It's been awhile

HI everybody

It's been awhile since I last posted. I finally finished my last painting of my mountain biker series. It's a nice composition;  the train of bikers with the foliage. It's also the largest of the three and took longer than the others.
The dark season has arrived so I need to appreciate that instead of getting depressed by it. Today was so dark and slippery that I didn't even venture outside and it is the warmest day we are going to have all week! So I am a bit depressed but hopefully that will come and go and not dwell within for long.
I have been feeling pretty well lately and almost feel normal again.  After all I have been through, I wonder what normal is. I guess it is when your brain works pretty well, your energy level is good, and your attitude is good.
Peace, Mary

Short and Fat Bikers 2 , pastel, 13 x 21.5, © Mary McHugh 2010

Mid October Saturday

Another fine day at home. I finished up the painting below last weekend and am trying to come up with a good title. 

 Short and Fat Bikers, pastel, 10 x 14.5, © Mary McHugh 2010

Busy month

Hi! I have been really busy this month with my teaching job and helping with the CC team. At night I usually have papers to correct and not much time to paint but have almost finished another mountain biker piece and will post it soon!

Some new paintings, some old

I am back working at school now and helping coach so am enjoying this beautiful Saturday at home resting from the busy week. This is my most recent painting of last year's Fat Tire race near Telemark. I did a demo at Firefly in August and this was what I worked on. Fun to paint! It is the first of a series.  I have two more mountain bike paintings in the works.

'Tall and Slim', pastel, 4 x 11.5, ©Mary McHugh 2010

               'Ruth's Big Garden', pastel, 21 x 14, ©Mary McHugh 2010

I can finally post this painting that I have been working on for the past month. It is a surprise birthday present from my friend Renee to her mother Ruth, an extraordinary gardener. Today is her birthday and the painting will be revealed!

               'Ruth's garden' , pastel, 15 x 12.5, ©Mary McHugh 2008

Here is another commissioned piece of Ruth's lovely garden on Lake Namakagon. The back lighting on the trees and the  gazebo are my favorite features.

                       'Poppy Field in Spain', pastel, 9 x 6, © Mary McHugh 1991

My friend Cathy lived in Spain a few years back and I did this painting for her of one of her favorite sights in Spain, the colorful poppies. She visited recently and brought the painting along so I could take a digital image of it. Thanks Cathy!

        

August is winding down!

I know it seems like I haven't been making time for art lately, but I will post new work soon!! I promise!  The big piece is finished and I also did a little 4 x 11.5 painting at the demo last Sunday which is pretty sweet. School starts soon, plus I am helping with the CC team so free time will be limited. That is when those little 15-30 minute sessions will somehow get me through!

Art Crawl in Cable this weekend

This weekend is the first annual art crawl in town, sponsored by our local arts organization. I will be giving a demo tomorrow at Firefly at noon.  I have been working on a large painting that is almost finished and will post it soon I hope.

Our 20th anniversary is today!

                          'Beach day', pastel, 10 x 10, ©Mary McHugh 2010

Finished this today for the Dog Days of Summer show at Firefly. It's of the kids at the beach last summer, probably after play practice.
All done with radiation and also have been married 20 years today! Lots to celebrate. We drove up the north shore yesterday and saw the sights. The tall ships were leaving Duluth and it was pretty cool to be near the shore.