Charlie's Rose

A clue to my tendency to dwell on the past... I'm a hopeless romantic in this regard, so difficult to toss anything with a thread of family history to it... the kids will have a real chore when time comes to sort through it all!

This is my daddy's white rose. When he died about five years ago his yard was full of beautiful rose bushes... now, I can't grow roses worth dirt but we dug up a couple of the white bushes and brought them home with us... the first year they bloomed beautifully but went downhill after that, finally the root stock took over and it only bloomed wild red roses. Last year one white bud reappeared, this year there are two nice big ones! I'd ceased to fertilize, give extra water or spray for disease... these roses should be dead by now! I can't get rid of them until they stop flowering ... certainly the white ones.

Daddy and I were estranged for over forty years. He was an alcoholic and the divorce came at a time when I was striking out on my own... shedding unnecessary baggage. However, time is full of surprises and even miracles... we eventually found each other again. He'd made a good and happy life for himself and we had a few years where we visited often before his heart gave out.

So here I have this strange and different rose bush that insists on blooming both red and white. I guess I'd better take care of it... it may be trying to tell me something...

(An aside... when Mother died the next year, the white rose was in full bloom. I took a large perfect rose, stripped it of it's thorns and placed it on her heart... there had been love between them at some point... I'm here because of it.)

So now... time off for my fun road trip to Orlando! In fact, my friends have started without me! Wait up, you guys! Will tell all later...

Weaving Grass...

Still in early '80's mode, still thinking about the watercolors I did when we first lived at our lake house... even scanning photos of the period to update my digital database... an on again, off again endless process.

Looking back, I can see the seeds of work to come, the geometrics, the lines, the gestures, though some might disagree, I can see them. My work was searching for a style, I was still trying out every new product that came along, influenced wildly by scores of new ideas in every magazine and with every artistic association.


Some of the comments in previous posts point out how we leave so much behind as we surge forward with our new style and materials, so anxious to be "professional!"... to "make it!"... to be identified with our own personal style. So I did.

I've always loved flowers, growing them as well as painting them. But doesn't everyone? I needed to go beyond flowers. I began to notice that the interaction of leaves, especially elongated leaves offered endless arrangements and that's what I began to emphasize. The way new and old grass blades weave in and out, creating their own directional flow, relationships and compositions. Here are three of the early Pampas Grass series from 1985. They are numbered 4, 5 and 6 and are appx 22x30.


We moved to New Orleans in 1986 and I arrived with growing series in hand. I eventually painted over 50 in just the Pampas series... but as many in a similar Grass Series and lots more in the Bamboo, Palm and Daylily Series. This was a time of tremendous growth for my fledgling career marked by successful competitions and eventual gallery connections.

In 1989, the Pampas Series looked like this... this is Number 28. Then below, one of the last in the series that was still watercolor (I was trying to move the series to canvas with mixed results.) This is Number 47 and painted in 1992. It was specially painted for American Artist Magazine for an article complete with demo views.

To be continued...

1980's Redo

Archives - 1986 - Hydrangeas - Watercolor

I am aware of a certain phenomenon developing but I don't know quite how to judge it. I'll attempt to sort it out here.

J and I were born in the late '30's... we've had a good life full of fun and adventure plus the usual dips and surges. But for the most part, luck and timing were with us and we weathered a lot through the years. Three kids and their families we are super proud of add to our joy of life, but you knew that. So... I guess it's expected that at this stage of the game we would be content with our memories and just coast, right? Maybe take cruises like several of our friends and relatives? Ummm... doesn't seem to be working out that way... other than an occasional art or swim meet trip, road trips usually just involve family. So... here's what's evolving:

First there was the repurchase of the little lake house we lived in back in the '80's...

Then we found the exact same little sailboat on eBay that we'd enjoyed on that lake...

And then, Lo! a ski boat enters our life again! After much $$ thought, we figured it a bargain not to have to self launch every time we wanted to go out (a good hour of energy waste!) so we arranged for storage at the same marina we'd used years before... that's a good looking wake! Just needs tubes, skis and g-kids!




Do you see a pattern here? We're reinventing ourselves... moving back in time 25 years! (Heaven help us if the RV camper bug resurfaces! But that's where I firmly draw the line!)

