Photos vs Paintings

 My sister was interested in seeing the photograph and the painting of the bluff with primroses side-by-side.  They don't quite fit, but perhaps this gives you an idea of the difference between photography and painting. I have to say, I am not a great photographer--but taking photos for reference has improved my skill somewhat. I definitely have an idea of the painting I want to make as I take photographs.  For example, the rugged quality of the bluff and the feeling of wind does not show up in the photograph as well as it does in the painting.  If I were a stellar photographer, you would see it in the photograph.

This is why I am a painter!  Now through Derby Day you can see the primrose paintings and more at White Horse Gallery, 431 Main Street, Paris, KY.  After that, my paintings will be coming down to make room for a new show.  I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to see my paintings in the delightful setting of White Horse!

Painting Primroses

For the April Art Walk in Paris, KY, I was invited to be the featured artist at White Horse Gallery.  Roz suggested that it would be good to be actively demonstrating the art of painting during this event.  I had a bit of trepidation about painting for an audience--but it turned out to be a great experience! Folks are genuinely curious about how artists approach their work. And they certainly apologize a lot for not being stellar artists themselves, which I find rather curious. Usually, they say they can't draw a straight line, which is funny because that is the hardest thing to draw!  After six or seven people announced that they had no gifts in the art department, I invited Cathy to add some strokes to the my painting of the bluff with primroses.  This was fun.  I knew that I could riff on her contribution. In fact, next time I am involved with such a demonstration, I am going to have a panel devoted to making a group painting, inviting all so inclined to take part.

     To prepare the two panels for the demonstration, I painted a layer of transparent burnt umber.  A composition was suggested with brush strokes.  I wanted to have my thoughts gathered before painting in public.  My choice of medium was also determined by the setting.  I chose acrylic over watercolor, as watercolor takes a lot strategic thinking; not possible when working the crowd!  But, it was interesting that the openness to an ever changing cast of characters, also opened my mind to new ways of approaching the paintings.  So, these paintings are a little different from what I have created before.
     
I was not able to complete both paintings during the Art Walk.  In fact, I did very little on the square primrose painting at the top, left. I simply used up some paint on my brush to quickly start on the leaves. I finished both paintings in my studio.  I took what I learned in community with me.  Now I have souvenirs of my visit to the beaches of Normandy and an interesting evening of living the artist's life.



 *     *     *     *     *

You can read more about Wild Primroses in my April 6th posting.

Wild Phlox and White Horse

    From my last posting, you know that I fell in love with the wild primroses of Normandy.  I was hoping to bring that abundance to my gardens here in Kentucky, but I read in the White Flower Farm catalogue that primroses dislike the heat and humidity of the south (although David reports that "cowslips" as they are called in his home turf, did just fine in Virginia.) I guess that is what makes flavor local!  Viva la difference! I've been considering which new paintings to bring to White Horse for the Paris Art Walk and I was reminded of our own Kentucky abundance when I saw my painting of wild phlox at Blue Licks State Resort Park.  In April, wild phlox carpet the hillside on the Indian Run trail.  Last year I made a small painting in watercolor/pastel, that is at White Horse.  This year, I made a large painting ( 48x16") in acrylic on panel.  Since this represents a newish direction for me (and wild abundance) I am going to include it in the show at White Horse.  I hope you can come to the Paris Art Walk and see my work at White Horse Gallery, 431 Main Street, Paris, KY.  Hours for the Art Walk are Friday, April 15th, 5-8 pm.  Roz and Richard Roney-Dougal have a beautiful collection of original equine-themed jewelry and a fun selection of gifts.  There is something for everyone. A new exhibit of paintings is on the way in May, so I hope you can see my paintings before they come down! And remember, I will be demonstrating painting primroses (I will have those primroses!)

      The wild phlox provide a segue to The Student Art Show at the Blue Licks lodge, Friday through Sunday, April 15-17th.  This is an exhibit of art work by middle and high school students from Harrison, Fleming, Mason, Clark, Bath, Nicholas and Robertson counties in Kentucky.  (And you know from Part Two of my Art Colony series that this is the brainchild of Larry Mitchell, our Courthouse Square Arts Guild fearless leader.) My suggestion is that you take a little hike along the Indian Run trail (maps available at the desk in the lodge) and see the Student Art Show. Enjoy the beauty of Kentucky this weekend!

