Interrupted Nap

 

Stella the cat was abruptly awakened from her peaceful nap in the sun. The fur around her face exhibits "bed head" which makes her look even cuter than she normally does. This oil on 8" x 8" stretched linen is available on my website. 25% of the total price will be used to help local cats in need as part of my "Cat Week" promotion. SOLD.

Birdwatching II

 

Tiny the cat watching birds through the window is the equivalent of a sports fanatic watching football on TV. She thinks she can get the birds even though a window separates her from them. Her entertainment entertains me. Oil on 8" x 8" stretched linen. 25% of the painting sale price will go toward helping local feral cats. SOLD.

Cassis Marina

 

Since this will be visible on a Sunday, I thought I'd share the perfect Sunday destination, which is a painting of Cassis, France. It is a short train ride from Marseille, France for a day trip, though I recommend staying there to see it at all hours of the day. The town smells like the sea, cooked seafood, coffee, and wine. You will want to try all of those things while there in addition to some lavender glace. From the town center, you can walk to the hidden calanques or just hang out at the well-populated beach in town. Oil on 24"h x 30"w stretched linen.

Available at The Fox Clark Gallery

Portland Maine Harbor

 

I was excited to have had some paintings accepted for display at the Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery in Portland, Maine, so I took a trip there to gather some subject matter. I take my bike along on New England trips because it is much easier to stop when I see a photo opportunity, and it is much easier and cheaper to park than a car. During my trip, I biked around the Old Port for an entire morning, and then I took a ferry to Peaks Island for the afternoon. It was a refreshing day, especially after driving so far to get there. I painted this picture while operating my booth at the Westmoreland Heritage Festival in Greensburg, PA. I normally complete paintings over two or more sittings, but I liked the fresh, spontaneous quality of the colors and brushstrokes, so I considered it finished in one afternoon. 

Available at UGallery.com

Somewhere on the Camino Frances

 

I'm not sure where this is but it is somewhere on the Camino Frances. I loved the varied terrain and mix of complementary colors. The cool blue of the houses' shadow sides and the blue sky provided extra layers of contrast. The tomato towers broke up the horizontal lines in the composition. 

Many crops were growing in Spain when I walked last September. In addition to intentionally planted farms and vineyards, many sources of treats grew voluntarily beside the path. I didn't pick anything if it appeared to be part of anyone's property, but in the middle of nowhere, other pilgrims and I cobbled together snacks of blackberries, apples, figs, walnuts, and almonds. We didn't often have tools with which to crack nuts, but I'll always laugh when I remember one of my fellow pilgrims cracking almonds with the edge of a cutting board one night. We all probably should have been wearing protective eyewear. 

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Tapas Night in San Sebastian

 

"Should we get more tapas here or try every other place on this street?" is always the question when in San Sebastian. There are endless tapas and they are as artistically presented as they are delicious. It seems that every region in Spain has its own signature tapas and varying ways of ordering/presenting them. In northern Spain, especially in places like San Sebastian or Pamplona, tapas are displayed similarly to jewels in a jewelry store. They are often under glass, and you point to the ones you want. If you know their names, you can tell the waitstaff, but often, they are ordered from a counter along with your wine or beer of choice. Each serving, consisting of 3-4 bites of food, costs around $3. While it can add up fast, I often just want a bite of food when out with friends instead of a whole expensive plate of something. For people who like to graze and try a bit of everything, this is a great way to dine.

In Seville, you often order from a menu. It definitely helps to have an English menu if you aren't a fluent Spanish speaker, or be prepared to do a lot of typing in Google Translate (download it in your language of choice so you don't have to worry about wi-fi or cellular data.) In Granada, the bartender creates individual tapas just for you based on your drink. In many places, you have no say in what you get. It is a fun surprise, and one can make entire meals by going from place to place, buying only drinks, and enjoying these artistic, or some may say scientific, presentations. 

Available at Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery

York Harbor Beach

Though I have been posting paintings inspired by last year's trip to Spain, I wanted to take the opportunity to show a painting I have at the Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery in Portland, Maine. I am excited to have my work in the gallery, which showcases work by so many wonderful artists. This painting was inspired by views of a 2022 trip to York, Maine. I went back this summer and hope to paint more views of the town. 

Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery

 

Solitude in Spain

 

I believe I captured the reference photo for this painting in Seville, Spain. There, the crowds were immense, which could be maddening during the day, especially in the hot weather. To make my mood worse, I witnessed the mistreatment of horses that carted tourists around the city for sightseeing. The tourists were often overweight, and the drivers of the carriages were impatient with the exhausted, hot, thirsty horses. One driver smacked a horse across the face with some kind of weird medieval-looking horse punishment instrument. This sight put me over the edge and it took everything for me to hold back. I don't speak the language, so anything I would have said wouldn't have been effective anyway. Any demonstration beyond words would have gotten me into trouble and I just wanted to go home at this point. Without an outlet for my rage, I was not a pleasant person to be around. I am still determined to devise a plan to support the rights of the horses in Seville. Please feel free to share any ideas.

At night, I was happy to see the quiet and cool streets. There were still many tourists in restaurants, but everything seemed calm in many areas, though there were still some streets where people walked shoulder to shoulder in search of their next drink or tapas. The person in this alleyway seemed to be seeking the same solitude or maybe just an escape from the people in the restaurant. Oil on 14" x 18" stretched canvas. 

Available at UGallery.com

Churro Shop

 

Churros is the breakfast of champions when walking the Camino de Santiago. I stopped at this cafe on the way out of Leon, Spain, and the perfectly fattening doughnut variation with chocolate and a side of coffee provided the energy to embark on the rainy walk. 