Now... here's the ART connection... during that period of time we seem to be recreating, I was involved in two mediums... serigraphy and watercolor. I've no desire to screen print again, but I keep seeing subject matter in watercolor! I want so much to be able to control a deep clear wash again, to layer and glaze, to splash and bloom, to work around negative shapes, to bring a subject to life without detailing it to death... not on canvas, not geometrically abstract, not by not by my usual proceedures. Watercolor doesn't just happen, though the best look as if that was the plan... a good watercolor is the result of hundreds of previous efforts that came before. It's a thought that's hard to shake... stay tuned...

Stimuli...

Road trip coming up! Will be meeting up with a few e-friend artists in Orlando and Tampa next week. Much more on that as it happens... just know that I really need to get out of my shell for a few days. Been thinking thoughts that are not conducive to good production in the studio... the familiar dip in endorphins resulting from lack of stimuli. Time to get out among artists for good talk and sightseeing with an artistic bent. Gotta get a rush going that will show results in the studio. It's worked before, I know this is the medicine I need. Too much sameness dulls the senses and mine are beyond dull these days...

Spring is doing a good job in these parts... when it's not sending tornados and micro bursts thundering across our landscapes. We're thinking it was a micro burst that picked up a full grown oak out of our back woods, gave it a twist and threw it down against a few others. Take a look at the stump it left:

That was no push-over, that was a pull up with a twist!

I'm off to spend the day at the lake... a minor R&R along with a bit of oak tree pulling and twisting myself... hundreds of sprouted oaks from a HUGE acorn crop... coming up all over my few cultivated areas. This is the result of our drought last summer... the attempt to reproduce in the face of danger... spring bloom was outstanding this year (same need to reproduce) and now the pollen is suffocating! The weather, however, is beautiful... I'm off...

Blog Award...

Thanks to Daphne for giving me the Arte Y Pico blog award. I very much appreciate the thought but am mostly just happy to consider her a faithful reader and correspondent. Daphne's quite a work of art herself, demonstrating grace under pressure on a daily basis. We could all take a lesson.

Blog awards are a nice touch, a way to recognize those with which we somehow feel connected. I read more than my share of art blogs I like but could never sort them into an award priority listing. So... since I'm not a very good game player, I'm going to let it pass. I appreciate but can only say thanks.

Spending The Kid's Inheritance...

A case could be made for questioning our good judgment these days... above you see the latest toy in our arsenal of tricks to entice kids and g-kids to visit often. We've been a family of water skiers since before the first two kids were in school (Obama's age would qualify him to fit right in with our kids, btw, maybe that's my soft spot...) They learned to ski early and when the third kid came along, he was riding in the boat with hardly a pause.

Our repurchase of our 25-yr-ago house brings this all to mind because our little lake is too small for skiing but a larger lake is only 15 minutes away. A handy marina stored our old boat and fork-lifted it into the water for us as we arrived... talk about service! Well, long story short, the g-kids are now of an age to learn to ski and the old man found a local (old) boat on eBay... and the rest is history repeating itself, marina and all! Let's hope it's more fun than headache...

If you've wondered where I've been, well... it's spring and there's stuff to be done. Plus a bit of babysitting while business has had daughter out of town. Routine has been up for grabs of late but that keeps life interesting...

Self Shot...

You liked my painting wall... so I included a bit of it in my recent self-photo shoot. The new gallery requested photos of each artist for their painting page as the whole site is undergoing revision. I applaud galleries that handle their own websites though I know it takes a lot of time and energy to learn the ropes and then continually tweak and update. In the long run it will serve them well.

Kitchen Heat...

2008 - Riff - 24x36

I've got to move away from the political drama. Nothing stresses me more than to have a kid in trouble and that's the way I feel right now... stressed. Got a lot of faith in my kids, they've all got what it takes to take care of themselves and fulfill their life promise, but there comes a time you must step aside and let them tend to themselves. Barack will survive this test but I'm not sure I will! Aside from reading a few pol-blogs, I'm going to tend my garden and turn off the TV smoke blowers while in the studio.

