Taylor and Reilly

Dear Imaginary Friends,

I just delivered this portrait to my delightful client, who truly, deeply, loves it. The painting is 24" x 36", and it took me about five months to paint. After I posed them in Old Town in front of the Potomac River, I photographed these cute kids with maybe fifty snapshots. Then I combined the best pics of each child, with an imaginary background that I created from many references and sources. It was a mind game, combining all these different photos in my mind and making them a new ersatz reality. Phew! That was no easy task. 

Your favorite artist,

Patsie

Little Dancer, Broadway-Bound

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Theater lover to theater lover, you must get tickets to see Little Dancer now, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The play is about Degas' young ballerina model, her life circumstances, and her relationship with Degas. 

The costumes are a wonder to behold. I have taken many art history classes regarding Impressionism and have seen many images by Degas. The costumes are faithful replicas of those in Degas' paintings, with the charming satin ribbons, underlit theatrically. 

Marie, our young heroine, is the model for Degas' famous wax creation The Little Dancer. Hence the name of the play. 

She is played by Tiler Peck, a well-respected NY City Ballet performer. 

The play is original, but based on a book "The Painted Girls", by Cathy Buchanan. 

The excellent cast is highly pedigreed and all veterans of Broadway productions. 

After the run in Washington, DC, the play will no doubt be on Broadway in New York City. 

Your theater, Degas and ballet lover,

Patsie

The Arlington House of Robert E. Lee

Situated on a high hill above the Arlington Memorial Bridge, the Arlington House enjoys a sweeping view of the Washington, DC envisioned by Pierre L'Enfant so many years ago. 

Sight lines extend from the Capital Building to the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River.

Inside the home are beautiful antiques from the Civil War era and family portraits of Robert E. Lee and his extended family. Robert E. Lee was offered the post of Commander of the Union troops as the Civil War began to brew. Because of his Southern family ties, he felt that he had no choice but to abandon his home in Arlington  and head South, where he led the Confederacy in battle. 

During the war, the Union occupied his home and then expropriated it. In an act of final revenge, the Union converted his acreage into a Union soldier cemetary.  It is today known as Arlington Cemetary. 

Fast Getaway for Feline Escape Artist

This mysterious staircase was built for a very lucky cat. It leads up to a kitchen counter providing cat food to the feline of the home. Sun porch just right for a cat with a quick getaway from the family dog? Check!

Chesterton, Maryland

Dear Imaginary Friends,
If you would like to buy a darling Victorian historic home for a mere $350,000, you may want to check out Chestertown, Maryland. 

Marie Antoinette at Woolly Mammoth Theater

Those who are looking for adventurous, modern theater, can find that and more at Woolly Mammoth in Washington, DC. 

Woolly's current production of Marie Antoinette stretches one's expectations with non-traditional casting, modern garb, a sheep in wolf's clothing, and a loose interpretation of history.

 Audience participation includes posing in a guillotine, and  playing beanbag toss with decapitated Barbies and Kens. I would have enjoyed a slice of cake, instead!!

Your theater friend,

Patsie

Meerkat

Meerkat, Oil, for sale

 Too cute!