105 and Bone Dry...No Party. But..Challenging Challenges

I tried to get a party blog together, but the weather has slowed me down to a snail's pace...and a lot of my files are on my other computer at my son's in Houston. It has been 105 for about 2 weeks, and no rain. The shack has no air=conditioning and at 8:00 it is still over 100 in there. Crud.

Anyway...I have been painting out under the trees and catching up with the art challenges.
Michelle Burnett's "Following the Masters" invited artists to pick a piece by Maxfield Parrish and submit their rendition. Being the wishy-washy bozo that I am...I couldn't make up my mind. So I picked two. The one above is entitled "The Canyon" and was painted in 1924. I provided a copy of the actual painting at the top so you can see what a truly marvelous artist he was.

Once again, I have provided the actual work at the top, and my rendition below it. This one is entitled "Stars". Growing up in Houston, my Grandmother had a large 2 story house that Stephen King could write a dozen novels about. "Ma" had pictures all over the place, but one of her favorites was Maxfield Parrish, and this painting was one she had displayed in her bedroom. I was in love with this woman. I remained in love with this woman until Judy Garland came along and shamelessly stole my heart and left it somewhere over the rainbow. Throughout the next half century or so, I have maintained my admiration for Maxfield Parrish. A truly magnificent artist.



Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks Challenge was from a photo of a woman rowing a rowboat across a very calm Lake Michigan. I found that as exciting as these ants chewing on my Little Debbie Oatmeal Cre.... WHAAAA!!! Oh well...I wasn't that hungry anyway. Needless to say, I added something. At the risk of showing my age, I put Cecil in there, from the old Beanie and Cecil cartoons of 1962. Don't worry, Cecil won't munch down. He might ask her where her life jacket is.



And finally, this is the first of my renditions for Windows to the Words July Art Challenge. The little fellow pictured is Roscoe Parker....a Blue Lacy, which is the national dog of Texas. Roscoe belongs to Dena Wenmohs, artist and owner of the famed "Bunkhouse Gallery, Studio, Workshop and B & B in Cypress Mill, Texas. I am trying to get together a "Texas Paint-Out" there in August, so you will be hearing more about that. Click HERE for information.

The Bunkhouse Gallery and Artist Retreat
Cypress Mill, Texas

Thought for the Blog: Some folks I know are waiting at the airport when their ship comes in.