So... yeah, been painting... building a little stress in that department as well. Sometimes it seems like an awful lot of work! Decisions, decisions... this track or that. So... the other day I took an old painting with a nice buildup of texture but sort of a dingy palette... and I riffed across it with a few loaded brushes in an earlier style that shows more energy than planning... and it felt mighty good! Energy is good... do not forget!

Misc...

Interesting article in NY Times pointing to a resurgence of small abstract paintings... they're saying "In a time of glut and waste on every front, compression and economy have undeniable appeal. And if a great work of art is one that is essential in all its parts, that has nothing superfluous or that can be subtracted, working small may improve the odds." Amazing, how unenlightened I would be without having these trends pointed out to me... and I do not jest!

Call me sappy, but I think this is worth watching. A reminder of sorts...

Speaking of Trails...

Somewhere there's a bark eating bug who wishes he could make colorful trails like mine... or not. I know it's time for the annual painting of the pegboards but I sorta hate to clear the evidence of a whole lot of work. Means I just have to do it again to prove my worth...

Zoo Trails...

Took a couple of g-kids to the zoo a few weeks back and while the animals grabbed most of the attention, I came to an abrupt halt in front of this vertical log fence... a facination in and of itself but...



I spotted this wonderful work of art, a fat, winding trail that curved this way and that, leaving a contrasting lacy pattern reminiscent of the finest handwork.













Then I saw another... this time very fine lines dominated the pattern in a web-like manner.











Note the contrast in the third pic below... the dark grid scale of the rear tree to the texture of thick and thin lines and puffy texture.

















And a delicate linear treatment in the last view. I suppose different trees are enjoyed by different tree eaters, all having their own creative methods of chowing down.

As it should be...

Where's My Rut?

2008 - Chatter - 36x36

Minor interruption of a family nature here... J's brother has been visiting for a week, though he was supposed to fly home yesterday, American Airlines had other plans. No biggie for us but I know he's anxious to get home. The fact is, the last month has seen a much larger than normal amount of traffic though our pasture and to say we're on overload is putting it mildly. Each and every visitor has been fun and entertaining but it's now past time to crawl back into our hermit's den and resume our slow but determined plodding. Amazing how much energy it takes to keep a conversation going... J and I often get by on abbreviated but well understood grunts and gestures... of a friendly and loving nature, of course.

I do, however, insist on a few hours in the studio each day and progress is being made. The above painting is a repaint of a repaint... sometimes they just keep talking to me, hence the title. The latest redo was the addition of bokusho squares tinted to the previous colors. Maybe I can leave it alone now. Other progress has mainly been in the stretching and priming of new canvases, even some early paint sketching of ideas which will probably be trumped by newer thoughts of the moment. There are probably six or so canvases in progress at the moment... a deadline or two might help them to the finish line...

The Taste Of ...

2008 - Saku - 48x36

Follow me as I pace around the studio:

There are paintings on three walls and several surfaces, all in varying states of progress, some near finished.

I walk around a large work table in the center of the room, occasionally reaching for a sip of coffee or a favorite nibble, a honey butter flavored Pringle Stix which makes a really fine appetite suppressant.

I study various works, making an occasional mark, line or gesture with a stick of vine charcoal... indications that something else needs to happen in that area.

I move on, eyes glued to the work in progress... another sip of coffee, another nibble...

>>Pla-too-eey<<

I've picked up and chowed down on the charcoal stick, not the honey butter cracker stick... I wipe and spit until all is clear but the taste remains... and it's really yuck!

Some days are like that...

**just realized the above painting isn't quite finished... must have had a thought interrupted!

Doors Opening and Closing...

The transfer of paintings has been made... I'm officially represented by Loretta Goodwin Gallery and NorDys Gallery is no more. Nancy Dyson was absolutely tops as a gallery owner/director; professional, welcoming and very respectful of her artists in every way. I have no doubt that the new (to me) gallery will be just as friendly and just as professional and I'm delighted that their familiarity with my work opened that door for me and allowed an easy transition. But it still hurts to hear the echos in the former grand space, watch the new occupants 'case the joint' and realize that I was one of the first to bring paintings into it... and one of the last to remove them. Only a few works remain as Nancy loads and hauls them back to owners around the Southeast. What a trooper!

