Roberta Warshaw Art and Design

Whenever I am away from my studio for any length of time, as I was this past week, it always takes me a few days to get back to where I feel comfortable again. I forget what I had been doing before I left and so whatever I try to create turns out not so great. Being back east was a bit startling for me. Everything was so green and the trees were so large. I guess I forgot how big both the trees and the leaves are. Here, our trees are smallish. And there are pretty much no leaves on anything. The mesquite tree has some tiny little leaves but for the most part it is all about dry, dusty brown and thorns. Today was the first day I began to feel comfortable in my studio again. Although I put trees in my landscapes. I guess I really needed trees. I am still reeling from the realization that Massachusetts is so expensive and I have no idea if we will ever be able to go back. I am heartbroken over that thought. I try not to think about it but it is hard not to.

We got back from our trip to Boston yesterday. It was really not long enough but we enjoyed it unti we had to fly home. We spent 9 hours in the Dallas airport due to flight changes and delays. Seriously. I can't wait until I do not have to fly anywhere anymore. Once we move back east I do not plan to fly anymore. It is has become too problematic. Before I left I did these two tiny landscapes using just two colors. The green color is by Daniel Smith called Rare Green Earth. It is a lovely color and very atmospheric. The other color is Quinacridone Burnt Orange. Also by Daniel Smith. It mixes really well with the Rare Green Earth to make a lovely earthy mixture. While we were in Amherst we looked at a lovely condo to buy but it was not to be. The seller changed his mind and decided not to sell. needless to say we were very disappointed. This is a terrible time to be looking for a place to live. Anywhere. But we will keep looking and hoping to find something.

I Just discovered sepia by Daniel Smith. What a deep, dark and lovely color. I barely need any other colors when I use it since it has so much depth.

My most recent series called "Tiny Landscapes" is keeping me very inspired. I have tried to make landscapes using photographs but the best ones seem to be the ones where I just let the flowing paint dictate the landscape. I have started to number them because I think that there are going to be quite a few of them as was in my Florilegium series. This one is Number 23 in the series.

One thing I have been doing a lot of is painting small postcard sized landscapes. I am taking a lovely class with Kateri Ewing It has helped me get out of my head for a bit anyway. Mostly it is about abstract art making but as usual I can never be totally abstract and everything ends up being either a landscape or a floral. Oh well. That's just me I guess.

It has been really hot here with very little rain. I am hoping to leave this place soon for good. But for now I am rather stuck here. We go back east for a visit in August and will be meeting hopefully with a realtor to find a place to live. We were hoping to find a place in Amherst but they don't have a lot of housing stock there. The houses are either out of our price range or dilapidated wrecks with nothing much in between. Down towards the cape where my son lives is very nice but way out of our budget I am afraid. Housing has become so unaffordable these days it is hard to imagine really. I am going to try and stay positive. I have a very good friend back in Amherst who has offered to go look at places for me. We have known each other since high school and it would make both of us so happy to be able to live near one another. Like when we were kids! Anyway, as a result of all my house hunting on Zillow I have not been making much art. It is hard to concentrate with all this ...