My Biggest Fan

This past week I lost my biggest fan  and supporter  of my art.  Lost as well,a boon companion, best friend, wife and lover. Diva always encouraged me and allowed those around her the space and time alone to do their work and grow with it. A very private woman, she loved her work as a reference librarian for Hillsboro Public Library , doing reader advisory and buying all the lasted literature, fiction and bestsellers. That was how we met over 30 years ago, I got to know the lady who ordered the books I liked to read.  This was before the internet, personal computers, we still used a card catalog. She loved the arts, music of all sorts from bluegrass to classical, and always books and reading.  During the last 15 years she began gardening and learning about perennials. Where ever we traveled we would visit the museums, parks, and gardens in the area.

Her daughter Cindy was grown and gone when we got together, and my daughter was 5 or so. I think Diva’s influence helped lead to Alyssa’s career in public libraries during the time Alissa spent with us on those weekends and summer vacations.   I know Diva's many friends in Hillsboro, the library, and her artists friends will miss her steady presence, cheerful smile, and hands willing  to help all who ask.

This blog is mainly about my art and its creation; but far less art would be created without the support and belief from the Diva's in this world. 

My wish is for all  of you to have and cherish their personal Diva.

This is a painting I did for her four years ago when she was battling cancer.  I wanted to capture her spirit in good times.

Japanese Garden Summer, 7x5 Acrylic on Canvas Panel.

For anyone reading this who wants to honor Diva, make a contribution in her name to one of her four favorite foundations:

Library Foundation of Hillsboro

Oregon Food Bank

SOLV

DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital

I’ll return to my regular programming in the near future.

Good Night Moon

Joyeux Nouvel Anee, Acrylic on Paper, 7x7

I was just outside and the full moon was glowing in a twilight sky, hence the post title. I spent most of the days painting time working on the larger painting for LO reads show. It is at the awkward stage but it should be ready for a viewing tomorrow.  This was finished while things were drying and is the last of my starts from Monday. I was again trying for that festive  fresh start mood and i thought a french title would be good.

If you are interested in any images that have bee shown just email me at Bruce at BruceUlrich dot com.

Mimosa Me

Mimosa Me, 7x5 Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Using the left over bottle from New Years Eve and a clementine on top of a flute glass, to start this mornings painting adventure.  The festivities of the New Year just keep on giving.  Feel free to share with your friends. I am back to the easel to work on my painting for the Lake O reads show. 

Bubbles for the New Year

New Years Bubbles, 7x7 Acrylic on Paper

One of a similar pair finished this morning. The yellow and orange lines began from the leftover paint I mixed doing the first painting of this year,I liked the colors so much that several starts ;of happy, joyful, celebratory lines and marks were made on several empty papers. These starts are worked on in sort intense sessions between work on larger paintings and or as warm-ups in the mornings. Each set or series is eventually deemed finished.  The beginning is an idea or color or design strategy that I wand to practice and explore. In this case I think the colors are joyful and I wanted to express the energy and festivity of a New Year.

Enjoy this and feel free to share it with your friends.

Study for Mink River

A study for Mink River, 7x7 Acrylic Mixed media on paper

This is the best of several studies I worked on today to try out design and motif thoughts for a painting that I need to finish for the Lake Oswego Reads celebration. The book is Mink River,by Brian Doyle and is a very good read; based on a fictional Oregon coastal town, full of beautiful language and imagery. It's hard not to be to literal when he has such vivid descriptive passages. I hope to abstract or symbolize Mr. Doyle's characters and themes. How to paint TIME and its changeable elusive nature, that's one of my goals and challenges.

Let me know what you think.

Early Morning Sky

  

5:30AM Studio Sky1/3/12, 7x7 Acrylic on Paper 

                                             

                                              Portland Sky 5:30AM1/3/12 7x7 Acrylic on Paper  

Here are two versions of todays painting:  the color of the sky in the top 2/3rds with the bottom an abstraction of the studioand the joy and chaos of an earlier morning start     I must confess I stole the design idea from Katherine Chang Liu a wonderful artist residing in California. You can see her work here. 

If you are interested in either painting please email me at Bruce at BruceUlrich.com 

Thanks for looking and please feel free to share this with a friend.

All images ©  Bruce Ulrich unless otherwise stated.

Palette Knife

Knife& Cup, 6x6 Acrylic on Canvas

Another small painting to start your New Year off. this one is done from life. I wanted to practice water and what happens to objexts when they are refracted by it. Off to catch the Rose Bowl, go Oregon.

Feel free to share this post.