2012…New Year, Productive Year? Hope so!

Happy New Year loyal followers. I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas (or however you celebrate the holidays) and I apologize for being lazy these last few weeks. I am sure you understand though. Christmas kind of sucks the life out of most of us at least for a while—as enjoyable as parts of it are. Anyway, I am back and determined to make this a better year.

I even have a list! I find that I do better when I can check things off. Or more often move them to the next day at times. Just being honest. So today my list has nine items.

Last year was my year of being set free. And I am not talking about retirement from the county office. THAT was the year before. 2011 was my year to forget about old ideas when I paint and not to be so worried about ruining a sheet of paper. And more importantly to paint for my own satisfaction and not just  to please someone else. Although I did do three commissions. I guess in a way that is being set free too since I usually say no to those. That is only because I have to love what I am painting or at least connect with it.

This year I am determined to make my Etsy Shop grow and to be in the studio every day. I find I am happiest with a brush in my hand and several sheets of pristine Arches paper stretched and waiting for me to throw paint on. Although this year I am going to be playing around more with my three new things—Yupo Synthetic Paper, Aquabord, and Watercolor canvas as well as enjoying the new porcelain palette that *Santa* brought me.

I have also decided that I want to explore portraiture. This was brought on quite unexpectedly as I became smitten with a watercolor portrait of my favorite actor, Tom Hollander. It was in a news article and I decided to look up the artist, Michael Frith. I even emailed him to find out if I could buy a print. Long story short: I can't afford his work though he was very kind to chat with me about it. After putting that out of my mind (I was determined to own that painting) I decided I would make my own. I did paint Tom a couple of years ago in the character of John Ruskin when he was playing the role in Desperate Romantics but was not very satisfied with the results. So, THAT is on the agenda. Meanwhile I decided to try my hand at another face I love. That of our 3 year old grandson, Colin. I will share that with you here as I am pleased with it so far. It is not quite there but very close.

For any other watercolor artists out there I highly recommend Aquabord for portraiture. It is nearly impossible to ruin it.

Before I put everyone to sleep here I will wrap this up and wish you all a very happy, healthy, productive 2012.

Rev Episode 4

I am not normally one to be addicted to television. I can usually take it or leave it. I never watched 'Lost' or sat glued to 'American Idol' or any other cultish TV shows. Last night we watched Episode 4 of the long awaited and utterly brilliant 'Rev' series 2. Each week I eagerly await each episode of the program me like a child waiting for Santa. It is almost like a drug addiction and I don't know what I will do when it ends beyond wearing out my series 1 DVDs, waiting for series 2 DVD, hoping for a third series. Silly I know, when there are so many other things to do and think about but the series does touch my soul and keep me sane in a muddled world so it is important to me.

Episode 4 is still stuck in my brain. Adam (played by, you guessed it, Tom Hollander)  told a story at the end that dealt with explaining death to small children and it was so touching I can't stop thinking about it.

I recorded the last little bit and sent it to our daughter and son-in-law which at that very moment were on the road to go to a funeral of a grandparent—their two young children probably sleeping in the back of the car. Perfect timing for that one.

Christmas Music

Today I am listening to Christmas music while I work. That said I would like to share an artist I discovered last year and have been chatting with occasionally on Facebook.  David Tolk kindly signed two CDs for me (long story) which I gave to Tom Hollander last March when we went to London. David is a brilliant musician and a lovely person. This particular track  is a favorite and even more so now that David gave me a little backstory on it. The heavenly voice is that of his 16 year-old daughter recorded 12 times and mixed to sound like a choir. It gives me chills.

And now for something completely different…

Today my good friend (and "partner in crime") Irene and I were guests on a podcast! When Angela from The Handsome Bob Podcast emailed me about being a guest to talk about the Tom Hollander website that Irene and I created my first reaction was "oh nooooo..." After all I am a shy person at heart. But apparently at least one person foresaw the future for  when we created Thomagination almost five years ago Don said to me "someday someone will want to interview you about this". "Nah!" I would say, brushing the comment away in the air. Irene and I are very proud of the site but I honestly didn't think that would happen. After all it is a bit of a secret identity for me. Anyway, if you are curious and want to hear it you can click here:

The Handsome Bob Podcast

(Explicit due to the film clips played. You've been warned.)

A lovely find

I am constantly amazed by the things I learn about via Twitter. This morning it is an App for the iPhone called "If Poems" 

I like it because some of the poems are read by Billy Nighy and Helena Bonham Carter but another nice thing is that part of the proceeds go to @SaveTheChildren. It's a great little app that not only lets you hear the poems but you can record your own as well and share them. I am still exploring it but was pleased to see that when I searched for a poem that was my grandfather's favorite ("Sea Fever") it was indeed there and read by the lovely Bill Nighy. Check it out.

And for those of you who know me well…Yes I am indeed wondering why Tom Hollander is not reading some of these poems. Perhaps in v2.0?