Wild Primroses

Last fall I ordered some primroses and they are supposed to arrive some time this spring for planting.  I am anticipating their arrival even more after seeing the exuberant wild primroses all along the bluffs above the beaches of Normandy.  At first, it seems like an odd juxtaposition, lovely, delicate-seeming primroses on scene where desperation and death were common in the summer of l944. That was a cold summer and storms raged on either side of D-Day, June 6th.  The Allied Forces planned to liberate France by doing the unexpected, which involved entering France along fifty miles of coastline west of the port of Le Havre. To accomplish this, the British came up with a plan to build artificial harbors so that supplies could be delivered. Churchill proclaimed that there would be no discussion as to whether it was possible or not, only how to create a harbor to be fabricated on site in a matter of days that could rise and fall with the tides. "Mulberry B" was built out from Gold Beach at Arromanches and "Mulberry A" off of Omaha Beach. 

        Unfortunately, on June 7, l944 the storms returned and gale force wind and water hammered the harbors. Amazingly, the harbors held sufficiently to allow the mass import of supplies to the Allied Forces battling against the Germans, who had bunkers all along the coastline.  At Pointe du Hoc, the placement of German bunkers was particularly particularly dense. The American troops formed human chains to climb the bluffs. When a soldier fell, there was another to take his place. 

         Walking along these landscapes, an idea began to develop, that there was a certain wild and organic nature to this warfare.  I have always focused on the discipline necessary to be a soldier (and I tend toward the pacifistic.)  Before me was a scene so improbable, how could harbors be built in days and withstand a gale? How could Allied Forces actually overtake the German troops hunkered down all along the coast? There were many missteps and mistakes, and still they succeeded. And the sheer numbers...you understand this when you see the field of white marble markers at the American Cemetery.

           I don't know about you, but I have been having a hard time getting my primroses established.  A few are hanging on and I'm hoping to add to their numbers.  In Normandy, they rush abundantly up the bluffs and through the fields, just like the young men in the summer of l944.

*     *     *     *     *

Please note the following is from 2011!

          I will be the featured artist at White Horse Gallery for the April 15th (2011) Paris Art Walk, 431 Main Street, Paris, KY, 5-8 pm.  Roz and Richard Roney-Dougal are the proprietors of White Horse. They offer a beautiful collection of their equine-themed original jewelry. Richard is connected to D-Day, his father helped design and build the Mulberry B harbour at Arromanches.  I shall be demonstrating the painting of primroses during the Paris Art Walk. Come join us!

         

Buffalo Tracings

Part Four of My Art Colony along US 68

    I could not have my art colony along US 68 without there being a US 68; and that highway would not exist if the Native Americans and Pioneers had not traveled along this route.  These paths used by humans would not have existed if the bison and mastodons before them had not worn a way from the Ohio River to the salt licks at Blue Licks and on to Lexington. At Blue Licks State Resort Park in Kentucky, you can walk along a buffalo trace and imagine what the world might have been like a thousand years ago. This is one of my favorite things to do and Blue Licks is one of my favorite places in the whole world. 

    Along the trail there is a sign with a map of buffalo traces that go from the Ohio River at Maysville and Covington/Cincinnati in toward the Inner Bluegrass/Lexington.  The trace from Maysville to Lexington is quite similar to the current highway today. Change is much more rapid these days with projects altering the route every few years.  I consider my art colony perimeters to be from roughly Maysville to Lexington, but US 68 actually goes all the way to the western tip of Kentucky and north up to Findlay, Ohio (which is where my father spent significant years.)

   This time of year is very beautiful at Blue Licks, the wildflowers are popping out.  I have seen White Trout Lily and Rue Anemone thus far.  Later in April, the wild phlox will appear, and they are stunning (I made the the painting on the left to celebrate this spring tide wonder.)

     I have walked at Blue Licks during every season of the year and in every month. A couple of springs ago we went to England to walk along some of our favorite paths and I was quite excited to come home and realize that I have this place of wonderful and subtle beauty that I can be part of whenever I like. This was a stunning discovery for me.  I even saw "twin scenes" with the Folly at Lyme Park matching up with the silos on the farm across the Licking River from Blue Licks. The main difference seems to be that the parks in England and filled up with people enjoying a day outside. I wish more people would indulge in this simple pleasure; particularly since some of our parks are vulnerable to the budget cuts.  Still, nothing lasts forever; for example, along one path you pass the site of a spring which provided a special tonic which launched a spa and hotel with 300 rooms!  I walked by this spot the other day and you could almost imagine the spring as water was trickling out of the ground.  But the hotel with 300 rooms was a bit harder to imagine. And, of course, there are no more mastodons or bison about either.

I hope you enjoy your special landscape this Spring; while it lasts!

