Wet Paint - One Step at a Time!

Wow, where to start to talk about the last month!  First off, the workshops were phenomenal!   I wasn't able to make it to the Helper Workshop which I was so sad about, but I heard from many that it was a blast (just as I figured!  ugh!  I knew I was missing out!)  Got some great feedback from some students.  In fact, Vern Schwarz wrote a great blog about his Helper experience which you should check out . . . as soon as you're done reading mine, of course, and Jordan Wright, a student from Utah State University said it was the best decision he'd ever made.  "I learned more from him in one week than I have in over a year in college studying painting!"  One thing that Jordan said that everyone really agreed on was the fact that Doug is so willing to give you his entire process, "step by step, beginning to end, without holding anything back."  He posted some great paintings on his blog from the workshop, including a great value study of an alley in Helper.  The students loved watching the demonstration paintings.  Here are some of the finished demo paintings, some of which you will see the "process" pictures of!  

Oh, just a side note, when Doug sent me these images, of course, he had to title them before he could save them . . . so yes, he has come up with some very clever names for these . . let's start with the first one.  "Demo 1" hmmm, whadaya think?  Got a nice ring to it, doesn't it?  I'm tellin' ya, the man's got a gift for namin' paintings!  The guy's a walking thesaurus.  

Okay okay, I know most of you support Doug in this, just like you all supported the ugly t-shirts, and, yes, his gift of painting far outweighs his gift of "titling" so . . . I'm going to let these names slide.  This time.     

"Demo 1"

9x12

 Sand Creek Road just outside of Torrey.  I would have named this flowering something or other.  

"Demo 2"

8x10

Boulder Mountain meadow.  Gotta love these quakies.  In the fall, the colors are absolutely breathtaking.  If you haven't been to Boulder Mountain, seriously worth a trip!!

"Demo 3"

8x10

Hillside outside of Helper

"Demo 4"

8x10

On the mountain between Boulder and Torrey - more on the Boulder side.  The clouds were constantly changing.  Got some great shots of Doug working the sky.  He makes it look so easy.  But it's not!  Trust me.  I know.  

"Demo 5"

8x10

Outskirts of Teasdale I believe - I missed this one.  Again, love how he captures the heat of the day.  

"Demo 6"

8x10

House in Teasdale.  Anybody home??  And the rocks, yeah, how do you get them to look like that? 

"Demo 8"

8x10

Vern posted this one on his blog, at midpoint I believe.  

Okay - so I did make it down to the Torrey workshop and guess what??  I actually did a painting one morning!!  The students asked if I painted.  I said NO!  Never had a paintbrush in my hand.  So they kept on me until I consented to paint the next morning.  So with easel set up and brush in hand, I attempted to paint a red rock and a tree!  Doug seriously makes it look so easy but it's not!  To all of you painters out there from all of us non-painters, I drop my messy paintbrush at your feet and grovel!  

Jeanette's First Painting

8x10

Yeah well, it was fun anyway!!  If there are any strokes in this painting that look like Doug's confident strokes, they probably are!  It needed help and he came to my rescue!  

Okay - so let's go back to the meadow where I spread out the red checkered blanket.  The meadow was beautiful and peaceful.  There were hawks in the distance that were not very happy about us invading their space!   

Doug started the demo painting with the dark purple "wash" that generally kinda freaks people out and then proceeds to "draw" the painting out with such tools as q-tips or a paper towel!  This is where he puts in the values of the painting.  The lighter areas, the darker areas.  It's a great exercise.

After he got the painting "drawn" in, he then talked about the two different kinds of color matching--the first being "absolute color" which is matching the paint to the subject, i.e. tree, sky or grass.  The students below are color-matching the paint on their pallet knife with the subject.

The other type of matching is "relative color" looking at what's on your painting already and see if tree next to it is lighter or darker, relatively speaking!  You're seeing here that I'm truly understanding the concept, right?!!  So below is a series of the painting "Demo 7" (clever), going from the "drawing" stage to the signature at the end!

Final Painting

"Demo 7"

8x10

Finished and signed.  Doug B.  

So many things intrigued me, especially after I attempted to paint.  Everything from the soft edges, to the clouds, to the trees.  Doug explained, on my "painting" I'll use that term loosely that I was trying to paint the sage brush individually, rather than looking for "shapes" or "blocks" or color.  He used that same comparison in painting the pine trees or sections of grass.  I realized we see much less detail than we think we do.  

