Trip on the Day of Labor.

Okay, we're back from a tragically brief, whirlwind-y trip up to Philadelphia/NYC. If you live in the area and we didn't get to look you up, our apologies - it was a quick and ill-planned venture... and we'll catch you the next time around.

Here's some photo recap on the Philadelphia leg of the journey:

chez P., with G., E. and L., qui bouge beaucoup...

On Walnut Street: the old and the new, mingling.

In Society Hill, the historic area: perhafs you would like fome molaffes?

Would a trip to Philly be complete without a photo of Rocky? Probably not. Yo.

Would a trip to Philly be complete without a visit to La Colombe? Probably. Sorry y'all - it's pretty, but their hot chocolate is sub-par. Meh.

Would a trip to Philly be complete without a visit to see wee Milo? Decidedly not.

Last but not least: the front gate at the Barnes Foundation - pretty much the only place you can photograph anything as they practically confiscate all belongings upon entry to the grounds. They're... a tad protective of their collection, it would be fair to say.

More soon from NYC... stay tuned.

All things political.

So - despite my raging cynicism, I think I was actually wooed by Michelle Obama's speech last night. Truly wooed. Moved. I was listening to it on NPR so it wasn't even that I was mesmerized by her beauty or anything... the words, they swayed me.

I can't decide if her ridiculously cute kids and the exchange with their father was overkill, though. Hmm.

In other political notes, please inform anyone and everyone you may know in Utah that my sister, the lovely and talented Katherine Lofft, is running as a Democrat for her district's (53) seat in the Utah state legislature. Here's her campaign website: Vote Lofft! (www.votelofft.com).

Still hunkered.

I'm camped out most of the time in front of paintings these days, so not a lot to report... though I was wishing I had my camera with me while I was doing some errands around Raleigh on Saturday. Things were lookin' good - cool mural by the Amtrak station, passed through a nice park - Edna Metz Wells park, I believe - near Cameron Village. Anyway, more photos soon, especially after we go away for Labor Day weekend (yesssss!!!!) In the meantime, here's a painting that's on my most recent postcard:

and now it is time to party, oil on printed fabric, 10"x10", by Diane Feissel

Beaucoup de travail.

Long time no post... I've been hunkered down in front of the easel with some portrait projects, and trying to slip in some other work on the side. Like painting polar bears.

Here's a portrait from back in early 2007, which I still need to post on the "commissions" part of my webpage. One of these days, man. I'll get there.

oil on canvas, 2007, Diane Feissel

MacGregor's garden.

Yay, just found out the painting "MacGregor's garden" (see below) got into a juried show here in Raleigh. Hip hip!

MacGregor's garden, 2008, oil on printed fabric, 10"x10".

You can see more info on the show at this link.

Naturally, I remembered my Beatrix Potter incorrectly, and spelled the guy's name wrong; I could have sworn it was "MacGregor," but now it's looking like it might have been "McGregor." Drat, foiled again.

Wielding a staple gun.

Much of the weekend was spent doing errands, much of it painting-related. We rented a car and went out to French Connections in Pittsboro, where I got some more fabric for the series of paintings I'm calling "Fabrication". Man, I love that place - great fabric, great store, great owners. Anyway, I spent a large portion of the rest of the weekend stretching and prepping fabric. My thumbs are sore. Here's some of the product:Stay tuned on that front... more updates when I have the time to actually paint.

Speaking of time to paint, I'm also still working on commissioned pieces. Here's one from last fall/winter that I still haven't posted yet to my website:

oil on canvas, 2007, 10"x8", by Diane Feissel.

Edwardian hijinks.

I just had to get this in here, for the record: John Edwards is a rat bastard.

Thank you for listening.