Speaking of little cups

I took a little tea cup I found in my mother's dish collection to the studio yesterday because I was thinking I might want a tea cup shape around for inspiration. I didn't do much with it, but it did amuse me. The cup was in the dish cabinet with the back facing front, and I think I know why. It's got one weird picture on the front:



Cat creature blowing out birthday candles?

For what it's worth, the bottom of the cup says "Made in Japan."

And I didn't really use it in the painting. Here's a detail; I might change parts of the whole yet.

And while I'm at it, here's another yet-to-be-titled piece: 



I had so much fun in summer painting class in the nicely-lit upstairs studio, but I think I can move back into my basement cave sometime in July. I'm looking forward to it.

Also, Happy (Early) 4th of July! I will be out of town, and there will be no Musical Monday because I will be oohing and ahing at fireworks.

My art is in a LIBRARY

For the summer, anyway. Two of my paintings are in the City Employee Art Show. I ventured to the main library of the system I work for (I work at a branch location) to spy on them last weekend. They are all cozy behind the audio books in a little reading nook:

Snug (with apples) is on the right, and Mutability is on the left. You can see more pics of Mutability here.

The colors are--as always--so much yummier in real life, but these photos aren't bad as photos go. Here's a bit of a close-up on Snug:



Here's my newest painting for my Painting IV class this summer. It's currently untitled, because I'm not yet sure what I mean by it:



I had to drag it outside to get the colors to photograph at least sort-of accurately. I'm so glad my painting prof is accepting 3x3s from me instead of 4x4s like Mutability. (She's always pushing us to paint BIG, because paintings sometimes look smaller once they're on a wall.) I'm 5 feet 3 inches, and carrying a painting that is nearly the same size as me is difficult. I paint on hardboard framed on the side with pine, which is a little heavier than canvas. Also, I can actually get a 3x3 in my car.



I'm hoping to finish a second painting tonight. How are your summer projects going?