Something to Crow About

11X14 Oil on Canvas

I can't believe it is already the last little moment of June already!  Whaaa?  Where did...?  I'm sure you are all feeling the same way.  My summer is sacred, "don't bug me" time when I want to do things that I really want to do, like paint!  Not much of that has been going on, it's been replaced with wedding details.  My daughter, Mattie is getting married soon, so I went back to Utah for a couple of weeks in the middle of it all, to tie up ends. (long distance wedding planning is not for the faint of heart!)  However, some wonderful things happened along the way.  I dropped in on my Thursday night painting group to see Donna and everyone!  Wonderful!  I can't tell you how great it is for me to paint in a group of friends!  I got my "loose" on and snagged a picture of a rooster that Donna had in her stash to paint.  Then? 

"Paint a little, talk a little, paint a little, talk a little, 

cheap-cheap-cheap, 

talk a lot, paint a little more"....

I could do a musical, I loved it so much!  Every moment of it!  Here is to painting with friends....it does a body good!

Love,

Neisy

Over The Umatilla

12x16 Oil on Canvas

     There is a place in eastern Oregon that is one of those magical places.  My husband, Rob comes from Hermiston, a little town that we used to joke about...."don't blink, or you will miss it..."  It's a small town, known for it's watermelon and tough girls.  At least where I'm from, it was known for that.  His folks have a place overlooking the Umatilla River with a view that will take you from zero to zen in about 10 seconds.  I have great memories of this place, but they pail in comparison to the stories that Rob tells of growing up on this river.  He and Liz (his sister and partner in crime) practically lived down there on the banks, as they were growing up.  Rob was even baptized there in the river because the font at the church was broken.  This is one of the reasons why we paint....trying to capture on canvas a measure of the things in our world that are beautiful or meaningful to us.   So, here is to rivers and small towns...and little boys that grow up there.  Love them all.

Cheers!

Neisy

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Friend"

11X14 Oil on Canvas

 A couple of days ago, I received in the mail, YES...the mail, a bright yellow envelope.  Not an email, or a shout out on facebook....nary a tweet in sight!  It was a real letter.  A note from my sweet friend Debbie.  She chatted about her family and what's happening in Huntsville, and asked about my new life in Cali....you know.  It was like receiving a ray of sunshine right at my doorstep.  I loved it...the tangible evidence that someone is thinking of you does a body good.  Maybe that's what daffodils are for.  God, sending us a yellow note to say  "hey, I'm thinking of you, and don't worry...Spring is right around the corner."  That's my theory...and I'm sticking to it.   Happy Painting!

Love,
Neisy

Oh Van-Gogh...

 Today was one of those "fill your own cup" days! (then you can fill others...)  For my Birthday, my sweetheart took me to the De Young Museum.  Oh my.....

 We had cups of hot chocolate and croissants and then had lunch in San Fran.  A totally wonderful day....and the paintings? Seriously brought tears to my eyes.  I had no idea that they would be that breathtaking!

Thanks Vincent for your inspiration....and thanks Rob for taking  me to fill up my cup.

Love,

Neisy

Salt

 6x6 oil on panel

I have been thinking a lot about painting.   I remember when I first started painting watercolors, being totally impatient with my progress.  Donna, in her wisdom, told me that I had to paint a mile of bad paintings before I would paint a good one...the point was to keep painting no matter what.  I found this to be true-then and now.  Sometimes, I put off painting even when my brain is telling me to get busy and pick up the brush, I fear my own failure and don't start.  But today, I heard someone say that "If you want to improve, it's better to paint thirty 1-hour paintings, than one 30-hour painting."   Just the kick in the rear that I needed to get going again.  So here is a simple painting...nothing that will rock the world....but maybe another starting point to keep me going on my painting journey.

Love,

-Neisy

Sour and Grapes

6x6 oil on panel

Brothers of Different Mothers

8x10 oil on panel

I have been setting up a few still life's lately.  We have been frequenting the farmers market that is near where we live.  The hardest part is getting it painted before we eat it!  Love Summertime! 

Neisy

"Compliments on the Beach"

6x12 oil on panel

I sat down to paint a small painting of fruit...and ended up wiping it three times!  One of those dreaded days where I am pretty sure I have forgotten how to paint at all.  So I washed my hands of the whole thing...literally.  So, (you have to know what's coming) after a few tears....OK a lot of tears.... I pulled myself together, ate some lunch and piddled around a bit...then sat down again.  This time, I decided not to care.  All of a sudden, 4 hours had gone by.  It was like I was on auto pilot.  I really can't explain why this happens!  And I really can't understood why my brain is so wired to care so much about what the heck is on that stupid little canvas!    This is a picture of a couple that were on the beach in Florida...they looked so beautiful together I spent an afternoon following them around taking pictures....does anyone else see a pattern forming?  Can you say O-C-D!  HA!

Loving the journey,
Accepting the journey, (ok...maybe both)


Neisy