My roomies, Scott and Stephen hale from Columbia, Maryland.  Scott, also a painter, and I, had some great painting adventures and lively discussions throughout the weeks.  Stephen,  Scott's  husband,  actor/comedian,  kept it real for us by making sure we ate well, we did our laundry, and occasionally talked about subjects other than Hensche or Hawthorne, or color, or the best way to tidy up our pallets after a day's work.

The entrance to the "Barn".  It started out as a boat building shop, that is why the door is so wide.

Then Kline used it as a studio, then it became a gallery, and finally a little rental with two bedrooms and a lovely living area.

I was up at 6 this AM to run.  I hadn't run over the weekend, so I didn't want that to continue.  It was pleasant seeing the shadows on different sides of the cute cape cottages along the west end of Commercial St.

I have been assembling all kinds of things - in all kinds of places - for all kinds of purposes throughout my house. What a mess it is at the moment.  This is in preparation for a month's worth of painting in Provincetown, MA.  I am taking two week long courses at The Cape School of Art.  Last year I over packed (who doesn't??) So this year, I intended to be very selective.  I leave in two days, so today is crunch time.

I take lots of black shirts, black because I don't want any reflective color bouncing on to my painting surface.  Then, there is the painting gear.  I have been gessoeing masonite for days.  Last night I packed the majority of the panels in a suitcase that I could hardly lift into my car.  My old easel is falling apart - held together by duct tape since last year.  I looked a long time to replace the one I was using with an identical model.  The new one I ordered came yesterday - just in time.  It is an Alvin ALV 155.  It's light because it is minimal, but it does have some triangular struts about waist high.  These struts are handy for hanging paper towel, balancing paint, hanging weights in heavy wind....and I am sure to find more uses for them.

Then there is the technical gear.  Computer, cameras, and a credit card reader for my iPhone by Square Up. I made a sale up in Keene and took payment using a credit card.  They take 3%, then send the rest to your account at the end of the business day.  Pretty cool.

I had better stop typing and start packing!!

See you in Ptown.

I have been wanting to start a blog for a while. It would be good to keep track of what I am learning about the art business and the business of art.  I am grateful that I have landed within the influence of wonderful artist/teachers and student/artists.  While I have been painting in watercolors or pastels most of my life, it was only in 2009 that art took me in a direction that seemed to have an energy all its own.  It was a first introduction to Henry Hensche and The Cape School of Art through a week of painting with Hilda Neily, a student of Henry's in Provincetown, MA.

Now I look at each painting as a study, as opposed to the start of a finished work.  This takes a great deal of pressure off, and puts me in a learning mode.  I put my energies into observation and trying to be mindful of the concepts and ideas that Hilda shared with our class back in the summer of 2009.

At the beginning of the course in 2009, I was under the misconception that I would take that one course with Hilda, and that would be that.  How mistaken I was, for now I am packing for my fourth summer.  I have already taken courses with Joanette and Cedric Egeli,  John Clayton, and Mary Giammarino.  This summer (2012) I am looking forward to working with Rob Longley and Mary Giammarino.

And now, just a word about my friends, the artist/students. I have met some wonderful people who have become very good friends.  I will have more to say about them as the summer progresses.  I will be posting stories, painting starts and what happens when I try to cook dinner.  Stay tuned.