Pajaro de amarilla

Fin de semana

Sway
11 x 30 watercolor by Lorraine Bromley

Friday, the end of my first week. These little ants are driving me crazy, no-see-ums. I have been spraying the counters with windex, constantly. I am going to try bleach tomorrow. Open Market and then my mission to find bleach or chlorox in Cuidad Colon.

Started another painting today of a vine with curly tentrils. This one again is green, I am going to find some other color to put in it tomorrow. I am making some progress, with my work. Four 11x 30 almost finished.

Went shopping with Francisco late today, looking for a new pool lounge chair that he was supposed to have bought last year with my donation. He chatted in his "span-glish" I call it, a language all its own, but I can understand it. We looked around and priced them, and I assume he will pick up one we decided on this weekend sometime. Came back to colony and still no water to wash, flush or cook with, I don't know what the problemo was, but about 7 pm I got use of water again. Need to read my book and sleep.

Dinner tonight, chicken again for the fourth night this week, avocado and focaccia. Those nasty little buggers got at the rest of focaccia tonight, had to throw it out. buenas noches

Mi dedo del pie la anillo!

My new toe ring!

Fiesta

Paaartay...potluck @ my studio tonight 6:00pm, be there, don't be square. Salads, fruita mesa, layered guacamole dip, focaccia, ratatoiulle, wine and a birthday cake for Avery (he turned 70?)

The artists @ colony, Kirsten, Vivian, Katherine, Shelley, Roxy, Patricia and me. Between the artists and the residents in colony, (Bernarda & Isabella in picture) fourteen people, including Adela, and Isabella, delightful little girls living with their parents here and of course Forrest, the big old lab and two gigantic toads. The biggest toads I have ever seen, size of two hands put together, They hopped up to the door by the pool and the girls screamed. It was someone's prince I am sure of it! My, oh my, it is very windy tonight, hope I don't lose electricity again, better get this uploaded.

Email from Susan today, an artist I met a couple years ago here is coming down to CR soon. Will be great to spend creative time with her again.

Started another painting again today outside with Patricia, was able to help her out again on computer questions too. So nice to paint with her, she is working on a large piece approx 70 x 40 watercolor outside. I can only handle a 22 x 30. I will have to gradually work my way to that size. Yikes! I only started another 11 x 30 piece, the light coming through these huge leaves captured my eyes today, Most likely bugs have eaten the leaves or a fungus, but they were glistening in the light like glitter and then the bamboo swaying in the background, catching light too, I thought it was striking and deserved to be painted. Another one not quite done yet.

Cal, hope you are feeling better tonight! Love you!

Tropical

"Banano Ornamental "
watercolor 11 x 30 by Lorraine Bromley

Great day painting outside all day. Took care of some computer work this morning and then took the rest of day to work on this recent painting, I do not think it is done yet, but pretty close to it. This is an ornamental banana plant, it is so dramatic, I used the color "opera" to achieve the dynamic banana shapes and some concentrated hycinth blue for the big bud. There are about six of these in bloom right now and more are blooming.

I have five butterflies in my studio today. They just want to live with me, I put them out then five more come in. I listened to some unusual bird calls but could not capture any with my camera. Late yesterday hummingbirds were around these flowers that I was paintings. They were just to fast to study.

Bernarda found in extra blender for me, made me very happy today so I can make frozen slushes for lunches. Avocados are awesome! Salads suberb. Found some wild cilantro on property for focaccia, having a pot luck dinner here at my studio tomorrow night. It is the biggest studio next to pool, so it will be a nice place to celebrate the December crew here at the colony. I am glad I brought my garlic press!!!!.

Talked to Cal, he has the cold I had last week. Poor thing! I can sympathize. I am wishing him comfort in his struggles this week. Love you!

Pura Vida!

Pura Vida...Costa Rican, "Tico" expression encompassing

well-being, positivity, and harmony

This is my studio this year...each area is on a different level, studio being two steps above dining area and kitchen a step done from dining area, bedrooms on either side of dining with separate bathrooms. Hey...can't believe it is Sunday already.Feeling pretty good today, painted all day outside with Patricia Forrester, we painted an unusual banana-like plant with wonderful colors of yellow, purples and pinks. Perfect for painting in watercolor. We lost electricity this morning for about 7 hours, no coffee, no toast. My gas stove was not working either. We all survived it, of course no problem, you just feel so incomm-unicado. It happens very often here in CR. Kirsten & Jorge, artists next door made me coffee this morning on their stove, had it outside by the pool.

