As we head into June...

...I am looking forward to a productive summer...

I turn the big 4-0 in July (hooooray!) , I am going to Maine in August, and I just got bitten by the printmaking bug and I am going to be a printmaking fool all summer! I am inspired by the beauty of Spring in Connecticut's Quiet Corner, so I have decided to do some landscape prints. How could I not? Everything is blooming!

Thanks to my dear friend Maggie Kendis for being so generous with her time and showing me the finer points of cutting linoleum for prints. (AND--She told me we can do more studio days any time... She's so motivating, and her studio is HUGE! YAY!)

UCRingmaster just went to my framer, Claudette, for a custom frame job complete with a brass plaque. Thanks to Kim and Claudette for helping me pick out the appropriate "masculine" mat colors for this mighty stallion's portrait. (No, Helen, don't use dusty lilac or rose pink!)

And congrats to the University of Connecticut's Women's Polo team on their THIRD National Championship. Way to go!

Sneak Peek...

Today's journal entry features a little piece of my UC Ringmaster portrait. If you want to see the WHOLE portrait, watch this space for an unveiling announcement!

Or, if you would like to be notified of an unveiling via e-mail, sign up for my studio e-newsletter by sending me a message at soundthebuglestudio (at) charter.net -- put e-newsletter in the subject line.

(The whole portrait will be online after it has been unveiled, so if you can't make the unveiling events, you will eventually be able to see it here and on my official website)

The unframed dimensions are 22" by 30"...but, here is your "sneak peek"--this crop shows Ringmaster's eye, ears and part of his incredible muscled and arched neck (remember--this is only a crop, NOT The whole portrait):


Detail of UC Ringmaster, 2007. Watercolor and ink on Arches cold press watercolor paper, 140 lb.

See you all at the Unveiling, late summer/early fall 2007!

Until then, remember:

"A canter cures all ills."

UC Ringmaster

*big sigh of accomplishment*

My watercolor/ink portrait of UC Ringmaster is DONE!

I will post it here when it dries...I just applied the final colors for the background, and it is on my drafting table drying as I write.

But, just to give you a preview: the background colors are my favorite for chestnut horses; deep blue with a tinge of violet. Those are also the colors of royalty, and UC Ringmaster is award-winning Morgan royalty. And, lest we forget, deep blue is a UConn color...

I had SO MUCH FUN painting his portrait, and I can't wait to post it here for all of you to see.

But, paint MUST be allowed to dry, you know...So....

In the meantime, let me tell you a little about UC Ringmaster:

He is one of the University of Connecticut's prized Morgan stallions. He is a two-time World Champion--check out this 1993 pic of him I found on a Google search, (if anyone knows the photographer, please let me know so I can give proper credit):



Isn't he HANDSOME? *gasp*

Well, at 28 years of age, he STILL has it (photograph by yours truly):

That deep chestnut color, that arched, muscular neck--ALL Morgan, and damn proud of it (photograph by little ol' me, again):


And, here I am admiring the mighty Ringmaster as he explores his turnout (photo by K. Lindell):


UC Ringmaster is not only beautiful, majestic and awesome; he is a Mr. Personality and one heck of a flirt as well. If you visit him, you will be inundated with soft nickering, snuffles, squeals and chortles. Gaaah! It's true! (wow, I am so smitten!)

He has sired many beautiful get, and quite a few have had illustrious show careers as well. UC Ringmaster is a *SUPERSTAR* and he is a perfect ambassador of the University of Connecticut Morgan horse.

He won my heart and it was an honor to paint him. Many thanks to John Bennett and Kathy Pelletier for allowing me to have that honor.

Watch this space for a studio party/unveiling announcement in the late summer/early fall.

And..of course...watch this space to see a sneak peek of the completed portrait.

Bonus: read about Ringmaster's incredible sire, Waseeka's Showtime, here: http://www.welcomeranch.com/showtime.html

Happy Trails!

The Creative Process: Pushing Past the "Ugly" Phase

(<<today's image shows our artist depicting The Creative Mind in Distress and in Bad Need of Some Time in the Saddle, or at the Very Least Some Ice Cream)


A piece of art seems to go through an "ugly phase" before it evolves into a something resembling the artist's vision.

Layers of paint, drying in textures and shapes. Add more, maybe take away a layer by dabbing, maybe add texture here, maybe add a crazy shade of violet there--do not get discouraged by the Ugly Phase. Keep pushing, you WILL get past it!

Ways to defeat the discouragement of the Ugly Phase:

1. Step away from the piece.
2. Leave the studio.
3. Close studio door behind you so your siamese cat does not sharpen her claws on the piece. (speaking from experience, here)
4. Do an enjoyable activity. I like to take a walk, garden, crank some Ramones, or better yet--get in the saddle!
5. Have some Cherry Garcia ice cream.
6. Take a nap.
7. Vent to a friend. I have not one, but two friends on speed dial right now--they listen to my woes patiently, offer suggestions and may even just show up at my house with french fries.

After two-three hours have passed, go back into the studio. DO NOT BE SCARED.

Look at the piece with new eyes.

Pick up pen/paintbrush, etc, and go to it.

Refreshing your eyes is very important--if you continue to stare at an Ugly Painting you may do something rash--like throwing it out. NO NO NO. Walk away, stay away for a while, go back to it. You will find the piece may be salvaged after all!

My portrait of UC Ringmaster got past the Ugly Phase last night, I am happy to report. Whew.

And I will be entering the world of PRINTMAKING! I am so thrilled! My printmaking teacher and mentor (and dear friend!), Maggie Kendis, will be giving me a much-needed refresher course in linoleum cut printmaking next weekend. She may even give me some of her incredible split pea soup for lunch.

here's Maggie's impressive bio (how blessed am I to have her teach me???):

Maggie Kendis was born and raised in Los Angeles. She studied art at San Francisco State College, then graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of California, Irvine in 1970. Her main focus was in printmaking. She also spent time studying watercolor at the Laguna Beach School of Art, and photography at the Institute Allende in San Miguel. On returning to California, Kendis began working with various interior designers and architects, doing painterly batiks for many clients such as Bank of America, Kapalua Bay hotel in Maui, as well as many residential commissioned works from San Diego to Palm Springs. In 1980 she moved to Lebanon, Connecticut where she continued to do commissioned batiks for various hotels and hospitals. Over the last several years, she has concentrated mainly on monotypes, linoleum prints, pastels and painting.