Monday, August 30, 2010

Artist Melinda: Où elle est ? ¿Cómo está ella? lle mae hi'n? hvar er hún?

I've wondered where I am, too. Here are a couple of paintings I've been working on after crashing a few weeks ago. A virus turned into a bacterial infection and spread through the family. We've also got a very sick dog we're trying to save this week. But, I want the blog to be a positive place and am really hoping things will turn around and improve. I hope you're all painting up a storm and having a wonderful summer. For some of you, I think summer is winding down. For us, it's been stormy, unseasonably cool for a few days and going by way too quickly. The photo above is from the monsoon storm that blew through Tucson on Saturday. Wow, eh?! This first painting is titled: Fields in Green, 8" x 8," oil on artists' board. The second painting is titled: Motorcoach Moticos, 8" x 8," oil on artists' board.
  This one I painted while our college boy was riding a Greyhound Bus home from visiting a friend in northern Arizona this past weekend. Be well everyone! I'll be back soon.

24 comments:

Linny D. Vine said...

Hola, Melinda! It's good to have you back! Wild weather and wildly wonderful paintings - your colors and your creativity always inspire me!(Wishes of good health for you and all of your loved ones.)

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

My thoughts are with you for the dog, and I'm so sorry you've been sick. These paintings are amazing, and I'm so happy you could post them in these difficult times. The photos are stunning too.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

SamArtDog said...

I'll assume the infection was last week's news. Get everyone's strength back. Take naps, eat vegie soup (lots of greens), drink tea.
Amazing monsoon pictures! Farmer's Almanac says this winter's snow won't be as crazy as last year, but it will be cold. Grain of salt...

Your paintings full of cheer; attitude is everything.

Anonymous said...

Motorcoach... the colors. THE COLORS!!! I want to swim in that world you've painted! I could look at it forever.

Hope everyone is getting better, including the canine member of the fam.

Jeane Myers said...

sigh :( - life's underbelly always just around the corner - hope you are hanging in there - I gasped when the first painting loaded - wow, Melinda, you truly have something there - it's so awkward and wonderfully alive xxo

cohen labelle said...

Dear Melinda - Summer bugs can be the worst! I am so glad you are on the mend!!!!
I am keeping my toes and fingers crossed for that sick dog of yours.
The paintings are really beautiful! There is so much power in them and something delicate as well.
I'm also blown away (no pun intended) by the monsoon photos, they are really something!

Take care dear Melinda, that's an order!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoMarcia

Melinda said...

Hi Linny!
Oh, it's so true that we've had some extreme weather in the last two weeks. Hurricane-like winds and such an electrical storm that the rec center was hit and caught fire. Maybe all of those negative ions helped to get me back painting.

Thank you for your good wishes for health. Really appreciate it.

Melinda said...

Thank you so much, Barbara, for your positive thoughts regarding our sick dog, Kate. I'll keep you posted--one day at a time, yes?

I'm glad that you like the paintings. I paint to survive. No exaggeration. At least, not this week.

The monsoon is absolutely awesome...and scary. A river forms with the best of them and runs right through our front yard.

Virtual hugs to you and yours!

Melinda said...

I hear you, SamArtDog! I'm trying to take your advice. Only, I must paint a little and play my guitar some. These things are medicine too, don't you think?

We've been hit twice with monsoon storms that reminded me of the hurricane I experienced long ago in Florida. After one lightning strike the other day, we looked out the window and saw small flecks of ash floating down from the sky and smelled fire. It was the ceramic center about 500 feet from us. Whoa.

I hope things are less crazy for you than last year's winter. We'll take any extra cold that you want to pass our way.

Thank you. Painting: good. Sickness: sucks. 'cuse me. Drinking green tea with prickly pear juice as I write.

Melinda said...

Ha! Silvina, I'm so happy you like this one. I was a bit unsure of it with such saturation and limited palette. I did want it to be engaging, though. Thank you for the encouragement.

Ah, the boys are doing great. I'm the lagger. And, our Katie is fighting for her life. I'm hoping that because we've called her "The Tank" for years, that she'll pull through the tick fever. Lots of hand feeding and rest for now--for both of us.

Melinda said...

You're so very right, Jeane. We try to forget about such things, especially when our pets don't ever live long enough, but we keep turning toward the paint and music and goodness that always fills some portion of a day.

Thank you so much for your enthusiastic and generous comment. It is medicine to my painter's heart to read your words. I'll cling to the "awkward and wonderfully alive" today.

Melinda said...

