A Pregnant Time

A Pregnant Time, Kathy Rees Johnson, opaque watercolor and collage on paper. 

It has been more than 31 years since I've been pregnant, but I recognize the time we are in right now, and it is a pregnant time.

It started to feel this way early in our quarantine living.  Unless we were called upon as essential workers, we abruptly withdrew from the world to our homes. Early in my first pregnancy, things were a bit tenuous and I had to quit my normal running around (literally) and keep relatively calm and still for a while. Fortunately, I had final exam studying to keep me sedately occupied. A similar demand was issued from COVID-19. Cancellations appeared left and right, and our time of confinement began.

Pregnancy is a time of going inside oneself. The body undergoes changes which are obvious to detect by the impregnated person and those receive a lot of attention, but not more attention than the not so obvious changes around the new being growing within. I feel the same way now. I've had to adjust to obvious changes such as wearing a mask during the limited times I head out to the grocery store or making sure that I keep six feet between myself and anyone not in my tiny sphere. At the same time, there is a whole lot of worrying and wondering what this new life is going to be post-COVID.

There are plenty of books about 'what to expect when you are expecting', but most parents know that the only reliable expectation is that there is going to be CHANGE. I am certain that is true of our COVID pregnancy as well. Already in our delicate condition we are worrying and wondering about how the economy is going to work so that a person does not have to become destitute after missing a single paycheck or how to educate young people when it is not possible to be physically close. COVID has exposed weaknesses. We can also see how 'clean living' is clearing the air and water. Is it possible to continue our relatively clean living?

It is impossible not to try to imagine what life will be like postpartum. What we envision is usually a variation on what we have lived before. We learn about the limits of our imagination when the child arrives and insists on being their own person! The same will be true for our post-COVID world. This has been convincingly brought to us by the death of George Floyd. My idea of a wonderful world was shamefully small, not taking into consideration the systemic miscarriage of justice in our country.

During the pregnancy, the body prepares to support and nourish the life about to be launched. I can see this happening, particularly in the work of young people, leading the way in pointing out our degenerative systems. They are heading into a world brought low with a pandemic and a crashing economy. From what I see, young people are seizing this opportunity to creatively rebuild the world in a more just way.

So, I say thank God for new life and new generations who can further our understanding of what is good. I feel it happening. It won't be easy and there will be serious labor involved. But, CHANGE is coming.

Notes on the art used in the collage:
Georgia O'Keefe, Jack-in-thePulpit No. 3, 1930; and Red Flower, 1919
O'Keefe's imagery is notably fecund. Apparently, she had wanted a child, but Whatshisname resisted, though he had a child with Whatshername.

Vincent van Gogh, Orchard in Blossom, 1889.
Though van Gogh was not appreciated in his lifetime, his work is food for our souls now.

Making Do Dinner Strata

These days, a major goal is limiting the number of times we venture out to the grocery store, so I like making up meals with food on hand. Fortunately, I had all the ingredients to make up a substantial dinner strata. In fact, knowing that we would be picking up an order of fantastic bread from Singe at the Chevy Chase Farmers Market in the morning, I wanted to use up some (13 day!) old bread. More on that later, but first, as requested:

The Recipe, Skeleton Version

4+ cups of old bread, cubed *
4 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/3 large yellow onion, chopped
1/2 cup country ham, finely chopped **
1 cup + grated cheese ***
1 cup + roughly chopped (or snipped) spinach
butter for preparing the casserole and for sautéing the onions/ham
salt and pepper
seasoning (I used some Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning)

     Whisk the eggs and milk together and let sit while you prepare the other ingredients. Saute the chopped onion in some butter and olive oil for about 5 minutes, just until softened and add in the ham just to meld the flavors. You can add the seasoning you want to use to this mixture, along with some pepper. Add a modest amount of salt to the egg mixture (country ham and cheese provide a lot of saltiness).
     Place half of the bread cubes in the bottom of a buttered casserole. Cover that with half of the spinach, the seasoned onion/ham mixture and then not quite half of the cheese. Repeat with a second layer. Pour the egg mixture over and put a little extra grated cheese on top, if you wish. I used a smallish, but deep casserole.
     Most recipes call for refrigerating the strata for 8 hours or overnight. The strata is removed half an hour before cooking. Bake at 350 degrees, covered, for 35 minutes. Remove foil, or top and cook another 20 minutes or until golden. Let rest for 10 minutes. That is the guidance I got from recipes--Here is what I did because I had not planned ahead:   Place in fridge for 1 hour. Remove to warm to room temperature for 30 minutes. Place in oven, covered and set to 300 degrees to slowly begin warming. Leave for 30 minutes and turn up to 325 and bake 20 minutes. Remove covering and turn heat up to 375 for 20 minutes or until golden. Let rest briefly before digging in.

