Deadlines

Sometimes deadlines come all at once.  This is the case for February.  Although I've been working on seven or eight paintings for a couple of months now, the deadlines for several shows to which I'd like to submit work all seemed to come within a week of one another.  These are exhibitions that I would REALLY like to have my work in, so the pressure is on.

The one I started working for first allows three entries.   Artists may submit up to two “standard-size” works and one miniature (108 inches or less total). for consideration.  The show is a coveted show - one that I have only had work accepted in to twice - and it's pretty expensive to enter work, but I am persevering.

After I started working on that show, another popped up.  It was serendipitous because the theme for the second show will be centered around California's species and landscapes "on the edge" of survival. It will highlight plant and animal species that are endangered, or threatened, or even extinct, and areas of land set aside for conservation & preservation of these species.   As it happened, the large painting I was working so hard on for the first show really matches that theme of the second show as it highlights the endangered Torrey Pines found only on Santa Rosa Island and part of Northern San Diego - both in California.  I wondered whether I should abandon my hopes for the first show and concentrate on the second show.

The third show with a February deadline is one I have NEVER had work accepted into.  It's always a back and forth.  Shall I try again?  Should I just accept defeat before entering and not try?   Well... nothing ventured nothing gained.  Although that deadline came first, I decided to try for it if I could manage the other two first.

So for several months now I've been working, contemplating, rethinking and reworking paintings for all three exhibits.  I'm almost finished.

Patience and Inspiration

I finished the miniature painting first.  I actually painted over a failed plein air piece after sanding it down a bit. 

Several years ago I painted a larger version of this beautiful bird.  That painting sold from the first show it was in and I was thrilled. (See the photo above.).  Of course, since then, I've enjoyed a number of exciting encounters with egrets and herons.  I enjoyed the play of light across the marshland grasses in this scene and the way the brilliant white of the great egret almost glowed in contrast to the grassy background as it waited patiently for its next meal.   Egrets and herons are such elegant and majestic birds.   I decided to do a small version of the larger painting for my miniature.  (Was this another example of serendipity?)

With the miniature done to my satisfaction, I could take my time painting, reviewing and evaluating my larger painting which was modeled upon a smaller earlier piece called "View From The Top" that had sold.  I worked on this and several of the other paintings at the same time.  I'd work on one until I was happy, then set it aside to "percolate" while working on another.  I could be patient.

While almost finished with my second painting for the second show, I sold a painting (unrelated to these shows).  I needed to search through my "painting room" for the painting that was sold.  During the search I came across three plein air pieces I had done years ago that directly related to two of the paintings I was working on.  I was inspired and immediately realized that I needed to modify two of the pieces I was working on!   Here are the paintings that I used to inspire changes.

Click on the image if you want to see more detail.

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"View From The Top".                   "Lighting Up A Foggy Day - Point Dume Coreopsis"

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"Dinosaur Caves At Shell Beach".                                                             "Joy"

I am now fairly confident that I have completed the three paintings for the exhibit I most hope to be able to participate in.  (Although if you read my last blog post, you know we artists are almost never REALLY finished.)

I have two of three paintings for the "endangered" show finished with another well under way and have the one painting for the show I never get work accepted into in the "almost finished" stage .... set aside to evaluate and update before the deadline.

One Lucky Artist

I do think of myself as lucky to be an artist.  Being an artist allows me to see differently than most people who merely observe or take a quick look.   The place an artist sits and interprets a scene makes that place "theirs".  It allows the artist to explore more widely.  I'm really blessed with this post-retirement avocation.  

I also hope I get "lucky" enough to have at least one of my artworks juried in to each of these shows. 

Will you cross your fingers for me???

Stay Tuned

I'll show you all of the completed paintings in a future blog post -- especially if any of them are juried in to the shows.

Rejected
Over the last year, I've had quite a few opportunities to revisit paintings -- rethink and repaint -- hopefully to make them better. 

