Odds and Ends

Just a note to let you know I'm still being busy with things in process.  

Rink outside wall:  I had to repaint a gallon of paint as one of the gallons wasn't the right color, slightly darker, so that had to be redone.
Portraits:  I started on one of two portraits that have been commissioned and worked on it twice so far.  It takes twice as long to paint a portrait from a photo than it does from life.  I worked with Mark Hayden on Thursday and I also attended the Haverhill Art Association, twice a month, portrait painting session last Saturday and did a fair job.  I've been away from portraits for a while and I'm feeling very rusty.
Volunteer:  I've done some art association volunteering lately. I like doing that.
Demo:  Today I'll go to the Buttonwoods Museum for a demo by Allan Bull.
Big Mural Project:  I'm busy purchasing supplies and equipment and designing the mural.  I got a fair start yesterday on the drawing (working on scale on paper not on the actual wall)  but it will take a while.  Along with the design and composition aspect, working in a different medium (airbrush and spray guns) the process or procedure is different and will take some planning.  Stencils have to be made for some other areas of the rink as well as some for this wall, and the layering aspect is something that takes thought.  I had a phone conversation with the famous mural artist, Jody Barrio, I can't believe he called me in response to an email I sent and talked about equipment, etc.  He is totally amazing!
Teaching:  I'm still working with a student who is coming along very well and she makes me shift gears to think about other aspects of painting.
Small works:  I've painted two small flower paintings, both 8x8".  One is a field of hollyhocks, I like hollyhocks.
Magazines:  Of course, I've read a lot as usual.  I spend a lot of time either reading books, magazines or things on-line about art, and watching videos to learn more about airbrush and airbrush equipment.
Time:  When I do get started painting the mural, it will be during the night.  I'm not looking forward to cleaning up after a long night of painting, where you have to take the equipment outside and hose it down, etc.  It makes a huge mess.  It's getting cold outside now in the mornings.

I'll work on this one again tomorrow.

Wild Hollyhocks in a Field

Rink Walls

Here are pictures of the rink improvements I've done over the past couple of weeks.  

The men's and ladies' rooms were painted as well a light gray with dark gray trim.

Front wall being scraped, wire brushed and primed and weeded.

Front wall final paint job.

Taken from other end, sun was too strong.

Street side inside wall, before.  Light purple mountains were done over
and horizon line moved down and changed to a different green color.

Same wall as above-redesigned blue mountains.  Blacklight and iridescent paint to be added later.

Back side inside wall, before.  Wood was added to existing wall mural because of breaks in plaster.  

Same wall as above-background blue painted over all except extreme top area.
Gold Medal Skater Cliff  helped--pictured with me.

 Marc refinished the main floor and the ladies, mens, snack bar, and skateroom floors.  New stalls were added to the bathrooms and a beautiful black granite countertop with silver faucets was installed in the ladies room.  Next, new showcases for the sales area and always more new sound and lighting.

Rink renovation, murals, etc.

It's now close to the end of our 2-week renovation where the floor is resurfaced and lots of other things are done, things that take time and cannot be accomplished during the regular weekly schedule of public and private sessions.  I've been putting in very long days, you have no idea, but proof of this is that I just fell asleep in front of my computer.!!
Tomorrow night we re-open but there is plenty more to do.  I'll post pictures over the weekend when I have a little time.