As I mentioned in my last post I’ve been working on a new painting. This one is inspired by that eager excitement I have felt when looking at displays of pastries, cookies and cakes – even if all I actually get at the cafe is the coffee. I love the colors and textures of the towers of baked goodness. So this week I worked on and finished…
… a new 8 x 10 gouache and ink painting I’ve titled “Eager Beaver”.
It will join my series in progress for upcoming exhibits via the Caplan Art Designs Gallery later this year.
And of course after finishing “Eager Beaver” I began a new painting immediately.
I keep thinking of various phrases I use – like ‘eager beaver’ – that are often taken for granted. What happens when I examine curiously the content of ready-made language?
I hope there are so many pleasant moments for you this week that you can’t pick which one to talk about first.
Okay, so that was my attempt to wish good things for you without resorting to a stock phrase.
sue clancy - artist 
10 responses to “Eager beaver”
I love this one! I use the phrase “eager beaver” too and have never really interrogated the origins of the phrase beyond its obvious meaning. I love your take on it. I actually just had cause to remember the first time I was ever taken to a high tea with the sandwiches and cakes and other sweet treats presented on just such a tower.
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I’m glad!! Thank you!! I enjoy reading about the origins of words and phrases or at least in my own mind speculating about them. Having recently seen a beaver chewing a log (have you seen how fast they can chew??!) and visited a local cafe that serves really good coffee and tea – with such treats on display. The towers of treats are amazing!
I’ve only been to one high tea and it was one where I was invited to be a guest speaker, for an audience of about 200 women, so I’m afraid I was too busy trying to remember my speech (about my art and women artists in general) that I didn’t notice too much about the food. I remember that I liked both of the kinds of tea they served and adored the china tea service and linens. My speech went well but I was ever so glad to sit back down and have more tea!
Did you like your experience with high tea?
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That experience sounds the opposite of relaxing! I can see why even a tower of treats would not be adequately distracting.
I was probably 6 or 7 when my grandmother took me for my first high tea so I felt very fancy and special and, of course, for little me it was very low pressure. It is not something I have done very often so it remains a special treat.
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What a wonderful grandmother she was to treat you to something so special!! I’m glad high tea remains a special treat!!
On another topic: that capybara cake for your son’s birthday was delightful!! (I saw it on your Facebook) I hope you all had a fun celebration!! 💚💚💚💚💚
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Thank you! He loves capybaras so that had to be the theme for the cake. It was delicious. We are actually celebrating (albeit at a distance) the 21st birthday of our oldest son today. Two birthdays 6 days apart has always made this a festive and cake-filled week.
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How delightful!!!! Happy birthday to your eldest from me!!!
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I have one thing to say about the eager beaver with yummies: Nom, nom, nom!!
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Lol!!!! Yes indeed!!!!
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😀 😀 😀
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[…] was thinking of high tea as I worked on my last painting “Eager Beaver” so as I began a new artwork I continued thinking of tea related thoughts and phrases. At the […]
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