Inspiration

Ah, the muse is fleeting.  As I have started my avocation of  creating art in a meaningful way I continue to struggle with finding the inspiration for the next piece.  A recent find The Artist's Quest for Inspiration by Peggy Hadden came at just the right time.  I have some time as the year winds down to read and reflect.  It is full of tips, quotes and exercises to nurture creativity. One of the quotes;  "Inspiration demands the active cooperation of the intellect joined with enthusiasm and it is under such conditions that marvelous conceptions, with all that is excellent and divine, come into being." Girogio Vasari  


Another source of creativity for me is the interaction of other artists.  I own several pieces by Kathryn Jacobson so her recent show at the CRMC, Through the Eyes of a Chaplin, was perfect timing to recharge.  Her artist's reception was well attended and seeing the arts community was invigorating.  Be sure to check out her show in the next few months.  http://artsalliancecheyenne.com/events/art-is-healing-%E2%80%9Cthrough-the-eyes-of-a-chaplain%E2%80%9D/
 
When all else fails I paint poppies.  That form and the bright colors always cheer me.  They are typically small and are called Field Poppies. 

The Other Artist

While I may work on a painting for hours and hours, with one click another form of art can be created. Don is just beginning to see the world through the lens of his new Nikon.  Of course that one click has many more clicks that don't turn out and the images are typically not in the backyard as are the flowers  that I love to paint.  The Chihuly bridge of glass is located in Tacoma, WA and is awe inspiring.  These two images were taken of the ceiling of the bridge.  
 http://www.chihuly.com/special-projects-chihuly-bridge-of-glass.aspx

We recently cruised along the Adriatic and  Don's photos keep the memories fresh.  Every port was unique.  The white town of Mykonos, a Greek island, was a particular high point.  
   

What's In a Name

Autumn Again 9x12 pastel

I typically struggle with a title for a piece of art.  It may come while painting but sometimes the painting has to marinate and it will come to me.  Autumn Again was a a painting I scumbled out several times when it was not pleasing to me.  The third time I focused on the many lessons I have been taught in recent workshops and finally, I was happy with the painting.   The name was based on the changing seasons and it took me several times to paint, again and again.    Autumn Again recently won a first in Pastel at the Art Fest competition here in Cheyenne.  Art Fest is hung at the Laramie County Library through December 20th.

Helianthus 18x24 pastel

Heliantius is my typical naming technique when the painting stumps my creativity.  Go for the Latin derivation.. and then everyone is stumped.  Helianthus won third - Intermediate at the National Arts Program exhibition hosted by the City of Cheyenne and hanging at the Civic Center through December 18th.  http://www.nationalartsprogram.org/venues/cheyenne-wy

Maphead

Yes Maphead:  that is a title of a new book by Ken Jennings, the Jeopardy champion for more than six months, that claims the love of maps, cartography, geography and the related travel bug, is genetic.  
http://ken-jennings.com/maphead.html    


So now you know a bit more about me.  I love maps!  The book is chock full of why we love maps and goes on with stories of travel, goecaching and the five million dollar map, purchased by the Library of congress, because it was the first map with the name America on it.  http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0309/maps.html

While the book is entertaining it also inspired me to use some of my map collection in my art.  Georgia Roswell is working on a body of work with topographical maps... which will premier at The Old Fire House Gallery In Lovland in 2012.  I can't wait to see how she creates her maps. 

Art Partners

Pink Petunias

The Arts Alliance of Cheyenne has taken an innovative approach to finding gallery space for local artists and formed a partnership with the members of the Cheyenne Chamber  of Commerce. http://artsalliancecheyenne.com/community-programs/art-partners-2/   Several artists have found space and you will find original art on the walls of the participating businesses.  If you are a client of Halley Murray and Smith PC you will have a chance to see a collection of my pastels in the conference room.    http://halleyandmurray.com/

The Grocery List

Raw Chocolate 9x12 pastel

There is a great new business in Cheyenne, I.Qlinary.  It has a commercial kitchen in which all the ingredients are prepped and recipes are posted so all you have to do is assemble the ingredients and take home your entrees to cook later.  http://www.iqlinary.com/  I tried out the service when our newest g'son arrived and gave their parents six meals, easy to complete.    In addition to the business Pam and Katie will open the business to art.  They will have sampling at the reception for Art Design and Dine on November 10th from 5 to 8 PM.  Gail and I will be there with all of our paintings that have a food theme.  Come see The Grocery List and check out I.Qlinary. 

