So many things to love about Lorenzo’s work. In this particular painting, the iciness of the water drew me in, the stark dark line of vegetation in the background was a nice pop and then that oh so awesome shadow line. Absolutely lovely! You must check out Lorenzo’s work, he’s got a great website! I found this particular image on the Mockingbird Gallery website, very nice!
Lorenzo Chavez is from New Mexico where he enjoys a connection with the colorful and historic Southwest and its striking landscapes. He studied at the Colorado Institute of Art and the Art Students League of Denver. Intensive private study of the Impressionists and 19th century American and Russian painters has made him aware of the wonderful possibilities of painting from life.
Chavez’s work in both pastel and oil is devoted to plein air landscapes with an emphasis on the American West. His passion for his craft and his visceral connection with whatever landscape surrounds him weave a powerful undercurrent of emotion and accessibility.
Chavez exhibits in national invitational exhibitions across the country including the Pastel Society of America, Artists of America and Artists of the West, The Northwest Rendezvous Group, Landscapes of the American West and Plein Air Painters of America. His worked is exhibited in the C.M. Russell Museum, Laguna Art Museum,Gilcrease Museum, Loveland Art Museum,Pasadena Art Museum, Albuquerque Museum Miniatures and the Bradford Brinton MemorialMuseum. He was invited to exhibit 7 pastels at the 2010 summer Exhibition for the Society ofPastelists in France.
Chavez’s work is featured in prominent galleries and magazines including Art of the West,Southwest Art, Pastel Journal, Art-Talk andAmerican Artist. He was cover artist for The Artist’s Magazine. He is an active member of the Western Rendezvous of Art, California Art Club, American Impressionist Society and the Pastel Society of Spain.
Ina Garten’s recipe for baked chicken is the easiest and the tastiest that I’ve found. To smell that chicken in the oven, ahhhh… whip up some mashed potatoes, or some sweet potatoes, quinoa, rice or just some veggies and you have yourself a meal fit for a king! It gets deeply brown like fried chicken. The skin gets crispy… Ina says she bakes the chicken on the bone and WITH the skin, then peels the skin off before eating (which is mighty hard to do, let me tell you!).
This is all you do.
Buy however many chicken breasts you want (or other parts, but time may be different).
Put heavy duty foil on a cookie sheet (something with a rim to catch the grease).
Olive oil on the chicken, rub it around, coat both sides.
Salt and pepper.
Oven at 350 degrees. Bake 45 minutes to an hour OR until the temperature of the chicken reaches 180 degrees. If they’re small it could take about 30 minutes. Ours are usually close to a pound each (I KNOW!)… hefty for sure!
The. Best. Ever!
Shown above with sweet potatoes… recipe coming soon! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Impressive, right? This is a good size painting, 36 x 48 and just fabulous! I love the brilliant blue sky, the stoic trees, the light on the rocks and the movement in the water that you can hear if you sit still enough.
I featured a cool artist (Tom Hughes) on Monday, (what a nice guy by the way!) and as I was looking at his website, specifically his LINKS (I love when artists post links to supplies they use, art they appreciate, and blogs they read, so thanks for sharing, Tom)! This is how I ran across Craig Mitchell.
“My father was a fisherman. In teaching me to fish he also gave me a great appreciation for the natural world. Virtually all of my paintings begin as plein air studies used as reference in the studio. Nothing can substitute for painting on location where the colors are true and my view of the earth is unfiltered. Inspiration comes from extended trips into remote wilderness areas of the West where I experience a spiritual exchange within a pristine environment. As a contemporary impressionistic painter, I balance the respect of nature’s conventions with my own interpretation of hue, composition and unity expressed in a fluid painterly style. I also give a nod to the past in technique and other time-proven principles and traditions that transcend artistic genres as a sound foundation for artistic innovation. My personal goal is to explore the process of creation, to engage the viewer in looking and therefore seeing; to capture a transient moment in time and place that eludes us in a busy world.”