Hope you enjoyed the process paintings . . . I have more!  I will do another one next week.  I will also have more workshop pictures on our website along with links to Vern's and Jordan's blogs!   

Oh, and on a final note, when I asked about the "brown" color, I was kindly "educated" that "there is no such color as brown!"  Pffff!!  Whatever!!  I'm certain there is a brown crayon in my crayola box . . . just sayin . . . 

Big BIG thanks to the students this summer!  It was fabulous to meet you!!  I am looking forward to meeting more students in September as there is one more workshop in Helper!  September 27 - October 2.  #good.times.in.helper!! Below are some more pictures from the workshops!  

Thanks for your patience in waiting for this blog - my apologies!  

Warmest regards,

J'net

Spring has sprung . . . and awful t-shirts!!

Yea!  Spring has sprung!  It went from 30 to 85 degrees in zero to sixty seconds!  okay I'm exaggerating just a little!  But seriously, I had about decided that Mother Nature was suffering from a bad case of "old timers" disease and didn't know which season it was.  The garden is in and Doug is kicking out some serious wet paint, while fighting the urge to pull weeds out of the garden, plant flowers and try for 3 "even par" games in a row!  which he ALMOST did  . . damn bogey on that last hole!!  

First painting here is, of course, not titled, so we're going to call it "Untitled Something or Other" for now!  Yes, we'll take suggestions!  Untitled or not, this painting rocks!  rocks . . . hahah sometimes I just really crack myself up!  yeah, well anyway . . .  I went over to the studio the other day--it had been a few days--and, WHOA, these three paintings were all lined up so I said "I'll take all three this week!!"  I think the first two are Southern Utah and the last one, up in the valley.   

"Untitled Something or Other"

8 x 10

He's getting very excited to get back down south to paint this country again.  If you've been debating whether to take a workshop, seriously, jump on the Torrey band wagon and come on down!  There are a couple of spots left!  It's a short 3-day workshop with the weekend and Cathy has arranged for rooms for $50/night and she's kicking in dinner for 2 of the 3 nights!!  And I'm coming down on Friday to bring fun!!  Helper Workshop starts Monday!!   

Okay - onto more wet paint . . Pine Creek Pass is the next painting - again, just wanna drop my feet in the creek bed.  Love the colors and the way the light plays on the rocks.  This is a small study done for a larger painting that will be up and coming for his Boulder Show in September and it's already been started.  It's going to be an amazing painting.  It's going to be a 30x40.  mmm mmm mmm!!  

"Pine Creek Pass"

10 x 8

The last one was done with the famous group of northern utah plein air painters!  They go out on Wednesdays and Doug loves being part of this group!  This is Pineview Reservoir up in the valley, another one of Doug's favorite places to paint.  

"Pineview Study"

8 x 10

Okay one last thought - I've been doing some spring cleaning and I've cleaned out our closet.  I need your help here - but Doug has umpteen "painting" t-shirts that to me, have crossed the line of being able to be called an article of clothing.  period.  (umpteen, by the way, is a number that is equivalent to "too many" just so you know).   I mean, these are shirts that have so much paint on them, they don't BEND!!  And they are so worn, they have holes under the arms, the ribbing around the neck is worn out and you have ragged edges.  I would be fine if he just painted in them, but he goes out into public!  My Grandma would have said "lard, sonny, you look like a rag muffin!  I try to toss them into the rag drawer, but he pulls them out and says "Hon, this is my favorite painting shirt!"  Are you with me here???  

Soooooo, here's where I need your help here . . . IF you see Doug sometime and his shirt appears to be on it's last leg, first, look down at the shirt, give an "eeewwww, that shirt is gross" kind've look, then please drop me a note and give me a brief description and I will, in a most gentle and kind way, RIP that sucker to shreds and make it unrecognizable!!  that will be great fun as well . . .

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!  (and an awful shirt off of Dougs!)   

Make it a great week!  

Will be doing a "painting process" blog in a couple of weeks - I'm going to Torrey to tag along and ask questions and take pictures!  Oh, this is going to be soooo much fun!!  Doug is going to LOVE having me along!!  mwahahahaha . . . yes, that is an evil laugh!

 Till then!!  

