FUN
Some of the pastries in the French bakeshops (patisseries) were incredibly whimsical and fun. Regardez les petits cochons!

In related fun, pastry-based news, I am thrilled and honored to be yesterday's Batter Chatter interview by CakeSpy.Com, the popular Seattle-based blog about all things relating to baked goods. Chief Cake Spy Jessie Oleson, intrigued by my paintings of baked goods, conducted an in-depth interview to coincide with the opening reception of my show in Chelsea this weekend. Many thanks Cake Spy! You've definitely made my life a lot sweeter!



CakeSpy image copyright Jessie Oleson

KID IN A CANDY STORE
And let me tell you, French candy is FUN! This is how I felt the whole time I was in France. Incredible food and drink, gorgeous views, the highest quality art, the beautiful language flowing past my ears and last but not least, the companionship of good friends. This photo is of my newest friend, sweet L. Last time I'd seen her we hadn't exchanged many words...because she was an infant in Janet's arms! Now that she's four, we've bonded and enjoyed each other's company. I miss this spunky cute little person chattering away at my side!

O THE BEAUTY
I've gotten some requests to post more pictures from my recent trip to France. Happy to comply! This is the bridge and ruined castle at Grez-sur-Loing, a famous beauty spot beloved of artists for centuries (and beloved of this artist for a day or so!) A friend of mine happens to live in the village and I managed to squeeze in a little painting time here one morning. The swans were curious as to what I was doing and I have to admit that this made me a little nervous. They are picturesque but reputed to be feisty as well! OK, I admit it, I am chicken when it comes to swans!

Hey, in other news, I just want to say Welcome to my good friend Eliza Auth who yesterday kicked off her new blog, Sublime to Ridiculous: an Artist's Life. She is a fine artist and a fine writer and I am thrilled she's joined the blogosphere!

MINIMALIST BERRY
Minimalism is the theme today at Photo Friday and I thought I'd join in. It's been a while since I last participated. I've been very busy preparing for my one person show in New York: it is called Still Moments and it opens next week on June 7th. (If you're in New York then, please stop by the Sherry French Gallery and say Hi!) I finally got the paintings delivered a few days ago, and feel like I can finally catch my breath and relax a little for the first time in months.

I took this photo of a still-life set-up I was working on, afraid that the berry would rot before I finished the painting and I wouldn't be able to find a stand-in. However, I got the painting done before that happened, and was wondering what to do with the shot. Thank you Illustration Friday!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

HOME SWEET HOME

If you are a past king of France that is! This is the château of Fontainebleau in the Île-de-France region (about an hour from Paris.) I was visiting people in that area (see my friend Janet's fun blog for a delicious slice of the life there)...and for a visual person such as myself it was unadulterated heaven: so much beauty, all around, all the time. It certainly raises lots of philosophical questions such as "What IS beauty?" I simply have to fall back on the old line of "I can't explain it, but I know it when I see it." My friends were incredibly patient with my constant exclamations and frequent photo-stops. I even managed to do three little paintings during my short (six day) stay, but due to the moist cool weather the paintings were still sopping wet by my departure time, and I had to leave them behind to be sent on later. Somehow I don't mind at all...I like the idea of leaving a little bit of myself there, even just temporarily!



(Sonia, me, Janet, in front of the Louvre.)

ONE THOUSAND POSTS

a journey of a thousand blog posts
starts with the click
of one finger...

Many thanks to my brother Bruce for starting me on this journey in September of 2003. He called me up one day and said "I think you need to do a blog." I said "What's a blog?" He sent me a cheap digital camera and talked me through my first post. I never looked back.

The beautiful roses are courtesy of my husband Paul. They are actually meant to be in honor of my birthday, which is also today, but are now doing double-duty as my thousandth post flowers!

LOFTY
H scraped the sky with a softball at yesterday's district-wide Junior Olympics. Softball throw is the elementary school version of shot put I believe. Last year he won a ribbon, this year he just won open-mouthed admiration as his ball flew higher than most local raptors. If they were giving ribbons for height, he would have won hands-down. Alas, they were going for distance so no prize for H. The softball throw judge did later come up and talk to me about a kid's summer baseball camp though!

Hey, this is post 999! Augh, I can hardly believe it!

FIRST DAY
with the brand-new BB gun!

FLOWERING

Crowding my senses
with perfume, color, pollen-
the flowering trees


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This shot was taken yesterday, so Happy May Day! Pretend this post is in a little paper cone with ribbons, tied to your door handle! ;-)