Update 2022:Since this was written years ago – the directions I received said NO RED, NO ORANGE. Other articles I read said NO RED, NO ORANGE, NO BLUE, NO PURPLE. So nix the above orange Gatorade and stick with lemon/lime. Also Jell-O – lemon or lime… I couldn’t find popsicles without all the colors you’re not supposed to eat, but I did find lemon Italian Ice. That’ll work! Not sure what the future holds – just follow the directions from your physician – each prep is a little bit different.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. As the CDC says below… if everyone who is 50 years old or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.
Getting a colonoscopy really isn’t a big deal. You have an appointmet and talk to the doctor that will be performing the procedure. He will ask if you’re taking medication (vitamins/supplements included, tell them everything you take) and assorted other questions, then they will schedule an appointment, tell you what you can drink/eat. What your prep will be (there are many variations), what time you can no longer have liquids or anything else… then it’s a quick procedure. Mine was twilight, meaning I wasn’t put all the way under, which is nice because you wake up fast. It’s the best 15 minute sleep of your life! You don’t feel any different, you have no idea you even had it done.
I know. Fun fun. This past year Fred and I both turned 50, we celebrated (woohoo) by getting colonoscopies. Now we’re set for another 10 years. Thank God. For me, the actual prep part of it wasn’t so bad (the part you drink that “makes things happen”) it was NO FOOD the day before. Holy cow. No real solid food. No cheese. No cream in coffee? We work hard to not eat much sugar, we don’t drink soda, so to go from a pretty un-sweet existence to a sugar loaded day creeped me out. BUT, if I bought the diet stuff, no calories and I could fall over from starvation. Believe me, this was a serious concern, ha ha… Basically, you’re on a liquid diet the day before (check with a doctor, I’m not one, I do not perform colonoscopies or have above average knowledge about them… check. check. check. This post is about what I did (what I was told to do)… and I’m happy to say I’m alive to talk about it!
I basically had jello (made three different kinds… breakfast, lunch and dinner, ugh), Gatorade (or other sports drink) which to me is loaded with sugar and other “stuff”, but it’s important to stay hydrated. If you don’t you get dehydrated which leaves to horrible side affects. So DRINK. DRINK. DRINK. (And not alcohol…). Clear, non pulp juices like white grape and apple are also options, for soda I opted for ginger ale in case I got nauseous from no food (I think that’s what I drank towards the end of the day). Hot tea (or coffee, but with no cream, no powdered cream, etc.). Chicken Boullion, but NOT the brand I bought here. I didn’t drink it, but when it came time for Fred’s colonoscopy prep day, he had to work, had a big meeting. Fun times. So I packed him his lunch (oh, how I felt for him that day), he called me and asked if it was OK if there were “green things” in the bouillon… AHHH, NO GREEN THINGS! While we’re on the topic of color NO RED, NO PINK, NO PURPLE of any kind in any form… it shows up like somethings wrong in your colon, and you don’t want to repeat this for at least 10 years. Popsicles were another thing you could eat, but NOT FRUIT POPS (pulp). So you have to eat the sugar laden ones, but none with RED, PINK or PURPLE! I was getting worried that mixing my Jello (lemon, lime, and orange would some how mix together, kind of like mixing paint, and turn red/pink/purple, ha… I was fine).
Fred’s lunch… heavy sigh… Again… NOT THIS BRAND OF BOULLION… it has “green stuff” (flavoring) in it. I was quite happy how I packed his Jello, hee…
March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone who is 50 years old or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.
Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it.
How Can You Reduce Your Risk?
The risk of getting colorectal cancer increases with age. More than 90% of cases occur in people who are 50 years old or older. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives, but many people are not being screened according to national guidelines.
If you’re 50 years old or older, getting a screening test for colorectal cancer could save your life. Here’s how—
Colorectal cancer screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. In this way, colorectal cancer is prevented.
Screening tests also can find colorectal cancer early, when treatment often leads to a cure.
What Are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?
Precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. You could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why having a screening test is so important. Symptoms for colorectal cancer may include—
Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement).
Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that do not go away.
Losing weight and you don’t know why.
These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer. If you’re having any of these symptoms, the only way to know what is causing them is to see your doctor.
When Should You Begin to Get Screened?
