Vacation

10 Things I love about vacation, in no particular order:

1. Staying up late and sleeping in

2. Taking the time to cook breakfast

Cinnamon Swirl Baked French Toast

3. Reading (especially other artist's blogs)

4. Hiking, biking, swimming and kayaking in nature

5. Photographing nature

6. Hanging out with friends and family

7. Shopping

8. Daydreaming

9. Painting

10. Crafting

My new painting pendants

Oh yeah, make that 11 things that I love about vacation with number 11 being watching the sun set.

Naomi Lake, Poconos

New Painting

I'm motivated by deadlines. While teaching the kids in Arden 3 hours a day with another hour of prep, I usually just collapse in the afternoons. This year with one of my kids away at camp and the other one spending most of her free time at the pool I was able to get to my studio once or twice a week. I was working on a new large diptych. I didn't know if I could finish it before the Delaware Division of the Arts grant application deadline but that was my goal. I photographed it on Sunday and the deadline was Mon. Here it is.

Running Forth, 48 x 92 inches

It's quite different from my last large diptych done 5 months ago but I think I like it. I'm suspending judgement until I return to the studio full time in a month. It's much more complex than Crash, Hush.. but it feels more expansive. You can really see the aerial photography influence. Here's a close up.