look who popped up at the new studio !!!
we had a surprise visit from granddaughter Zoe
our first in person visit since before the pandemic
and what a lot of growing up she has been busy doing in that time
I’d still recognize that sparkly happy giggle
but now it shines through a maturing strong confidence
that is such a pleasure to sit and listen to
in the new studio library.
Which gives me the great opportunity
to share that beautiful poise as she poses
next to “her” painting
which now has pride of place
among the books and props and portals of magic.
It is the perfect time to share two new paintings, both of which are now available at the Sugarman Peterson Gallery out in Santa Fe.
All The Aprons
on a bright summer afternoon
when the old grandmothers were resting
after a day at the lake
and a before supper ice cream cone
when the youngster was still
full of the energy
of the fluttery purple finches
and the sparkling imagination
of last nights twinkling fireflies
Zoe asked if she could play dressup
in the studio
yes
look in the kitchen drawer
can I try on these aprons
yes
said the grandmother artiste
from the other room
with the easel
and then it was quiet
just long enough
for the grandmother artiste
to figured she should
peak around the corner
and this is what she saw
with pink fluffy fluff ball in her hair
Zoe had tied ALL the aprons on
one at a time
on top of each other
all at once
what you can’t see
here in this painted rendition
are the bright red
shiny stilettos
that her curly little tippy toes
were balancing on the end
of her silly little legs
just love
her goofy little self
Pleine Aire Zoe
Zoe has learned me many a lesson
And on this particular breezy summer’s afternoon
when all the aprons had been tied
and all the lake had been swum
when the new bag of art supplies
had been rifled through
and the tippy cup of wash water
most carefully had been walked out to the chairs
with flowers gathered for the table
and sketchbooks opened
to their brand new pages one
the old artist grandmother
who had been preparing
to introduce her bright young student
to some slightly more formal course of study
had settled on just the right brush
and arranged the watercolor tin on the arm of the chair just so
she looked up and with a great
preparatory throat clearing ahhummmm
to begin the lesson
she looked over to the opposite chair…
where the eager eyes
of that junior artiste
were laser focused on the objects before her
and the fingers had firm grasp of the chosen brush
which was dipping in and out of the palette of colors
with a clear confidence of purpose and design.
Ahhhh well then.
To be reminded that
the newest of humans
are as close to that magical gift of creativity
as they ever will be
and it is always best
to sit back and watch
and listen
and just be there
to help haul their water cups.
The New Studio is indeed up and running.
A little more than a year after that flood…we are back to a wonderful new normal.
Back at work feels so good. And back posting on this blog I’m eager to share all of the new horizons that are just outside of those big windows.
But this day is almost done and it is time to say goodnight…
to you…
and to the night studio…
sleep tight dear ones.
