July 19

Days are starting to wind down here, I leave for Dublin on Monday. Chilly, rainy day here.

I was afraid I was heading towards making Hallmark greeting cards with those cows so went to where I am most comfortable - loose, gesture drawings. The first one is oil on paper, the pair are house paint on paper - left over from my stick days.

The one below is my favorite of the group. More abstract. Think I am now channeling Irish-English painter, Francis Bacon. Website:https://www.artnet.com/artists/francis-bacon/study-from-human-body-1987-a-KlThnkr_7uNxKwdTLmSX7w2

I am really having fun with the cows, All my phone pictures have green shrubbery in the front so I guessing about where to find their knobby knees. But then again, I am not painting cows,

I am trying to catch patterns of light and dark.

Speaking of sticks. I have had a new focus this week. No painting - just graphite, sander and a saw. Here are a few below. (Funny, the ones I did last week seem so noisy to me now.) These are letting the spirit of the wood lead the way.

This morning, I opened my window and Polo, the pup was sitting up on the hill. We have had two full days together. I am feeling rather attached. This morning, concerned he has not eaten, I started walking him back home. We ran into the same man I met the first day when I met Polo –Fred and his dog Sue. I knew it was routine for Fred to pick up Polo at his house for a walk, so he took off with them. I have to admit, I stood there watching them walk down the path feeling like my child was going to the first day of school. I didn’t see him the rest of the day.

Feeling dog lonely, I walked over the hill to see Freddy who always greets me with a smile. He immediately rolls over in the street for a belly rub. Perfect medicine.