HELLOHA!! I LOVE SUMMER!

hi! I am finally HOME! 

WOW! Most of July was spent in some lovely place, other than home! It’s hard to believe it’s August already. Oh My Gosh, I should be a much better painter by now! Anyhoo, I started summer with one the the nicest trips I can remember. The first week of July was spent with 6 of my oldest girlfriends. My girls are not old, I mean we have been friends since grade school. We stayed at Cathy’s family mountain home up in North Carolina for a week together. All girls, all fun, all food, all laughter, all hiking, all drinking, all tubing, all eating, all dancing, all singing loud and off key, all hanging out on the porch in big rocking chairs, all goofing off and an all around good time! It was so fun and easy and there was even foosball and painting!!!  Cindy, Cathy, Connie, Carol, Jackie and Judy, you are funny, smart, good lookin, crazy girls, and I love you all! 

Shoooo, then it was on to Denver for Cherry Creek Art Festival, which was a large chunk of  fun. Next we went up to the mountains to see our niece Jessie marry the adorable Pete. I love weddings and this one was most excellent!! Extraordinary amounts of dancing and the best lemon wedding cake ever invented.  The amount of love and fun at this wedding was HUGE! Jess and Pete, your friends and family truly celebrated the BIG LOVE that you two share!! Makes me smile to see you two so happy!! We had a lovely time with you! Congratulations!

Well, last stop in July was Ann Arbor Arts Festival. One of the highlights was hanging out with our dear pals Todd and Kiaralinda, man they are more fun than a box of puppies! The show was a little off, but the trip was amazing. We met the most wonderful people! After the show was over, we headed over to stay with our dear friend Chris, and had a laugh fest. Our Chris know’s how to throw a party! Yessireeebobcattail!  And she knows how to wear a hat! Great food, tons of fun people, Carlos the dog and a huge show fireworks set to the musical stylings of an array of fine musicians, from Michael Jackson to Celine to Elvis!!!  It totally rocked! C.R.A. you are my hero!

The next two nights we had the sheer pleasure of staying with friends Nancy and Peter, who’s home is an architectural marvel. Their hospitality was such a joy, we didn’t want to leave. Nancy’s ceramic studio, on the bottom floor of the house, was the dream studio we all wish for. An amazing view on to their lovely property. Fabulous trees and a flowing stream.  A large, super interesting and gorgeous “dry room” and a super inspirational “wet room” with an outdoor kiln house and a stunning showing area. Nancy’s art and their entire collection was a simple joy to explore. Every surface of their home was hand made, and perfectly crafted. A feast of artistic and natural beauty! I could go on and on and on!  It was a treat! The nicest people on the planet! The next day they took us to visit a friend of theirs in downtown Detroit. It’s called the Heidelberg project. An old, neglected neighborhood turned into an artists environment that is a feast for the soul. Joyous, powerful and uplifting. Really reminds you of the power of art and the importance one person’s vision to inspire others. Same thing at our new friends place in Birmingham, Mi, Wayne and Sheri! Amazing art and home! Full of love and creativity. Thanks for sharing you guys. Love ya!

One more stop at our fabulous friends Laura and Gary Gleason’s home in Cincinatti! Another amazing, warm, lovely, comfortable, art filled home! Laura is extraordinary in every way when it comes to making you feel at home. Plus, she is a foodie! I love hanging out in their kitchen, could do it forever. Every visit, she turns us on to some amazing new food thing we have never heard of. This trip it was these special Belgium Waffles that the entire world must taste! This sweet, heavy, sugary, king of waffles, made history in my mouth. that sounded weird, but SO SOOOO good! The whole visit was great. I really enjoyed painting together on the porch one rainy afternoon, then went out for a spectactuluar dinner. Great conversation and excellent food! ALL GOOD! Love you guys.

Well, this sounds like “what I did with my summer vacation” and it kinda was! I love traveling. We are so lucky to get to play as we work. It’s great to be exposed to new sounds, new tastes. To see things with fresh eyes, and enjoy old and new friends. It’s mostly about art, food and laughing!

I hope your summer has been full of things you love and treasure. That you have had some time to savor the little stuff. Put your feet in the grass, and hang out with people and animals you love. Fill the cup! Share the LOVe!