J'net

Man vs. Machine - Wet Paint!

It's been a crazy week and Doug and I are running in two different directions!  I am in Albuquerque with my work and Doug is in Midway teaching a class!!  We are hoping that our kids are being well taken-care of . . . hmmmm we just hope they are taking care of themselves and not requiring the assistance of dozens of neighborhood friends to hold the fort down!!  Anyone . . . anyone . . . check on them, will ya?  They're great kids - not worried! 

This week's "wet paint" is another great subject matter - now anyone wanna guess?  Hmmm, not anything he's done before.

Nope, no trees.  good guess tho.
No cars either.
No stoplights, but there is a light in it . . .
Other guesses???
Nope, no cows, or animals of any kind.  There is a man with a hat tho .  .
No water, no clouds - it's not plein air!  It's sort've a "steel" life!

I know, what else does the Braithwaite paint?? 

Well, if you guess the inside of a brewery, you were spot on!!  I'm certain a few of you guessed that, right?

"Man vs. Machine"

14x16

This is the inside of Uintah Brewery in Salt Lake City.  Seriously, who woulda thought the inside of the brewery would make such a cool painting?  Well, not me!!  But this is pretty dang cool.  

Made it home from Albuquerque and attended the 300 Plates Show in Salt Lake.  What a fun event!  They are making it better every year - very organized and structured.  Saw many of you there and it was great to chat with you!  Thanks to my sweet sister, Patrice (Rodeo Queen 1968 haha), for going with me!  Doug was still teaching his class but did make it down on Friday to attend the "Untitled" show at the Rio!  We also slipped over to Williams Fine Art to see an amazing show by Erin Westenskow Berrett and David Meikle!  Phenomenal!!  Thumbs up, Erin and David!  

The house was still standing when I arrived home so, thanks boys, for holding the fort down!  Was able to wrestle a couple of "demos" out of Doug that he did for his plein air workshop in Midway.  Always looking for an opportunity to wrestle!!    

"Back Yard in Midway"

8 x 10

"Mountain Side Near Willard"

8 x 10

Love the wet gooey paint here . . . I could SOOO mess this up right now!  hahaha 

Up and coming . . . Workshop in Helper June 14-19, Torrey Workshop June 24-27 and Ogden Workshop July 15-17.  

Do what you like--like what you do . . . and life is good . . .  gotta love it . . .

Cheers!!!  

J

Untitled Wet Paint!!

So this week's wet paint is seriously competiting as one of my all-time favorites.  Click on it and look at the detail (or non-detail).  Detail you THINK you see but really don't--the wrinkles in curtains, the reflections on the windows of the car, the lamppost.  Just so cool how one stroke creates the illusory detail that we think we see.   Anyway, after you've taken a minute to drool over this painting, we have to talk about one of Doug's biggest "hang-ups" if you will, in creating such a masterpiece!!

"Untitled"

16 x 20

Ya ready?  Seriously . . I don't want to rush you if you're not done ooo'ing and ahhhh'ing.  Okay.  Well, I'm going to fill you in on one of Doug's little hang-ups.  

Naming the paintings has always been one of Doug's favorite parts of the painting process.  

Seriously?  

No.  He hates it.  

When we are out painting,  I love how I say "we are out painting" hahaha I get anxious to get an image of the painting and then I say "what shall we name this one" and that's where the eyes glaze over and smoke starts to come out of his ears!  haha  That's when the fun goes OUT of painting.  Especially coming up with a name that hasn't been used before.  And let's not be too clever or funny, for heaven sakes!  There are a few of the duplicates that have given us some heartburn on occasion . . . Roadside.  I mean, boy, so many paintings were painted on the side of the road.  I suggest "Bill's Farm" or "Prairie Lane" but no, let's go with "Roadside."  Hmmmmm.  I like that, I usually say.  haha 

Well imagine Doug's excitement when he gets an invite to be part of an "Untitled Show."  You paint the painting, let the public give it a name!  Doug is so all over it.  This painting is going to the "Untitled" show which will be very fun and interractive with both artists and YOU!!  It is sponsored by the Utah Art's Council and an artist of whom we both admire and adore, Brad Slaugh, was chosen to be the curator of the show.  He has chosen 30 fabulous artists to submit an untitled painting and the public will get involved in suggesting names.  It will be held at the Rio Gallery 455 West 300 South in Salt Lake City and will run from May 13-June 10.  Opening Night will be great fun and we will be in attendance!  May 13 from 6-9 I believe.  And, if you don't know who Brad Slaugh is, well you best be googling his name!!  Now there's a guy who knows how to title a painting!  We have a couple of Brad's paintings, but one lovely piece in particular Brad titled "Doug's Ugly Kids."  Ahhhh now isn't that tender?  I'll try and get a picture of it posted next week but in the meantime, check out Brad's work.  He rocks! (He's one of our friends on facebook too!)  

