Colored Light

When we were staying at Old Campden House last month, we stopped in the church next to the estate for a little look-around before leaving.  I generally find old churches to be far too cold and a bit of a bore, but on this particular morning, I was charmed by the way the light filtered through the stained glass windows and reflected on the opposite wall like an abstract painting.  Lovely, no?

Inspiredb By: Malcolm Liepke

Oh, man.  David and I had such a comfortable weekend with our friends in the Cotswolds.  Comfortable- that's the best way to describe their home.  Comfortable like walking into your mother's arms, comfortable like the laugh lines on a lover's face, comfortable like a cup of coffee and your favorite book.  Together, we ate, drank, and made much merriment and I've come away from the weekend feeling well rested and inspired.

Not only was our weekend comfortable, it was also full of fantastic art.  Sculpture, block prints, and textiles were displayed alongside tribal masks, graphic screen prints and children's art.  It was wonderful!  All the visual stimuli got me thinking about one of my favorite artists, Malcolm Liepke, and how I wanted to share some of his work with you.  I like the energy of these pieces, their sensuality, and the weight of his brush.  Also, he's originally from Minneapolis and you all know how I feel about that. 

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I've had this saved on my desktop for months now.  I want that collar.  So bad.  So so so bad.  I really love the colors in this piece and the luminous quality of the subject's skin and the depth of her eyes.

White Feather Boa

Again, this boa.  Mine.  Make it mine.  Please.  

I love his use of texture here as well as the shine of her lips.  

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Like my all-time favorite painter, Sargent, I find Liepke's portraits to be illuminating and haunting, as if the subject is emanating light. I'm drawn into these portraits.  I want to write stories about them.
In fact, I think I will.

Liepke is represented by Albemarle Gallery in London.

Roadtrip Weekend

David and I are going away this weekend to visit his oldest friends.  The people we'll be staying with have known him since he was a wee one and I'm looking forward to hearing childhood stories from their time together in Africa.  Old friends and family allow us to see a different side to the people we're closest to and I'm happy to drink wine and learn more about the ancient life history of this man who I've fallen in love with.

Have a terrific weekend, dear reader.  xox

The Majesty of the Sea

I love the ocean best when it's cold and the beaches are barren.  I like how my boots sink into the sand and the way the wind rips through my hair, making it a salty, knotty mess.  The crash of the waves seem louder, too, when they don't have to compete with the noise of bathers, as do the eery calls of the gulls hovering above, riding the wind like surfers do the water.  Just as Maria runs to the hills when her heart is lonely, I escape to the ocean.  I want to feel small, know my problems are but a drop of water in the greatness of the sea.

Photos taken near Rye, UK in late October.  The model is my beautiful mother. 

Tuesday With Moi

Tuesday, November 13

Oh man, Rebecca.  I couldn't put it down!  I'd stayed up until 2:00 the previous evening and, as soon as I awoke in the morning, I picked it right up and continued on.
She's worse than a coke dealer, that Daphne Du Maurier! 

Though I knew I should put a bookmark in and get on with my day, I stayed in bed with my coffee and my book until almost 11:00.

At which point I went into my newly finished studio and started to get on with some work.

Prepare yourself for many snippets of my studio space.  I'm quite pleased with how the room has turned out and I'm overjoyed to finally have my own place to work.  My things are organized, my mind is clear, and my heart is happy!

Everything has a place again.

I cannot stop smiling! 

Though I have yet to find a place for this beautiful Jonathan Singer Sargent mirror.... I have a few ideas as to where I'll put it.  

New shoes seem to be a theme lately.  These Minnetonka Moccasins were a lovely birthday gift from one of my oldest and dearest friends, Christa.  I pad around the flat in them every day.  Until the warmer months come once again, they shall be my house slippers.  Very Minnesotan of me, don't you think?

Had a snack and realized how dark it was getting.

I miss the daylight so much this time of year.  

Another shelf scene from the studio.

I gave David the 'together' card around the time we got married in March.

It's by Yellow Owl Workshop and I really love it.  I love all their work, actually. 

Throughout the day, I took little reading breaks and eventually finished Rebecca (naughty of me, I know).  Next on my list is this book, Paper: An Elegy by Ian Sansom. 

This is the beginning of my inspiration wall in the studio.

These are things I like.  I can't wait to see how it grows.

Instead of a chair, I opted to use a fitness ball in the studio to help my posture.

So far, I'm quite pleased with the decision.

Finally, my favorite time of day: Wine Time!  

We've lately been enjoying this fairtrade, organic, blah blah blah Running Duck Shiraz.

It's a great price, easy to drink, and is sulfite free which means, like italian table wine, it doesn't get you drunk or leave you with a hang over.  We like that. 

SO SAPPY.

Deal with it.

David got a haircut yesterday.  He looks so handsome with his hair short.

Finally, time for bed.  This is how Le Chat says goodnight.  

All in all, a productive and comfortable Tuesday around Cox Quarters.

As always, thanks for reading.

xox

An Autumn Walk

Autumn is almost over.  A few leaves cling to the branches still, but before long they'll reach long and naked toward the sky and the wind will blow with a hallow whistle.  With the wind will come the cold and the winter will be dark and damp and will chill us to the bone.  Or that's what David says, anyway.

As always, I am sad to see the leaves change color and the autumn pass.  I don't know how I will like the English winter, but thoughts of sweaters and hot mint tea warm my mind and make me feel comfortable in spite of the forthcoming cold.  For now, anyway.

Along with the leaves, I saw this, too, on my walk yesterday.  I pass it often when I go into town and it always makes me happy.  The logo- I like it.  A lot.