Revisited and Reworked
A painting I created last year for a coveted show was not accepted.  That is always disappointing.  More often than not, the painting goes into the back room and never sees the light of day.  Sometimes, if I really, really like the painting despite being rejected by the juror, I'll enter it into another show and get more success.    For that particular painting, I decided to revisit it.   I kept the parts I really liked and reworked the parts that might have seemed weak.  The Heron's Soliloquy painting was much better afterwards and went on to be juried in to another show, then later was purchased by a new collector.  (The best of all outcomes!)

Another chance to rethink, review and replaint

I am trying again to paint something worthy to be accepted into that coveted show for the current year.  This time I started pretty early and have worked steadily.   I started with a small painting called "View From The Top".    I painted it a long time ago but it had never sold, however, it was offered on my Fine Art America page and it has sold twice on that venue.  Then last Novemeber the original sold at the La Casita show.   I decided that since several different people seemed to like that one, I'd paint a larger version in hopes of getting it accepted into the upcoming show.

"View From The Top - The Torrey Pines of Santa Rosa Island" was inspired by a marvelous painting adventure in 2012.  I was lucky to join a group led by David C. Gallup aboard the dive boat, Conception out of Santa Barbara Harbor.  This was our second painting adventure aboard the Conception of four I went on.  On this trip we explored Santa Barbara Island and Santa Rosa Island - the smaller of the two.  Both are part of the chain of seven islands which make up the Channel Islands off the coast of California.  Santa Rosa Island is part of the Channel Islands National Park.
On Santa Rosa we were able to hike up to the top which was rimmed by the endangered Torrey Pines.  These pines are similar to the famous cyprus trees of Monterey, but are only found on Santa Rosa Island and part of an area around La Jolla, California.

We all painted from the boat and from different areas on the edge of the island.  It was an experience of a lifetime.

If you are a hiker or a camper or just love getting out to wonderful places, I highly recommend a trip to the Channel Islands.

Blog Posts About Painting Trips To the Channel Islands National Park
I wrote about the many adventures of four years of trips in the blogs I used to write almost daily.  If you're interested, you can click on the link below and join me in the adventure.

Various blog posts about the Channel Islands
(the oldest, from 2011 is last)

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Fear Of Failure
I started out with the tree and the distant mountains of the California coast.   First I decided that there was too much chroma in the blue so I tried to grey it a bit.  Then I decided that the sky was boring, so I pulled a long sheet of plastic wrap (Saran wrap) over the painting and tried out some cloud shapes.   I probably should have used Adobe, but it's just not like painting with a brush.   I was afraid to paint on the original.  Why???   Who knows?

Is It Done Yet?
Finally I thought I was finished with the painting.  I absolutely LOVE the depiction of the endangered Torrey Pine on the far right of the painting.   I thought the other pines were fine and I thought I was finished.

Luckily the deadline isn't right away.   I uploaded to my website the painting thinking it was done.  ......

But wait..... Is it?

I put it against the wall at the end of the bed and looked at it for a week.  I decided it needed more.  It needed changes.  

But, again, I was afraid.  I cannot explain WHY it is scary to paint over something you think is done.  Maybe because you don't really know whether it is going to be better or worse after you've made the changes.   
Then I remembered hearing Karl Dempwolf saying that he often continues painting on work even after a gallery has asked him to deliver what they've seen.  Certainly he is a master I look up to!!

I thought about it.
I looked at it.
I thought about it some more.
Then I read over my blog posts from 2012 when I actually hiked to the top of Santa Rosa Island and saw that view and those pines in person.
Those posts brought back memories and I was inspired!!  It was a sign.

I bit the bullet and pulled out my paint brushes to work on it again.

I added a path and repainted the Torrey Pines.  I think it reads better now.

But this whole process reminded me of my fellow blogger and wonderful artist Bonnie Luria who now lives in Ashville, North Carolina.  At the time she was living in St. Croix and I loved her blogs which were hilarious and always had inspiring art.  Her blog post that this process reminded me of featured a real skeleton which she had placed in front of an easel with the caption, "Is It Done Yet?"