   

Serendipity

Part Three of My Art Colony along US 68

Every art colony needs a sound track, and I had a taste of mine this very afternoon at the Neal Building(108 W. Main Street) in beautiful downtown Carlisle, KY. David and Arwen (who are also our CSA farmers) have created a monthly jam session (on the third Sunday); and each quarter they bring in a special group to perform for half an hour before the jam session.  This month, the Lucy Becker Trio was featured.  Lucy is a wondrous 13-year old fiddler (and the rest of the trio is middle-aged, and pretty wondrous, too.) The trio is special on its own, but we were treated to an inaugural event in the Mozart Hall (yes! Mozart Hall) upstairs in the Neal building.  The acoustics are fantastic!  I hope there will be a lot of musical events in Mozart Hall.  In the late 19th century, this space was used for Vaudeville programming.  Today, it was warm and the sun was shining in the generous windows.  It was a total sensory delight.  I was a bit late arriving for the jam session because my husband was preparing for the Lexington Philharmonic Family Concert, so you can see that my sound track tracks the length of my art colony (more on the Lexington end later.)  

    Right next door to the Neal Building is the Kentucky Doll and Toy Museum, which our friend Jan directs.  When you enter the Doll and Toy Museum, you are instantly transported back to childhood--or maybe the childhood you wished you had, materially speaking. When the museum opened, there was a charming tea room in one corner.  One day, when Meg and I were having lunch in the museum/tea room, a lovely scene unfolded and I was handed a story, which I wrote down.  Now, all I have to do is make the illustrations. Come to Carlisle and visit the Doll and Toy Museum.

   And there is more!  Nicholas County is home to Artcroft--a beautiful creative residency situated on 400 acres.  Robert and Maureen are the creators of Artcroft and they draw some of their inspiration from William Morris, a personal hero of mine. The thoughtful inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement is integral to the work of Artcroft.  A new project is a cafe, and gallery in the works for Millersburg, KY, which just happens to be along US 68.

 

   So, don't you agree with me, that I have an incredible art colony along  a route that began as a buffalo trace?  And that is what I'll write about next time--the buffalo trace that started it all.

     

Beauty by Design

It is a beautiful St. Patrick's Day and my sister Jennie's birthday, so I have just gone outside to sit in the warm sun and take a break from my painting.  I'm thinking about the  Beauty by Design retreat that Mary-Louise and I were part of, a couple of weeks ago, at St. Mary's Sewanee in Tennessee.  We undertook an exercise where we selected an object of beauty to reflect upon for an hour.  I selected the lichen which was glowing brightly from the rain saturated late winter trees outside.  (And I was not the only one, at least three other participants also chose lichen.) It made me realize that what I am concerned with is mostly on the surface; there are layers and layers of beauty. I considered the mountain (the Cumberland Plateau) that we were all appreciating and how it must have been a very violent event when The Mountain formed. The earth is alive, and not just on the surface, but to its very core.  So, I was reminded of this once again last Friday, when the 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan and then the terrible tsunami washed away everything in its path, without regard for human feelings. It makes me feel very humble as a human being.  There is only so much we can control.
    But this retreat was, in part, about what we can control.  We can control the work of our hands.  We began by considering the theology of beauty.  This was very exciting for me.  What does God love?  This was a Christian-based retreat, which I appreciated because, frankly, it seems to me that the Christian faith is rather weak in its concern for the earth. So, it was good to hear an argument for Christian concern for our planet (the Psalms are filled with beautiful praise of the earth and universe). But you could also ask, what does nature love?  We considered  that God/nature loves: order, interdependence, harmony, unity and diversity. We are naturally attracted to the beauty of truth and goodness; and here it was pointed out that theologians and scientists are equally concerned with this beauty of truth.This certainly rang true for me, as I have often heard my mathematician husband speak of elegant proofs. Further, justice is beauty. Well, that struck me. On January 8th, when I wrote my "Seeing Beauty" blog, I was struggling to put words to how appreciating beauty prevented injustice; but here it was stated clearly: beauty is justice.  So we discussed these elements of beauty and how they were "made flesh" through structure, design, form, movement, music, poetry and matter. 
    In the afternoon, we considered how we can apply principles of beauty to what we make as human beings. Here are some of the design principles we talked about:
Design should reflect and incorporate:
  * love of diversity
  * interdependence and interconnectedness
  * love and respect for all members of the community
  * co-operation with the natural order
  * no waste
We can apply these elements to everything we create so that we can proclaim a gospel with the work of our hands that is in alignment with the world in which we live.  This can make a difference in how we live in the world. It was pointed out that we alter the world just by living in it; and perfection is not possible. Some things we can not affect, like the movement of tectonic plates. But humbly doing the work of compassionate human beings is sufficient.