A Re-Read

I'm currently re-reading A Midwife's Tale, The Life of Martha Ballard. I first read it years ago. If you've never read this book, you are in for a rare treat. What I love especially about this story is that it all took place near my neck of the woods, on the Kennebec River. What are you all reading this summer?

Two Point Gallery

I have a one-woman show coming up in a week! Agh! I'll be setting up Monday through Wednesday next week - mostly portraits, but some installation work...

If you are in the area, do come to the reception! It's a First Friday Artwalk night, and it is also a full moon! ArOOOOO!

Sister Day, 2009

a Sister Day bouquet...

color choices: Amy...

Susan...

Debby's hands...

an exacting art!!!

the courtyard at my Mom's place...

whipped cream topped goody (ginger bread with fresh peaches...)

small gifts...

a magic act...

painted toenail mandala...

sisters plus one granddaughter and one daughter with a big pregnant belly!

two sisters walking the beach at Barrington Bay...

In 2002, my three sisters and I decided to start an annual summertime ritual that we call Sister Day. This year we met in July, at my sister Deborah's home in Barrington, RI. We exchange small gifts and eat good food and just enjoy each other's company. For this Sister Day, Deb treated us all to pedicures! What a luxury! My Mom also lives in Barrington, in the Alzheimer's unit at her assisted living facility, and after our pedicures, we had our afternoon tea with her.

Hooray for sisters! I am very, very, very blessed.

Recycled Photo-litho Plate Self Portrait

4th of July Self, 2009
acrylic and oil pastel on used photo-litho plate, 15" x 22"

A self-portrait that I did in July on a used photo-litho plate. I think that it is aluminum. I can't print with it any longer because it has been exposed to light. It was fun to work on metal!

Sand Painting

last three photos by Tracey Miller

Sand painting at the beach with my daughter-in-law, Tracey, and my grandchildren, Cecilia and Calvin, while vacationing in Charlestown, RI, last week. It's simple: mix food color with sand, and then sprinkle/paint with it. My sisters and I used to do this when we were kids. We probably got the idea from a Woman's Day or Family Circle magazine. It's loads of fun, and I suppose that you could find more natural food dyes...

An Island Studio

Marian Baker, potter.

Marian Seated in Front of a Henry Isaacs, 2009

pastel, oil, colored pencil, on Rives BFK, 22" x 30"

Cory Duggan, carpenter.

Cory on Little Cranberry, 2009

pastel, oil, and charcoal, on Rives BFK, 22" x 30"

Danny Wriggins, musician.

Danny with His Father's Old Shirt and Ukelele, 2009

pastel, oil, and charcoal, on Rives BFK, 22" x 30"

The view from my island studio! Could be tough!

While visiting Kaitlyn and Cory on Little Cranberry Island last week I did these three portraits. The owners of The Islesford Dock Restaurant have a new art gallery right on the dock alongside their restaurant and they kindly let me use a room in their space as a temporary studio. One portrait was a gift, one was part of a barter, and one was commissioned. What a treat to work in such a plum spot!!

I'm just back from a week in RI where I spent many blissful hours in the ocean and a fresh water pond. I'll post some pics from my trip next week. Enjoy this glorious summer weather and have a wonderful weekend!

A New Old House

in the basement...

raspberries...

a shed for Kait's pottery studio and Cory's carpentry...

wooden pegs on an old tree for a clothesline...

a field of lupines...

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I've been travelling, visiting family, working and vacationing - taking a bit of a blog break. Here are pics of my daughter Kaitlyn giving me a tour of her new old house on Little Cranberry Island. Kaitlyn and her husband Cory are making the commitment to live on the island year round, and will be closing on their house in September. It's a very sweet place - like something out of a movie set - built in the twenties. It's been empty for several years, just waiting for new life. Kait and Cory plan to have a big garden and will raise chickens, a goat, and pigs (good thing they have that bacon drawer! :*)

I did several portraits while out on Little Cranberry and will post about that soon. We are finally getting some real summer weather, and I am enjoying every bit of it! Hope that you are, too!