I had my son, Jon-Paul, create an AI image something like what she had done so many years ago.  Hers, of course, was a photo of a real skeleton on a chair, but you get the point.   Are our paintings ever REALLY done?

I have several artist friends who live somewhat nearby.  Tina Chong is a go-getter who often nudges me outside to paint.  She is awesome and recently gathered three other friends to decide on a date and place.  Honestly, she's great because we are often like a herd of cats and trying to get us to decide on a date is not for the faint of heart.   We all love painting outside, but each of us has other priorities which sometimes conflict.

This time, however, it was a total success!!!   We all drove out to Peter Strauss Ranch in the Malibu Hills.   The last time I painted there with Laura and Tina it wasn't as beautiful.   That day I had decided to paint a mostly-dead but interesting tree which I titled "Tenacious":

This time I arrived before everyone else and the first words out of my mouth were, "It's a glorious day!"   As usual, we all (Tina Chong, Laura Wambsgans, Sharon Weaver and Sandy Fisher) spread out after we had found our spot.  I took lots of photos and may paint a scene looking the other direction which was also fabulous.  

It WAS a glorious day!

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After we all did what we did in the morning, we decided to drive to a local salad shop and enjoy a lunch together.  During that time we talked about all sorts of things, including, of course painting.   Laura told us all about a new app she had found and was enjoying called ChromaMagic.

Although I was not unhappy with my plein air "capture" I rarely can just let it be.  I can only think of one recent plein air piece that satisfied me enough as it was to resist my clean up efforts.  This was also a day that Tina, Sharon, Laura and I painted together although the day was definately not as glorious.  Here is my totally plein air effort called, "Plein Air On A Grey Day":

At home I downloaded the ChromaMagic App and played with it a lot.  I can see many possibilities for exploring color, value and helping the artist see a bit differently.   On the whole I like the changes I made using the tools suggested by the app, but I also realize that I do pretty well with mixing colors all on my own.  However, I definitely will use the app again.

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If you click on a color swatch, it will suggest a variety of ways to mix that specific color ... very interesting  ...  and fun!

I love to play with paint.

By the way... many mornings I listen to a commentator named Michael Smerconish.  Although he most often talks about politics and events, he has long been advocating what he calls "mingling".  He said in today's world we are too often busy with our phones and are siloed into repeated ways of thinking without the benefit of mingling -- mixing with a variety of people just to listen and be listened to. 

He believes, and I agree, that it is important to our emotional well-being to gather and be with others frequently.   I called in to his show one time to express my opinion that painting together with other people is a form of mingling.  We walk around and talk about the scene, we often compare what we are painting together and we discuss a variety of things before after and during our painting time.  And of course we talk about what's going on in our lives.

Definitely good for the soul.

   “Keep your face always toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.” - Walt Whitman

The Journey
This journey of discovery is always exciting and often frustrating.   Did you read my last blog post?  If so, you know the challenge I've given myself to use more paint and to get outside to paint more often.

Do you ever set challenges for yourself?

I'd really like to hear from you... especially if you do set challenges for yourself.   Why do you do it?  What are those challenges?  Do you think it helps you grow?

Challenges like this represent to me a way to grow and stretch.  They keep me interested and away from the noise of what is happening around us all.  Challenges focus energy, thought and emotion and hopefully will lead to a happier outlook on life.

Joy of the moment

Two years ago I discovered a huge field of sunflowers not far from where I live.  It was a huge surprise to find this wonderful field of flowers so close to my home and I went back the next day to paint it right away.  I called that painting "Field Of Flowers".  It is a true "on the spotter" ... I think it shows the joy of the moment.

Can a flower smile?

As my husband and I have gotten older, he has begun to ask that I don't do as much far away traveling as I used to.  He has even gone with me on some of my paint-out locations that are not necessarily in our close neighborhood, like Leo Carrillo State Beach near Malibu and the Carpenteria Bluffs up near Santa Barbara. 

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September unfolded this year and I began to search for closer outdoor spots which would make me smile and feel the joy of being.  I remembered the sunflower field and went back to see if the sunflowers had returned for another season.   They had!!