An Apple A Day 9x12 pastel

Gallery Space

Spring Will Come 9x12 Pastel

It snowed yesterday.  It was only foretasted to rain so the eight inches of solid rain was a bit of a wonder.  We had a birthday party for Barbara and everyone braved the storm.  A good time was had by all.   Because I don't have a show scheduled until November I created a little gallery in a extra wide hall in our home.  I used the show tags with the names and prices of the paintings.  Friends that hadn't had time to see my art enjoyed seeing the show and I even sold a painting.   It is a gift for the new cabin. 

PSC

So what's in a name?  Until I begin this path of discovering myself as an artist I didn't know much about creating art, let alone the the process of entries, the awards, the shows and the actual business side of art.   When I joined the Pastel Society of Colorado and delved into the website I found out about those little letters PSC by the signature of many of my favorite artists.    http://www.pastelsocietyofcolorado.org/index.html   


To become a signature member the artist must accumulate points from acceptance in juried shows and winning awards in the shows.   So I am pleased to let you know that I can now add PSC to my signature.

Pick a Punkin 5x7

I added a small little painting completed recently for the Weekly Art Challenge.  With the fall season here pumpkin pie and Halloween are just around the corner. 

Art Partners

Our community is blessed with a little dynamo AKA Anne Dramko.  Anne is the creator of Arts Alliance of Cheyenne  http://artsalliancecheyenne.com/  and the premier calendar for arts events in our city.  She has also created many programs and found community partners, all for uniting the arts community.  The new program, Art Partners, matches artists with Chamber of Commerce members to beautify local businesses and give the artist an innovative gallery space.  

http://artsalliancecheyenne.com/community-programs/art-partners-a-collaboration-between-the-arts-and-business/    
                              click her to see the page...and learn more about Art Partners

Poppy Retrospective

Cheyenne Artist Guild poppy retrospective

The Simply Pastel Show is continuing at the Nagel Warren Mansion through September. http://www.naglewarrenmansion.com/ 


The Twelve Panels for Twelve Artists is also open at the Cheyenne Artists Guild through the end of September.   http://www.cheyenneartistsguild.org/ 


If you have followed my blog, watched the slide show or know my art you see I have always been inspired by poppies.  Though a fairly new artist, I thought it was fun to consider my two years of poppy paintings in a retrospective.  If you stop by you will see  Playful Poppies, Pot o Posies, Poppy Family, Field Poppies, Poppin Poppies and Poppy Parade. All but two of the pieces are for sale. 


The other show not to miss this month is the Prairie to Peaks Plein Air at Deselm's fine art.  If you want to wait for the last day September 30th Harvey will have a reception and celebrates Dot's birthday from 5-8 PM http://www.deselmsfineart.com/

Art Design and Dine at the Nagel

As a fairly new artist I am discovering that if you want to create you also need to sell your creations.  That means the business side of being an artist requires attention also   The show at the Y will be down next week.  Barbara Wolf will be the featured artist for September so stop by and see her sculptures. 

 Perky Poppies 5x7

   

The Cheyenne Artists Guild has the Thirteen Panels for Thirteen Members show opening September 5th at 7 PM at the member meeting.  My panel will be a poppy retrospective.  Come by and see!   http://www.cheyenneartistsguild.org/ 

Fraternal Twins  Pastel 9x12

The other show in September is called Pastel Visions and Gail Watford and I will show our work at the Nagel Warren Mansion with the opening reception on September 8th during Art Design and Dine.  See the web site for all the locations.   http://www.artdesigndine.com/  You don't want to miss that reception as Jim offers the best Earl Grey tea and other scrumptious delights.  

Prairie to Peaks

Petunias

One jam-packed summer and it isn't over yet.  Just a week ago the Prairie to Peaks Plein Air event hosted by Deselm's Fine Art ended. 


In addition to painting in the event we hosted plein air artists Kathy Steckel   http://www.kathysteckel.com/   and Pam Archer from Crawford, Colorado . 


