"Clamming at Newport, Oregon" Gouache Painting

Problems with hydrating broken tubes of watercolors and gouache

"Bengal Rose Painting" with a freshly applied UV protective, satin varnish poured over powdered and flaking paint. Also note that the picture has been switched from landscape to portrait. I'll eventually collage the bottom to the top.

The joys of painting on the floor by my warm wood stove came to an end when my husband reported Bengal Rose color on the bottom of his socks. I thought I had scrubbed up all the spills by the fireplace and that solved the problem. But last night the paint powdered and fell off the painting behind his dinner chair.

My reclaiming watercolor project is removed from our living area and is now in the shop studio.

Moving forward after thousands of paintings

Knitting Needle and Crochet Hook Orbs, watercolor on paper 30" x 22"

This is a time of reflection while I put together a show of 50 years of my paintings. After selecting just 40 from the ones in my collection and from borrowing some, the house is still just as crowded. My husband and I are stretching canvases to paint and then I have put a tinted coat of gesso to make a nice ground for the paintings.

I have new and gessoed over canvases in the shop studio and two piles to paint in the house studio. The sorting shelves of paper work has a shelf of recyclables. Interesting I thought I was going to make papers for collage and ended up modifying old paintings giving them some new life. A dozen have made it to keeper shelves.

Fast Drying, Juicy Watercolors Painted by the Wood Stove

Salvaging is a freeing experience. First I selected several hundred watercolors that are not special to me. Some are very old and good paintings but just not that great. I am painting either on the back or on top of bright color. I salvage all the paint from a tube, meaning I feel free to use large amounts of color. The fireplace is very warm and dries the puddles of paint with amazing speed.

Dried, painted papers are hung on the bulletin board. I am considering these for further layers, collages, or maybe as finished work.

Exhibiting on 2nd Floor Albany Public Library 50 years of painting fisheries

Albany Public Library is a newly remodeled insurance building at 2450 14th Avenue SE. The exhibit can be viewed during open hours. Monday - Wednesday 10:00 AM to 6:00PM, Thursday - Friday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00PM, Sunday 1:00 PM -5:00 PM. The second floor exhibit titled "The Rest of the Story" will be up through February.

A 15 % commission goes to the Friends of the Albany Public Library.

"Alsea Ripples" is donated to Oregon Hatchery and Research Center and will hang upstairs in the dormitory dining area.