My Juste Milieu Year

It is the last day of my life as a 55-year old and I want to spin a little tale about this year.  Actually, it begins earlier, on October 27, 2009.  There was a review in the WSJ of an exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery of Art entitled Sargent and the Sea. I read it with great interest because Sargent is one of my favorite painters. The reviewer, Barrymore Laurence Scherer, placed Sargent with the Juste Milieu group, rather than the Impressionists explaining that: "Juste Milieu painters employed Impressionism's lighter palette and looser brushwork--especially in their backgrounds--while rendering their figures with the careful modeling of light and shade valued by the Salon."  So the Juste Milieu were "the golden mean" between the bad-boy Impressionists and the establishment Salon. I loved thinking about Sargent being on the middle path, as it were, and I love thinking about the golden mean (the meaning of juste milieu.)  The golden mean is a concept about pleasing proportions which are laid out in the Fibonacci sequence, where you add the two previous numbers to arrive at the next: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55 etc. 
      So, this is the backdrop as I approached my 55th birthday.  Last spring David and I had been planning on taking part in a hiking trip in Spain. The last day of this trip we would spend in Madrid where Sargent's painting of the Daughters of Edward Darley Boit would be on display with Velasquez's Las Meninas for the very last day.  But David's knee gave out and we had to scrap these hiking plans. Perhaps I was a bit sullen as we drove into Houston last spring on the day after my birthday (We had enjoyed a fine birthday dinner at The Olive Garden in Texarkana!) Mary's junior year was wrapped up and she lived near the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. So we drove by the MFAH and draped over the side of the building was a huge sign: Sargent and the Sea.  I couldn't believe my good fortune!  Naturally, I went to see the exhibit twice while we were in Houston.  My favorite painting was the one above, Fishermen Returning,  set in Cancale in Brittany, France.  The light is magical, at once luminescent but also a little sad.  I tried to absorb as much as I could of the young Sargent's brilliant rendering of water and humanity, sky and creatures.  Included in the exhibit were Sargent's early scrapbooks, which were fantastically inspiring.
       A couple of weeks later we went to see Jacob graduate from Washington University, Saint Louis with a masters in finance.  Now, we would not have been able to attend this graduation if we had been in Spain, so the trade off had become very easy.  We stayed at a hotel a little ways out from the campus.  The restaurant where we had our breakfast had these very pleasing paintings which made me think of Millet.  I was very curious about them. It was quite surprising, when I went to look up Juste Milieu to discover that Jules Bastien-Lepage, the ringleader of the Juste Milieu was the painter of the paintings imitated on the walls of the hotel outside St. Louis!

      In the fall, we returned to Houston to see Mary in her last powder puff football game.  It was great to see her in action (and to hear her in action--she has a very commanding voice!) Naturally, we visited the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.  This time, did not seem as promising.  They were featuring two exhibits by German Impressionists--German Impressionists--who had heard of that!  Well, if you have been reading this blog for a while, you know the story (if not, see my blog: Into the Woods, Part II, January 29, 2011)  I was smitten with the freedom in the paintings of Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth and Max Slevogt. Reveling in their absolute love of nature, I was inspired to work larger and looser. 

        Then, in early spring of this year, David and I took a river cruise up the Seine which included a trip to Normandy to visit the D-Day beaches.  We knew that Richard Roney-Dougal's father had helped design the Mulberry harbours which allowed supplies to arrive with all the troops in the summer of l944. The amazing, thoroughly improbable success of this endeavor is haunting (and I write about this in my blog: Wild Primroses, April 6, 2011).  The connection to my life in Kentucky, made this visit to Normandy so very beautiful.

        Just a couple of weeks ago, I was looking up my new, favorite German artists (Liebermann, Corinth and Slevogt) in Paul Johnson's interesting Art: A New History and was astounded to read this:  "...many Germans who joined the international throng at the Academie Julian, where Bastien-Lepage was revered and his methods taught." !! The story had come full circle.

       But there is more!  Recently we learned that Mary will be teaching English next year--in Brittany, France.  Perhaps I will be able to see that eerily magnificent light that Sargent saw. This year has been a series of connections; previous experiences adding up to a new, wonderful experience. On the eve of my birthday, I feel that my life is opening in a beautiful Fibonacci spiral and I am looking forward to the rest of my Juste Milieu life!

Last Week at White Horse

This is the final week to see my paintings at White Horse Gallery, 431 Main Street, Paris, KY.  You can see the primrose paintings in the window, but go inside and check out the watercolor/pastel paintings of England and Kentucky along with my new large and vertical acrylic paintings on panels.  White Horse is open Tuesday-Friday, 11 am - 5:30 pm. and on Saturday 11-4:30.  Derby Day, May 7th,  is the last day for my paintings at this delightful venue!

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.



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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.

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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!