So anyway, jump on here and give us some ideas for names . . .obviously, Doug came up with "The Wall" which I thought was extremely clever.  uh huh . . . Sorry honey, just couldn't hold back!

And may I take this opportunity to wish my sweetie a Happy 46th Birthday!  Yes, he and I are sharing May 9th this year as his birthday falls on MY Mother's Day!  Gosh, can't we find another day for you to celebrate your birthday???  hahaha  Just kiddin!  We will do a few of Doug's favorite things, golf and barbeque a ribeye steak and a few of my favorite things--play cards and watch basketball!!  See, how fun will that be!!

Hoping you all have a wonderful week!!  Sorry this is late - wet paint right around the corner for next week!!  I may give him his birthday OFF!!  Ahhh, I am soooo sweet!!  

Another week from my perspective . . .

J'net

Forgiveness . . . Wet Paint Rocks!!

Okay - I'm not gonna lie . . . I was a little miffed that my "wet paint" didn't arrive on my email doorstep last Sunday, but when you see the wet paint that's come off the easel, you'll see why my heart melted and I not only offered forgiveness, I groveled at his feet!!  Is it just me, or is this guy a rock star??  hahaha yeah - well alrighty then!!

So this first painting that was being worked on last week is a larger version of the ever-popular "This and That" that debuted at Doug's show at Terzian Gallery in February.  It was the one that was used on the invitation and so Doug used that painting as a study to do a bigger version!!  This one is 32 x 30 and, I'm certain, is going to have a very short stay at Terzian Gallery before it finds a permanent home!  It is spectacular.  I love the fall colors and the soft mountains in the back.

"Some of This Some of That"

32 x 30

Available at Terzian Gallery

This next wet painting was just finished literally a few minutes ago.  In the midst of watching NBA playoff games, I've been walking to the studio and impatiently tapping my ruler on the palm of my hand waiting for this painting to get done.  It was fun to watch the progress and I'm sorry I didn't take pictures to let you see the process, but initially, I thought "what the heck are you painting here?"

It's so interesting to have the kind of mind that Doug has--a mind that visualizes this painting finished and wet with paint.  Seriously, I would have NEVER EVER imagined that this would be a painting that would take my breath away.  When we were in Salt Lake a few weeks ago, Doug went around and was taking picture references around town.  As we got to a big building, he said "I wonder if I can get to the top of that building?"  I'm like, "huh???"  So we proceed to circle this building and find a parking terrace.  In we go, up we climb.  The parking spaces become more and more plentiful as we continue heading upward.  Doug is always looking out the window, slowing down, backing up, moving forward again.  I'll offer to drive, but no thanks, hon.  So he stops.  Backs up.  Get out and pulls the camera out. I'm not seein' the amazing visual and besides, it's drizzly and cold so of course, I don't get out!  I'm trying to tap into some wi-fi in the parking terrace.  No luck.  He comes back and off we go.  Well, voila!  Here is what came from that little parking lot "venture."

"Rain Snow Mix"

12x16 

Is this crazy good or what?  This was painted for a show at the Salt Lake Art's Center and will be part of a "silent auction" fund raiser for the "Not Just Another Pretty Face" Gala on June 5th, 2010.  Contact Raven at 801-328-4201 ext. 112 at the Salt Lake Art Center if you are interested in putting in a bid!   

