It seems that we have a family tradition, it is old time music. Donald’s mother remembers her own grandfather playing fiddle tunes. My son is lucky enough to own the fiddle he played them on.
Little did we know that so many years ago that old time music would bring so many different parts of our family together and provide a common language across the generations. A little Irish, a little Appalachian, a little gospel, and a little northwest can describe this kind of music – mostly instrumental, with a few songs thrown in. This painting shows cousins and a grand-daughter; they know the same tunes.
Archive for category historic
1950 Buick Roadmaster
Aug 20
Twas a time when gas was so cheap, that luxury cars could weigh tons. And to some people, my uncle Charlie Malle, in fact, a car was a thing of beauty. He spent a lot of time waxing and shining his cars. This is his Buick Roadmaster. Decorating the hood is my Aunt Tess.
Ever since I rode the tram to Rome, I have been excited about Light Rail, so when our lives were disrupted for over 3 years of construction, I was a lot more patient with it than you might expect from me. And yesterday, July 18th was opening day. Here in my neighborhood, they planned a little party and I was invited as an artist to attend and I shared a tent with Seanna Jordan, who paints whimsical colorful pet portraits. It was a riot. I sold commemorative paintings like this one to Greg Nickels, to wannabe King County Executive Larry Phillips, and I made a special one for Tom Rauf, one of the movers and shakers who is building the new Condominiums called “The Station at Othello” I painted a representation of his own buildings in the painting for him. I had watched him musing over the others and I guessed that he might like one that included his dream. I also met the author of “oldladyonabike” blog, Mona Lee.
My husband and I hopped aboard the light rail to discover — new light rail smell! a lot like new car smell, only different. We rode to Tukwila and back and except for the long lines at Tukwila, we had a great time. The views as you head towards the airport are great. Together with all the other people in our car, we wondered where we will put our luggage when we finally do have the opportunity to take this train to the airport.
It was a fun day!
The Jive Cats
Mar 13
Inspired by a beautiful photograph taken by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration in 1938, I painted this as a companion piece to “He sure can play that guitar”
This painting was sold and will be living in Athens, Georgia with two of my dearest friends.
Every one of my husband’s siblings has one of these little black and white photos. It’s blurry and washed out, but Grandpa Tom Boothby has a salmon in his hand. Whenever my husband sees this photo, he explains how when he was a little kid, Indians used to fish at Celilo falls, but then they put in a dam which flooded the falls and ended the fishing. Apparently from before time began, the Indians fished this way; with plank scaffolds perching them above the falls. But the photo just didn’t show much, so, impressed by his zeal, I always listened to the story but failed to connect. I decided that was not enough. It would be so much better to place grandpa in front of a waterfall that could be seen. And here he is. In the painting,it was rather surprising to see just how much my husband resembles his grandfather; and actually, my husband is about the same age now as his grandfather is depicted in this painting.