I also gave Patricia a "skype lesson" on the computer, then after I skyped some friends and now just catching up on this blog, I think I will call it a day, I have to slow down. ;')

Nancy was kind enough to fix my necklace today, clasp broke, she lives here in CR on property and designs jewelry. It's perfecta! Muchos gracias!.

I have butterflys & dragonflys this year in my studio instead of geckos. Everyday another butterfly, how do they get in? Listening to NPR Radio in Boston on computer, it says it is 16 degrees, yikes, it is 72 here, no TV, just music, birds, and NPR.

Open Market Day

Took my morning walk to the open market, it is sunny, warm and feeling very lucky to be here. I noticed I bought "cultured milk" yesterday by mistake, it does not go well in coffee, so now I have a full pot of coffee I just can not drink without milk. I walked to town with Katherine, we made a deal, I would give her some olive oil and she would give me some milk. Well, I am getting better. Carlos just gave me a couple shots of what tasted like Anise, for my cough of course. I feel better already! Whewww. He told me that the cultured milk is very good to drink alone and good for your stomach, so I kept some and gave the rest to him, it was again an even deal.

I have decided that my first painting will be of this wonderful papaya tree right outside the door. I have two large papayas ripening on my counter right now, but I did buy a ripe one at the market, I was longing for the taste of one this morning. So on my to paint, after finishing up my "judges statement", (I feel so important today) for awards for EG Art Club Members Show. Now I can move on to what I love to do, paint.

Colony Revisited

I made it! Still trying to get rid of an annoying cough...settling though into this beautiful country. Little cloudy today, but so am I. The casita is very spacious and Carlos and Bernarda are collecting things I need here to make it comfortable for the next few months. An extra table, chairs and kitchen stuff. Carlos took me to do some grocery shopping. Bernarda took us to a new bakery in town, I bought a sweet bread, that weighs a ton. I will wait til tomorrow to taste it, I have no taste buds today from coughing. This afternoon I had a nice little coffee talk with others that are here now in colony, Patricia, Kirsten, Roxy, Katherine, Bernarda, more are arriving this weekend. I understand that a group from RISD will be here in January. How do you like that...go figure. So I have been puttering around today, not feeling up to par yet. But am getting excited about painting this weekend. Changing the furniture around to my liking today and will have to decorate a little too. Roxy will be giving us yoga classes soon, the open market in the morning will be a ritual on Saturdays.

Count Down

So, a couple more days and I will be set-up in CR for a long winter. Ready to paint, draw, create, explore, discover new patterns, immerse in the CR culture, and absorb the warmth. My checklist today is
Judge the EG Members Show
Put together bills
Laundry
Clean Window boxes for winter
Call NHP
Take care of ticket for car insurance
Take Hudson to speech therapy

Ready

I am feeling anxious about going to Costa Rica this year, leaving the new house and Cal, leaving Aja & little Hudson during a difficult time, away from friends and the holidays, packing everything I think I need, worrying about M&D in FL. mmmm Another week I will be in Cuidad Colon, Costa Rica. Hudson will be four Dec15th, gee where did the time go. I quess I am feeling a bit quilty about going, leaving RI, escaping from daily tasks and responsibilities. What am I doing? That warm weather mmmm will make the arthritis feel better though and maybe this cough will go away. to be continued

Bamboo and Wind
watercolor
31 x 39

The Art League of Rhode Island Members Show
Bristol Art Museum
October 24th-November 16th, 2008

Home Sweet Home

Boxes, boxes, and more boxes...I see some space. Good thing we have an attic. Much smaller with furniture in it...but feels cozy. It's becoming a nice little place, but takes time to let things find there place here, I have tried so many different things on walls and furniture in different places. Maybe another month I might have it all figured out, then I'll change it again. So much to do, fix the leaks in shower stall...paint the hutch white, find a smaller dinner table, get rid of one leather chair, bolt small cabinets over my desk area, decide on kitchen floor and wall color. I am off to hang curtains.