Back in 2001 we were putting our house in New Orleans on the market and preparing to move to Birmingham to be near "the kid that needed us most," our single-mom daughter who was preparing to adopt her second child from China. Alabama had been home to us for ten years prior to our fifteen years in New Orleans, so it was almost like coming home.

At this same time, NorDys, in Birmingham, was searching the Internet for potential artists for her new gallery and we connected. I stopped by the gallery on one of our house hunting trips to B'ham. They were still in the throes of painting and preparing for their grand opening. I fell in love with the huge space and recognized the potential of both gallery and owner immediately. I signed on, happy to have a new 'home' gallery without the hassle of the hunt. It's been a rewarding seven year run.

My new Birmingham gallery is well established and carries the name of the original owner who sold it some years back. Funny thing... back when I was doing art festivals around B'ham (early 80's) Loretta Goodwin saw my work and suggested I bring something by her gallery for consideration. I don't recall why I didn't follow through... but it does sort of feel like I've come full circle. This space doesn't have the same big box, loft feel that I liked about NorDys, but there's a nice mix of artists in a spacious, congenial atmosphere. And I've been made to feel very welcome...

It's Been Fun...

Our normal routine tends to plod along at a slow-to-reasonable pace but lately we've been playing serious catch-up! First a couple of g-kids on spring break were in-house for five days, then the whole family showed up at the lake house for the weekend. That would be eight adults, seven kids and two dogs. We tested the limits of the old house and found it worthy... that is until the last morning when multiple showers and flushings caused minor flooding in the downstairs bath... probably roots in the lines or something. Every such gathering needs a bit of excitement to wind it up. A great time was had by all... we're about six or so hours equal-distance from each other so these events don't happen often enough...

The Evidence:

I've got designs on this hammock later this summer...

Remember the pots the kids painted last summer as checker pieces? We've just got tape down for the checker board at this point but it proved to be so popular we'll have to paint it in... the dogs enjoyed being part of the game...

A kayak, a pedal boat and a row boat in use... we have two small sailboats but the water is still to cold to risk 'beginner's luck'... they'll be in action later in the summer!


View from the deck...

Everyone took turns with the swing chairs... a real hit! I also have plans for swing time!

Area with most traffic... kitchen!

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And now... where was I???

There's Got To Be A Better Way...

I'm a big blog reader and not just art blogs. I'm a political addict... I keep up with lots of op-ed blogs and usually know what's going to be on the evening news before noon. I married a career Air Force Officer who served during the Viet Nam era but was never 'in country,' only over it (B-52's.) I have two sons, one served in the Navy, the other in the Marines. They were on the edge of wartime, but not in it, thank God! Even with all this military background running through our family, I cannot, for the life of me, read any of the blogs our solders are writing from Iraq. The wife and mother in me just isn't strong enough to live this war on such personal terms. This NYTimes article reminds me why. I couldn't finish the first page, much less six... I voted for Bush... twice. I carry the burden of guilt and regret.

Unable to read tea leaves I do my best to be better educated this time around. I know you can't get out of quicksand by yourself... this country made the quagmire but it's going to take a global effort to pull out of it. My gut tells me that Obama, if he isn't flayed raw and stripped bare for every evidence of human error, has the ability to bring that global effort together.

John McCain should have been elected eight years ago but I wasn't paying enough attention when lies defeated his prospects. It's too late for him now. My healthy, athletic, sharp of mind husband is about the same age as McCain... I wouldn't vote for him for community leader, much less President of the USA. He served well, but it's over.

Senator Clinton is to be admired... for shear tenacity if nothing else. She's undoubtedly as smart as they come. She should continue her role in government, in any suitable position that requires her kind of fortitude. She's a pro and she can get a job done. But she doesn't have that special quality that brings the kind of universal respect so necessary at this point in time. Obama's got it.

I could go on... in fact just deleted a bunch of 'going on'... but a couple of 'next generation' g-kids are in-house and they need my attention... and they'll also get a dose of how important it is to pay attention to what's happening to THEIR country! I wish I had...

The Camera Angle...

