So, it's confession time. I haven't been exclusively loyal to painting in watercolor lately. In fact, each Monday morning for over a month in Scott Noel's class I've been drawing in pastel. It's like an old flame has been reignited. Back in 2001 I had a fling with pastel for several months. 

Something about the layering and opacity has seduced me again. So much so, that it's hard to go back to my studio and paint in watercolor. The two methods are almost opposites to each other and it usually takes me a day or two to get my mind back into the watercolor paint. It's been agonizing. 

I feel that I'm on the edge of something new. Maybe I just need to introduce the two to each other in order to come clean and make peace. Am I a mixed media artist waiting to happen?

From the start "Man and Woman" was about a relationship. I chose this angle because it's symbolic content spoke to me. And, this is where I arrived after about 3 hours on a full sheet of paper (22 in x 30 in).  

I think the key to reconciliation is quality time, putting in the hours with my materials... and not being afraid of new methods. Taking risks. It's scary because I don't know what will happen. Such is life. I'm excited!

The beating that I've been taking the last few days is bittersweet. My 9 year old son Dylan has not only a good dose of talent in chess, he also has more training than me thanks to the chess club at Meadowbrook, his old school. So even though I am clearly outmatched, I persist. (Isn't that the trend these days?)

Today was our second match this week. I was beaten badly. I made a few good moves, I made several dumb moves, and my pride wishes I could say that I lost on purpose. 

I still hope I might win tomorrow. At the very least I will go down fighting!

The weather was not exactly "nice" but the kids and I took a winter hike yesterday in the section of Pennypack park that yields this spectacular view of Glencairn Castle.

My cousins first brought me to this neck of the woods with a hilltop view when we were in high school in the early 90s. 

The fact that Caitlyn has a heart on her hat is just a lucky coincidence. 

I love picture books. I love kids. And, I especially love kids who love picture books. Feel free to give a hug for me to any small person you may know who fits this description.

Here is my daughter with a friend of hers when they were 4 years old. It wasn't too long ago, but long enough to grow out of those lovely dress up outfits given to us by our dear Mèmè. As Caitlyn is learning to read on her own I know that our picture book era is beginning to draw to a close. I'm excited for her to jump into the world of literature in a whole new way, and I'm savoring this precious time we have left with picture books.

For me, 8 years of reading about a thousand picture books to both of my children has been quite a tutorial. I've become a sincere fan of the genre.

Now...to making my own!

"Reading Buddies" is 4 x 6 inches, in watercolor.

Harper and Fitz, two Golden Retrievers pictured here in this watercolor painting I did on commission this week, are like siblings to me. Really. They belong to my dad and his wife, so in a way they are my siblings. I may spend more time with my human siblings, but I generally don't muss up their hair quite as much.

As a former English teacher I am a HUGE fan of the names my dad and stepmother chose for them. Both dogs are named after American Literary Figures: Harper Lee and F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

I'll leave you with the parting words of The Great Gatsby... 

​“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne ceaselessly into the past.” 

Grabbing my toes is a pastime that I sometimes miss. In Yoga, it's called "Happy Baby Pose" and if you can manage to still do it I think you'll see why.

This young subject is a part of a commissioned painting I just completed for a Christmas gift, so it's not available. I just wanted to show what I'm up to this week. This selection of the painting is about 10 x 10 inches.

I hope you get to enjoy this week with your loved ones...hugs to all!