* We had about a third of a loaf of Pain au levain and a bit of some Vollkornbrot (German, for whole grain bread, I believe) from Bluegrass Baking Company. The bread had been stored in paper bags, so it was hard as a rock, but still quite tasty. I had to hose the bread down a couple of times, wrap loosely in foil and warm to soften it up for cutting. When you store bread in plastic bags, it stays softer, but can mold quite quickly. Both of these breads were sourdough breads which give an amazing tang to the strata and blends so well with the ham and cheese. Singe breads (what we picked up today) are made of freshly milled whole grain flours. While we don't live by bread alone, a good bread sure brings a lot of sweetness (and tang) to life!

** David had the idea to get a petite country ham for Easter. It was a great idea because a small ham (about 2 lbs) will last us at least a month. Ham can be used in the traditional way, as a type of seasoning. The saltiness and intense flavor go a long way!

*** I used a mixture of smoked Gouda, parmesan and a bit of cheddar. The smoked Gouda is the product of Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese, from Austin, Kentucky. The flavor is perfect with the tangy sourdough and the salty ham.

     We were delighted with our little meal, which we served with a simple salad. We have enough for another meal. Naturally, this can be adjusted to suit your pantry and your tastes. You might also want to increase the ratio of the egg mixture to the bread. I see that I am presenting this similarly to how I instruct art; I encourage experimentation!

     Stay safe and sated!

Our haul from Singe today: Ancient grain crackers, Double Fermented Pumpernickel with Blue emmer sprouts, Buckwheat Walnut crackers, Traditional Country Sourdough baguette. The pumpernickel will be placed in a paper bag--future meals await--perhaps a strata with sauerkraut? 

Eternal Ephemeral

Eternal Ephemeral, watercolor/pastel on Arches cold press watercolor paper mounted on board,
 24 x 12"

Practically everyday, I make my way to Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate. It is a place of beauty in all seasons, but especially so in the fleeting season of Spring. The Spring Beauties give a pristine covering to the grounds and above ground, everything seems to be popping out at once. The Dogwoods are just behind the Redbuds. Even the late-to-leaf Ash trees are popping out. On a recent day, the loveliness was almost too much to bear. I was reminded of years when my mentor in the art of pastel, Fay Moore, would have workshops around the time of the Derby. The timing was so appropriate as Fay would welcome us into expressing our own beautiful (or quirky, or sporty) worlds. Under her guidance, I was able to create and dwell in the ephemeral Spring for an extended season. So, when I saw the ancient Ash leafing out so freshly, I thought of Fay Moore and I knew I wanted to recreate this scene with watercolor and pastel. Also, since I am already washing my hands many times a day, what would be a few many more???

Starting with a watercolor underpainting

For some reason, I was inspired to make my sketch using hard pastel--perhaps not the best choice, but  interesting to try. Experimenting is always useful. My watercolors here can be found on leftover palettes (yogurt lids) from workshops. I like the premixed, murky colors.  In general, I like to underpaint the sky area with a pink/red/orange color. It makes a more convincing sky, in my opinion. 

Laying down values

Normally, I would also underpaint the grassy areas with a red, too. But, in this scene, the Spring Beauties are more prominent than the grass, so I'm keeping this area properly light. In fact, my main goal with the watercolor is to establish values. This will make the rest of the painting a lot simpler. Everything runs into everything else and layers of paint washes and splashes give a rich base for the pastel. I double check the basic composition when the paint is dry (I've been painting on a horizontal surface) and correct any obvious aberrations.

Starting to lay in the pastel

   I like to start with the sky, or the upper, left hand corner. I'm defining the 'negative space' and also background. Generally, you can layer on the pastel as the subject matter is layered in life. I work quickly and freely, knowing that I can always correct with some watercolor or even just water to bring back the 'tooth' in the paper. After I added some of the spring leaf color, I became unhappy with the color of the sky, so I went back and made the sky more of a Robin's egg blue color. Sitting with the painting for a day and looking at it from different perspectives is useful. 

My completed painting celebrates both the ephemeral nature of Spring, but also things that last, like this Blue Ash tree planted by Henry Clay perhaps? Fay Moore is no longer with us, but for me, her inspiration and enthusiasm lives on with each new Spring. At a time when human life seems so fragile, it is healing for me to remember that I get to be a part of this beautiful world.

