"Coffee with My Shadow"

6"x8" Mixed media on paper 

It's alway a good idea to have coffee with someone, even if it is your shadow!

This coffee cup is so talented, it can change the color of it's shadow.
If you ask me, I think this coffee cup has an imaginary friend...

This is cup number 56! Last year this time I had 57 apple paintings finished... all of a sudden I feel like I'm behind again! No fear though, I have a sheet of paper 22" by 30" divided up into 18 sections. Eighteen coffee cups may be suddenly appearing in the next few days!

-jM

"Proud Lady Benton" -Sold

40"x30" mixed media on canvas

This painting may look small here, but it is actually a little larger than most. It measures 40 inches tall and 30 inches wide. The title comes from the fact that this house built in 1873, it is located in historic Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana and is called the "Benton House".

Here is a photo I took of it.

A little note about the house that I found on the internet:

BENTON HOUSE 312 S. DOWNEY (NW CORNER, DOWNEYAND OHMER): French Second Empire, 1873. Restored by the Irvington Historic Landmarks Foundation in 1966, this unusual one and one-half story structure was built by Nicholas Ohmer as a speculative property. Dr. Allen Benton and his wife Silence resided in the home during his tenure as Butler's president from 1886-91. Now the home of the Benton House Association, it is a meeting site for various Irvington organizations.


Well, that may be a little more than you want to know, but why the title "Proud Lady Benton"?

My artist friend Leigh is knowledgeable about historic stuff told me that Victorian houses in San Francisco painted with three or more colors are referred to as "Painted Ladies". This house has three colors for sure and is painted. We decided that she is a proud lady, thus "Proud Lady Benton"! Ahh, but she is not a Victorian, she is a French Second Empire, she is French, like Martine!

Hmm, French press coffee.... mmmm...

Have a wonderful weekend! I get to paint with the kids tomorrow!

-jM

"Who is She?"

8"x6" mixed media on paper mounted on canvas

Can you just imagine these two talking to each other wondering, who is that other person over there?
Maybe they are thinking about inviting her to coffee with them!

This little abstract figurative came about when I was working on the commission piece "Beth". What a nice surprise to get another painting out of the deal. I love the subconscious!

: )

-jM

"Quick Cup of Joe"

7.5" x 5.5" mixed media on paper 

Very abstract... sometimes in the morning this is what I am... abstract, like this coffee cup... whew.

Good morning!

-jM

"Beth"

8"x6" mixed media on paper mounted to canvas

Here is "Beth", she is Clara's sister. This little painting is a commissioned piece that I finished Friday and boy did I clean my studio a bit before I could get this painting to come alive! A sure sign that I'm distracting myself from doing something or meeting a deadline, is the cleaning the studio syndrome!

I had an ah ha moment on Thursday night and found myself able to finish Beth on Friday...  whew, that will make my client very happy!

A coffee cup? Yes, I have one tomorrow morning!

-jM

"Blue Mug"

9"x6.5" mixed media on paper

A coffee drinking flower! I'm not sure what is on the side there, but I am sure that it needs coffee too!

This is number 54....

-jM

"Good Morning" -Sold

9"x6.5" mixed media on paper

A little bit bigger painting today. A big 9 inches by 6.5 inches, whoo hoo!

This little flower is sitting happy in this cup just waving good morning to everyone! Now this is how I drink my coffee. With a big good morning smile on my face!

This is number 53 and counting down (or up)!

-jM

"Crazy Cup" -Sold

3"x2" acrylic on itty bitty canvas

Number 52, "Crazy Cup". The background of this painting is a hot pink color, not easily recorded with a digital camera, but really eye catching in person! Whew!

Dare I say I'm on the home stretch yet? With only 48 more to go... hmmm, better not say it yet, maybe over the hump is better.  : )

-jM

"Coffee at Large"

8"x6" oil on canvas panel

This painting, I just kept looking at it and looking at it and decided that I should just stop here and go on and do another! I've been looking at this baby for about two weeks! Or so it seems... now I can get on with these paintings... this is number 51..... 49 to go! Watch out March 30th, here I come!

Happy day from rainy Indy...   : )

-jM

Need a title--number 50!

22"x30" mixed media on paper

Number 50. This is not the best photo, but I just had to take one so I could let you all know that I didn't just quit painting on December 31st.

This painting was still wet when I shot this picture, but this will give you an idea what it looks like. Hmm... what to name it....

See the area on the bottom left, that big stain of brown color? That is coffee. Yes, I'm learning how to use coffee as a painting medium, such fun!

Hmm.... I have more cups in progress.... I'll be in touch Friday for sure!

Aaa... what is today/ Oh yes! Happy Birthday Kimbo!  : )

-jM

Kimbo's Coffee? Hmm....