Strip-tease

Emphasis on tease.  Stripping the wallpaper border is on-going.  I feel it taunting me.  So ignoring the last wall behind the heaviest furniture, I am moving forward with some of the painting.  The ceiling has one and a half coats but I have to run for more paint today.  And I plan to paint the other walls before moving out the heavy stuff.  Then maybe inspired by the progress, I can power through the last wall.  We still may have to sleep a couple of nights in the guestroom. 

Yesterday our power was out (from about 4:30 to 10:30pm) and the 112 degree heat gave us a run for our money.  I was glad I hadn't worn myself out earlier because we had to laze about like lizards in the heat. I did use some of the time to read some more in Richard McKinley's book Pastel Pointers.  Have to say it is the most comprehensive resource I have yet found on pastel art.  It covers materials, technique, plein aire, traveling with supplies, marketing, you-name-it.  Makes me itch to get back in the saddle again.
 
Meanwhile it's back to the necessary chores.  Pick up paint. Run to Costco. Let's get this room done.  Then maybe some new furniture?  Hmmmmm....

MIA

Seems I've been gone too long.  I am trying to get my house in order, literally.  Art is at a standstill while I try to get some things caught up around the house.  I have been wanting to repaint my bedroom, which involves removing an ancient Victorian-inspired (blech!) wallpaper border.  What was I thinking in the early nineties?  And now I have the tools which worked so well at my son's house in Gilbert.  Not so much here.  One hour later, I had removed exactly 4 ft. of border. At this rate I will have the border down in a couple of months.  I am currently trying to figure out how to get my steamer appliance up high enough to steam the paper loose.  I want the whole room done before leaving on vacation in August.

Art-wise, I had forgotten about the pastel show at the Drawing Studio.  All of the pastel class students received an invite to submit a piece for a show (and potential sale) in June.  I read the email and chose to formally frame rather than simply informally matt the piece as I thought it would travel better.  When I emailed for more details to make sure I priced it to cover the framing cost after the Studio's commission, I was told they were only hanging matted work to keep the show uniform.  Why didn't someone figure that out before sending the original email?  I was disappointed and didn't have anything else I wanted to show or the time to matt another piece.  So I missed the opportunity to participate.  Bummer!