Starting a big one

Last Sunday a new friend, Jan Marriott, came over to give me
seven wedding dresses before she left on a vacation to
France, which she pronounces in a beautiful English
accent making it sound even more delicious. (She's
English). This all happened because Jan regularly
takes part each May in the most wonderful garage sale that
covers a whole neighbourhood south of the supermarket where
we buy our groceries.

Step One The Promise
combining cadmium red medium, cadmium orange,
and cadmium yellow medium to paint the ground
with a four inch wide house painting brush,
and then a roller.

Jan is a fabric lady, and she sells vintage (30s,40s, 50s,
60s) dresses, pieces of fabric, old pillow cases, sheets,
curtains, quilts, and tablecloths. I have bought everything
possible from her. Her gorgeous quilts cover our beds.
I bought 5 or 6 vintage brightly coloured 40s table cloths.
Then Martha Stewart did a special on the same pieces,
and said never to use them, they were much too valuable.
I paid $4 each and use them whenever I can. One of the great
things about Jan is that she is completely fair in her prices.

Stage Two The Promise
The wet ground dries on the
canvas
36 x 48 inches

So a couple of years ago I bought two beautiful 30s formal
dresses from her and both have been used in paintings.
When I ran into Jan at the Brick Works Farmers' Market,
I told her about the paintings. She checked out my blog
and decided to give me some wedding dresses she
couldn't sell. They have a small tear here, or a spot or
two there, but they are gorgeous, and fine for paintings.

The painting I'm about to start is called "The Promise",
so a girl in a wedding dress seems fitting. Once again
I had to submit the name of the painting before I
started the piece. I had small work ready, but the lady
from the show requested a large painting, because the show
is supposed to feature both.

The last time I painted a girl in a less than perfect
wedding dress for the Dance Series, I paid $50 for it
at the Salvation Army. This time I got seven
(maybe eight I have to count again) for free. I gave
Jan a vintage dress I couldn't use that was in good repair
in return. To me this is a clear example of the
"bounty of the universe" in action. I guess you could say
I'm a firm believer. What an amazing week!

I have to go and mark papers.

Have a seeing-prosperity-everywhere day.