SOLD - City Moon

When my cat Ms Kitty and I fled to Portland, we landed in a third floor studio on William Street. It was simple and affordable, and felt like Manhattan (though I had never lived there). I was both terrified and thrilled. I had never lived in a city before.

My drafting table was set up in one corner, and my computer in another. I painted every day on that drafting table because there was time to - I was a freelance graphic designer with a blank work slate. An alcove served as my bedroom, my bed was next to a window. At night Ms Kitty and I would lie there and look out that window over the rooftops at more rooftops. It was magical, especially if there was a full moon overhead. It also became a hunk of time away from all of those feelings that get dragged along with change.

I live in a second floor apartment now, and still love sitting in my reading chair by the window looking out over rooftops. This painting is nowhere in particular. It's just a depiction of the peace I can still conjure up looking out of my first city window.

City Moon • 8" X 8" framed to 12" X 12" • $200

SOLD - White

Although China views the color white as representative of death and illness, an attitude adopted by many up here in Maine this winter, many cultures subscribe to the notion that it represents  freedom, purity, and innocence. That is why, for example, white is worn by brides in Western countries. Hmmmm.

In ancient Egypt, white suggested omnipotence and purity, and in Taoism, the white in the yin and yang symbol represents the active positive force.

Since the color white now defines Maine, I've decided not only accept it, but to embrace it and think about other fun things in the world that appear white besides snow and ice, like clouds, paper, salt, sugar, teeth, bones, light bulbs, flowers, white caps, clothing, signs, chalk, paint, parsnips, onions, milk, eyeballs and lightning - which ironically, is pure heat.

White • 8" X 8" acrylic framed to 12" X 12"• $200

SOLD - Lovely Afternoon Breeze

This is a sketch of an overnight in Pulpit Harbor last summer. We had anchored and were out on a dinghy excursion. There was a couple sailing the inner harbor - the soft little breeze was delightful that afternoon. I was hoping this memory would warm me up, and you too, and maybe remind me that all wind in Maine does not sting, nor is it a ruthless son-of-a-bitch.

But as I was painting away, our building, which sits on top of Munjoy Hill here in windswept Portland, was swaying back and forth with and against a wind that blows a straight shot all the way from Mt. Washington. This morning, the Mt. Washington Observatory recorded a gust at 141 mph. I missed that one, but am sure there have been more gauging by the sploshing of water in my glass atop my desk.

Lovely Afternoon Breeze • 8" X 8" acrylic framed to 12" X 12" • $200

#198 La Ventana

Figured I'd post something summerish. This is a sketch of La Ventana, Mexico - a distant memory now. Every time I mention my trip there, I get really bad looks and a snide remark about the weather while I was gone. So I'm not saying anything about it here. Just figured it would warm up people's innards.

I went out yesterday to buy and deliver a paper to a friend in need. I wore my old down coat, essentially a sleeping bag with arms. I froze anyway. The only fun thing about this outing was that no one knew who I was, not that anyone does anyway.

La Ventana • 8" X 8" acrylic framed to 12" X 12" • $200

#197 Jack and Ander's Way

It's like spring here in Portland today. Makes me want to jump in our boat and head out for a sail. This is Perry Creek on one of those rare occasions when there were very few boats anchored. We took a ride up the creek and on the way saw this dinghy ashore.

Jack, the name of the dinghy, also happens to be the name of one of my grandsons. He and his brother Anders are celebrating their birthdays this week. To give equal play, I will name the walking path, marked by the buoy, Anders Way because I know Anders will likely want to lead the way when we all take a walk down this path, this summer, on an overnight to this very spot.

Jack and Ander's Way • 8" X 8" acrylic framed to 12" X 12" • $200

#196 Extreme Cold

I don't find much use for cold like this other than the spectacular color of the sky on a clear day. But surprisingly, there are a few theories out there about the benefits.

Extreme cold will off disease-mongering insects and microorganisms. Though, let's face it, those suckers will evolve in to it - probably way faster than we've managed to.

Cold weather may also help us slim down by stimulating metabolically active brown fat. Brown fat is the heat-producing, calorie-burning fat that babies need to regulate their body temperatures. Most of it disappears with age, but PET scans have shown that adults retain some brown fat.  So if you want to loose a few, go out and shiver for half an hour. Of course you might catch a cold, but that will shed a few more pounds.
 
"Whole-body cryotherapy" was developed in Japan to treat pain and inflammation from rheumatic and other conditions. Patients spend one to three minutes in a room cooled to -166. Finnish researchers reported the results of a study of 10 women who for three months took cold-water plunges (20 seconds in water just above freezing) and submitted to whole-body cryotherapy sessions. Blood tests were unremarkable except for a two- to threefold jump in norepinephrine levels minutes after cold exposure. Norepinephrine is a chemical in the nervous system that wears many hats, including, possibly, a role in pain suppression.

This was kind of interesting too. Taller people tend to get cold faster than shorter people because a larger surface area means more heat loss. And fat's reputation as an insulating material is well deserved, although for warmth during the winter, you want it to be the subcutaneous fat layered under the skin, not the visceral fat that collects in the abdomen.

Extreme Cold • 10" X 10" acrylic framed to 18" X 18" • $500

SOLD - Thrashing Around

I haven't skied for a long time. I haven't painted for a long time. Figured I'd combine the two and do what I do when I haven't done either one in a long time. Bite the bullet and thrash around until I can imagine it again.

Thrashing Around • 8" X 8" acrylic framed to 12" X 12" • $200