Jana Matusz on Site

The countdown is on. Only one week before I put up the exhibition. Time is going very quickly.

It helps to be an early riser. Got laundry and a round of varnishing done before I headed out for the Botanical Gardens. Once there I had a wonderful tour of the collection which is being archived by Paul Pegnato. Thanks, Paul! What treasures you have to work with! I’m awed by your enthusiasm and the enormity of your project.

Spent some time drawing at Homer’s during Tea Time. Sonia and Pascal do an incredible job, and The Flying Chef provides such great food. I look forward to my Masterworks days since I know I’ll have a fantastic lunch! Got a surprise ride home (thanks, Jill and Scott!) and was able to pick up the mats which were cut for me by Frameworks on very short notice. Many thanks for a super job there!

Put some finishing touches on my latest painting. Another full day.

No photos today…

It was a busy day. I’ll try to post the latest painting tomorrow.
I’ll be at Masterworks in the afternoon during Tea Time at Homer’s Cafe.

The Bermuda Sun published an article about me today. (Thanks, Belinda, for letting me know!)
To see the online version, go to

http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=52489&SectionID=9&SubSectionID=908&S=1

There’s a lot of work still ahead of me as I prepare for the exhibition. I’ll be ready, but only if I keep plugging away.

Worked some more on a truck painting, but couldn’t finish it before dark. It will take one more day.

Today Clifford got a chance to be a professional model, and he did great! Many thanks, Clifford, for the natural poses, for holding still so beautifully, and for being such a warm, engaging person. Jill and Diana and I enjoyed drawing you.

I’m working on frames, one by one. I started a painting, but it looks like it’s going to have to be a multiple session painting. More to come later.

Wow. What a full day. I feel like a whole week’s weather and a whole week’s activities were all packed into one day!

It was too blustery and dark and changable for plein air painting at Spanish Point, so after a nice cupcake Diana, Jill and I went to the aquarium to draw. Great fun! We all know how much I love it there.

Dramatic rainstorm on the way home. I’m so glad I wasn’t at a bus stop! (Thanks Jill!)

The weather cleared and I went back in to Hamilton for the Suzuki Gala of the Bermuda School of Music. They sounded great! (Thank you to Sylvia for the ride from BSM to Barr’s Bay Park!)

Nice rain last night! Hooray! I enjoyed visiting with kitties on my morning walk.

Did final details on some frames — wire on the back, corner protection, etc. While I was still at home, I got a Facetime glimpse of the American Artist magazine article which just arrived in Boston! Wow! I didn’t know how it would look, or how many images they would use. Let’s just say I’m VERY pleased. I hope I’ll have some copies here in Bermuda in time for the exhibition opening.

Headed out to paint a view of St. George’s from Fort George. It’s a bit of a hike to get there, but I found a good spot to paint.

Traveled to Southampton for art group this morning, and enjoyed drawing at Pat’s. I’ve been missing my farm friends, so I took a walk up to the farm this afternoon.

This morning BERNEWS published an article about me! You can read it at

http://bernews.com/2011/06/jana-matusz-artist-in-residence/

Today I took the bus to Masterworks again, played some PING PONG!!! for the first time here (thank you, Malcolm!), and did some painting after a scrumptious lunch at Homer’s Cafe. The Flying Chef does such an incredible menu!

Michael, also a painter, sat with me while I did my onions painting — we shared notes about color theory, painting equipment, and how we paint.

Getting a surprise ride home was the best. Thanks Diana!

My gosh, it’s June. Today was really hot, summer hot. I joked that I hoped it would really really rain AFTER July 1, but I didn’t mean it. Bermuda really needs rain. The plants and ground are crackling dry. Did a lot of computer work today and took a good evening walk. I’ll update the images in the slide show with better quality, final ones.

For the invitation to my exhibition I have not one but two versions. Please feel free to print, send, tell your friends. Thanks!