Home-Bound Collage

Are you stuck at home and spinning your wheels? How about trying something new--make a collage with at home materials.

Do you have some some watercolors? Watercolor paper, magazines and a glue stick?

Canson coldpress watercolor pad is a good, inexpensive paper. Pelikan opaque watercolors are very versatile. Rubber duckies inspire some good splashing!

For me, the fun in making a collage starts with making a free form painting using favorite colors. This is abstract and fast, so that unexpected treasures are created. If you have a kid at home, they can help you with this.

Free watercolor application, splashing in color

After this, look for a couple of images that speak to you and might go with your underpainting. I like to find images in American Art Review magazine, but any magazine that appeals to you will have imagery that, well, appeals to you.

Underpainting and a selection of images that I will use in the collage. I'm going to use the snowy scene on the left and the loose city scene above.

I've selected two images. Check out how the colors relate to my underpainting. This is the fun part. Be sure to use colors that really appeal to you.

I've fallen into a method of using one image horizontally and the other vertically.

I like using strips from the images. Generally, I start in the upper left-hand corner and work down and right. It can be really interesting to see how the underpainting and over-images interact. Before gluing, check out how the pieces work together. Move around the strips and let serendipity happen. Interesting relationships emerge. You can break out from just using strips to have squares, cut outs and any kind of shape you wish. You are going to do what pleases you--that is the whole idea! Enjoy!!

Art Inspired by Music

Kathy Rees Johnson, Bagatelles, mixed media on board

The Harstad Fine Arts Series is pleased to present an exhibit of art inspired by music through the month of January. This brings together two of the featured disciplines of the series--music and art! It is also a favorite pairing for me, as this is my third such exhibit. In this exhibit, the artists were inspired by specific pieces of music.

Mary Louise Dean, Swan Lake, oil on canvas

Mary Louise Dean has been a co-exhibitor in each of these exhibits. Here, she offers our exhibition a series of abstract paintings based on her favorite classical music. A common theme is the melodic and mournful minor key of each piece. She listens to the music allowing the 'dance' of the brush on the canvas to inspire the composition and colors. She has been an active plein air painter for the past ten years, and has participated in group shows in Louisville, Lexington and Paris, Ky. Mary Louise and her husband have recently moved to Milwaukee, WI, where she can be closer to family.

Don't miss this chance to see the work of Mary Louise Dean!

Judy Hower, My 'blue boat home', acrylic and ink on canvas

Judy Hower's painting is inspired by the folk song Blue Boat Home by Peter Mayer, folk singer/songwriter.

Blue Boat Home

Though below me, I feel no motion

Standing on these mountains and plains

Far away from the rolling ocean

Still my dry land heart can say

I've been sailing all my life now

Never harbor or port have I known

The wide universe is the ocean I travel

And the Earth is my blue boat home

Sun, my sail, and moon, my rudder,

As I ply the starry sea

Leaning over the edge in wonder

Casting questions into the deep

Drifting here with my ship's companions

All we kindred pilgrim souls

Making our way by the lights of the heavens

In our beautiful blue boat home

I give thanks to the waves upholding me

Hail the great winds urging me on

Greet the infinite sea before me

Sing the sky my sailor's song

I was born upon the fathom's

Never harbor or port have I known

The wide universe is the ocean I travel

And the Earth is my blue boat home

       --Peter Mayer

Kathy Rees Johnson, Adagio, acrylic on board

My passions of Art, Earth and Music come together in my paintings. A deep love for music and creating art meet with celebrating the beauty of the Earth. When listening to music, I often envision landscapes and experience the underlying emotion revealed in the music. My abiding affection for a wide variety of music and landscapes are, hopefully, evident in the exhibited paintings.
I have eight paintings in this exhibit, but I would like to single out Adagio (see image above) because it was inspired by a concert in which Benjamin Karp, cellist, performed. I've written about this in my blog Good, if you would like to explore that further.  Experiencing music live opens up a world of inspiration. This is is your reminder to come to our HFAS concert, Karp & Co. 2, January 26th (more information below) and start planning your new artwork!

Helen Powell, Night on Bald Mountain, oil on canvas

Helen Powell states that 'storms provide color, sound, texture, and movement. These physical attributes are translated by Mussorgsky into an emotional, vibrant piece of music'.  Helen is a perceptive painter of landscapes. She will be the featured artist at the First Presbyterian gallery in March/April with an exhibit titled, Water, Earth, and Sky.

