That face...that beautiful face!

 
After a year of skype with blurry connections, dropped video calls and disconnects it will be so nice to finally have our Leah home so I can kiss that face, that beautiful face!!!

Tiger Lily

 
Driving through back roads of Burlington this afternoon I just kept passing miles and miles of gorgeous citrus orange tiger lilies...so I finally just had to stop and snap a picture. I love the vibrant colors of summertime.

Paint it Black...

 
"I see a red star and I want it painted black. No colors anymore I want them to turn black." -Rolling Stones...Today I was on a mission to spray paint 15 red metal stars black for my friend's fence...plus one planter for my patio...fun stuff in the heat..not!

The Chick's new home...

 
My good friend, Traci is forever surprising me with her thoughtfulness. As an end of school year gift she bought my sister, Martha's original print at her show...and returned it to me...because she thought it should stay in the family..and she knew how much I loved the piece. She also commissioned Marth to do another one for our friend Linda..the girl is the definition of thoughtfulness...and I love her for it!

Master Mini Matisses...

 
Our Mini Matisse art class ended today with a "graduation ceremony" from the art academy. This group of young artists were really fantastic students and so into their artwork. They were a pleasure to teach. (Let's hope the next group goes as well).

Three Musicians..

 
Lesson learned...no matter how long you think a lesson plan will take there will always be one or two students who will run through the process at warp speed and then declare "I'm done! Now what do I do?"...I learned fast to always have a huge community mural on the back table for them all to work on...hence yesterday's mural..Picasso's Three Musicians.

Close enough!

 
"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up."-Pablo Picasso...Our Mini Matisse class focused on Chuck Close and his grid portraits today...the results were as CLOSE to perfection as I could have hoped for!

Mini Matisse Art Camp...

 
First day of summer vacation and we're off and creating. The Mini Matisse class did a Piet Mondrian inspired grid watercolor. Kids did a great job!

Transitions....

 
"This isn't good or bad, it's just the way of things. Nothing stays the same." Another school year closes and another group of kids I have become accustomed to move on to the Middle School. We go "round and round in the circle game."

Dave's Pride and Joy

 
Since it is Father's Day today, I am posting Dave's other baby...his Vintage Chevy Truck...he bought this truck in 1984 (the same year Lauren was born)...and he has taken very good care of this baby (as well as his other two)...it's been completely refurbished from the floor boards to the engine...a classic!

Collaboration of friendship..

 
"Music is to be listened to and not analyzed. The beauty of it is it transcends all that."-James Taylor

Might as well enjoy the ride!

 
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time, any fool can do it, There ain't nothing to it. Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill, but since we're on our way down, we might as well enjoy the ride!" Sweet baby James makes Linda and myself feel on top of the world this morning!

A Classic ....

 
Heading to NYC tonight to sit in line on the street at 1:00 a.m. ...all because Linda, Ellen and I want to see Sweet Baby James and Carol King on the Today show summer concert Friday morning! Sometimes you just have to act like a star struck kid again!

A picture is worth a thousand words..

 
I did a marathon session of face and hand painting today during our 6th grade Field Day...and the recurring theme was the PEACE symbol....some symbols never go out of style!

Peace and Quiet

 
I spent the day at the Farmington Club with 300 6th graders, swimming, playing basketball, tennis, volleyball and watching kids have an inordinate fascination with a soda dispenser...this gazebo was the only quiet spot in the joint!

Say What's on Your Mind...

 
A small collage I am working on...what's on my mind?...always wondering about my fly away child...in between bouts of creative thoughts!

Starlight...

 
"When you have come to the edge of all the light that you know, and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly."-Patrick Overton

I will hold you in the light...

 
"I will daily open my heart and send my love and concern for you into the light, into the living space around you, like a prayer flag drifting in the breeze." (For all my family and friends) xox

Never a waste of time...

 
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."-John Lubbock (Three of my students sitting on the grass at recess today)

Celebrating Lots...

 
Linda, Traci, Christine, Karen, Pat and myself met at Max a Mia's for an end of year celebration/early birthday party for Linda/Congrats to Linda on her award/Pat's recovery/Leah almost home and just about anything else we could drink to celebration! Another year almost behind us! Bring on the summer!

Look within....

 
"Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in."

Cravings....

 
"Get a job with a pension, don't ever mention...you once had a craving for the brushes and the paint"...Mark Knopfler (Let it all go)

China Girl...

 
It's getting down to the wire for Leah's return home from 11 long months in China...23 days to be exact...We are all looking forward to seeing her back on American soil...it's been a long strange wonderful adventure!

It's a process...

 
I spent the afternoon in my studio today brainstorming (and making quite a mess) for my summer art classes. I think I have my ideas nailed down...but it's a messy process and now I have to pull this place back together...maybe I'll just shut the door..go call for takeout and mix us up some margaritas instead...yeah, that's the ticket!

Back in black...

 
"You can paint it any color...as long as it's black."-Henry Ford...This beautiful black car was gleaming as it rode down Burlington Mountain in front of me...(Not the best place to try to take a shot..rounding the curves!)