Those sunflowers were there!   The field wasn't as lush and vast as it had been previously but the happy flowers were there - dancing on the breezes!!  They were smiling at me and I smiled back!!

What do you think??  Do sunflowers smile?  Do they make YOU smile?

Use more paint

In order to use more paint, I decided to try using my palette knife more.  Since I was trying not to be uptight about how I put down the paint, I thought the knife would help me do some visual mixing of like-valued color and at the same time loosen up my "brushwork".  I focused on some of the "smiling faces" of the closer flowers and hope that viewers would interpret the color and strokes of color fading back as the field of flowers.  I didn't try to paint lots of individual flowers.

I was happy with my efforts.

Yes, I know I need to continue practicing and growing and learning and hopefully that will always be my goal - my challenge.

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Best words to hear

My 25 year old son/grandson recently told me that he has discovered that he loves learning.  After all of the struggles to get him to study and continue on with his education - even earning a Masters of Engineering degree with distinction - those words were the best words to hear!

Do you love learning?   Isn't that a great way to live your life?

Now tell me can a flower smile?

  "My Neighbor's Roses" 

When I go to art shows I often become enamored with the work of my fellow artists.  It's interesting though...  The artwork which attracts me the most doesn't have any consistent feel or genre or whatever.   I like all different kinds of art -- ....   mostly.

I admire artists who are nearly photographic in their skills, but I would never want to paint like them... and actually wouldn't really like to own one of their paintings.  I admire artwork which has strong elements of abstraction, but I don't really like abstract art.   I like art which looks like something...   And I prefer art which isn't photorealistic.

To be fair, I don't have the patience to try to make photorealistic art and I totally don't understand abstract expressionism.  

To get back to the main point, I keep trying to improve my skills and artistic abilities.  I REALLY like to see work with beautiful paint.... not messy paint but beautifully applied paint.  And I really like work that is framed with abstract elements.  I like the surprises and interest that comes with varied textures and/or mosaics of color.   I like paintings with a strong graphic element but which are not simply graphically designed.  Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about:

Floral by David Gallup. ......  Lots of beautiful playful paint

Scenic Viewpoint by Len Chmiel.....    Serious abstract elements yet totally realistic

Sadly I seem to end up continuing to try to paint a scene rather than to reframe it to create a sense of wonder as Len Chmiel does.  I also seem to be unable to "lose control" enough to blur, marble, reapply and simply play with lots of beautiful paint like David Gallup does.  (Dave doesn't lose control....   he just is skillful enough to not "paint within the lines' and he adds emotional interest through a variety of ways of applying and manipulating paint.)

I think the only solution for my conundrum is to keep painting. .. especially getting outdoors to enjoy THAT challenge....  Eventually I'll break out of my current slump.   I need to get outside more often because when I'm outside I can shake off the worries and soak in the wonders of mother nature.   I should let go enough to stop caring whether anyone else is going to like whatever painting I'm working on.    This last is seriously much harder for me than it should be.

I have a few paintings where I DID use lots of paint such as these:

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          Matilija Shadows (Sold)                                            Two Jays.  (Sold)                                           

The painting above is another example of when I allowed myself to use more paint.      "My Neighbor's Roses" is still available.

I CAN do it.... I just don't do it often enough...  

So...  I need to keep telling myself over and over:     "Use More Paint .... Just do it..."

Keep a eye out...  Let's see if you can spot future paintings where I've taken my own advice.

Click to see the show

     "Eaton Canyon Twilight"

As the news began pouring in more and more of the world began watching in horror as four fires were whipped by fierce super Santa Ana winds. Our house was buffeted but at this point we were aware of how devastating the first were becoming.  Far to the east of us, Eaton Canyon which is near Alta Dena and Pasadena began burning.   (See my painting of Eaton Canyon above) I have painted in Eaton Canyon and around the area many times and many of my friends live in the area.  North of us another fire called the Hurst fire began burning.  It was on the far side of the San Fernando Valley and was heading toward the area where my oldest son and many of his family members live.  South of us was the fire called the Palisades fire.  Again, I have many friends who live in the area.  Sadly Malibu -- from the beautiful golden hills to the ocean has burned many times over the last several years, but this fire was attacking a much more urban part of the Santa Monica Mountains.  Then after a day of fire news a new fire was reported in an area which in past years has burned all the way to the sea.  It was called the Kenneth Fire.

