detail of floral medley
She said make me painting of colorful beautiful flowers.  She said I'm tired of buying arrangements every week and then having to throw them away when they die.  She said I want something to last forever.

For the past five years I have had the privilege of doing a client's Christmas card showcasing the gorgeous, Lucy.  2011 depicted her driving off with her red scarf a flowing Snoopy style.  She made it through the holidays but left this realm a couple days ago.  Rest in peace furry wondrous one.

Today I drove up past Hamlin to pick up a great sculpture I purchased at the Artworks Gallery this summer by Matt Povse. 
I'm so excited to assemble it and enjoy it for a life time.  Here's a shot of him in his studio.

About thirteen years ago I did an asparagus growth chart in the mud room of a home in Shavertown,Pa.  The family has documented the date and growth of their four children - from the time they could stand by themselves, to the height to which they've matured.  I recently completed another asparagus - fresh for charting growth - on a piece of wood which can be taken with this new family of three should they ever move. 

  








Today I delivered a framed giclee to Matt who is in from Haiti to decompress at his cottage retreat.  He's heading back to work in Haiti for the Red Cross and showed me some amazing photos he's taken.  You can check out his site at http://matthewmarek.photoshelter.com/

                       Justin and Lindsay with commissioned painting "Release"

On Saturday I had the delight of driving into NYC to deliver the commissioned painting "Release" which Lindsay gave her husband Justin as a wedding present.  Although I lived in the city for five years... I never drove in it, so it was a new experience topped with lunch with old friends from the Art Students League, Yumiko and Jerry.

               Earl  Lehman "Three's Company "  Luna, Uta and Earl


                          Me with Ken Marquis

                               Acrylic on Canvas paintings

                            Me with Catherine Cullen of Scranton

Scenes from the opening on Friday September 16, 2011 at Marquis in Wilkes-Barre.  Attendents were greeted with a saxaphone musician compliments of Ken Marquis.  After the flood evacuation the prior week, it was the arts  that breathed freshness and hope into the city.

After a hard day of rippin around the woods - killing a couple woodchucks and chasing geese for a solid 45 minutes, Eloise takes pause and reflects on yet another wonderful day.

Scranton was alive and very well for First Friday.  A new gallery is on the scene - New Visions Studio and Gallery at  201 Vine Street Scranton which had a juried show the  theme being  'Family Ties'.  I entered a piece I did in 2000 which  the  investigated my fear of life without my dad. 

Half a grapefruit     acrylic on canvas    44" x 44"
If you eat the whole thing like an orange - you've got two of your five servings in - bam , done.... and so so yummy!

Here's the invite for the Group Show at VGogh gallery -

Yesterday I hung some new pieces in a beautiful home in Shavertown.  Val said 'my house is an open canvas' as there were many blank walls begging for some original art work.  She  picked a pair of salt and pepper shaker paintings for the dining area and a stretched butterfly silk painting for the den.   She and her husband commissioned me to do two pieces for their spacious living room - one of a ginkgo and one of lupine - both images have symbolic significance to their life together with their three beautiful kids. 

NVLLA DIES SINE LINEA  --- NO DAY WITHOUT A LINE

This is the motto of the Art Students League in New York City  where I went every day for four years.  It was my world  - everyone was enthralled with learning everything they could about art.  We all drew from the model religiously.  When in a "slump" I'm reminded by several artists friends to .... just draw.  It soothes me - takes the pressure off and almost always leads me to a better connection with ideas that need to be nurtured into paintings.
Here are some sketches from my moleskin sketchbook - I have been pretty good at a drawing a day......

Yesterday I added fairies and birds to Tess's freshly painted pink/ orange room.  She was very intent that the fairies and birds sing to her which her dad promised would happen as she fell asleep.  Her big sister Sophia was great support as I was painting and even let me borrow a dab of her newly aquired black acrylic paint -  thanks Phia!!!!

Visions in my Head                       44 x 44                                silk paint on silk

I like the idea that an image can give us energy - all day long one has the priviledge to look at things that have the power to uplift them and chose thoughts that feel just a little bit better.

I've got a special spot in my studio for postcards of artists I've collected and laminated over the years - it's my inspiration wall!

Monday was the first opportunity this year to get out in the woods with cross country skis.  Weez needs skis too- she spends a lot of time stopping to chew snowballs out of her paws....

Here's a studio shot of two 4ft x 4ft paintings I recently did.  Coffee cup - May your cup runneth over in 2011!  And Salt and Pepper.  Both are stretched and hanging on the entrance to the Benco Headquarters cafeteria called "Kitty's Kitchen".

The Wall Street Journal Personal Section says the New Hue for 2011 is Honeysuckle Pink.  According to the article it may be because people need some optimism and want to look through rose colored glasses - I'm all for that!
I must  have been on to something because that's the color I chose for the bamboo  scarves I painted for my neices this Christmas.