Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Back to Racecar paintings

I spent the last few days finishing a painting I started in the 90's.

4'x3'
My grandfather was a racecar builder and driver in the twenties-forties. I love painting him in the cars. This is a painting I did in the 90's but never got to finish it. I'm going to work on it this week. It doesn't need much.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

August 2, 2010

Windsor and Newton UV Varnish really pulls out the color!!!




I battled cloth all day yesterday. There are several difficult things to paint, reflections, hair and cloth and they are all in this painting.

I am running out of time and so I've been working until around 9:45pm. I have a lot to do before entering my painting in the fair on Sunday.



I have decided to enter my new painting in the county fair. Its not like me, but its something I have never done. I have 2 weeks to complete it, or at least to complete it to a particular point.

Friday, July 2, 2010





I've had quite a bit of time to work on the painting the last two days. Here is where it stands 7/2/10 I have the whole day to work on it and i can't wait.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Update Market Painting




I got my paint yesterday. Finished the sketch on Tuesday and I'm off. I had a bad case of the jitters, what ifs, but I tore right into it and the brushes feel like fingers that I've been missing.

Friday, June 18, 2010

My trip to the West Side Market


I'm going to start painting again. I haven't painted since 2000. I went to the West Side Market today and took a bunch of shots and this is my composite. I will start with the sketch, which could take me a week and then when the paint goes on sale at Hobby Lobby I will get the paint that I need. Last week the canvass and brushes were on sale and so I'm half way there. I cannot wait to paint again. It's been a long time.

The lady in the cheese box is right off the camera pasted from another shot. The two ladies in discussion were pasted the rest was a single photo.

The canvas is 48"X36" so it is going to be pretty large.

I am so happy, I can't wait.

Mary Hogan

Monday, August 17, 2009

September 12th Washington DC

I spoke with a member of the local Tea Party this morning. The buses are getting filled, the people are demanding to be heard. According to the person I spoke too, our area alone has almost 600 people signed up and ready to go. That amazes me.

The times they are a changing. Bob Dylan

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance wont come again
And dont speak too soon
For the wheels still in spin
And theres no tellin who
That its namin.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Dont stand in the doorway
Dont block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
Theres a battle outside
And it is ragin.
Itll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin.

Now I know full well that Bob Dylan was immersed in Communist dictation, but isn't it ironic that those protesters are now heading towards Medicare?

I was never a war protester, I never joined the lemming crowd of my day in the late 60's, and now here I stand anxious for September the 12th, 2009 and a march on Washington. A gray haired rebellion is so much more intellectual than the hormones of youth. Freedom is so much more beautiful than personal pride and arrogance.

We, the regular Joes have been shaking the windows and doors of Congressional obfuscation. We've recognized that our Congress has gotten it into their head that they are our mental superiors. How erroneous is that? The Pelosi's, the Boxer's, the Dodds, the Kay Bailey Hutchinsons, and the Lindsey Grahams are on the threshold of the wake up call from hell. Hell being a place where their ego and ignorance can no longer be denied.

America is far more powerful than these crafters of agenda ever imagined. Soros thinks he is so able and intelligent that he can manipulate everything. Well, George, your goose is cooked, your sugar daddy is sick of ya, and your mouthpieces CNN MSNBC ABC CBS and the like have so much egg on their faces, that they look like a cow pie omelet.

I am so proud of my fellow Americans. You are even greater than I ever in my life imagined.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Cutting The Grass On A Summer Day

Today was what I call an all American summer day. I heard children laughing and yelling and having a great time. Traveling clouds left ever-changing dapples of sun and shade on the lawn. Ice cream would be so tasty if I hadn't abused it a few weeks ago.

Had to cut the grass and I actually enjoyed it, well most of it. I have about an hour left hopefully to complete on Sunday.

Since my old cats died one last year and her mother two years ago (17 & 16) the rabbits are proliferating, and so when I cut I have to be very careful because they dart in front of me. My coreopsis moonbeam, that I have cherished for years ended up a delectable salad for the bunnies.

My garden is doing well. Fiddling with zucchini stifles zucchini production.

There's a farmer that sells fresh corn at the gas station and it is juicy and fresh. I missed when cutting off a stem, whacked the ear and squirted corn juice all over the kitchen. What I'm learning these days with Rav Hirsch is about the time before the "flood" and how there was only one season, springtime according to the sages. The blossom's just kept blossoming, wow. Can you imagine the fragrance in the air? Can you imagine these fresh vegetables any time you want them, in Ohio?

My bread is fresh out of the oven and the house smells wonderful. I make the dough in the bread maker, then braid it and let it rise in the oven. Today I made a mistake. I put all the ingredients in including the warm eggs, but I forgot the oil and water. I went to check it at 1 hour and it was crumbly flour. I decided to throw the water in, and extra packet of yeast and start the process all over. It rose, and looks marvelous, but I don't know what the texture and taste will be. Luckily I like the taste of yeast.

The yellow lab looks like one of those dogs you see flat out on the porch. He's just lounging, the old schnauzer looks as if she is trying to figure out if its time to eat again. She gives me these looks, but it isn't time. I fed them a little early because of the grass.

All in all, right now I'm enjoying every single moment of this day. Don't feel politically motivated at all. I just feel like American enjoying America.

Well, that's it for today. I don't write after sunset until Sunday. I'll probably go peeping around Twitter and then sweep the floor.

Have a great American Weekend all!

Friday, July 24, 2009

I'll be back Sunday

I'm listening to the motorcycles going to and fro on the roadways. It's a summer sound. Today when I cut the grass I smelled a weed that reminded me of my childhood. Its a flower that smells like my first bottle of little girl perfume from the dime store.

Mowing was glorious. It was an impeccable day here and now it looks like a golf course. I sure love it.

I don't really expect anyone to put anything in the donation box, but it reminds me of when I used to play guitar on the streets of Manhattan. I could be totally broke, whip open the guitar case and get enough money for a fabulous dinner at Mamoons Falafel.

Has anyone ever told you all that you are amazing Americans? I'm proud to be a part of Twitter.

I can't remember who said it today, I don't think I put it on Favs of the week, but someone said they had been in Tennessee where they never heard of Tea Parties. Maybe I'll try to change that a wee bit next week.

Until Sunday, Shabbat shalom.

MH