You should begin screening for colorectal cancer soon after turning 50, then keep getting screened regularly until the age of 75. Ask your doctor if you should be screened if you’re older than 75.
Some people are at a higher risk than others for developing colorectal cancer. Having any of these things may increase your risk—
Golden Gate is a painting that Tom quickly did while scouting for workshop locations. Fabulous! I love plein air paintings, they just amaze me.
I truly enjoy Tom’s work… and his website… WHOA! I especially love the GREATEST HITS link. These paintings are sold but Tom shows the finished painting and the sketch he used to get it to that point. And they are FABULOUS! Just don’t take my word for it, check them out!
When looking at Tom’s “Greatest Hits” Charles Movalli crossed my mind (another fabulous artist, read more about HEREor HERE…). After reading Tom’s website I see that they are friends. Very cool indeed! I’m keeping my eye on this fabulous artist… can’t wait to see his work in person one day! I would love to be taking his workshop right now… it starts today in Marin County (CA).
Here’s a little blip about Tom from his website:
Tom Hughes was born in Massachusetts in 1965. He attended Northeastern University and M. I. T. for physics but left in 1986 to work as a staff artist for the Christian Science Monitor daily newspaper, until 1989. After this, he did freelance illustration for a few years while he taught himself to paint.
Hughes has been a professional artist – having finished his last actual job in 1992 – for 20 years. He paints figures, portraits and landscapes in various media: oil, acrylic, watercolor and alkyd. He has had solo exhibitions at galleries in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, the New England states, and France. His work has been featured in American Artist Watercolor magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur, for which he painted the magazine’s publisher Eric Rhoads’s portrait in oils. Tom Hughes is one of the artists whose work is featured in a book about watercolor painting skills, Watercolor Painting by Tom Hoffmann, published in 2012 by Watson-Guptill.
In 1999, Hughes moved from New Hampshire to Meeks Bay on the west shore of Lake Tahoe where he and his wife Charlene lived for several years. They now reside in Alameda, CA.
Did you set your clocks forward an hour last night? I’m thinking this breakfast (from the Marston House in Wiscasset, Maine) looks pretty darn good about now… hot biscuits, homemade granola, fresh fruit, fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee, ahhhh, COFFEE!! Go grab a cup! Have a great day!
Can you believe it’s already time to set your clocks ahead one hour? Soon we’ll be seeing one more hour of daylight… It’s looking like a nice weekend, so enjoy, and remember… set your clocks AHEAD one hour before you hit the sack!
Are you looking for a gorgeous, well built home that has a passive home design? This is a home that has the ability to make your heating bills = zero. Net zero. Can you imagine? Exciting information below with links to more info!
This month GO Logic is featured on the cover of Fine Homebuilding Magazine’s special winter issue focusing on Energy Smart Homes.
GO Logic’s 1,000-square foot, one-bedroom, two-bath residence, House on a Knoll, in Bath, Maine – completed back in 2011 – was among the homes featured in the publication.
The article discusses six key elements to building a super-efficient home: insulation, ventilation, windows, air-sealing, thermal bridging, and thermal mass.
The highlighted pre-designed home demonstrates how this approach toward high performance works hand-in-hand with comfort, flexibility and aesthetics at a low cost.
To read the entire article, check out Fine Homebuilding Magazine’s Winter special issue on Energy-Smart Homes, or get a preview of the article here.
Facebook. Ahhhh. Parts of it are to love… reconnecting with old friends, keeping up with artists and their work, hearing about deals at the local store… but THEN there are parts of Facebook that are beyond aggravating… for instance…
I went to send a message to an artist that I had featured. I was not yet “friends” with them on Facebook. I have sent messages via Facebook before to people who were not yet friends, this time it told me there was a $1 charge for the message to be delivered to their INBOX, or I could send the message (free) to the OTHER box.
The OTHER box? Since when? Apparently since a looong time ago! I checked (go to Facebook, click on the little icon for messages (in between the people and the world icons above), then you’ll see it defaults to your INBOX. Click on OTHER. Hmmmm, see some old messages? Perhaps from friends that you would have liked to receive the message from in the first place?
