Where I Stand Sunday (and where I have been)

That stuff on the floor in front of me, it's becoming a 'blur' is all I can say.  I have been away. 

My mom had her second stomach surgery - just another component to the big 'C'. 

I have been with my dad and family while she came out of surgery last week..

and of course our taxes weren't done when I left.

Therefore I am back home trying to help get them done. 

It is excrutiating!! 

I don't enjoy it, don't know anyone who does except maybe an accountant. 

My mom has a long road to recovery ahead. 

I will be headed back that way again soon, 

to help where I can and to be with her while she regains her footing in the world. 

The doctor says 'baby steps' and I truly believe that.

She was in ICU for several days...

unaware of her surroundings. 

I find it interesting how with help, your body goes into it's healing mode. 

She will be there for many, many more days. 

We hope she can return home one day soon. 

I want her to know she is missing Spring - and she really loves Spring.  

So many pain meds, I am not sure she is aware of much.

Get well soon mom!  We need you back here with us! 

P.S. I will be taking my paints with me so

I can get some art going while we wait, I am hopeful.

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing.

Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on.

There are several others who also write this on Sunday, see sidebar.



Where I Stood...

Been to the Dane Hansen Museum in Logan, Kansas, probably four times. Passed by this interesting bit of history all 4, but this time, noticed it.  I have been nearby for several plantings of time capsules - especially working in schools. Makes me think of the capsule my daughter and I created back in the late 70's by adding items, photos, names to a jar and placing it in the wall of the unfinished basement we were beginning to finish.  I wonder if it's still there?  I wonder if anyone remodeled and found it?

I won't be around for the opening of this one. You neither, huh? Just thinking of how fast our world changes as we bound forward into the future it will, for sure, be a treat for someone.

A 4 day workshop with Kaye Franklin was just perfect - got a lot of painting done and watched some incredible demos!  I seem to take one from Kaye, each year for the last 3 (that doesn't count going to Guatemala with her).  The other big 'plus' to workshops - whatever genre the workshop pertains to,  you come away with more wondering and knowing than when you went into it.  I come away with some new thinking each time. Touching base with old friends and meeting new ones is also a plus, especially for where I am living. 

Stacy, who lives in Logan has spent the last several months, cleaning out, fixing/refurbishing the upstairs over the City Offices to make a gallery/studio. We visited it, it's almost ready for her to begin really enjoying the hard work she has put into it.

I love the high ceilings, and the new track lighting. She also has new heat, AC and fresh plumbing.  The other nice thing was seeing her storage closet.  I want one like that...but I will take what I see and maybe we can tweak mine - please.

A Portrait in Pastel

“The High Life”

16” x 20'” pastel on Strathmore paper

I have many portfolios, filled with attempts at portraits in particular.  Got this one out the other day, as I happened across it’s source photo while preparing for the class I taught a few weeks ago.  I remember I had at one time, really “messed it up” and put it away, chalking (tongue in cheek)it up to helpless…but one grows and thinks differently about these things as time goes by.  Got going on it again these last few days and voila – it may need just a little more…but right now it is FULL of pastel pigment so I need to stop, or use fixative, which I really don’t like to use.  This is my dad and such a likeness.  The photo I used was taken at our Gray Family Reunion many years ago.
P.S. - Where I Stand Sunday will be here in the studio - if "harvest" continues tomorrow, otherwise, working on the house in town...getting it ready for ????   So no 'Where I Stand' post...sorry.

Art Walk in Downs, Kansas

Last evening, many local artists (13 or so) were set up in different stores as a part of the Moonlight Madness sale in the town of Downs, Kansas.  My friend Jan and I were fortunate to have out set up at the Gathering Grounds coffee shop. 

We displayed several finished pieces on my easels at the front door.  There was a very big crowd here for the two hours we were there.  The owners had chili and cornbread (among other items) for supper time.  I met a lot of people.  Of course, I was partnered with someone who has lived here all her life, and knows 'em all.  Very nice people. I can also say, that I have a few friends that stopped by.

We also used this time to demo - Jan in oils and me in pastel.  Thanks to the Downs Chamber of Commerce for making this a fun and well attended event!

Art of the Season

"Newtsie"

9' x 10 1/2 " matted size 12" x 14"

pastel on velour

This pastel is for sale. If interested please email me.

Belgian, and I don't mean 'waffles'

(Check out the other blog from today to see before and after photos)
If you are an artist (photographers included), you know what I am about to say is what you also notice, as you go through your day-to-day life. Like the other night..I was driving back from town at about sunset and the full moon was already out and it sat right straight over the road as I traveled east. The sky was pink on top and blue near the horizon. Ah, wish you were here! Then there was the field of fading sunflowers as they drooped, heavy with their seeds and stems and leaves curling and dying. The pheasant as she squawked and lifted in flight over the milo field. The pumpkin as it lay in the patch, wilting away, sinking in and shriveling to waste. The large fat brown spider as it spun it's marvelous web in the afternoon sun, on the west side of the house, a perfect pattern only to be gone in a few days leaving me wondering, what happened? The rolling hills with fields of a myriad of fall colors and textures as they become home to one process or another, either disked, harvested, left for fallow, or ready to be harvested. The way the sun catches the greens and yellows turning them to gold! And most of all, the Belgian horses that live in a field that I often pass. They played 'hard to get' at first, but when I decided "Fine, I'll take some pictures of the cows across the road instead!", they quickly trotted over to the fence as if to say, "Oh take our picture, too!" and my camera had a 'hay day'! I plan to do some large drawings/paintings of these two, they are too cool! Yes, everyday is filled with sights that take me to new depths of thought and possibilities. Wish you were here!

Having Babies and Other Celestial Events

The ultimate and rather excellent form of creativity is one that's open to most of us. That is creating children. None of us asks to be born. We step out innocent to the world's ways. We require nurturing to approach our potential--to be handled before we can handle. Children are soon enough presented with a puzzling world. I was blessed with the birth of my daughter and now my granddaughter, Scarlett. Jess is a florist/artist/actor/event planner, James is an artist/supervisor/actor and now we all wonder what path Scarlett will eventually follow. Whatever it is, I won't be disappointed. All I know is that this one event, right now, makes it even more clear...no matter what else happens during our short stay on this planet, this sort of creation rises above all else! Watching James cut the umbilical cord and watching the joy on Jessica's face (more beautiful than any painting or sculpture could ever be) as she held her newborn with a glow of accomplishment and satisfaction, listening to her through these days in the sheer amazement of what has transpired...being in awe of her new offspring. Who knows what these little hands will do and where these little feet will take her!

"Your children are not your children, they are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but are not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you." Kahlil Gibran

Art is life and life is art. Offspring may be the greatest art, but they are also like art. They flow through life in some force that we really don't understand. Like art they require love and work. James and Jess will know more of this in the days ahead.
P.S. James and I have been using our freetime in creative pursuits, he with painting in the studio and I with sketchbook at the kitchen table. Birth must be inspiring beyond what we realize. Look to the skies tonight as Mars will be the closest to Earth in some time and in NYC they are predicting a lunar eclipse at 4:51 AM. Hmmm. I suppose one could be awake for that!