Life has been a whirlwind these last several weeks as my daughter decided to accept a transfer of her job from San Jose, California to Amsterdam, the Netherlands! It all happened very quickly - passport, visa, plane tickets were obtained and she moved all her worldly goods to storage here in Reno. Lucky for us, she came to stay with us for a week before flying off to her new adventure. We helped her sell her car, load all her household goods into storage and pack for two years in Amsterdam. She ended up with 5 gigantic duffel bags of clothing and shoes. Monster, her 7 pound miniature Yorkie will stay at her brother's house until Kimberly is settled - then she intends to fly her to Amsterdam. She has been over there for a week now, is still in a hotel in the downtown area but today she rented an apartment with a view over a canal - it is just lovely! I am so excited for her.
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| Kimberly and Monster - ready for the big adventure! |
I admit to not having as much time at my easel as I normally do but, hopefully, as life settles back down, I will get back on track with painting.
Here are a few of the things I worked on over the last few weeks:
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| Walt Whitman / oil on masonite / 16x20 |
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| Ballerina #34 / oil on canvas / 30x15 |
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| Jockey / oil on cardboard / 14x18 |
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| Dance Recital / oil on linen / 18x24 |
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| Evil Wears a Green Cap / oil on canvas / 12x12 |
Welcome back, Susan !
ReplyDeleteLove your ballerina no 34!
Thank you, Martine. I wonder if there will be more in this series......
DeleteYou've been missed, Susan! Glad you're back! I love all of your paintings....
ReplyDeleteAnd what your daughter is doing is so exciting...something I would have loved to have done in my younger days but afraid to have done it...lol....I wish her all the luck in the world and it sounds wonderful....maybe next year you can visit her...
Thank you, Hilda. Its comforting to know I was missed a little bit. I feel as if I have been away from serious painting for so long. When my sessions are interrupted and I go back and forth to a painting, I never feel as satisfied as when they have my full concentration.
DeleteBonjour ma chère Susan,
ReplyDeleteJe comprends que tu sois très occupée en ce moment avec le départ de ta fille. Je sais que c'est difficile toutefois pour une maman de voir partir son enfant aussi loin. Mais c'est aussi un chance qu'elle puisse voyager et faire de nouvelles rencontres qui vont l'enrichir. Amsterdam est une très belle ville que je connais bien. Tous ces canaux en font une ville sereine. Une ville que tu aimeras très certainement. La toute première fois que j'y suis allée j'ai eu l'impression d'être baignée dans une palette de couleurs et de reflets.
Ta fille pourra visiter le marché au fleurs et découvrir la belle campagne hollandaise.
Merci de partager avec nous l'ensemble de toutes ces dernières oeuvres que je découvre avec un réel plaisir.
Gros bisous ♡
As you may have guessed I am filled with conflicting emotion - happy for my daughter to have this incredible opportunity but sad to be so far away. Thank goodness for Skype, internet, instant messaging - all those things keep me closer to her. And it is comforting to hear that you know this city well and have great love for it. So far my daughter's move and her new job have all been wonderful. That keeps me happy!
DeleteYou’ll love Amsterdam when you visit Kimberly Susan, all those wonderful galleries all within leisurely cycling distance :)
ReplyDeleteDave.
Hi, Dave - how nice to hear from you! Her first purchase was a second hand steel bicycle and she has already used it extensively! I can't wait to go there. Maybe next year........
DeleteGood to see you Susan! You were missed--but obviously not not painting. I love dance recital! It has your usual good humor. And the brushwork in Whitman is superb.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult when a child moves so far away. Amsterdam is a lovely place to visit and it isn't too far from Bruges and Ghent. I'd be making plans if I were you.
Hi, Linda, I did spend some time painting but it was piece meal, here and there, catching time whenever I could. Not my usual mode of operating but the need to be flexible superseded all else. I need to catch up with all the blogs I have been missing - I wonder if your lessons with Tod went well? I will surely soon find out!
