The Deathless Masterpiece

I first heard the term "deathless masterpiece" as an art student. In fact the instructor who introduced the term to us, would routinely say that what we were working on wasn't a deathless masterpiece. He was giving us permission to lighten up. There we were with our little fledgling artistic egos trying, ever so hard, to impress. What we really were there to learn was how long we were going to be bad at what we were doing. We had yet to make our mistakes so we could learn from them. It's the only way to make a technique or media your own.

For the past three years I've been working in pastels. Edged out of my studio by renovations, I'd hit the road with my field kit. At this point when I pick up a certain color, I know before it touches the surface of the paper what I can make it do. Each media is like a language. To become fluent, you have to immerse yourself in it, sound funny, be giggled at & corrected. But there comes the day that you converse & express yourself gracefully. Before pastels, I was working in acrylic and before that watercolors. There was a point at which I was floating watercolor in acrylic gloss medium and glazing over acrylic in paintings. Although it's probably apt to be fugitive, the technique does give an "old Masters'" glow to a sunset. One day a reporter came to my studio to interview me and noticed reference photos on my drawing board. She kept looking over at them and then asked who took them. This seemed like a trick question, too easy- I did. She commented that they were good. I knew that, but that was the last thing I needed- another media!

It was with great trepidation that I went to the Golden Workshop. (Golden Opportunity 3/23/09) Coming out of the workshop I thought, well that was fun but none of this fits with what I'm doing now. There was this one sample board..., and I just wanted to see what I could do with it..., and well yes..., I was off to the races. (Mixed Media Merriment 4/6/09) I was placing my order for dimensional paste, crackle medium and digital ground. Suddenly I was creating texture to be glazed with acrylics and overlaying them with pastel to enhance every ridge and bump. Like a mad scientist, I made acrylic skin and fed it through my ink jet printer. Those images are then collaged into the piece. I am miles from my comfort zone. This is the dark side of the moon. I keep thinking as I work, next time I'll do this or that differently. There is no image with this post because I haven't produced the "deathless masterpiece". I have to be bad at this for awhile, but sometimes it's good to be bad.

Plein Air Season

I am packing my supplies to go plein air painting tomorrow. It will be "opening day" for the season. Artists from all over the region will converge on a particularly beautiful site. Like bears leaving our winter dens we blink at the sunlight and sniff the air. Plein air is a multi-sensory situation. It is also a very social exercise for artists that spend most of their working life in isolation. We will be at the same place where I did "Summer Residents" which is a pastel painting. That day I was working alone... or at least I thought I was alone. Several geese came up on the bank and stood around me as I painted. I found it amusing how close they came to me and how still they were as if to not disturb my work. The ducks on the other hand were a study in frenetic activity. The geese slyly showed their disapproval of the unruly neighbors. This is how we spent a lovely Summer's afternoon together, my feathered friends and I. You see that's the thing about working plein air. There's always a story that goes with the image.

May Flowers

Rain and flowers just seem to go together just as wonder and enchantment does. This acrylic painting began one rainy Spring day when my oldest daughter was seven. She loved walking in the rain and picking wild violets that dotted the lawn. As she climbed the steps a look swept over her face. It spoke of childhood whimsie and enchantment. I knew that one day I would paint this scene. "Phoebe and the Rainy Day Violets" is dedicated to all of us that have retained some part of the wonder of childhood. Those of us who know that somewhere out there, under a leaf, lies a treasure if only we look for it.

Hot Time In The City

This week was our second annual "...magical, mystery tour" to Chicago. Five of us boarded the train early Monday morning having packed our enthusiasm along with our sack lunches. We look forward to this day each Spring. This year was the Edvard Munch Show. I was eager to see the return of the Impressionists and scope out their new gallery. Oh, and Georgia Keefe's "Sky Above Clouds IV" is back. Since construction continues, the Chagall windows haven't been reinstalled. These artists' works have been so much of my life that they feel like family.(Part 1 of 3)

Hot Time In The City (continued)

On the second floor under the sky light of the Grand Staircase are architectural elements taken from significant buildings before they were demolished. My grandfather was a talented carpenter and cabinet maker who worked on buildings from White City (1893) to St. Peters Church in the 1950's. I always wonder if any of the carved elements on the wall where done by him.
I see the worn areas on the marble steps and remember walking them with my parents. Today my youngest daughter has met me at the museum and we walk down those same steps together. (Part 2 0f 3)

Hot Time In The City (continued)

At the end of the day I took this picture at the entrance looking out into the city. I remembered as an Art student scrambling out to catch the commuter bus after classes. I must admit to becoming teary eyed thinking about that young woman with her dreams and wishes.
The "Ya-Ya Sisterhood" boarded the train for the return trip. We become the party car, mingling and making friends along the way. That's when I knew what happened to my young dreams and wishes. I'm living them! I'm living them out among these bright, warm, wonderful women that I'm lucky enough to call friends. (Part 3 of 3)

My Favorite Cafe

There is a wonderful place in town. It's family owned and aptly named My Favorite Cafe. The place swims with ambiance from it's exposed brick walls to the gleam of the 19th century floor boards. I am always welcomed by one of Laura's smiles and Brian asking if I want "... the usual?" The aromas are amazing with scones baking and panini toasting on the grill. I refer to it as "the office". Since my studio is attached to my home there are times I need to find another four walls to be in. Over the years I've done several sketches there while swilling my expertly made lattes. This mixed media sketch was one done of the refrigerated show cases and their gooey wonderful contents. Talk about eye candy!

This piece has been donated for auction to the Circle of Art sponsored by The Picture Frame Company. Proceeds from the auction go to Food Gatherers to feed the hungry. To go to their online auction link for more information, go to www.salinepictureframe.com. then go to the Shop By Category box on the left. Click on 2009 Circle of Art. I believe this piece is on page 13 under the title, "My Favorite Cafe". All this talk about the cafe has made me thirsty. Time to go get... "the usual".