The fires raged for days with constant reports of high winds and frantic and heroic efforts of the first responders.  On Thursday we began to feel like we were in a war zone because the wind speed had died down a bit and the water dropping helicopters were flying over head back and forth between the reservoir near our home and the fires.  We were constantly amazed by the relentless battle, and selfishly thankful that the winds were not blowing toward us.  The fire fighters were playing wack-a-mole first heading toward one hot spot then toward another that would pop up.

On Friday it got frightening for us.  We followed the fight closely on an app called Watch Duty.  The winds had changed direction and the fires were edging closer and closer to our neighborhood.  The picture you see at the top of this blog was taken before our area was surrounded by mandatory evacuation orders.

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We left

On Friday we evacuated.   The experience has left me with a lot of self reflection.  What were the important things to take with us.  We had a bit of time while we were monitoring the fire ,but it still was interesting how different we were in what we thought was important to "save".  Of course we took a few clothes, underwear, - overnight stuff and our important papers like passports and deeds, etc.  It was the "other stuff" that showed our different priorities.  For example Tyler thought it was important for me to take my framed college diplomas -  I never gave it a thought.  I have so very many paintings on my walls -- those of my own and other wonderful artists that I love.  I didn't take any art supplies.  I shoved photo albums and a couple of my paintings of family members into the car along with all the "necessary" things, but.... wow.  There was no way to save it all.  Memories would have to "do".   After your family is safe.... what IS important?
We spent the first night at Tyler's house.   He managed to shove a blow-up bed and his mattress into the car so we weren't on the floor, but it was a rough night.   We drove on the next day up to Santa Barbara to be with our daughter and her family.  It was a blessing to be away.

Now we have returned to "normal"

Although the fires are not really over, I think they are mostly under control.  Several friends have totally lost their homes and others cannot move back to the homes that are still there because of toxins, no electricity, water or gas -- all things most of us just take for granted.  I continue to remind myself that we are sooooo lucky.  Most of us take our lives and our surroundings for granted.  Even though I know I am incredibly lucky that I still have a home, I remind myself that we are at the mercy of nature, governments, time and just plain luck.

SIAMO FORTUNATI. --  We are so very lucky......   

Prayers to all who have lost their homes, their livelihood and their sense of safety.
I will be donating to 

Wildfirerecoveryfund

I'm also including an email newsletter that I subscribe to about hiking in our area. 

Read the interesting article about Eaton Canyon below

The Wild - Eaton Canyon Nature Recovery

Our world is constantly changing.  Sometimes it's for the better - sometimes not.

Because of recent changes in my life, I will have fewer opportunities to explore and paint with my group of artist friends.  I'm sad about this but recognize that this change is minor compared with that of so many others.

As a painter, I am often confronted with changes.  My friend, Laura, once belonged to a group of artists trying to paint and document the area she lived in before all of the changes brought about by urban growth and development changed it.

Not all changes happen because of urban sprawl.  Some of it is caused by nature -- witness the recent horrors of Hurricane Helene which devastated Asheland, North Carolina and so many other areas.  The lives lost and natural beauty destroyed are changes none of us want to think about.  We mourn the death and destruction and try to rebuild, but nothing will be the same.  

I have a blogger "friend", Bonnie Luria whom I have followed for over 15 years.  When I first started reading her blog, she lived on a Caribbean island.  I enjoyed her art and her humor and the photos that represented things in her life.  Then she moved to the mainland but I didn't realize exactly where.  Blogging became less important so I "followed" her on social media (@BonnieLuria).  Since the hurricane, I've found that she lived in Asheland, North Carolina where her life has dramatically changed again.  I hope the best for her and for all the people affected by these recent weather related events.   Donating to support organizations will help, but will not heal.

