Old Dira

I'm heading home for a couple weeks on Saturday. I'm so excited by the prospect that I haven't been sleeping well. Instead of lying there wishing I were sleeping, I get up and paint. This is one of the results.

Dira is a conglomeration of souks in Riyadh, near the clock tower, the courthouse, and the square where they administer beheadings and hand amputations. Surrounding the souks is a network of narrow alleys like these, where ancient buildings of mud and palm timber are stacked atop one another. Most of them are being torn down now, so whenever I can I prowl around taking pictures so I can paint it as it was.

This painting isn't finished yet. There will be a "no parking" sign in Arabic in that blank rectangle in the left-hand foreground when I'm done. I like the way it's shaping up though, so I thought I'd give you this preview. Besides, I won't be posting much for the next couple weeks.

Skyline, Old City

Here's my current project. I've signed it, but I'm not quite sure it's finished yet, so I'll give it a day or two before I put it in a frame.

Junebug and Bougainvillea

The weather's been really nice lately. Who'd have thought that in Riyadh, there's a season (however brief) when you can leave your doors open? The cats are particularly appreciative. They sit and watch the patio for hours, and when there are birds overhead, they hunker down below the bottom of the door as if they're stalking them.

Man and Camel

This is a post-card sized study for what I hope will be a larger painting. Below, you might recognize the photograph that provided the inspiration.