I unfortunately didn't give myself enough time to walk the entire Camino last year. I optimistically thought I could bike the Meseta, which would have allowed me to finish the Camino within four weeks, and then meet my then-husband for a post Camino vacation. I did not foresee illness, foot problems, or torrential downpours that would cost me days here and there. I knew those things could happen, but I ignored them, only envisioning the best possible outcome. Sadly, I accepted that biking the Meseta would not allow me to finish the entire 500 mile trek. After reassessing the situation, I decided to skip the middle by taking a bus from Najera to Leon. 

Many people think of completing the last 100 km from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela as a satisfactory pilgrimage, so I figured that it still counted. The night I arrived in Leon, I got down to business by washing all of my clothes in a real washer and dryer, and then I explored the town. During my explorations, I stumbled upon this churro shop and told myself I'd be back for breakfast the next morning. 

Available at UGallery.com

Chateau in Provence

 This painting provides a bit of a break from Spain, though it shares a similar aesthetic. Though the shadows in this painting look cool, I can assure you that it was hot everywhere, and a St-Germain Spritz always seemed like a good idea. 

Available at UGallery.com

Courtyard in Seville

 

This is a painting inspired by the courtyard of the Museo de Bellas Artes in Seville, Spain. I enjoyed seeing the courtyards of the establishment even more than the actual artwork. 

Available at UGallery.com

Peony and Rose

 

I say this a lot, but this one was really fun to paint! I was happy to see some peonies in bloom at a nearby house, so I asked if I could pick one, and the owner said I could. I have never attempted to paint peonies in the past and I loved the way the neutral light pink petals took on the tones of the light and shadows that surrounded it. I also found a bottle of rose with a vibrant shade that complemented the flower well. 

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Saint Jean Pied de Port

 

This is a view from one of the stone bridges in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France. It is a popular place to start the Camino Frances variant of the Camino de Santiago. This town can be tricky to get to. I bussed there from San Sebastian and felt lucky to have made it alive and unharmed. The busses wind along high, narrow, curvy roads. Many cyclists share the road, and it is a law that vehicles passing bikes must cross over the center line, or so I was told. This is terrifying because the driver has to trust that there are no other vehicles, especially equally large and difficult-to-stop vehicles, coming the other way behind the cliffs. And, of course, all vehicles on the road traveled at top speed. I made peace with the idea that I might not make it because I would have at least been doing something I loved. But, I made it. The highway to hell delivered me to this pretty town that began a physically and mentally tough adventure that is still not over.

SJPDP looks a bit like the Shire from Lord of the Rings. I couldn't tell if its festive feeling was a celebration of a new beginning or a memorial of our last day of comfort. People excitedly loaded up on French food to provide energy for the next day's hike over the Pyrenees and took the opportunity to purchase supplies for the walk that they may have forgotten at home. I bought a spork and took advantage of the cakes and ice cream that provided carbs for the walk to Roncesvalles. 

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View of San Sebastian

 

Last year before starting the Camino de Santiago, I took a short vacation in San Sebastian. I couldn't find a great way to get to Saint Jean Pied de Port, so I went with what seemed to be the cheapest option at first. In retrospect, it wasn't cheap simply because it created a mini vacation within the Camino adventure. But it was a great palette cleanser between real life and the arduous pilgrimage. The flight to Barcelona was less expensive and shorter than any other option. I spent one night at a Barcelona airport hotel and then took a short and inexpensive flight to San Sebastian the next day. After the mini vacation, I bussed to Pamplona and then to Saint Jean Pied de Port. I don't think there is an easy way to get to SJPDP, and this option allowed me to see one of my biggest bucket list destinations. 

I was first inspired to visit this town in college because Ernest Hemingway mentions it in The Sun Also Rises, making it seem luxurious. It did not disappoint. I stayed in a nice yet affordable hotel within a ten minute walk of the beach. I loved exploring the hills, the beaches, and the shops. Because I was getting ready to embark on the Camino, I of course didn't partake in any shopping, but I took the time to acclimate myself to the tapas bar culture. This segment of the trip became practice time for ordering the food I wanted in a language I don't speak, and while alone in places that are meant to be social. It was awkward. But, what is an adventure without awkwardness? My hotel bordered a residential area, and my favorite place was a small bar that served wine and tapas. It was frequented by elderly locals who all knew each other and engaged in boisterous conversations that I couldn't understand. They pretty much ignored me while I furtively observed their interactions as my evening entertainment. 

The view in this painting is located at the base of Mount Urgull, which holds the Sacred Heart Christ Statue at its peak. I hiked the hill in preparation for the Camino, as the first day of the pilgrimage is thought to be the most challenging. On the Camino, you are rewarded with gorgeous views of nature. In San Sebastian, the high climbs are rewarded with views of the Bay of Biscay, the town, and its boats.

Oil on 24" x 36" stretched canvas. Available At UGallery.com

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Gerbera Daisies and Espresso

 

I loved the red reflections that the flowers cast onto the shiny espresso pot. Since I started painting more still lifes over the past few years, I have come to love painting shiny objects and clear glass. They lend well to loose brushstrokes and abstract shapes. 

Available On My Website

Gerbera Daisies

 

It has been way too long since I've added new work to this blog, though I've done a ton of paintings this year. It feels good to be typing something of substance again rather than just creating a quick post for social media to accommodate people's shrinking attention spans. I find that is the case with my own attention span, at least. 

This year, I have worked on still lifes, commissions, and paintings from previous trips. Since February, I have gone on two trips that included sites in California, Maine, and Massachusetts, so I have a lot of new paintings planned. Though I had a lot of travel inspiration to work with, I was tempted by all of the flowers I encountered in grocery stores this past spring, so there will be a lot of still lifes in upcoming posts. This one is available on my website. 

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