Please, Mr. Postman

 

This is my snowman for holiday cards this year.  I chose a postman because I wanted to highlight my change of street name.  I didn't move, but the street name has changed and so I have a new address.  I am still getting mail at the old address (629 Ellen Wilson PL SE), and getting it at the new address (629 Navy PL SE) as well.  I don't know how long that will last.  The reason given is that Ellen Wilson was a racist, but Wikipedia says she worked to clean up black neighborhoods in DC when she was First Lady...the first wife of Woodrow Wilson.  That's why the street had been named for her.   She died while he was in office.  I'm also not sure why Navy PL was chosen,  I'm in a neighborhood close to what is called Navy Yard, but the Marines are even closer.  I won't spend much more time pondering this....it is just a street name.
 

Gallic Rooster

 

I participate in an artist's group that posts paintings and drawings of birds on the 8th of the month each month.  It is called DAB (Draw a Bird) Day.  This month we did national birds.  I chose the Gallic Rooster, national bird of France.  I usually don't post these bird paintings in this blog as they appear in another blog, The Wednesday Studio.  I am happy enough, though, with how this bird painting turned out that I decided it should go in this Plum Gallery blog.  It is watercolor and about 11" x 14."  I lwft the background white on purpose.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

 

This is a fun painting that I did from a photograph taken years ago in Ogden Utah.  I lived there for several years and Louisa and Jen would come for Christmas.  There was a golf course across the street that had some hills that were great for sledding.  We had snow saucers, not sleds.  They obviously were having a great time in the snow.  Thist painting will be in a show about the holidays....opening soon at Frame of Mine in Barrack's Row.  

Hand Labyrinth

 

I am still challenged by labyrinth designs and always looking for ones that would be interesting.  This one is a hand and I am happy with the design and the colors.  I was a little worried that the fingers might look weird because of the paths up and then down, but I think it works.  

It doesn't fit the themes of any upcoming shows, so I am just going to frame it and hang it in the stairwell where I have some other labyrinth paintings.  

Janis!

 

I had an idea of trying a new approach to portrait painting by doing a splash background and then imposing the figure on it.  This is Janis Joplin, based on photo I got on the internet.  I made some changes because the photo was black and white and I wanted color.   I think I will try this process again.  I like the effect and it was fun to do it.  She seems too young here....but then she was too young when she died.

Capitol Hill Art Walk

 

I will be participating in this neighborhood art walk, and it should be fun.  I am not sure yet if it will be in the front of my house, or inside....it depends on the weather.  I will have cards, unframed paintings (shrinkwraps) and some framed paintings.  I also plan to have some free stuff---bookmarks and cards that are kind of out-of-date.  The address is 629 Ellen Wilson/Navy PL SE for those in the DC area who might be able to stop by.

Italian Countryside

 

This is my most recent painting.  I did it from a photo I took when visiting my cousin Jane.  Her family has vineyards and an organic garden near Bologna Italy though she has sadly died.  This is a view toward a neighbor's home.  I was inspired by the theme "Framing A View" for an upcoming show at a local business Frame of Mine.  I liked the idea of looking through the foreground greenery to the view of a building typical of that area and the fields and trees.  The show will be open April 29 through June 23.   It's a great venue, right on Barrack's Row in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.  The Capitol Hill Art League has several shows there each year, and this is one of them.