8.17.12 Diane Hosfield

My mother-in law, Diane Hosfield, is the family seamstress. She's the go-to person for alterations and repairs. Here, she's making an adjustment on our Bulldog's harness.

Today, she and my father-in-law, Jim Hosfield, are landing in London to begin a two-weeklong tour of England. For octogenarians, they are healthy, very active and well-travelled.

8.5.12 Ruth with dogs

Ruth Loveless, Lisa's cousin from Carlinville, IL, came up to visit us at our lake house in La Valle, WI this weekend. The weather was perfect. As usual, we have plenty of dogs, including Rooster, Christopher's English Springer Spaniel.

8.1.12 John Brent

John Brent has worked at Jewel grocery store at the Plaza del Lago shopping center, Wilmette, IL for 21 years. I've known him most of that time. He's a cashier. More importantly, he's a good person.

7.14.12 Carolina Primrose Gladiola

We had our first good rain this afternoon. A real downpour. Afterwards, the sun reappeared and I went to the Botanic Garden to walk and take some photos. Lots of flowers blooming. And, green fruit--grapes, pears, apples. Wasn't too crowded for a Saturday. The rain probably chased them away.

7.7.12 LAX

Spent a couple of hours at LAX airport last night before taking the red-eye home to Chicago. I drove out to L.A. with my daughter, Kate, and her bulldog, Eden. Kate just moved to L.A. 

"Delawn" 6.20/12

‎"Delawn" drawn from life in my anatomy drawing class at Evanston Art Center with Sarah Kaiser.

6.2.12 Sunbathers at the Ritz pool

I could really get used to drawing at poolside: great views, nice music, happy people, sun, swimming and a cocktail.

6.1.12 Poolside at the Ritz

After a rainy morning, skies cleared and hotel guests headed to the pool deck.

5.5.12 Thirsty Chloe

Most mornings, when I get up, I'm greeted by a yowling, thirsty, yellow cat in the bathroom. Just to shut her up, I turn on the faucet on my sink. I know I'm just enabling her. Whatever.

4.25.12 "Woman Reading on Rug with Cat"

This is an artist's proof of a new etching I'm working on. It has a chine-collé. That's the small, color print of El Corazon (the heart) that I got in Mexico. I put it on the etching plate before I printed. I love the woman's white body and the cat on the pillow over the detailed pattern of the oriental rug. The size is 9"x12". I'm working on a series of nudes reading. Maybe one will be chosen for the poster for Nat'l Library Week? Not.

4.15.12 Woman reading in her bath

I was searching Google images for Pierre Bonnard's painting of a woman in her bath. Great painting. I think the model was his wife. Anyway, I found a photo of this scene (sans the flowers) and drew it. I love the private moment. She's enjoying her bath. Reading a book. Having a smoke and a glass of wine. It's sensual without being pornographic. I'm going to use the same image for an etching.

4.14.12 Tulips in Vase

Although I love the colors of tulips, I'm also interested in their linear quality, especially in a glass vase. Most people think of The Netherlands when they see tulips but they originated in the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Persia, Iran) before they were brought to Northwestern Europe. In the early 1600's, they became so valued that they were considered a currency by many, creating a "tulip mania" for awhile.

4.11.12 Dominick's Daffodils

So, I was at Dominick's this afternoon, buying cayenne pepper for my daughter who's on a weird but effective diet, and I saw these daffodils and thought they'd make a good subject for a line drawing.

4.7.12 Columbine

4.2.12 Margot Loved Artichokes

My mother lived in Hollywood during the 1940's. She met my father, a Commander in the U.S. Navy, after the war, married and moved to Redondo Beach. She was an amazing cook and loved California artichokes. So do I.

3.29.12 Daughter & Mom: Panera Buckhead

I'm guessing these two are daughter and mom. I was having breakfast yesterday and noticed them looking at photos on the iPad.