OIL SKETCH

after a crazy thunderstorm yesterday evening, the quiet sky turned into lovely shades of blues & purples...got started on Stephenie Meyer's new book, The Host.... I love her Twilight series, this new book kept me up reading into the wee hours of the night.....A SKETCH A DAY might have to wait

ANDES,NY

been stuck in the computer void since 5am, need to detox....ride off to Andes for breakfast, it turns out that 8/9 is community day in Andes....got pancake breakfast at the firehouse, caught the whole parade on Main st.....drift in & out of cute shops & galleries.....it's always interesting to see how one or two gallery can transform a sleepy town....now Andes has plenty to offer for a summer get away

LUMINOUS

the luminous quality of alizarin yellow is just right for sunrise & sunset...some of the earth colors & transparent glazes of Williamsburg Paints are lovely to work with...nothing like working with the finest material to help the creative process...wether it's cooking, gardening, or painting....the right choice of material makes the job easier

NEW COLORS

took a ride out to WILLIAMSBURG PAINTS yesterday & picked up some oil....playing with new material & color can always get me out of a funk.....Williamsburg paints are hand made in East Meredith,in the middle of nowhere..... run by professional painters from a small operation...their oil is feature in most art store...I even saw their paints in Sennelier, in Paris!....after working with watercolor for 20 years, they're the reason I got back into painting with oil painting

BROOKWOOD GARDEN

summer is so short up here, I try to make the most of it....packed a breakfast, at the crack of dawn yesterday, & ride over to Brookwood Garden at Cooperstown TO CATCH THE LIGHT....Brookwood Garden is one of my favorite secret garden....the lapping sound & the breeze from Lake Otsego makes for a very spiritual sketching session...very essential to my creative life style....does not get better than this....IT'S ALL FREE

MEMORY

practice,practice,practice....perfect example of drawing from memory...early bike ride yesterday, as the rising sun hits this little cottage by the creek

PANNA COTTA

half the day with the plumber, not exactly a creative day....but after a day without water, it's fantastic to have running water....just in time to make dessert for a dinner party...yikes, a 4 hour dinner party, how does one get any work done around here....PANNA COTTA..... simple summer treat...2 tsp unflavored gelatin, 2 tbsp water, 1 cup of heavycream/half&half, 1/4 cup honey/maplesyrup.....sprinkle gelatin with water in small saucepan to soften, stir in cream & heat gently, still gelatin till it's dissolve, whisk in yogurt & syrup....pour into small pretty bowl & chill...top with seasonal fruits or preserve...ENJOY

SUMMER FOG

bonjour aout....the morning summer fog dissolves all solid forms & shapes.....been on the road most of this week...yes, to be back home & have breakfast in my garden is the best part of the day....something cozy to eat in one's PJ