Happy August to everyone.

XOXOXOXOX

Lynnie

Chicago Art Institute’s new modern wing is lovely.

Hi! We just got back from being on the road. We were off to a show in Chicago, which was a lot of fun. A little wet, but good times. Perhaps this might be the moment to mention, that I believe that the folks at the weather channel are just Forest Gumping their way through their predictions. I am pretty sure they took all the money for that Doppler 9000 and secretly split it up amongst themselves, saving a coffee can of loose $20.oo’s for the beer and peanut fund. I think they have a dart, and take turns throwing it at a paper plate. The plate is up on the wall and they have divided up into pie sections, with a sharpie. Hot, cold, cloudy, wet, damp, snow, hurricane and ? They take turns blindfolding each other and tossing that dart. Then they have a hearty laugh as they broadcast  to us their “expert” weather advice. How much cute summer stuff can one girl pack, and not get to wear any of it??? Apparently a ton. So much for sunny and mid 70’s. It was more like freezing and wet, mushy and soggy, at least the first day. The good news is, that is finally cleared up, and when the sun came out, everyone popped up like new tulips. Midwesterners are the nicest people, even wet ones. I think this every time we visit there. Friendly and not stuffy at all. They seem to enjoy a beer and a nice dog. Everyone has a dog, or two, and nothing could make me happier. All shows should allow dogs. Meeting dogs only adds to the experience. Who doesn’t enjoy the “that dog really looks like his owner game??” So, the show was good, sales not bad, fun factor rather high, some guitar playing, a visit to a really cool bar where the Second City folks hang out, that is covered with really bad paintings of marginally famous people, a party at Liza’s most adorable, colorful apartment, and some good neighborhood pizza, and soup and a patty melt at Noogies.

i love a bad painting!

 

 

just a nice space

such a poser

 

city dancing, several of these are available for stop action movie.

aka Johnny Cashola

 

he looks better than he sounds. NOt!

 

paint that looks like icing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the show, on Monday, we went to check out the Chicago Art Institutes’s new Modern Wing. I have one word. Lovely. Nice, simple, open space that felt good. We have all seen these artists, but it’s always nice to take a fresh look. As much as I love the more contemporary stuff, this trip I was crazy in love with the old master painters. Every brush stroke was a delight. AAAHHHHHHH. The Monet’s, the Sargent’s, the Sorolla’s, the Manet’s the Van Gogh’s. All these canvas’s were just a yummy visual treat. Back in the day, when there were no televisions, or digital camera’s, painting’s refreshing way of translating the world, was revolutionary. Me likey!! Also, the book store was a treat. I can just stand and smell the pages and be happy. Oh, and there was giant Lucian Freud painting that knocked my socks off. I wanted to buy his book, but just pawed over it for a while instead. It was a satisfying day. Breakfast, coffee and the crossword puzzle at the little “Artist’s Snack Shop” across the street. John ordered the Vegetarian Omelet, but with meat.  funny. Then a walk around Millennium Park with the beautiful water sculpture and the “Sky Garden” the giant reflecting kidney bean shaped, chrome thingy, that makes for a great photo opp. The drive through the middle of downtown at 9:00 am, was such a invigorating reminder of the way city folk live, and walk, and move in a teeming, flowing crowds. I loved being in that soup of cars, people, tall buildings, noise, signage, exhaust fumes, buses, bridges and elevated trains. nutty good. It made me hungry.

Happy Birthday HOney! and what do the Captain and Tennille and saki and beer have in common?

My husband, John, who is one of the nicest, most talented, funniest, kindest, smartest, goofiest and good lookin people I know, just had a birfday! We really just enjoyed it! Sushi and hot saki with cold beer is a good, good thing. I totally recommend it to everyone. The warm, clear sake with cold, frosty beer is some kind of a scientific combustion thingy that creates the perfect buzz. Sort of like cake and ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream or the Captain and Tennille. Some things just well together, like family, friends, fried food and bowling. That is an excellent combo too! Cheap, fun and silly! All good! So happy birthday honey bunny you are appreciated, admired and loved! 

