LOU, IN MEMORIUM
This is from the beautiful funeral of my teacher, Louis B. Sloan, who died last week. It was amazing to hear his family and other friends testifying as to his rare character and the huge impact he made on their lives. He was such a wonderful guy. I was too shy to seek out a mentor among my teachers when I was a student, but Lou often reached out the hand of kindness and encouragement to me in a way very few of my other teachers did. It's a difficult business, being an artist, and learning to be an artist is also fraught with peril. People who go out of their way to be kind and helpful appear in memory like angels of light. Such was Lou!

I transferred to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) after a semester at another local art school. At that first place, I asked my painting teacher to show me how to set up my palette and he looked at me and said "Just FEEL where you think the paint should go, m'dear. No need to get too technical." Same for stretching canvases. "Oh just buy them ready-made. We are artists, not artisans!" After less than one month of this gruesome regime I'd had enough, and I secretly sent for an application to PAFA.

Lou was my very first teacher, on my very first day of classes at PAFA and thank heaven for that! Maybe I imprinted on him or something. But he was such a godsend! This was a still-life painting class (landscape came later) and when I confessed very little prior experience of oil painting he calmly took me under his wing, showed me how to set up my palette and clean my brushes and how to stretch and prime a canvas. He recommended books, and places to buy art supplies. And showed me how to accomplish dozens of other such small but important things. He also cheered me on and encouraged me, in his gentle way. I will be forever grateful to him.

My first class with Lou was that still-life painting class, and only a few months ago I myself started teaching a still-life class. It feels like some part of his spirit is with me, or within me, as I teach. Thank you dear Lou!

THE FAME BOAT
My art group recently had a day of painting at a beautiful old farm near Frenchtown, New Jersey, courtesy of one of our members whose family's place it is (the talented and generous and well-known poet Cathy Cohen!) While I was perched pondside trying to paint a dinghy moored to a post, two art group members climbed into it and rowed merrily away! Their high spirits were contagious. Renee Daily (in the hat) just had an article written about her stunning murals, and the oarswoman, Alice Dustin, is also enjoying a spate of fame, for her work not as a painter but as an aerialist! I thought it was fitting that these two were the ones in the boat, and it gives me an opportunity to link to their recent press. Congratulations everyone! What a fun day.

Scottish Band
There is something in me that pricks up its ears with incredulous pleasure at the first nasal skirl of the bagpipe. Then comes the thick velvety booming of the drums...and my heart quickens. I just love it. Why? I don't know. Despite having once lived in Scotland (I attended Edinburgh University) I have no Scottish blood in me at all (that I know of)...but my reaction feels like something ancient and instinctual.

At neighborhood parades you will always find me "camp following" the Scottish bands!

STOOP SALE
Saw this scene on our way home from my opening in Chelsea on Saturday. We were briefly stuck in traffic (I think there was a Puerto Rico Day parade?) which made Paul mutter but I was secretly happy as I had the chance to roll down my window and take a few shots of this scene before the cop waved us through. I thought it was strangely appropriate that the vendor was holding onto a painting. It is Chelsea after all, and so even the sidewalk junk peddlers have to get into the art market act!

LES PEINTRES

These fellows working together in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris a few weeks ago seemed very relaxed and cheerful. Maybe painting is a pleasant career after all? (I have the pre-show jitters! ;-)

Painters in the park, a lark!

REAL LIFE
is the theme of Photo Friday's current challenge. (Yes, I'm a few days late as usual!) This recent photo sprang to my mind's eye. I was in Brooklyn (New York) a couple of weekends ago. Exiting the Botanical Gardens I became caught up in a street parade honoring the Independence Day of the Dominican Republic. The vibrant music, wonderful costumes and throbbing beat entranced me. I tore myself away only when I realized my bus home was scheduled to leave shortly.