Originally when I thought about writing about the topic of change, I was thinking about a much more banal change which I witnessed because of my outdoor painting adventures.  I painted once long, long, ago with my mentor and friend, David C. Gallup, near Mugu Rock north of Malibu, CA.   When with him, I painted the strangely beautiful and unique coreopsis plants that grow on the Channel Islands and in areas along the Malibu coast like Point Mugu. 

California Coreopsis

I returned later to paint with other friends and discovered that the original road near Point Mugu used to be on the other side of the iconic rock.  Now the road had washed away and the Pacific Coast Highway was inland from the rock.  I climbed over the barrier and discovered a fabulous looking scene which I painted on the spot.   (I LOVE coastal arches.)

   Mugu 

And I returned in later years to capture it again.

Mugu Arch

To my dismay, when I returned the next year, nature's relentless waves had taken down the arch.  It was totally gone.  My delight at seeing the pounding surf crashing against the rocks was crushed.

It reminded me once again that the only constant is change.   Even my beloved Leo Carrillo is constantly changing.  Since the Woolsie fire, the erosion has increased and I fear that those beautiful arches and coastal rocks will change again.  

We are witness to only a beautiful moment in the timeline of our world.  We should remember to enjoy every moment while we have them.

I'd love to hear your thoughts....

I recently read a blog post by the creator, owner and technical guru who created and manages all that goes on with my artist website, Clint Watson.  I have been a fan of FASO (Fine Art Studio Online) since I switched over from my "home made" website.  I had been very proud of being able to create my own website back when I first learned enough of HTML to develop it.  However FASO caught my eye back in early 2007.  They have always been very good at promotion and I was caught up in the "free trial" initiation.  I tried it and for a while I used both.  Eventually, after using both and listening to the opinions of others, I realized that the FASO website was more professional and offered many more features than I was able to cobble together with my original website.  

Blogging was one of those added features
One of the missing features was blogging.  I don't blog as much now, but early on in my painting journey I was quite regular...... Here is my discussion from a March 2016 post:

"I started blogging seriously in 2006 or 2007.  This  2016 post is probably post #728 since I started writing blog posts.  If memory serves, I was blogging for almost a year only on Google "Blogger" because I hadn't yet signed up with Fine Art Studio Online (FASO).  At the time I was mucking around with my own self-developed website.  I had a bit of fun learning and practicing HTML and was pretty proud of myself. 

  "PEACEFUL".  10x10. plein air from Canyon de Chelly.      Still available and still a favorite from on my own walls.

Over the years the blog posts have served as a diary or journal of sorts -- talking about growth, processes, experiences -- even major family events. It was a way for me to process my thoughts about what I was doing and learning. I really blogged for myself but found that I enjoyed the interactions with others and the new people I'd "meet" through the blog."

REFLECTION
Clint Watson is not only a tech guru, but a multi talented coding artist -- enjoys creating music -- is a wine connoisseur-- and has developed a great love of writing.  He recently wrote a post called "Reflection" about which I am also now writing. 

Watson says that reflection is an important part of an artist's repertoire.  He was writing about the "Artistic Muse" and the "Shadow" needing time to work their magic.  Over the years since I began my painting journey I have found that that time for reflection  (perhaps, I think, CONTEMPLATION is more accurate) is one of the most important aspects of creation and one I rarely took advantage of. Too often I'm rushing to finish an artwork to meet a deadline for a show or a competition and I don't allow my work the time to sit on the shelf -- to be in the background and allow my unfocused mind to find the beauty to be enhanced or the flaws which can be corrected. Without time for reflection, if the piece isn't selected for a show, I too often cast it away rather than letting it sit on a shelf for a while to be reflected on and appreciated or improved. 