The workshop season is almost underway with the first workshop in Midway starting on May 19th.  This workshop is full but we still have room in the Torrey 3-day workshop!  Cathy Bagley has done a great job or coordinating this workshop and will include two evening meals with tuition.  Also, she has arranged for a great rate at rooms at the Rim Rock Inn for around $50/night!  Doug's painted that area so much and he will soooo be in his element amidst the red rocks!!  I'm hoping to get to "tag along" if I've not been made the President & CEO by then!  haha  Helper is also gearing up for some great workshops this summer - these are five-day workshops (which is really more like a painting vacation . . . I mean, how hard is it to slap a little bit of paint on a canvas??  hahaha  Oh I'm going to PAY for that one!  Doug loves it when I say "you should paint that!"  He says "Yeah, YOU should paint that hon!!"  We've also added one more workshop in Ogden for the Ogden Nature Center which will be a 3-day workshop as well--July 15-17.  Go to our website and click on the workshop link to sign up!  (Have you been to check out our website yet? Oh yeah, probably so . . well, I'm still thinking it is amazing, which would make ME amazing, I guess . . . that's the rumor I'm spreading anyway!)  

Many of you, bless your hearts, have asked about the new job, so here is the ten-cent update!  The company is Sunbridge Healthcare.  Sunbridge is part of a larger corporation, Sun Health Care and we (I use that term now because I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a big wig real soon!) yes, WE own over 200 health and rehab centers across the US.  It's a great corporation and some great people to work with.  I mean, I'm going to be old and broken down someday, so just as well start working on providing the best place for me to stay, right?  I work in the Western Division Office and WE do what we can to provide the best services at the 60 western locations that are part of our Division.  So there ya have it - that was more like the 25-cent update!  BONUS!!  hahaha

Well, gotta fly.  Busy busy ya know!  Did I mention that my Utah Jazz are up 3 games to 1 against Denver in the playoffs?  MWAHAHAHA (evil laugh there - Denver fans, I am sooooo sorry . . .  really . .  I am)  I really really really love this game and I'm really really nervous about sending the Jazz back to your arena to win just ONE MORE GAME!   


Hoping you are having a fabulous day!!  Doug has promised more wet paint on Sunday . . . we shall see!  Golf and garden season is approaching . . . hard to keep a paint brush in his hand . . . he'd rather have a rake or a golf club!!

My best to you all . . . and if I haven't said thanks for reading and following our blog, well, thanks soooo much for reading and following our blog!!

love love love ya!

Jeanette

LIfe of Leisure - NUAMES & VSA 300 Plates!!

My life of leisure is nearing an end as I’m going to start a full-time job here come next Monday!  I’m very excited but will absolutely miss my come-and-go-as-I-please-life of leisure!  It has been, I would probably say, one of the most fun years of my life!  I was going to say “funnest” but technically that’s not a word, and well, damn it, Wesley would be all over me!)  Being able to “putter” around the house, flitting here and there, great phrases I learned from my mom!  on my own time schedule has been a blast (and, quite frankly, I don’t have to do that if I don’t want to!)   

One thing I'm really going to miss is the ability to just take off and go with Doug as I please!  Going out to the plein air competitions was an absolute blast!  We probably spent at least 5 or 6 weeks away from home this year.  That’s like a six-week vacation for me!  We spent two weeks in Estes Park, a week in Idaho Falls, several days in Spring City as well as shorter stays in Midway, Torrey, Arizona and St. George!  He would go out painting while I was, uh, yeah, on vacation!  Oh, I’d do some work on the computer, but that didn’t take long so I got to read some great books, drink lots of Fresca and yes, I must confess, played poker with my facebook poker buddies!  It did give me the chance to meet soooo many of you who are now readers of our blog and for that, I am eternally grateful!  I still plan to come to many of the plein air competitions and have been assured by my new employer that they are incredibly flexible and will allow me to still travel a little with my main squeeze!  

Our “Wet Paint” for this week is a plate for the “VSA 300 Plates” show which will be held at Art Access in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 20 from 6-9 pm.  This event is going into it’s eighth year and each year it gets better and better!  VSA raises money to help provide quality art activities for adults and children with disabilities.  “The arts are truly a universal and essential language that challenge people to look beyond themselves and celebrate diversity.”  What a great cause!  

"Snowy Sides"

10x11

2010 VSA 300 Plate Show

So, this is how it works:  VSA extends an invitation to some phenomenal artists across the state to paint on a “plate.”  It’s not a round dinner plate mind you, but just a metal square plate with two holes punched in the top.  The plates are organized around the gallery and are numbered starting with, I believe, #65.  They go all the way up to #365 with a few that are put on a “silent auction” wall.  The painting “number” is also the price!  So there are some incredible bargains to be had!  It has grown so popular over the years that now, when you get there, your name is put into a “hat” and, after you’ve had a chance to peruse the gallery and find your “picks,” they draw out a name and you then get the opportunity to purchase your “bargain” painting!  This keeps us from tackling other people who are going for our same painting!  haha  We’ve gotten some great little paintings over the years, including a John Erickson, Tracy Strauss and last year, a great little broom painting by Joe Carter!  We love them all!!   

