Blog

This Plein air was painted one warmish morning in September on the roof garden of my daughter's house in San Francisco. I use the word "Warmish" because what we in Texas consider warm is pretty chilly in Northern California. Usually, it is too cold and windy to enjoy the view but when it is nice...What a View! Many go to San Francisco for vacation and it is lovely, and return with a mug or something as a souvenir of their visit. But what about a small painting? The perfect gift for the person who has everything and you can tuck it anywhere to be enjoyed long after the mug is broken. Let the Holiday shopping begin!

Oscar Wilde is one of my favorite highly quotable writers and the statement above is no exception. He said, (and I am paraphrasing), "Art is useless because its aim is simply to create a mood. It is not meant to instruct or to influence action. A work of Art is useless as a flower is useless. A flower blooms for its own enjoyment, for its own joy." We have all seen "ART" with a political agenda but Oscar says "It is either of a second-rate order, or the spectator has failed to realize the complete artistic impression." HA! I would love to hear what you think of that! All I know is last week Monday Art Class went with me to "The Glades" at Memorial Park and we spent 3 hours having a wonderful time! Our paintings bloomed for our own enjoyment and it was Joyful to be there together and be alive!

Classes have started for the Fall Session that runs through December 21 with 2 weeks off for Thanksgiving. You can come Monday and Wednesday from 9:30-12:30 or 2:00-5:00 and Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00-5:00. If you miss a class, you have ample opportunities to make up on other days. Painting is fun and social, teaches you to see and appreciate the world around you, and is excellent for memory! I find there is also a meditative quality that lifts your spirit; kind of like praying.

The painting above was done in 45 minutes as the sun was setting looking back at the Galveston causeway. I was staying with friends and we spent every evening watching the sun go down and the lights turn on with a glass of wine. On the 3rd night, I waited to drink the wine after it was dark and enjoyed both the wine and the painting! Let me know if you or someone you know, would like to change your routine as well!

At 7:30 am, standing in a grove of trees, in theTexas Hill Country, the sun is playing with glancing light over the landscape. Unnervingly close is the call of a large male elk, spraying mist with his grunts. He can see me but, he isn't running away, and he doesn't seem happy that I am there. You can hear others bugling elsewhere in the trees. I wonder if Elk are native to Texas? Can they be aggressive? The answer is Yes, and No. Elk used to roam over much of the state but were hunted almost to extinction and they don't like you to be too close, particularly in the Fall. Officially the State says today's elk were imported here and so are considered Exotic, which means you can hunt them any time without a limit. However, many Hill Country ranchers say they should be given Wildlife status so they are more protected. Regardless, there are Native species that have wandered down from the New Mexico mountains and now roam over large parts of West Texas. My hosts at Broken Arrow Ranch think that the elk on their ranch are Native and therefore should be protected. As a plein air painter, all alone in the middle of a huge ranch, I just hope this elk doesn't charge me until I get this painting done!

Call me crazy! I just got back from California and 2 days later drove to Kerrville to participate in the Plein Air competition, "Paint Kerrville". Seeing all my Plein Air buddies and meeting new artists was fantastic, but what a whirlwind! For the first 2 days, most of the 50 participants painted 2 paintings per day, and then on the last day, we did a "Quick Draw" of downtown Kerrville. I was able to stay on my dear friends' ranch, so didn't venture to out to paint unfamiliar locations, but maybe that was a mistake. I noticed that the awards went to paintings that varied their subject matter. I often say an artist needs to challenge themselves but I didn't take my own advice this time. I want to thank all the hard-working volunteers at the Outdoor Painters Society for making this happen. We all appreciate what you do

Often the more interesting view requires one to take a little risk. Having lived my life risk-averse I now realize that taking the safe path is not always the best or safest option. On this day on the coast of California, I am standing on a grassy ledge with rocks and water about 50 feet below. The grassy edge of the cliff is not that stable and it is exhilarating to look down! Now that I am in my 70s and can no longer die young, I think this is the perfect time to skip being so cautious. Hopefully, I won't fall off any cliffs but taking a risk in art and life is what gives the last of our time here on earth worth living! In my dotage, I realize that life is a risk even if we are standing on flat ground. Doing something you are not comfortable doing is a good idea when time is of the essence! Let's have an adventure!