Watson also talks about "seeding your mind" during the reflection period when you have stepped away from your work.  He suggests that visual artists visit museums or in some way experience the work of others.  This reminds me of one of my other favorite artists, writer Austin Kleon, who wrote "Steal Like An Artist".  Neither is advocating copying the work of other artists or plagiarizing from other artists/writers but rather...  letting your mind flesh out possibilities, improvements or favorite passages .... giving your work the time for reflection.

Setting a piece aside for a time to "marinate" is one important way to develop better work.  It is also a way for me to learn to appreciate the work I have completed, perhaps revisit it or enhance it a bit and find a better venue or avenue to share it. 

For example I created several pieces for a California Art Club show a few months back.  Both were rejected.  Rejection is never a happy thing.  But sometimes it is a signal that a piece needs a bit more contemplation.

Recently, I brought them both out to take another look.  One I thought was really nice -- in fact I thought it was actually quite good, so I entered it in a different show.  "Late Afternoon, Long Shadows - Malibu Hills"  has been accepted into a different CAC show and will be hanging at the Old Mill in San Marino in September.  (I'm thrilled. ) 
The other I also really liked, but  after some reflection, I decided to work on it a bit more and will submit it to a different show as well. Wish me luck.

Fresh eyes help us see differently.  Sometimes they also help us reflect more favorably on our own efforts.   (Like when I pulled "Peaceful" off the shelf and put it on my wall.)

"Paint what pleases you.  It will probably end up on your own walls".   -David C. Gallup

PAINTING FOR AN AUDIENCE
Painting for an audience has never been something I look forward to.  It's strange because as a teacher for so many years I stood up in front of a class and directed lessons, daily.  Of course I did a lot of planning and over the years learned strategies that worked better than others, but it was not intimidating to me.  Even when I was a Principal and had to talk in front of "classes" of teachers, or direct meetings or MC for auditorium events for students, teachers and families, speaking wasn't something I tried to avoid.

Not My Thing
Doing demos for other artists or even painting in front of an audience -- sort of "performance painting" is not really "my thing".  I've done it and felt pretty good about those times I've accepted invites to do so, but I never seek them out and rarely accept when they are suggested.

Easing In
During our last PAC6 show three years ago, I painted in the museum with fellow PAC6er, Debra Holladay.  She painted a figurative piece (one of her many strong suits) and I painted a landscape.  I didn't know what to expect and I was nervous.

However, I successfully painted what I had planned to paint, while chatting with visitors who asked questions about what I was doing and I was surprised that I enjoyed the day.   I even really LIKED the painting that I completed in the museum!!!

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Marian painting Cayucos at the Santa Paula Art Museum

Trying Again
This year as part of our PAC6 show, "From Field To Frame - The PAC6 Shows How It's Done", again at the Santa Paula Art Museum, I will be painting (or attempting to paint) something else.  My fellow PAC6ers, Debra Holladay and Linda Brown will also be painting in the museum.  

Initially Linda had suggested painting "our version" of a scene from another PAC6er's painting that was hanging in the show.  My friend, Nita Harper, has a painting which is totally the same scene as one I painted several years ago and I considered doing a smaller version of that.  Here are Nita's and mine so you can see how alike and different they are:

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                               Early Morning Encore - Fortunati                       Solid Gold - Harper

You can tell it's the same scene, but, of course, we each painted our version with our own emotions, viewpoint and style.  

Chickening Out......  Maybe.....
In the end, though, I decided NOT to try to paint a scene that another PAC6er had painted.   (At least I don't remember that one of them painted this scene for the show.)   Instead I chose a scene from one of our many trips to Carmel which I think might be simple enough to pull off without looking silly.   (We will see about that.)

     (After the Santa Paula Art Museum sent out an email to its members saying we would be taking inspiration from another painting in the museum, I decided to return to my original plan and then TRIED, TRIED, and TRIED again to put a comment in to follow up on my blog post.  Since it was unsuccessful all three times and, there is no comment listed below, I have notified my website gurus about the problem and have edited the original blog post here.). Hopefully FASO will fix the issue and other people can leave comments if they wish about what THEIR opinion is on the matter.  Either way, I DO hope we can have a chat at the museum on Saturday!!