I'm a compulsive photo taker and as mentioned in an earlier post, I had recently upgraded my pocket dc to an even smaller and slicker little job. I don't require super high quality, just fairly good pics of my paintings and lots of memory spurring photos along the way. The first day of our encaustic print workshop, I was just beginning to get the hang of all the new camera could do when... aw geeze... I really hate telling this part... it slipped out of my pocket and into rushing water. Um... a flushing toilet! Dead! Immediately and totally... dead! I'm so ashamed!

My friends (when they stopped laughing) assured me they would share their photos and they did, but I felt useless without a camera. So I checked out Walmart to see what they had in the cheap, make-do variety and came back with a little Olympus that was fun and easy to use. I didn't buy a card for it and just used the built in memory, wanting to wait until I knew I'd be keeping it. That hampered multiple photo taking so I still don't have the kind of record I like to have. Anyway, on checking the web reviews when I returned home... I knew it really wasn't what I needed. So that camera will go back to the store and I'll start over.

I did get a few photos while in learning mode with the new little camera. The two pics here pretty much show how we used the space. There were four 'stoves' or hot boxes for the encaustic prints, two on the kitchen counters and two on the other side of the bar. We also made room for two watercolor tables across the room.

Don't expect to see examples of my prints because even after years of encaustic paintings I could not get enthused with the wax print process, gave up and sold my stove to Keith, who took to it like a duck to water! She'll do great! I did a few watercolors since I really do want to pick them up again... they were once my primary medium but it's been a long time. Will post some recent work down the road.

MissLaBama's At The Lake...

What a fantastic few days! What a thrill to be able to dedicate time and space to share with good friends for the sole purpose of enjoying each other's company and, maybe, create a bit of art.

Meet Dorothy Furlong Gardner... our leader, our mentor, our dear friend. I've told of our frequent monoprint workshops in the past but Dottie no longer has her wonderful studio to share so this gathering was an extension of that experience. This encaustic print session was planned while Patti Pilie, another dear friend, was still with us so it was also a tribute to her...

Here, Patti's sister, Diane St. Germain, is watching Billie Bourgeois work an encaustic print. Billie has pursued this process enthusiastically and set a fine example for the novices among us.

Billie, Chris Cozic, Dottie and I at one of our table top critiques.

Morning sun for breakfast... Chris, Keith Alford, Billie and Dottie plan the next move...


Chris and Diane showed what a REAL camera can capture at the lake... severe damage may have been done to my personal photo expectations! I see the following sunrise frequently, but my photos don't look like this!

I'm in rush mode as next week is family full and haven't given this all it deserves, but I'll get back to it from time to time as things settle back into routine and the mind begins presenting details that should be shared. It was a special time... a very special time...

The Last Hurrah

We went to NorDys Gallery's final opening last night... and I didn't take my camera!!! I did make it back for another visit today and couldn't resist capturing the above bar set-up. Can't say there wasn't a captive audience in front of my work all evening!

The crowd was spectacular, a really good show of support and friendship including many red dots! The very large space was chock full of art, hanging and leaning on the walls, propped on tables, the back room bins were open (another third of the total gallery space... ) and very easy to browse the 20% discounted work in spite of being shoulder to shoulder. At one point in the evening the owner's young daughter arrived for an appearance. I hadn't seen her since she was crib size but here was the most beautiful child you can imagine. Thick waves of blond hair and big blue eyes that made your heart melt! She was on her caretakers's hip and I couldn't help following them into the office where her mother was... writing out a receipt for the sale of one of my paintings! Talk about serendipity! Nice to talk with the new owners, a rare plus. Maybe if I went to more openings... worked my ability to remember names and other social techniques... my bad!

Today I also dropped off a few paintings at Loretta Goodwin Gallery, they will pick more work from my studio later when things settle down a bit. I expect I'll have much more to say about the new relationship but for now, just know I'm delighted with the opportunity, this gallery has been in business for thirty some years, though with a new owner the last few. But the reputation is established and the ambiance is comfortable and welcoming. And... the artist/owner seems to especially like my Bokusho series... I can deal with that!

A Little Help, Please...

To help the Animal Rescue site feed needy pets. Visit this website and click on the purple box. A few times. We all love our pets and this is an easy way to help animals in need. Thanks to Tracey for the head's up.

Another way to help feed the hungry and work your vocabulary skills is the United Nations Free Rice site. Guilt-free computer game!