Don't keep a redhead waiting

A fun one. I used to have a roommate who looked like this, and at least in her case, the fiery-tempered redhead thing was true.

When it rains, it pours--or, as they say in Spanish, llueve sobre mojado (it only rains on places that are already wet). I received three blog awards in a row, from Kelley MacDonald, Ann Reyes, and Karen Bruson. Thank you, m'ladies!

The "rules" are: tell who gave you the award and make their name a link on your post; put the award icon on your post; list some artists you admire and their links.

Here's a few artist bloggers that you might like to go check out if you don't already know them:

Tina Steele Lindsey

Sonya Johnson

Sigrid Frensen

Sherrie York

SamArtDog (neighbor, dog lover, artist)

Astrid Volquardsen (mostly in German but don't let that stop you)

$115.00 - Don't keep a redhead waiting (Ready to Frame)

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 12

Really happy with the way this one turned out. I also love how it looks different at different times of day, due to changing light. So far I'm enjoying doing these Rothko-style paintings (except for having to use Liquin--ugh) .


Sold.
-----

Still haven't gotten around to looking at easels for sale in person. Have looked at some online, but it's hard to imagine what they look or feel like or just how big they are, from just a photo. And the biggest problem I foresee (besides prices) is that these things have to be assembled. Oh god. At our house, no one is handy with tools. Maybe I'll ask the cats. (The old easel is such a cheap thing that it could just be carried into the studio with one hand, after traveling in the back of the car.)

Thank you all for participating in the de-lurkage! It gives me a warm feeling (similar to these two below) just to know that a lot of people are enjoying my blog. You don't need to start leaving comments--I just like knowing.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 46...and De-lurkage

The darker-yellow areas really do have some texture. It was a different brand of pastel, and had a very different effect! I hadn't expected it, but liked it.


Sold.

-----------

I thought we'd have some fun today. I've decided I'm going to do a periodic de-lurkage post. Here's my first one. This is completely optional, but I'd love for every single person who visits this blog post (regardless of the date) to leave a comment (even just "hi" or "X was here"). The purpose is merely for my own amusement; as someone who occasionally lurks on blogs myself, I'd just love to know how many lurkers see a given post of mine. (I won't write back or anything, no pressure, no questions.) Kind of like spring cleaning. Er, whatever. So...if you'd like to participate, please do.

----------

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Blue door

I generally reach for colors without any thought (ideally, I paint with no thoughts at all; that's when it turns out the best). It's so interesting to me to look back on a piece later and realize how often I've ended up with a tried-and-true color scheme. For example, these choices felt so arbitrary, yet so instinctive. Seeing it now, I'm surprised to find that it's basically just a good ol' primary-colors scheme.

I'd like to take this opportunity to quote fellow blogger-artist Brian Eppley; when I read this (below) on his blog recently, I was like, "Yes! That's it!" You see, though I truly enjoy painting realistically and watching the magic happen under the brush of 2-D turning into 3-D, nevertheless, my truest love is abstract and semi-abstract (or is that two loves?). Anyway, here's Brian: It's interesting. The more I attempt to focus on a particular subject the less interested I am in portraying [it] in its real state. But that's my whole intention!!! Art is crazy. Maybe I have an issue with focus. I continually want to tear down subjects to the bare essentials. My interest in archetypes could play a role. Representation and abstraction. A fine line indeed.

I don't know why, but those little curled-up paws when they're asleep just slay me.

Jazz hangin' out under the table. Jazz just turned 13, by the way, an amazingly venerable age for a big Golden. The biggest sweetheart you've ever met.

The Jaipur palace provided endless visual material.

$115.00 - Blue door (Ready to Frame)

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Mediterranean I

Done a ways back but posting it now... In person, the dark blue is more blue-violet, and the turquoise above it is very vibrant.

Sold

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 11

Completed last night. I did have to use some horrible toxic solvent stuff (Liquin) to make this work. That's the bad part. The good part is, I love the result.

My oil abstracts have definitely divided themselves into two different styles or techniques: the thick, layered, scraped-into kind; and the smooth, thin glazed type (which I have just started to explore, in debt to and in awe of Rothko).

Who's in there?

This scene really reminded me of Cuba, though it was actually in India.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Jaipur 4

Even though I'm more of a "rectangles" kind of abstract painter, lately some interestingly organic shapes have been creeping in. I don't know where they're coming from, but as long as they make themselves useful, they can stay.

Used The Husband's lens to take this one. Wow--it takes a much better picture, and I don't have to use Photoshop's Sharpen filters at all, or at least not as much.

Kind of surreal.

In the Jaipur palace.

$115.00 - Jaipur 4 (Ready to Frame)

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 45

Looks like black on top left, but it's actually a midnight blue.

Found this one in the archives and simply could not resist posting it. He may have been the cutest kitten that ever existed.

(Almost) all grown up now...and napping in a box.

From Lakshadweep. The wind is so cold here today that I can't help but remember the island with great fondness.

$115.00 - Untitled 45 (Ready to Frame)

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Apothecary

Apothecary: I love this word. It sounds so old-fashioned. And perhaps we are in need of one at our house, as our coughs are still with us! Even I went on antibiotics finally, just in case it had become a bacterial thing...but the only thing the antibiotics are doing is upsetting my stomach.

Thank you for taking time to post your sympathies about Random (previous post). It seems awfully quiet in the house today, without his incredibly loud and frequent meow. I really miss the dude.

The Husband with Rumi, when we first got him (the kitten, not The Husband). Rumi wanted only to be tucked in our shirts for the first few days. It was adorable, but it didn't last.

...and with Mojito. I love Mojito's expression here. They look like they've both been drinking wine.

In Bangalore.

$115.00 - Apothecary (Ready to Frame)

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Peace to a difficult yet lovable cat

Feeling quite sad at the moment, as we've decided to have one of our cats put to sleep tomorrow. He's not one that has appeared in many (or any?) blog posts, because his personality is more the cantankerous, skeptical type. His name is Random, named for "random acts of violence and destruction." He was awfully destructive as a kitten...and even beyond! But I love him anyway.

He's a big, black tough-old-guy, former-badass kind of kitty, and he has been depressed since Halfie (the only cat he ever really liked, because he grew up with him) died over a year ago. Random is just about 14 and has been having increasing arthritis and behavior issues (especially concerning territory-marking inside the house). I'm glad he's had a long, good life and will try to focus on that...

It seems like the pain of saying goodbye to them should be miniscule compared to the amount of joy they bring to us. But no, the grief is immense.

And now, because we desperately need to laugh:

This is an angry Rumi-burrito, about to receive some medicine.

By the way, Rumi has recently been on some strong antibiotics, and I'm happy to report that he is about 95% cured. It's amazing to see him looking at the world with two big round eyes!

The colorful mess of my studio. The other day as I was leaving it, I glanced back and realized this picture was worth many words. [In my defense, I always like to say that this one studio has to function as: 1) my studio, 2) Husband's studio when he paints or does encaustic, 3) the space to do any kind of projects the cats can't get into; 4) the only storage space for our house, 5) etc. etc.]

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com