LOVE HOT GLASS

Two years are past and I have been perfecting my glass bead techniques. I really love the randomness of hot glass but at the same time strive to make perfect beads. But what really is a perfect bead...is it emotional attachment or visual? jb

I'm working on getting these beautiful beads onto my Etsy Shop..and I'm teaching myself several new applications in order to do it. I'm posting a few shots of individual beads. The colors are so joyful. They are part of an Island series. These beads have a solid silver core and a 4mm hole. jb

NEW VENTURE

I have now come full circle. I started working with Glass early 1970 and made a career designing and fabricating leaded and stained glass windows. Now I'm working with hot glass designing and fabricating glass and silver beads. Out of, easily, 500 beads these 35 made the cut! What? I'm taking a big leap and designing an Etsy Shop. Keep you posted. jb

THE LONG VIEW

Hiking up on property in Green Valley one can look south and locate the second morro in a string of seven, Morro Rock, with the Bay and Los Osos beyond.
My gallery mates pushed me to have a show and get with it, so I did, and I thank you all for the push. Left on my own, I'd still be on the lounge contemplating how blue blue blue the California sky really is. jb 2010

Can You Believe I'm Still Here?

Hey Old Friends,
It has been just about a year since last posted! For those of you who wrote and called, thank you so much for keeping up with me. For those friends who thought I dropped off the face of the earth... I did..sort of. I'm just now climbing up out of the hell hole known to me as Valley Fever; hospitalized for two months and recovering 1 year ever since. It wasn't pretty and there are missing brain cells so if I owe anyone anything, commission, etc. Please do call or write. It's entirely possible I've overlooked work for you.
This is the first work I've painted since 2009 and it's a do-over at that. I'm back working in the studio now. Thanks for all your encouragements, everyone. jb

SILLY ON THE BEACH

SillyGurl will not participate in the morning dog walk unless she gets a treat. This is her classic pose; sits there and waits until she gets her own way. I'm trying to move fast through some candid dog paintings but I'm experimenting with the techniques to capture very curly-haired coats. I overworked this a bit again.jb

LATTE GETS A TRIM

We have seen this girl before, my sister's dog, LATTE. She needed a clean-up of eye hairs as per Mrs. Waller! I always dread going back in to touch up. I have that habit of painting way too much and overdoing it. I have six thousand brush strokes in this painting, so many overlayers. I went back to look at the blog of a painter I'm knocked out by, Carol Marine, and counted her brushstrokes on her latest work....25 maybe. I must get back to her basics. jb

RASCAL ON THE RUG

I have never seen or met this pup in person; painted from a photo, so I hope I've done this pooch justice. Another 6x6 for the Open Studio Tour in Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, October 17 & 18.

I WANT TO EAT THIS SOOOO BAD

This little cupcake is my entry into Different Strokes From Different Folks blog by Karin Jurick (Check side links) but I didnt finish it in time to meet the deadline, so I posted it unfinished, in my eyes anyway. I'm in slow motion lately; everything is a long labor. Look for a re-post down the line. jb

HAVAH THINKING

Hi, Havah! Finally finished your painting. We are all so lonesome for you to come back. Pup goes,"Where is that kid?..where's the kid?...where's the kid? love, GeGe.

LULU EVERY MORNING

I always meet this dog on the beach every morning, She loves a head rubbing and puppy-kisses. So sweet and gentle. Part of my Los Osos collection of dogs I'm painting to include in the open Studio Tour October 17 & 18. 6x6 small format animal portraits in oil, $100. jb

A MORNING CHILL

I actually can feel the cold, damp under this eroded cliff. I used my paint very thin on clay board and then worked with dry-brush and glazing. believe it, there are a hundred layers on this. Sometimes I daydream and then find I've glazed the thing into oblivion. Love the way the clayboard sucks the oil mediums up. jb

MUSEUM COVE LAUNCH

I have been painting on both smooth gesso panels and canvas panels. Somehow I have a shipment of clayboard meant for water mediums and I guess oil pastels, but someone in the art supply store said just paint on whatever you want with oils. Paint with oils on heavy watercolor paper, etc.
So the clay board soaks up paint immediately. I was playing with thinning paint, also using glazing and dry brush techniques with the oil pigments. I'm much pleased with the first few results. It's like painting a fresco and I'm crazy about dry-brush strokes. Took the picture while out kayaking. This is our launch spot in Morro bay. jb

COVE BELOW THE MUSEUM

UP BROADERSON HILLS

Three and a half months off. Had a wonderfully fine summer playing with grandchildren; very difficult getting back to any work at all and any great artistic jag I might have been on... well, I just have to start over again. Open Studio Tour is the weekend of October 17 & 18 this year. I'm working on a variety of pieces, but here is a good start. jb

LATTE

LATTE. Another portrait of a family dog, my sister's dog Latte, a french hound. Finally back to work after a month and a half off...a little stiff, but I started six paintings hoping to smooth out. jb

LOST AT SEA

My most recent entry for the Different Strokes From Different Folks blog hosted by Karin Jurick. I enjoyed the figurative work in this challenge and I'm really pleased. The reflections and light on the wet sand is working for me. jb

SUSHI SAUCE BUBBLES

Here it is: Blog Entry 100. Love it. This is my entry into this week's Different Strokes From Different Folks blog. Check all the entries - link in the right column. Always a difficult challenge each bi-week entry. I enjoy participating; I must check to look at everyone else's work at least every hour on the hour. Always a surprise. jb

SILLY SILLY

I had another go at my dog, one of the dogs, SillyGurl. I gave the first picture to granddaughter Havi and then had to have one for myself. My whole career working with glass, I have not a single piece of my own work; likewize for textiles. So this one we will keep. I did one of Puppy but it was purchased by one of her admirers! I'm trying to capture all our dog friends in Los Osos for a show. Hope to see you at the Bayfront beach. jb

SOPHIE

Painted dogs all week long. Everyone should have their portrait and their pets' portrait done ..I guess include the children too. I'm just doing something every day to keep loose. Commissions accepted, by the way. jb