A Change of Scene

A recent portrait commission. Pastel on board, 18 x 27.

Right after the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts a couple of weeks ago, I got sick. It was a huge bummer because - if you follow this blog - you know that my parents were visiting from Georgia. I wanted to take them to Reeds Gap State Park, but I was not up to it. There's nothing like the frenzy leading up to a multi-day art show and then the crash back to earth after the show.

I'm much better now and I've been quietly going about things. For me, the aftermath of a show usually involves replenishing supplies of frames for new pieces, updating my books, writing thank you notes, and figuring out the next things upon which I will embark in my studio. I've also used this relatively quieter time to complete a portrait commission, shown above. This piece is definitely different from the landscape and cityscape work that I normally do and I really enjoyed working on it. It's so rare that I can pull out my turquoises and go nuts.

Speaking of going nuts, I'm about to start traveling a lot. Tomorrow I will leave for a photo safari in New York City. I plan to pound the pavement for a solid couple of days to gather inspiration for new cityscapes that you'll see later this year and beyond. And next week, I embark upon a long-awaited and highly-anticipated midwest painting excursion. While my husband attends an academic conference in Chicago, I will continue on up to Wisconsin with our studio mascot, Annie, to do some plein air painting.

I'm very enthused about the "change of scene" that these trips will offer for me and the energizing boost that I always get from such variety. Along the way I'll visit some old friends and eat a lot of Wisconsin frozen custard. I'll be waddling back into my studio by mid-August....