Last year Doug painted “Dueling Banjos” which most people loved but didn’t get the title. 

"Dueling Banjos"

10x11
2009 VSA Plate Show 

Doug is always very fascinated with the graffiti painted on the trains and always comments to me “isn’t that some awesome painting on that train!”  Dueling Banjos represents the friendly rivalry between “graffiti” artists and plein air painters in their quest for “who’s the best in the west” I suppose!  

If you’ve never been to the Plate Show, contact Ruth Lubbers at Art Access to get on their mailing list!  We will most certainly be there and would love to see you there as well!  Hey, let’s do dinner! 

Another thing I'm going to miss is teaching!!  I’ve been substitute teaching, as I mentioned before, at the Northern Utah Academy of Math, Engineering and Science (NUAMES) and DANG, I am sooo going to miss that!   Since I was in high school myself, I have always dreamed of teaching school.  I guess because of some of the great teachers I had myself that really made an impact on my life.  

I seriously just love these kids!  It’s not easy being a teenager so it’s really great when you have someone there that truly WANTS you to succeed.  It’s easy to teach the good kids, the ones that do their homework and are totally prepared day in and day out.  It takes a really good teacher, however, to love the ones who don't--to help motivate the kids that are, well, unmotivated for whatEVer reason.  Sometimes they are too smart for their britches and are bored, or sometimes they are overwhelmed with a lot of stress at home.  Reaching out to those that need a smile, a pat on the back, a little gentle nudge or a swift kick in the butt!  So to my friends at NUAMES, (and I’d name names, but there are too many, and I most certainly would leave someone out - but you know who you are) I say thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me feel welcome at your school and for helping me fulfill a dream I had of teaching!  (a term I use loosely!)  

See, being a “regular teacher” is a piece of cake, you get to not only teach your specialty, but you have your own lessons prepared and do your own curriculum.  Being a sub, however, well, that’s tough stuff!  Here’s your lesson plan and by the way, we’re learning about algorithms and poly-something-or-others!  I loved teaching the English stuff, PE, Finance and World Civ, but when they asked if I could sub for Chemistry . . . “Well, I DO own a Honda ELEMENT so I’m pretty sure I’m qualified!  I am seriously campaigning for “Sub of the Year!” (an award I created myself so I’m quite certain I will win!!)   

Off to work . . . or not,  . . . maybe I’ll just putter in the kitchen . . .

Cheers to all clink clink here’s to . . . full-time jobs with health insurance!!  :) 

Jeanette

PS . . . the weekly blog will continue without interruption, like it or not!!  

"Easter Traditions & Rodeo Queen . . . Well, good!"

Happy Easter everyone!  As I posted on facebook, I love that the Easter Bunny still comes even though my kids are big, and contrary to Doug’s belief, the kids were pretty excited too!!  See the look on Ryan's face, that's pure excitement!!  

Holidays at our house have always been somewhat of a challenge because “he-who-shall-not-be-named is somewhat of a “holiday scrooge.”  he will totally deny that!  I seriously love the holidays, and I do get sucked into all of the holiday marketing!  I make a big deal out of every holiday that comes along.  Hiding eggs throughout the house is always a good time, but our biggest tradition has been to hide plastic eggs OUTSIDE (rain, snow or shine) with “stuff” inside!  Each child would have their assigned “color” of eggs they could find. There were amazing things inside, like mini reeses peanut butter cups, or mini hershey bars, or better yet, a quarter and a dime!  I know, I am soooo clever!   I remember going through my “change” cup the night before and sorting all the change I could get my hands on, dividing it out three ways right to the penny.  As they all brought in their “goods” and dumped the ”egg contents,” they would sort out all their candy, and divide the “coinage” into quarters, dimes and nickels, when finally one would loudly announce “Eight dollars and sixty-eight cents!”  Then of course, Ryan tries to throw out the "I'm the favorite" card by declaring "I got ten dollars and fifty cents!!" Looks of despair dart my way as I confidently reply with reassurance, “No ya don’t!  Everyone's is the same!!”  Ryan grins as I give him the "evil eye!"  