Monhegan Island, Maine, USA

Just returned from Monhegan Island, Maine, an enchanting island off the coast of Maine. Rocky coasts, quaint cottages, beautiful sunsets, lobsters, artists and me. I painted everyday with friends, Susan, Madeline, Mike, Jeanne, and Anne.
www.lorrainebromley.smugmug.com

Updates

Photographs: www.lorrainebromley.smugmug.com

Honorable Mention Award
Beach Treasure, a watercolor
Art of the Ocean State
Wickford Art Association

Painting in Garden
Wickford in Bloom Walking Tour
Saturday, July 19th, 2008 11-3

Artists along Main Street
East Greenwich Main Street Stroll
Simon Says Cafe
July 11th, 2008 5-8

Exhibits
July 9th-August 2, 2008, Beach Rose Cafe
July 11th-August 2, 2008, Simon Says Cafe
July 1- July 25, 2008 "Art of the Ocean State", Wickford Art Association
July 3-25th, 2008 "Out of the Blue", Attleboro Art Museum


Classes
Friday Morning Watercolor
Suite 208 Shady Lea Art Complex
North Kingstown, RI

Workshops
February 13-28, 2009
New Inspirations in Watercolor
Cuidad Colon, Costa Rica

Others TBA
Monets Garden. France
Colors of Greece, Crete, GR
Provence in Summer, France
Wickord Watercolor, RI, USA

Press Release

Violet Roots

watercolor by Lorraine Bromley
Also, more news, I am so excited to have become a member of the Art Legue of RI (ALRI), and in the very good company of wonderful artists in this area. I received my letter of acceptance this week and I look forward to their exhibits and community activities of this well received group. Bristol Art Museum, ALRI Members Show, October, 2008 www.artleagueri.org

Acceptance in Attleboro Museum's 35th Anniversary show "Out of the Blue", a national juried show, where over 800 entries and 108 were chosen, Violet Roots, (watercolor shown here), will be on exhibit there July 3rd-July 25th. www.attleboromuseum.org

Art Workshop: New Inspirations in Costa Rica

Watercolor Workshop
Date: February 13-28th, 2009

This will be my 3rd year painting in Costa Rica. I would love to share it and show you the wonders of this beautiful Central American country. I paint in watercolor, use photography as a reference tool and love to draw with markers, colored pencils and experiment with mixed media. My art is influenced by the rolling patchwork fields, flora and fauna inhabiting this magical landscape in of Costa Rica. It's the colors, the weather, the peacefulness, the air is sweet and soft. The various climates of the rainforests, the jungles, the beach, city, country, farms and waterfalls give me so much inspiration to paint. Join me next year and experience Costa Rica with me.

Cost: $1100.00

10 day workshop includes workshop, accommodations, breakfast, welcome dinner, Farewell Dinner, transportation for workshop travel.

Each day there will be a focus for painting inspiration, art journaling assignment and demonstrations, critiques, studio tour, museum visit, an overnight weekend in another part of country with experienced tour guide.

Not included

RT Air Fare (BOS-SJO)
Entrance fees to selected sites
Some Meals

Interested artists should email me at lorrainedesigns@cox.net

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

Just passing through

I did not want to leave CR....I am quilty, yes. I have not been journaling, I do not know why. I keep forgetting actually. Right now I can not sleep, it is 12:30am and I am at my Mom & Dad's house in Florida. Flight was not bad at all, just feels like a wasted day. I did some drawing with all the waiting for planes, in the restaurant, and looking at rivers and farmland from up in the plane, so I quess it was not wasted. I doodled with some pencil designs on my new square banana paper.

I plan on doing more doodling here in Florida with Hudson Jai. Alot of swimming too, I hope and playing. We are going to play the whole week. I can't wait. Coloring and playing and playing some more, and maybe play even more. We have toy trucks and a make believe roadway and coloring books, crayons, puzzles here at great-grandmas casa and we will practice our spanish too. Maybe he will teach me some.

A Day of Rest

No Way. Cal has left early this morning, of course in kind of a rush, couldn't find his colones, he forgot his medicines. And he did not want to leave so soon, felt like he just got here. Especially after being so sick on the first part of his trip here. Well we will be back next year for sure. He got a taste of CR and we had a really nice time considering everything. We went to Essentia Restaurant (my favorite right now) for a romantic dinner, went to open markets, explored & walked the property trails, did some work too (very little).

Now I am off to the Pacific again for a catamaran boat adventure. Chantal, who lives here and I are driving to the shore and hoping on a catamarn for the half day tour, snorkeling, beach and lunch and be back at colony in early afternoon. Oh boy more pictures. Gotta run...