To everything, TURN, TURN, TURN....

It has officially been 1 month since I started this painting. This Large painting! Although, I am enjoying it tremendously, it has somewhat become my "kitchen remodel". This meaning, that once I paint one detail, I realize that I need to add another one or fix something else to have it look right. It's a necessary cycle. I've taken several "breaks" from this one and have often woken up in the morning to work on it, only to find that I have drank a pot of tea and all I've done is sit and stare at it. I've been stuck. I've made some breakthroughs. I've been utterly annoyed, I've walked away, and yet have completely found joy with it all.
"A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing"

For the past week I've only been working on this guy (no other littles). I tell you this, because I've had a few people ask when I'm going to post again. And, since I suffer from ADD..(see ADD flare)
I have decided NOT to intermix the little paintings for now, and I'm going to spend this whole next week finishing it!

This painting was the kick off start to me getting back into painting again after 20 years away. I sketched it out 6 months ago, (6 MONTHS AGO!) during the goldfish's nap.....the next thing you know I'm on Craigslist buying an easel and down $200 in art supplies.....(this number might be greatly deflated).

I'm very excited to TURN this thing around soon! Because I do think it's getting close.

In the meantime, here is a couple little snippets off my "kitchen remodel".

It is the season. 

Turn, Turn, Turn. 

-Cheree 

On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, Plunge right through that line!

Every time I take a trip to see my in-laws, I make the peacock take me to the UW campus and State Street in Madison, WI.
Why you ask?
I like my in-laws, I didn't go to school there.

It's all because it is F ing awesome. I really can't get enough of State street and the qwirky little shops. But, Memorial Terrace (can we go to the place with all the colored chairs) is my favorite. I really can't explain as to why. I just really like the whole atmosphere. I kinda want to go be 22 again and be a UW hipster. (Actually, I really just want to be a hipster).

Oh, and I forgot to mention, The Chairs. The CHAIRS!  The wonderful colored chairs. All the chairs appear to be having the time of their life, conversing, hipstering, living the life of a social butterfly, independently wealthy professional students.

I want to be a UW chair........

"So, I told Sam, I'm totally done just sitting here and listening to bullshit. I mean, it's time for me to move on." -Yellow chair
"Word, I know what you mean, moving on over was the best thing for me. I mean I was somewhat forced to move, like dragged, but still, it was the best move ever." -Orange chair

On the Terrace (2015) Madison, WI

Watercolor Journal 

"Tomorrow, I'm totally gonna do it. I'm totally gonna jump in the lake.....like naked this time. It's gonna be awesome!" -Yellow chair
"You totally should." -Green chair
"I know, it'll be all #cannonball #terracechairstyle #chairsaway #sittindippin......

Overlooking the Lake (2015) Madison, WI

Watercolor Journal 

#chairishthemoment, #chairiobeaches

#cheree

The Queen- A semi self portrait (Ok, self portrait)

Ok, so this just might be a self portrait in a sense of how I act at the ballpark. Not so much at Coors field (Ok, maybe a little at Coors), but mostly at my son's games. I can't really help it though, sometimes baseball requires a royal intervention.

And here's a story as to why.

A few weeks back my son's team, the Stars, had made it into the semi finals for their machine pitch 8 and under league. Not an easy feat. For months I have been taking him to practice & watching, not only him, but the other 6-8year olds working on their game with dreams of making it in the Major leagues one day. Those who shuffle kids to sports know the sacrifice it takes to get them there and ALL the investment.

Now here's where I get pissed...."off with your head pissed!"

My son's team played this team we will call....."Win at all costs" or WAAC for short. (Because that's what it was, WAAC, ass, crazy). WAAC played 2 pitchers, & 3, YES 3 extra outfielders.....now WTF comes to mind, I know, because that's what all of us parents & coaches said. But heaven forbid some kids have to sit on the bench....
WTF are we doing to our children?!?!? I mean really. This is a tournament baseball league! This is baseball! What really are you teaching them? Baseball is F ing hard. It's best to learn that now. Oh, and news flash, Life is hard and, there are people on the bench and people working hard, really F ing hard.

Just writing this makes my blood boil. Our coaches asked the other team to play fair with 9 on 9. They did not. "Off With YOUR HEAD!" So our team played 9 on 13. The peacock, of course,  went ape shit over the fairness of this game (was threatened to be kicked out for questioning the fairness of WAAC) & how can all these adults think this is an okay way to teach children sportsmanship & the game of baseball? How can all these parents watch little kids be treated so unfairly. I mean you're keeping score, counting 3 outs, counting 3 strikes, but play 13 players...that makes no sense. In fact it is nonsense. NONSENSE! Anyway, we were ahead until the last inning. We lost in the last inning by 2 runs. Life isn't fair & sometimes people cheat & win. Sometimes you play against a stacked deck. And you battle hard, only to come up frustrated and short. But eventually....eventually, I know David beats Goliath, it's either that or its off with their heads. Which ever comes first.

Off with their heads (Coors field) (2015)

Acrylic on canvas 6x6

Wonderland Denver 

I'm pretty sure my son is already over this, for me, well........... 
" I warn you, child... if I lose my temper, you lose your head! Understand?" -Queen of Hearts

-Cheree