We carry on many of the traditions that we grew up with, and I remember hunting for eggs out on our lawn--sometimes for months after Easter!  Remember those big ol’ easter eggs that were filled with white sugary hard stuff??  If you’re over 40, (a mature adult like me!) you may remember them!  They were nasty!  Maybe even a health hazard!  My mother would make my dad go out and help her hide eggs and on the most part, he would take his handful and give them a big toss across the lawn and say “there, I’m done!”  We would find those hard eggs buried deep in the grass long into the summer months and they would, on occasion, “argue” with the lawn mower!  We’d hear the “clunk clunk clunk” and then we’d laugh - “Ahhh, there’s another easter egg!  Hope we didn’t break a blade!”  

Okay - off the subject, but I have to throw this out there and get it off my chest!  We had a discussion this morning at breakfast over the usage of the word “good.”  Now, where I came from, someone says “How ya doin?”  We responded “Good!” or on a better day “REAL good!”  Of late, however, my sweet Wesley (bless his little heart) has been correcting me with “Don’t you mean “well” Mom?”  Now, mind you, I’ve tried to catch myself--really I have.  Being corrected by my 16-year old son SEVERAL times a day over my “bad grammar” has gotten a little, well, annoying!  yeah - annoying!  Truth is, sometimes “good” just fits better as to how I really feel!!  If my brother, Boyd, from Cleveland, Utah were to call and ask “How the hell ya doin, Nettie?”  Well, quite frankly, if I were to say “I’m well!”  He’d say, “Who is this???”  As it is, he knows it’s me if I answer with an enthusiastic “pretty damn good!!”  So yeah, Wes, I know it’s “proper” to say “well” but, just give us a break for a while, k??  Ryan and I decided to “pay back” some annoyance this morning so I asked Ryan “How’s your eggs, Ryan?”  He said “They were really WELL!!”  We both laughed hysterically as Wesley rolled his eyes.  Doug chimed in with the suggestion that as soon as Mr. Webster decides “good” is not only an adjective but could be used as an adverb, then, it’s all GOOD again!!  Well, good.  I am glad to get that off my chest!  

Wet paint, you ask?  Ahhh, Doug was working on it this morning!  Another pretty unique subject matter.  

" Ropin' "

8 x 10

Horses!  Yeah, whoda thunk?  Doug’s probably painted less than a dozen horse paintings, I would guess.  If you want to test me on that, you could go to our new website and check out the archives!  Okay - I have become a computer nerd and have redone Doug’s website.  If I don’t mind saying so myself, I think it looks, well, really good!!  hahaha used grammatically correct - in your face, Wesley!!  I will keep it updated on a weekly basis with new work and new information so feel free to “drop in” at the website and send me your feedback if you have any!!  

The rodeo painting!  Pretty sweet huh?  On a final note, it reminds me of my sister who is, quite frankly, one of Escalante’s greatest rodeo queens!  I so wish she were here to tell this story, or better yet, the story gets even better when told by my brother, Randy!!  (it doesn’t coincide with Patrice’s story, I’m sure!! haha) but suffice it to say she gave the image of “Escalante Rodeo Queen” a whole new “look!” (snowboots look almost like the real thing don’t they?  Well, you get the picture!!  Love ya Treesie!!)  Hoping you’re all well and ready for spring!  My golf clubs are still screaming at me!!  We are sooooo ready!!  

Till next week . . .

Jeanette


PS - some favorites that can be found in the "Archives" part of the new website!  Some I haven't thought about in years!  Enjoy!  Website is just www.dougbraithwaite.com.  

"Against the Wind"

14 x 16

One of  Doug's favorites painted in 2004.  This reminds me of the snowstorm that hit just last night!  

What's up with this weather??  

"Fall Colors Near Calf Creek"

32 x 30

One of my favorites of all-time.  Painted in 2006, it was one of his biggest paintings he'd done to date.  

At 30x32, it was breathtaking. 

"Evening Shift"

16 x 20

A fun little "burger stand" up in Roy, Burger Bar.  One of our favorite places.  I love the "time stamp" that these paintings create in our lives.  It's like a really amazing "journal" of our lives!