I hope that this has whetted your appetite to see this exhibit in person. Harstad will hold an Open House on Sunday, January 19th, from 3 - 4:30 pm. Our host venue is Faith Lutheran Church, 1000 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, KY. We will have recordings of the music along with simple refreshments. This is a prime opportunity to view the art and chat with artists.

Karp & Co. 2 is the following Sunday, January 26th, 3 pm, also taking place at Faith Lutheran Church, 1000 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, KY.  The Karp & Co trio is created by violinist, Margaret Karp, cellist Benjamin Karp, and pianist Jacob Coleman. Please join us! Tickets available at www.harstadarts.com.

America: the Beautiful Future

The Squad: Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley

The Squad has captured my imagination. Their expressive faces remind me that America is an ever-changing experiment. When I look at them, I feel that I'm looking into the future--an America that is new and different and beautiful. It is true that I have not dug deeply into their individual ideas. We (and they) probably don't agree on everything, but that is okay. They own more future than I do. 

     

Studying their faces to make these paintings, I could see how they are such a vital part of the America that I love. As immigrants and refugees have come to our shores, our ideas of America expand and become richer. For example, growing up in Lexington, KY, we had only one pizza place, Pasquale's Pizza and our Asian fare was limited to Wing's Tea House. Now, every part of the globe is represented in restaurants around Lexington. (This is a very superficial look at things, Lexington is richer in every way now.) Even from the beginning (and before 1960!) America was an expansive idea. As we spread west, new states were added to the Union and new stars to the flag. We have always been about expansion and change--it is just so American! Ilhan Omar is a new star in our country.

Reading about Rashida Tlaib, I learned that she is the oldest of fourteen children. People are a fertile resource for our country. I am not necessarily thinking about the need to create more people, but about the ways in which new people bring rich ideas and energy to our midst. I think about America, the Beautiful and its amber waves of grain. My husband is a mathematician, so I've been introduced to more than a few brilliant mathematicians who were forced out of their countries. I always wondered why those countries would let such a valuable resource go.

Green is one of my favorite colors. It represents new growth and springtime. I appreciate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez thinking up new ideas that address the challenges we are facing in our world today. The New Green Deal is a new idea, not a dictate. That is what democracy looks like--new ideas that are considered and even argued over until we come up with something that can work for us as a country. Refreshing and green!

The thirteen stripes on the American flag represent the thirteen British colonies which became the original thirteen states of the United States of America. It is a remarkable story that our country came to exist and that we became such a dominant leader in the world. We became a rich country and much that wealth would not have been possible without people being kidnapped from Africa and forced to work against their will. It was not their will, but their building of our country must be acknowledged and the vitality that their descendants bring to our present economies is undeniable. So much of what we consider to be American has African roots. There simply is no America without our African-American sisters and brothers. Ayanna Pressley's story is a reminder of that and gives me confidence in the future of our country.

Summer Sampling

A sum of my early summertime sampling

I have given myself permission to try some new things this summer, armed with a supply of canvas panels and all the media I have collected through the years. This was a rather vague idea/goal, but it came into focus when I heard a Think program on npr.  Krys Boyd was interviewing David Epstein about his book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. The discussion began around a comparison of Tiger Woods and Roger Federer and their childhood pursuits. Later in the program they cited 'grit authority' Angela Duckworth. She sang the praises of exploring different interests and testing new skills, particularly during the down time of the year, academically. Duckworth proclaims that "summer is for sampling." Aha! That is what I am up to!

Though I use the word 'experiment' to title many of my workshops and classes, and I am willing to try anything to get a certain effect, I have not spent an extended amount of time exploring new ways to use materials. My goal has usually been to prepare for the next show or to work on the next commission. Perhaps this is what happens when one works toward an MFA. I know artist friends without MFAs who still methodically set aside time to learn about color or materials and about what they wanted to create artistically. I've never done that.  Maybe now is that time for me.










One of the most exciting experiments has been using pastel as a kind of paint. An example is to the left. I am applying pastel directly to canvas board. Then, I apply matte medium over the pastel. It creates a kind of paint. This paint can be 'pushed' around with more pastel or Neocolor II or colored pencil. I add more matte medium. In this example, which I call Whistling in the Woods, the image appeared. I had no idea starting out what would develop.

The end result was full of surprises. My hope is to continue with this experimentation and to develop new ways of creating, being open to new ways of seeing as well.

Please stay tuned. I will be posting more of my experiments.