Two Dudes

The Two Dudes Painting Company ( founded by our son-in-law Pete Barber and his friend Brian when they were hungry college students…and now a thriving innovative community give back organization in downtown Lancaster, PA.) … is sponsoring an art show.

The Illuminated Image – A photo based installation from the students of Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. Hosted by Two Dudes Painting Company…. Friday April 23, 2010   6-8pm   750 Poplar St. Lancaster Pa.

Contact for more info… 717 396 – 1207

If you’re in the area this promises to be an interesting show…

and their facility is a showpiece of design and function and reclamation of a rundown city warehouse.

You can read more about the Dudes and their road to success on their web site… Good job guys !

I will sleep much better tonight…

Thanks to our friend Susan who suggested we try calling the electric company to see if they would come and take down the 100 foot tall fir tree that was threatening to topple onto their wires that traverse the studio yard. I have been fretting about this tree for a couple years and this winter it began to take on a lean that was terrifying. The roots were lifting out of the ground and I layed awake through the last two nor’easters listening for a crash.

So I called, Micky came out the next morning and said yep we’ll treat it as a storm damage so we don’t have to pay for it and she actually thanked me for calling them. This morning the trucks showed up with a crew of happy hard working guys who quickly and professionally took that baby down…. AND they hauled the wood to the corner of the yard for us AND they raked and cleaned up ! I am impressed and grateful.

Pat and Finn and I watched the show with awe and when they left we sighed a big relief and crossed that chore right off the big list. Now we’re taking suggestions as to what nice shade tree we can plant there …

Here’s a slide show of the tree felling adventure… PS- after a few days I removed the slide show because it was causing the blog to open very slowly…

Zink family to the rescue…

One small step for our studio garden….one giant THANK YOU !!! to the Zink family who showed up in force yesterday to help haul two truckloads of dirt to the new raised beds out back.

These guys really know the meaning of hard work and humor and friendship and kindness. Saren, Chuck, Dana, Jim, Jake and Ryan….we are so grateful to you for making a monumental chore into an evening of fun and good company.

Here’s a little slideshow of the dirt moving party… and the snap-your-fingers-progress that has these new beds ready for planting way ahead of schedule…and a much appreciated random act of kindness… [slideshow]

And the bid goes to…

When we go to auctions I am notorious for getting caught raising my number a wee bit too enthusiastically. It ‘s just so much fun…and I really, really want that hundred year old pharmacists chest that has a locked compartment and a lost key !

Well, ok, I did go over my budget at the time but that piece of furniture has been featured in enough paintings to have paid for itself many times over…

And today the tables have been turned and it’s kinda fun to see some people bidding on my artwork…and for a good cause. Here’s a link to check out the Westtown School Online Auction where some of our new HN Studio Prints are included … WESTTOWN SCHOOL ONLINE AUCTION

Remember to bid responsibly…and often !

It’s my birthday…

and I’m taking the whole day off… from painting that is…

the easel chair is empty…

The daffodils are in bloom…

Finnegan, Pat and I have taken the first walk in the park of the season…

and there is a stack of wood in the driveway that wants to become new garden beds…

and the promise of sushi when the sun begins to set…

a fine day to turn 52.

Art Opening

Fellow Artists and dear friends Wendy Weldon and James Langlois have a show opening today at the Chilmark Public Library at 3pm,  on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.

Sending by Wendy Weldon
Berta by James Langlois

I hope all our island friends will stop by to give them a hug of congratulations and support from Pat and Me. The rest of us here on the mainland can view some of the artwork here.

I lift my brushes to them !

Ross by James Langlois
Sketches by Wendy Weldon
Embracing by Wendy Weldon
Nat by James Langlois