday. There were lots of small clouds on the horizon and towering clouds, that threatened rain, everywhere else. As of yet this is untitled,but like the other painting it is 16 x 20 and acrylic on canvas.

CLOUD PAINTING

The cloud reflections were so lovely yesterday on Lower Sugarloaf Key I just had to try and capture the feel of them during our painting class. Most of the class did self portraits, but some of us did the landscape.

The clouds kept changing and I got frustrated by trying to paint certain clouds. So I switched my approach and decided just to paint the atmosphere or the mood of them. I decided to focus on their movement and their buoyancy. I might go back out and try again this morning. This painting is 16 x 20 inches acylic on canvas and untitled at the moment.

NEW DIRECTION

This painting started out as an abstract sunset painting, that I kept painting over, and wiping out, and glazing and no matter what I did it was still a boring sunset painting. So I decided to go in an entirely different direction. I went back to some of my Robert Burridge workshop rules and reworked this canvas until I wasn't bored anymore. It's not for everyone, but it's not boring.

AS I LAY SLEEPING

16" X 20"

acrylic on canvas

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM

These are some coasters I have made for my friend Tom for his birthday. I hope they arrive in time. Anyway, Happy Birthday Tom! (act surprised when you open them)

SILK SCARVES

I have recently painted some silk scarves. I decided to use a very direct approach. I decided on a theme; floral, and a color composition; yellow and red, and then I just started painting.

I painted the flowers first, using a large brush, and then I added other elements to break up the backround space.

Here are the scarves drying in the shade. I had a problem with the fixative I used and they ended up being a very pastel version of the original. The next ones I do I am going to steam them to fix the dye.

FINISHED WORKSHOP PAINTINGS

Here are some of my finished workshop pieces. Following Robert Burridge's suggestion these paintings on paper have been mounted on stretched canvas. I used inch and a half deep stretcher bars and painted the sides and part of the top to match the paintings and then adhered them with the Minwax Polycryl. Then I gave them a really good couple of coats of varnish. Now there is no need to put them behind glass.

Go to http://www.robertburridge.com and check out his newsletter for more tips like this.

DINNERWARE

I have been working in a number of different mediums all at the same time recently. And now they have all come finished at once. Here is a set of dinnerware that I have made for my friend Tom. He selected a tropical

"fiesta ware" motif. If you want a set of your own, a 3 piece place setting, dinner plate, salad plate and bowl, is $120 per place setting.

Other things I have been working on include silk scarves, wholesale orders, and finishing the workshop paintings. I'll show those things later.

Everyone have a great day.

SABINO POTTERY

While in Tucson I also stayed with Janet Burner. She owns Sabino Pottery which is in this historic adobe house. She has done a wonderful restoration. We are long time friends. We were studio partners and instructors at the Tucson Museum of Art School for years.

This is inside the gallery portion of her house. She works in stoneware and raku.

This is inside her kitchen. Left to right Janet Burner, Jim Waid (facing out), John McNulty, and Rhod Lauffer. Each is an extremely talented artist. Jim is a big-time painter with galleries all over, google him.

TUCSON MORNINGS

This is a very early morning photo looking west from the University area of Tucson. I never did adjust to the time change so I was up every morning walking at 5:30 am.

For a few of my vacation days I stayed with my long-time friends, John and Jeff. They took a ruin and turned it into a haven. We walked together in the morning and then had breakfast on this delightful patio.

Jeff is on the left and John is to his right. Our breakfasts together were a great way to start the day.