Oriental & Apples

Working away on the apple painting.
Here it is at the end of the second day.

Look down there!

I finally found an old, tatty oriental rug for the painting half of my studio. It's just the right size, just the right colors and just the right price - $40. A worn out old thing that I don't have to feel guilty when I blob paint down onto it. The medallion is still in pretty nice shape. There must have been a table sitting in the center of the room.

It's cliche, but every painter needs an oriental rug in their atelier.

It's still ridiculously cold and windy here, but the sun was bright and the radiators were cranking.
One of the best things about my studio that it is usually about 82 degrees in the winter.
It's a big old factory, some people freeze and some people roast. I am one of the lucky roasters.

I didn't get a lot done on the painting since I spent so much time admiring my new rug...

Some sky, some leafy greens, some juicy red.

The sunset just as I was leaving.

"I Love You Pumpkin" said the Squirrel

Back by special request - it's the "I Love You Pumpkin" charm bead.

One in copper and one in brass. They're up in my Belvedere Etsy shop.

Here's what the glass beads look like before they're capped and cored.
Yes, I have a request for a white pumpkin - love it.

Every year I leave my Halloween pumpkins in the little garden by the side door for the squirrels to eat.
For some stupid, squirrely reason this year they didn't find and devour them.
As you can see one of them, that was sitting on top of a cement planter, has collapsed onto itself in a frozen goo-sicle. That ought to be fun to clean up in the spring.

Check out this pumpkin that is buried in the snow!
Last week, when it was so stinking cold, a squirrel found it and ate into the seedy center.
Completely hollowed out by the clever squirrel - both tasty and snug.

Red Delicious

I finally started a new painting this afternoon.
Red apples.

I love them at this stage. Raw and energetic.

Inside, the studio was a luxurious and cozy 82 degrees - with the radiators off. 
Outside, the studio it was so stinking cold and windy..
Where were the trains today? Weird to see all the tracks empty.

Sky Lights

Sleepless in Rochester

It was just me, and the polar vortex, hanging out in the wee hours last night.
The dogs had no trouble sleeping. Yes, I let them come under the covers.

Skully Gets Baked

I baked - from scratch - a most delicious cake.
The recipe is here .
Iron Smoke Whiskey, and Skully, are the brainchild of my friend Tommy.
Yeah, it's great to have a friend who makes booze.

Snow Day!

There will be no grilling today.

No fancy drinks on the patio.

No long walks in the park.

No joyriding.
Only a profoundly lazy pajama day.