Just know it’s there and check it periodically. Have a tip about Facebook? Let me know!
Study #17 by Elizabeth Pollie, Image Via Elizabeth Pollie
I almost fell and couldn’t get up. Seriously. When I saw the image come across on my phone, that tiny image on my Blackberry, I truly thought it was the photo of Charlie until I went to the computer and pulled up Facebook. Artist Elizabeth Pollie has been doing a study a day (30 studies/30 days) and they are so exquisite, each and every one is just breathtaking. You wonder how ONE person can have so much talent!? It boggles my mind.
Charlie is “Study #17”. Wow! It is so perfect that words truly escape me. I simply cannot stop looking at it. (STUDY? I say to myself? If I were to paint something that wonderful, I would declare myself a master and call it a day! Hee)
This is the image that was on my blog post entitled You again? Ugh…! from February 23, 2013. Elizabeth commented on that post and said that it looked like a painting… so I quickly emailed her back letting her know she was more than welcome to the image! That evening I saw the painting pop up on Facebook.
I. Almost. Fell. Over. Elizabeth’s painting is so fabulous that it brings tears to my eyes. Wow. Am I weird? Ha ha…
Elizabeth Pollie shows her work locally here in Charleston, SC at the Horton Hayes Gallery. She is a phenomenal artist with more than just talent. This woman can SEE. She is so perceptive that she picked up the very essence of Charlie. You must check out her work, you will be floored. I’m preparing you in advance. There is no higher praise I can give. More than just a great artist, she’s such a nice person, and quite hilarious. She is as eloquent with her words as she is with her paintbrush. Most all of her posts bring a smile to my face. I love that about her!
Elizabeth Pollie Fine Art is located in Harbor Springs, Michigan. The gallery specializes in representational painting by nationally acclaimed artists. The focus of EPFA is on extremely high quality fine art for the discerning client. We welcome both first time buyers as well as seasoned collectors.
Please visit us in the summer at 231 E. Main Street, Harbor Springs, Michigan 49740.
Artist Ken DeWaard was in Charleston, SC last year and made a stop at Bowens Island… great painting that I can tell you he painted effortlessly. He is a joy to watch paint. I urge you to check out his website… and if you’re in one of the locations where he’s giving a workshop GO FOR IT! You will learn a lot and have a good time! Check out Ken’s WORKSHOP schedule for more info… his WEBSITE is fabulous and is constantly updated, so it’s worth taking the time!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Workshop image via email newsletter from Ken DeWaard…
What comes to mind when you see this photo? Peace. I think it would be nice to be floating around in a simple boat, with an iced tea, on a sunny day… no worries, just nice day full of calm, quiet, and peace.
Whew, I feel better already!
And if the calm, quiet and peace doesn’t work, you can always shoot for one of Bowens Island Restaurants fabulous dinners… not health food, but I think it’s good for the soul… there isn’t another place quite like it!
“AT HOME IN THE CANYON” is an amazing piece. I love how the little bird is in that big open space. He looks like king of the castle. The light is fabulous, the rocks are rugged and some of the best i’ve seen… and that moving water… nice!
Matt Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1960. At an early age he moved to Arizona. He later moved to Europe where he lived two years in France and one in Switzerland. In subsequent years Smith painted in Germany, Austria and Italy. Smith has lived most of his life in Arizona, where he has a deep attachment and respect for the Sonoran Desert.
Smith graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting. He spent a vast amount of time studying the traditional styles of such landscapes masters as Maynard Dixon, William Herbert Dunton and Edgar Payne.
Most of the time, Smith can be found painting en plein air from southern Arizona to the Canadian Rockies. He also paints the California coast to the mountains of Colorado. “I appreciate traditional landscape painting and I am inspired by the pristine landscapes of the American West. I enjoy working in areas where one can travel for miles without seeing the influence of man. When I paint, I feel I’ve hit the mark when I’ve captured a balance between mood, look and feel. You know you’ve succeeded when viewers sense the desert heat or the chill of a mountain snowfall.”
Smith currently lives in Arizona with his wife, Tracy, who is also a painter.
ARTFOODHOME.COM 