DeleteYou say you haven't been busy at your easel??? Wow! If I was as productive as this when I was going through a slow phase, I'd be ecstatic! All of them are just wonderful! How exciting for your daughter! What an adventure! Sending luck her way :0)
ReplyDeleteHi, Sandra - the last few weeks taught me to paint fast and that I can go back to a painting several times before calling it finished. I think I spent the most time on Dance Recital as it is a painting of my second cousin's daughter Morgan (far left) and her friends. So getting the likenesses correct was seriously important. And its quite large at 18 x 24. I will soon be shipping it off and am anxious to see what the reaction will be. Of the other paintings, Walt, the Jockey and the portrait were all done alla prima. Ballerina #34 took a bit of time over several sessions. Thank you for the good thoughts for my daughter!
DeleteHow exciting for all of you!! You must have been so busy. I wish Kimberly all the best in Amsterdam!! [what an opportunity!] And it is so good to see some of your art again - so brilliant and alive. Love the Dance Recital!
ReplyDeleteKathryn
Hi, Kathryn - I will soon be visiting your blog to try and catch up with my favorite painters! So far Kimberly is loving Amsterdam and her new job. Her apartment looks beautiful - even though she only has half a fridge and no closet space. She has been shopping Ikea for the past few days and it looks like an armoire is a certain purchase!
DeleteJust though today "why no news from Susan?" and here you are with great news. I hope your girl will like Amsterdam, so beautiful, so artful.
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking "Dance recital" and Walt Whitman's portrait among other treasures.
Monster.. is it?
How nice to hear from you, Irina - and to know you were thinking of me. Monster is anything but .... ...
DeleteHow exciting for your daughter to have moved to Amsterdam! I wish her a wonderful time! Wonderful paintings, Susan! I love Walt's portrait, and of course the ballerina!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Judy! I can't wait to visit and hope that the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are in my future!
DeleteHallo Susan, ik wens je dochter veel succes met haar nieuwe omgeving.
ReplyDeleteje dance recital geniet mijn voorkeur, maar ze zijn allen mooi hoor.
groetjes,
Simonne
Veel dank, Simonne!
DeleteYou have painted so many different subjects, all fantastic and with your characteristic style , but my favorite has to be the naked ballerina, she is just over the top fabulous :-)) Wishing all the best for your daughter, what an exciting news, and Amsterdam is a great place, interesting and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jane. I am thinking that my nude ballerinas may be the beginning of another ballerina series. Time will tell! Thank you also for the good wishes for my daughter. She is very independent and I am sure sue will love this new adventure!
DeleteGreat to see you back - missed your work. Love all of these and hard to say which is my fav. I like them for different reasons. I will say that I kept going back to Evil - something compelling about it.
ReplyDeleteAmsterdam has great canals to paint. Quay #10 was a fav of mine - back in the day. Hope your daughter enjoys her new place.
Thanks, Julie - I was compelled to paint that portrait. It was just something I had to do - and it could not wait. I have missed your work as well and willno doubt be spending some time on your blog very soon!
DeleteDesejo muita sorte para a sua filha e adorei as suas belas pinturas...Espectacular....
ReplyDeleteCumprimentos
Thank you, Chana. It seems I had to steal time at my easel and I am glad the pressure is now off and I can return to a more comfortable routine.
DeleteHello Susan! So very, very happy to have you back! I love looking at your wonderful off the chart so very interesting, very very beautiful, unique and so much more art work! Of course I love everyone of the exciting paintings in this post! Your talent is obvious and your style is extraordinary! Majestic and glorious comes to mind! I am so very smart not to have favorites! So limiting! So all of your art works are my favorites! Keep them coming! Oh, luscious also comes to mind!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a wonderful road trip to Amsterdam is in store for you!!!! You may have to introduce "Thanksgiving" to our Dutch buddies! I am sure you will certainly miss your daughter and she will miss her USA family! She is on to a great adventure!
Take care Susan!
Michael
Hi, Michael an thank you for the bountiful words you use to describe my work! They send me rushing back to my easel to paint more and more and I thank you for that! I probably won't make it to Amsterdam by Thanksgiving - but maybe next year!
DeleteEurope is always lovely
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