Even though I lack the self confidence about painting that I wish I had, I DO enjoy meeting and chatting with people who come to the museum either to see the artists who are painting (or trying to) and or to see the wonderful show that is hanging on the walls, so if you're interested at all, I hope you will plan a trip out to the museum.

Half PAC6 Painters Painting In The Museum
Marian, Linda and Debra

Santa Paula Art Museum
117 North 10th Street
Santa Paula, CA.  93060
(805) 525-5554

Saturday, May 4, 2024 
2:00-4:00 pm

SEE YOU THERE!!

Karl Dempwolf is a friend, a mentor and an inspiration.  I'm lucky to have known him for twenty or so years and whenever I get a chance to spend time with him I'm uplifted by his "joie de vie" attitude.  He's fun to be with.

I'm lucky because I live relatively near him.  I'm also lucky because when I first started venturing outside to paint, I took a class with him.  This was years and years and years ago.  It was my first experience with plein air and I knew nothing about it, but he filled my head with anecdotes of his experiences, with new and interesting destinations, with different points of view and with lots and lots of good advice about painting in general.  He inspired me to continue the journey.   I have copies of his books and his DVDs to refresh the memories, too.

Karl helping Dori Marler with a painting during a demo years ago

Actually it was his stories of venturing into Canyon de Chelly with a bunch of fellow painters (all men) that inspired me to encourage my friends to do the same.  That trip ten years ago was the beginning of a series of painting adventures for me and a bonding of the artists that went on to call ourselves the PAC6.  (6 artists Painting Across The Country).

Since then I have enjoyed talking with Karl at meetings and gallery openings and I've asked for and received great advice from him.  He is always supportive and encouraging -- something I value highly.

I enjoy Karl's style of painting and am always intrigued by his bold color and design.  I also like the way he often outlines the shapes he paints.  Karl is a California impressionist whose work is always distinctive.  You can look at any of his paintings and they stand out among all the others because of his loose brushwork and characteristic style.  There is a lot of information about Karl and his work on the internet, so take a moment to enjoy it when you want some inspiration.

I said before that Karl has encouraged me and supported me through the years.   Many years ago, (I believe it was 2009), I was thrilled to finally have one of my paintings juried in to a California Art Club exhibit.  I had tried unsuccessfully for years, but this time my work was juried in!  Karl was one of the jurors and he came to the show which made the opening even more exciting for me.  My Daddy who has always been my best supporter was there too.  (Daddy (James Boyd Beach) passed away on February 29, 2012.).  The photo above always reminds me of that important moment early in my art journey.

A while back, we were in the same show at the CAC's gallery at the Old Mill in San Marino and it was time to pick up my painting.  I had a conflict and asked Karl if he would pick up my work.  He graciously agreed.  Recently he asked me to return the favor by picking up his painting from the Santa Paula Art Museum where my work along with my PAC6 friends is being shown in our "From Field To Frame - the PAC6 Shows How It's Done".  (March 9, 2024 to July 7, 2024).

I picked up Karl's painting and was able to enjoy it for a while in my home before he came to pick it up.  Here are some photos of the painting:

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I've enjoyed looking closely at Karl's work while I was "babysitting".  I often look closely at work while in a museum or gallery, but it's never as good as being able to enjoy it all by yourself.   I asked Karl if I could write about him and his work and he gave me permission, so here we are.  There is always something new to learn, right??

Here is an AI generated description of the piece:  "The painting employs a loose, impressionistic brushwork that evokes a sense of movement and vitality throughout the scene. There is a harmonious balance between the natural elements and the impression of human industry and its integration into the landscape.
The artwork is housed in an ornate, gilded frame with intricate detailing that complements the traditional style of the painting. The frame's elaborate design features patterns suggestive of foliage and scrollwork, which resonates with the themes of nature within the painting."

I will also note, that the multitalented Karl, finishes and gilds his own frames.  Lovely, aren't they??

Thanks, Karl, for being you....   always inspiring and encouraging.