Hi Marcia!
Thank you so much for your kind wishes and support for our Kate. I'll post on her progress as I'm able.

It's so true about those bugs. Our traveling boy sometimes catches things and then shares them...But, we are doing better.

Painting really helps.

Oh, man, Mr. Artyfice and I were walking out in this storm to take the photos when the biggest lightning strike occurred right over us--within in a one second count! I said, "WARNING SHOTS" and we scurried inside. Just had to take those photos.

Virtual hugs to you!

Anonymous said...

Love those photos, especially the one with the mysterious flapping umbrella! But watch that lightning! I've been fearful of lightning ever since our boat was struck with us aboard. I had just let go of the metal wheel moments before. Your monsoons do sound like a tropical storm, only faster maybe, and more intense.
The paintings are fabulous again! I especially like the colors and motion in the Motorcoach Moticos. Wow!! Good wishes to you and your family... and of course the dog. How we love them so.

Melinda said...

Oh my, Donald. You've reminded me how crazy it can be out in a storm. I don't think I'll ever do that again and I hope you never find yourself in that predicament again as well.

My camera usually stops the action. As you can guess, the winds were whipping up so fast and intensely that it couldn't. We have what are called Micro-bursts just before some storms. If you click on the link, you'll see one being filmed in S. Cal. They don't last as long as a tropical storm or hurricane, but they are intense!

I'm so glad you like the paintings. You are one of my favorite inspirations.

And, thank you for the good wishes for our dog. Oh yes, the are like children. We are hopeful!

SamArtDog said...

O my Dog! You must know that all the art dogs here are circling around your hound's heart.

Melinda said...

It means so much to read that, SamArtDog. My little Miz Katers is trying so hard.

She ate three chicken strips today. We go from crying to cautiously optimistic.

Thank you.

Jala Pfaff said...

Best wishes for all of you to get better soon.

Melinda said...

Hi Jala,
Thank you very much. Straddling the fence, looking for the positive tipping point...

Karen said...

I hope you're improving every day! So sorry to hear about everyone's illnesses. :(
But your work has not suffered! There is the usual Melinda-power and feel to them, their strength hasn't been sapped.
Quite the storm pictures too!
take care of yourself. :)

Melinda said...

Thanks so much, Karen. I think I've got the family, including me, back on track, but it's still dicey with our dog. She has such a sweet spirit and wants to be involved with us, but she has no appetite and is skeletal right now.

We'll keep hoping for awhile longer.

I really appreciate your coming by. I've been enjoying all of your work lately!

kathrynlaw said...

I hope your sweet dog is doing better, and that all of you are well. Take care of yourself--remember to "put on your own oxygen mask first, then help those around you..."

I love the Fields of Green painting. That's a Wow.

XO

Melinda said...

Hi Kathryn,
Thank you so much for the kind wishes! You are absolutely correct about the "oxygen mask." I am trying...

Doggie still teetering, but ate one small bite on her own this morning.

Glad you like the Fields painting.
:-)

Bonnie Luria said...

There you are. And you are not alone.
I've got it on accurate authority that this is the worst retrograde Mercury has ever been in. It's a time when nothing seems to work, or go well and communications are impaired.
But that red little planet is no match for your brush.
These two paintings defy obstacles and what's more, I'm awed that despite personal hurdles, you've painted so well.

That micro burst storm clip had me gasping, having just been through Hurricane Earl.

Is it worse or better that the family gets fallen together? Then it's done and hopefully you're on the road ( like your first painting ) to a sunny horizon.

With empathy for you and your pup, I know how the heart feels caved in.

Melinda said...

Hello Bonnie!
I believe you that so many things, including communications, are going awry nowadays. Yikes. Do you know when things will turn around and get right again?! We all really need/want better days to return soon--from the economy to the environment, yes?

I always think and send good thoughts your way when hurricanes build up in the Atlantic. I'm so glad that you are alright, too.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. I'm not sure if it's worse or better when the entire family gets sick. It made the short time that we had together less than we'd like, that's for sure. And, we really, really wanted to have a little fun instead of keeping up on the meds! However, we're doing better and that's the main thing.

Thank you, too, for such a generous comment about my paintings. If I don't paint, I get very, very, very cranky. Or, as we say in the Southwest, prickly.

I know you know how precious our dogs are and how awful it is when they aren't doing well. I can't really say whether our Kate will make it yet, but I promise to update as her body responds to her antibiotics.

You're so kind and your comments are always so heartfelt and true--like your painting.