Speaking of things that go well together. I am finding early mornings on the dock and making a painting are a perfect combination as well. My routine has included mornings on the dock or in the backyard for a long time. Our dogs love it, as well as our little jackiecat. One day I sat and counted how many critters I saw. It was high number, which I forget exactly, 34 maybe, but I wrote it down, somewhere….anyhoo, I counted and enjoyed every type of bug, butterfly, ant, squirrel, several different fish, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 3 types of ducks, raccoon (tree napping), blue jays, sparrows, wrens, kingfishers (I heart kingfishers) mocking birds, osprey, those cute redish brown birds, black birds, the herons, the little funny water bird I love but don’t know the name of, the turtles………even flies. So when I added painting each morning to the mix, I had no idea how much I would love it. It makes you concentrate even more on your surroundings. The mere act of mixing colors has really been a true pleasure.  I had no idea what I was missing. This daily ritual has brought so much more to the mornings. For me, it truly is not about the finished painting, but how involved you get in it. Our studio is only about 2 miles from the house, but waking up, walking out with the dogs, all sleepy, into the backyard and just starting to paint, makes me realize the merits of those who work at home. No car ride, no getting “dressed” no errands on the way, to slow your connection. Just begin. So often, I solve things in my sleep and this way you just plug right back into the thoughts that were already in motion. At the risk of sounding hokey, it feels like a really sweet gift, every time. I am wondering if we all might add a little somethin-somethin to our day just for the joy of it. The amount of time can be small, and it can even be a secret. A simple act, purely for your own growth, pleasure or enjoyment. For you. No judgement necessary.

sending love,

xoxoxooxoxoxoxooxxoxo

 

go honey, beat Matthew!!!!

helloha

 

 

a ninny

If I was a painter, and I am working on that, I would paint the sky right now! It’s raining, but the color is somewhere between lilac/grey and yella/grey green, plus several shades of “white”. White is a tricky one, cause it’s not really white, but pale, soft, lightness at the moment…..hummmm, the whitest thing is the lightning and it’s WAY bright. This painting thing is a puzzle to me. It is one of those games that I could play for years and not even scratch the surface. Other than that, its a good work day, I am making mostly mixed media today. Several pieces and parts that make me laugh. I want these little guys to hopefully find their homes in a box some day…soon, let’s say, before the show coming up in Chicago.It’s funny how they evolve. I will cannibalize anything if it works better with something else, and if it makes me giggle. I am about to open up some framed stuff right now, so I can sew them all together….they need each other, badly! They aren’t quite standing on their own. I am not mad at them, it’s called evolution. the unfolding process, step 17…. yeah, that’s it, it’s all good! 
I will keep at it! I notice that music often helps this process. Happy Memorial Day!

 

 

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXXOOOXXOXOXOX

Hello world!

 

 

thanks for visiting my blog

Greetings and salutations.

 

 

Howdy and hiya.

And, as my old phone message used say, hello, hello, hello!!

Here’s the deal: I like stuff. and by stuff, I mean just about everything. Really. So many things to notice, celebrate, react to and appreciate.  Today’s thing has something to do with tenacity.  As many new bloggers might tell you, getting a new blog up can be a bit of a stretch. Lots of choices, themes, templates, images, fonts and formats. But here it is. I started hours ago, and even with header number 23, which is just ok, I am off. It will get better, and smoother and creamier.  Since I am an artist…. I like brownies!!! haaa, my husband just walked in with a HUGE brownie and dagnabit, that puppy is GOOD! I have no willpower, but we do enjoy. That may be a bigger theme. Enjoying! Now we are talking. What did I enjoy today?

1. several good, loud, round, full laughs with my friend (and today, slightly hormonal) Jamie 

2. smiling at 2 orange dogs. Tally for ball throwing: 125,364. Tally for tall wagging: 18,297,473,930,234.  

3. smelling chicken cooking with spices and ghee.

4. reading with small, white and grey striped, one eyed, purring cat on lap

5. iced coffee with my friend Larry aka Fred    

6. learning about a cool collaboration coming up with artist Anna Tomczak                                    

7. making a bank deposit (the more of these the merrier)

8. getting this blog up, finally!!

9. planning a trip to do a workshop in Kansas City.

10. and all the people, traffic, chit chat and Dancing with the Stars in between

sending lOve!

xoxo Lynn

p.s. and remember, as my friend Dale Jarrett sez: Bacon is the candy of meat.