Author JT Twissel

My Taj Mahal

JT Twissel 21 Comments
Inside1

Beyond the door I posted yesterday is my messy studio. Built by my husband, my father and my son over the space of about five years, it provided an ideal bonding experience for all three. There were some disagreements as the project expanded from a simple eight by eight structure to what it is today.  (My neighbor once joked that we were building the Taj Mahal!)

We call it The Teahouse.

Teahouse

Of course, traditional teahouses do not have aluminum roofs but this is California where a thatched roof and paper walls are not practical. There are four barn-style doors that open to allow cross ventilation – a necessity when you’re addicted to painting with oils.

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I don’t get down to my Taj Mahal as often as I should.  All of this editing, blogging, tweeting, and creating a presence on social media has greatly cut into my painting. The last time I went down there, I discovered that a mouse colony had taken up residence in my paint box. Sorry mice. I’m not Bob Ross! You’ve got to find new digs.

 

Hugh’s Photo Challenge – Pairs

JT Twissel 20 Comments

The post is in response to Hugh’s photo challenge. Check it out. IMG_2333These two sit together every afternoon and watch the sun go down, the leaves change colors, and the wind knock over the umbrella but they never met (as far as I know). One was a professional model (can you guess which one?)

Some background: Like many writers, I’m also an artist.  When my children were small I decided having oil painting equipment sitting around, specifically turpentine, was not good for them so I switched to something I’d always wanted to try – sculpture.

Sculpting is a lot like writing.  First you manhandle a blob until it vaguely resembles a human.  Then you begin the unending process of adding and removing clay, in the same way as writers remove and add words.

#ThursdayDoors: Carousel

JT Twissel 18 Comments

CarouselWhen I was a child these were my favorite doors!  Who doesn’t love a carousel? Last Saturday found this carousel during a Halloween celebration in Howarth Park (Santa Rosa) thus all the children (and many of the adults) were in costume.

Check out other Thursday Doors on Norm Frampton’s blog.

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This isn’t a very good picture but you can kind of see Minnie Mouse in her polka dot dress!

Here’s a link to some of the world’s “must see” carousels.  Which is your favorite? Mine, of course, is the one on Pier 39 in San Francisco.

IMG_0992Tomorrow, as promised, the conclusion of Brownie Fright Night!

#ThursdayDoors – Brooklyn Bridge

JT Twissel 27 Comments

BrooklynBridge

Arches of the Brooklyn Bridge – doors to Manhattan

Here’s my addition to Norm Frampton’s always fascinating  #ThursdayDoors challenge.  Check out other doors here 

You would think on a Monday afternoon in October this bridge would be an enjoyable walk. Unfortunately it was packed with tourists. The worst part (and I’ll probably get in hot water for saying this) were the bicyclists in a hurry to get somewhere.  Especially if some poor unsuspecting tourist from Slovenia inadvertently stepped into their sacred space to get a picture.

IMG_0847I thought this building was very interesting considering the current debate over illegal immigrants.  Harkens back to the time when we welcomed the poor and needy.