Latest paintings

Here are the 2 paintings I did on retreat, they are both acrylic on a really great little canvas I found, 12"X 4" gallery wrap. The first one is called Mendo shed, and the second is girls in sunset.





And then the 2 new music paintings I am going to take to see if they can be shown in the VOX show for August Second Saturday. The first is 11X14, drummer rasta man, and the other is 36X18 called wear some red!












Ok, that's all for tonight. Be well, Tj.

What?

I'm feeling weird… out of sync… not useful… lack of direction… let me clear my throat to sing… Am I blue… am I blue… ain't these tears in my eyes telling you… Ok enough! At work I’m nearly board. There is just enough work to keep me busy, barely. That is going to change soon, we have a big project that will be coming in, I am not involved with right now. So for now… the work I'm doing lacks importance. Or most of it anyway. Just hang on till you can retire Tj!!! (Note to self)

I went on a retreat with my Swell Sisters over the weekend, and although it was great fun it lacked the magic of the first retreat and so that kind of bummed me out. Now don't misunderstand, I totally enjoyed the weekend, loved the time together, great company, loved the house, LOVED the location. But this time I did not come home jazzed and energized and ready to conquer the art world! Maybe it's me, but there was some drama this time, and the first time there was none, so that might have something to do with it. What do you expect when you get 13 women together in a house for the weekend? Really I totally missed most of it, I was outside painting. But I did hear about it and I'm sure it had some little affect on the chemistry for the weekend! But it was a totally fun time! We explored the coast, went shopping in the village, ate great food, they drank (I don't), played games, they drank some more, laughed a lot, sang karaoke! In fact… Petra and I scored a perfect 50,000 points on one song! We were rockin! But by that time, all of the others had left the room, taking some girly photos and getting in their suits for another round of Sister Soup in the hot tub! Petra took a photo of the screen so we have proof! It was a blast singing with her! We came home to horrible heat and bad air. Gotta love Sacramento in the summer… I guess.

I did get a couple of small paintings done on the retreat. Once I have photos, I'll share. I am in a show at VOX studios for August. It is a music show, and he liked my music pieces that I already have so I didn't really need to do any more, but I can't do that! I have 2 that I'm working on. One I started last week, and one I started last night. I know finish one already! See... I'm just waffling!
I do have another vacation coming up. A week long vacation with the family. That will be really nice. We rented a house on the Russian River, we'll be floating and swimming and just doin nothin. I always love our family vacations! Well that is it for today, I hope everyone is having a great day! Be well… Tj.

Georgous!

I'm sitting at a desk in an ole house in Mendocino looking out at a bright sunny morning! Blue sky, light fog. Just Beautiful! I wish I could bring you all with me!!! This place is amazing, huge old historic home, 6 bedrooms, 5500 square feet. http://www.spring-ranch.com/ Enjoying my time here with my Swell Sisters... Crazy bunch of women! It's 8:25 am, and most are still sleeping! I think we are going into Mendocino village today for the 50th annual art and craft show, hope to find some kind of treasure! The weather is perfect here... not looking forward to coming back to the heat in Sacramento. Did do a little painting yesterday and hope to get more in today! Miss my family and my baby Bosco... my dog. Actually I have had reports that he misses me terribly. Poor baby. I am looking forward to my next vacation... soon after my return... to the Russian River! Ok, that is all for this morning. Be well! Tj.

Tired but excited!

Yep that is how I'm feeling today. A little tired, I guess from the busy weekend. And really excited because I am going on an art retreat to Mendocino this weekend!! Several of my Swell Sisters and I rented a house in Mendocino for 3 nights/4 days. It's a great big house 6 bedrooms, and 5500 square feet, lots of room to spread out and make art! And it is going to be HOT here in Sacramento this week so it is perfect timing! Here it is supposed to be highs around 100, 104, in Mendocino highs in the mid 60's! Woohoo!!! I just hate the heat, love the ocean, so that sounds perfect to me! I hope to come home with several masterpieces! From being very relaxed and cool! :) The Clothing Optional Show went fairly well. I loved that my bestest friends came! Thanks Carolee and David!!

My next art show is at VOX gallery downtown Sac. Or at least it is suppose to be. I went to a meeting last night, or it was supposed to be a meeting, but well, there wasn't one. I'm sure it was just a miscommunication. Hopefully. I got to see the gallery though, it was nice… some great brick walls!

Now, on to other things… Furloughs. Bla. I now have 3 unpaid furlough Fridays a month, 15% of my income and the Governor is looking at possibly a fourth. That would be 20% of my income. I am all for doing my part, but is my family really responsible for over $1000 (20%) a month to balance the budget? Really, how much are non state employees giving a month? Sorry. I just think that is unreasonable. And those families who have 2 state worker incomes they are giving almost half of their monthly income. It's wrong. Those younger state employees who were only grossing $2000 or $2500, must really be hurting. I feel really bad for them. This won't help the economy at all, CA is in a hole. All Californians need to pitch in. There has got to be a better way. Oh wait how about pass the budget and furlough those in higher positions!!! Come on Arnold!
Ok, I'm done for today.

I hope the world is being good to you! Be well. Tj.

A little reflection on Tuesday

Well, this was a fun filled weekend that just passed us by! Friday night I went with my hubby Joe to Mok Hill… or Mokolume Hill to the Ledger Hotel. He was playing with someone he had never played with before, it was a kind of audition… for him and for them. Wingnut Adams Blues Band. http://www.wingnutblues.com/ And WOW it was great! Joe loved playing with him, and they loved Joe! So, he is the first call bass player guy now, yahoo! Wingnut put on a heck of a show… highly recommended!

My brother Tim and nephew Thaddeus returned from boy scout camp on Saturday afternoon, so we all went to Tim's to celebrate the 4th and also his birthday, which is on the 3rd. We ate pizza, and cake and ice cream, and shot off a couple of boxes of fireworks. Fun fun! Tim was tired and bruised up… sounded like the parents had to pass more tests than the kids did! Hey Tim you aren't a kid anymore you know!!! :) but really I hope you had a great Birthday!!

Most of the rest of the weekend was spent painting. Getting ready for the Clothing Optional show. I really had a great time with these big beautiful women! I hope they go over well. Here is the postcard for the Second Saturday event! Be well everyone!

One more for the Clothing Optional show at Marco Fuoco Gallery

I had to do one more. She really I think was the inspiration for this whole series, so she couldn't be left out. The Venus of Willendorf. 16x20 gallery wrap canvas.

She is a statuette of a female figure estimated to have been made between 24,000 BCE – 22,000 BCE, discovered in 1908 by archaeologist Josef Szombathy at a paleolithic site near Willendorf, a village in Lower Austria near the city of Krems.

I just love her, she is very powerful... this is my interpretation of her, I hope I did her justice!

2 more nudes for the show!

Wow what a great weekend I had and I finished 2 more paintings!! The first is 12x12 acrylic on canvas panel, the 2nd is 36x12 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas. More about the weekend tomorrow, for now here are the 2 new paintings... be well!!