Feb 16
Winter storm watch outside, canary yellow typewriter inside. Started with the top of the supporting shelf – there’s a lot of grain to work in and general texture yet to come – and the dark beneath the shelf. Roughed in the bi-level shelf to the right that the book and B&W photo are propped on, and the typewriter got one more layer of yellow.
Feb 15
That’s the name of a book I used to read to the kids, when they were small.
Tackled the keytop, type bars, platen, type guide and various metal parts near the platen knob. Yeah, I had to Google up ‘parts of a typewriter’ or I’d be all gizmos and doohickeys
Feb 11
Started placing the keyboard – love black keys against the yellow typewriter case. And those two pops of red.
While that dries, I started the red typewriter. The keys on this model are a soft dove gray, with a few random pale aqua keys. Thinking of using a smoky blue for the background at the top of the canvas. The wood table has a swirling, burled pattern that I’m looking forward to developing.
Feb 7
Feb 4
Spent the last couple of days yesterday drawing two typewriters I photographed in the iconic Parisian bookstore, Shakespeare & Co.
I gridded a darker toned canvas with white chalk. This typewriter, bright yellow with black keys, is on the left. An open book and B&W photo of a deposition-themed painting is on the right. Propped behind the typewriter is the cartoonist poster, with the lower edge visible.
This second drawing is a much brighter toned canvas, and the drawing is easier to see. The candy-apple red typewriter on the left has mostly gray and a few pale aqua keys. I don’t know if they are replacement keys, or if the original keys faded and changed unevenly. A dark burgundy red book is on the right, on top of a stack of NY Times review of books.
In the photo there’s a partial view of two rows of books across the top edge. I’ve decided to leave them out for now. I’m thinking about substituting a cover of Charlie Hebdo for the NYTRB that’s under the book.
Jan 18
All done.
I’ll set it aside to dry for a few days, then varnish. Deliver to my friend. It’s small – 5×7″ – and I think it will do well framed. I’d be tempted to give it a velvet double mat and an ornate and dark bronze-colored frame. Or go the other way, a pencil thin black metal rim. It will be her choice – she’s an interior decorator with an excellent eye. She’ll know exactly how to present it for her maximum pleasure.
Jan 14
Added some color to the peacock. After another layer, I’ll be able to suggest specifics of the tail and wing feathers.
This is a return to the Elements series. Water, Fire, and Air are complete. This is my version of Earth. I’m working from a photo I took in my front yard, shooting straight down at a bit of mossy turf. I took elements of nature ans nudged them into a still life; ajuga leaves, dogwood berries, oak and maple leaves, a mushroom, bird skeleton, and pine cone. Welcome to the southland.
There’s something very satisfying about getting the first layer of paint on the canvas. Painting abstract squiggles, and seeing them snap into focus as an autumn leaf or pine cone, is purely fun.
Jan 11
Working on a small white peacock painting. It started out as one thing and morphed, as these projects often do. I sanded the first version after the first layer of paint. 
The result is something I don’t want to alter, but not what I intended, so I am doing a second one. I’ve been building up a background of blues.
My source is the background of a 1556 portrait by Limosin of Henri D’Albert, King of Navarre. The King had limpid blue eyes, of which he was no doubt quite vain, the mottled cobalt and Paynes grey background is a wonderful setting.
Oct 25
Lucky, oil on canvas, 18×24″.
Elements; the family plot in Oakland Cemetery, rabbit caught trespassing in a Kentucky garden, votive candle from San Miguel de Allende, bird that kamikazed into kitchen window, father’s Browning shotgun.
All done but the varnishing.
Oct 24
I love to paint. Promote my work? Not so much.
The one part I unabashedly enjoy is giving out a show card. Modern times being what they are, I design the card online, upload the images, et voilà, it arrives at my door within the week.
I started handing them out today, and it’s as much fun as remember.
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