Sterling Hoffmann  http://sterlinghoffmann.com/from Sonoma County California also stayed with us, and he was the judge.  Hosting gives a little icing to the cake as the artists are willing to help me with my learning.  


Kathy spent time at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and gave me  a lesson.  She broke down the process to finding a composition with just shapes (did we hear that from Teri last week) and then choose the proper values and keep it loose.  I finished Petunias in about an hour.  
  

Kathy painted the Paul Smith Children's Village when she was here in 2009.  We loved her painting and bought it for the CBG.  The painting is in the office.  She was amazed at how the garden had changed in just two short years.  

Just Shapes

It has been a whirlwind two weeks with the Prairie to Peaks Plein air, the National Show at the guild and hosting several artists.  Teri Grotmaker http://terigortmaker.com/ was here to teach  a workshop on Plein Air 101.  After the past two years of study it finally sunk in with her workshop... Just look for the shapes, choose the proper values. have fun with the colors and wa-la a beautiful painting.

These flowers seemed sparse but the light behind caught Teri's eye and she started a value sketch laying in just the interesting shapes.

After choosing her palette, she carefully selects the correct values and begins  laying in layers of pastel.  Teri helped me really focus on simplifying the process with shape.  The value sketch is the road map that will save me getting lost in a painting.  

Between the Reservoirs

I think you know how I am not feeling Plein Air and I are working out all that well.  I have trouble seeing the shapes, the values and capturing the color in the magnificent outdoors.  Last weekend we hiked at Curt Gowdy State Park, west of Cheyenne.   

http://www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Curt-Gowdy-State-Park/2843

Our destination was the Hidden Falls, about a three mile hike from the trail head and back, through open fields, aspen forests, pine beetle ravaged trees, pastures, over bridges and finally into the little area with a deep pool of water as it pours off a 15 foot water fall.  We visited with numerous hikers along the path as it is a fairly easy hike and the jewel of the falls at the end is worth it.

Between the Reservoirs  Pastel 9x12

While I took lots of reference photos my favorite area was on the way out of the park driving from Granite to Crystal reservoir.  The South Leg of Crow Creek created a lovely marshy area with fluffy grass.  this is what I painted when I returned.   

String Lake



String Lake pastel 9x12

 Gail is my pastel pal.  She recently attend a five day plein air workshop with Jim Wilcox in Jackson.  Her reference photo of String Lake was shared with the Weekly Art Challenge bunch and inspired me to get painting!.  I had been busy with framing for the Art on The Walls show at the YMCA.  Well actually supervising the framing since I married my framer, and that was before I knew he could be trained.  This painting is 9x12 on Wallis paper with a variety of pastels.  It will be at the show in August at the Y. 

Heron Dance

We are all so busy that the inbox becomes cluttered with email.  The one I do try to open, read and take a breath and assimilate is called Heron Dance.   Heron Dance is a nonprofit literary and art studio founded in 1994 by artist and the author Roderick MacIver.   http://www.herondance.org

He will tell you: I started Heron Dance in 1994 as a newsletter that explored what it means to live a meaningful life. The early years were exciting. They still are, but it is different now. Two years before starting the publication I had been diagnosed with a life threatening illness. Art became part of my cure; I taught myself how to draw and paint while in the hospital.  

Reflections of a Wild Artist evolved out of a life of searching, including a search for harmony with myself. The truths underlying life, the human experience, are contradictory, illusory and revealed only in glimpses. Even harder than realizing them is living them.

My work is multimedia, unpredictable: art and words combined in an effort to dig into what it means to live a well-lived life, a life that is its own work of art. 

You will find inspirational quotes, a journal question, and of course the art and philosophy  of the author.    

One of my favorite thoughts from Heron Dance
- An Open Life: Joseph Campbell in conversation with Michael Toms
You have to strive every minute to get rid of the life that you have planned in order to have the life that's waiting to be yours. Move. Move. Move into the transcendent. That's the whole sense of adventure, I think.
   
Take a moment to subscribe to Heron Dance on the link above and enjoy the art, the message and the journey.   

Porch Plein Air

Legacy Pky

It is just three short weeks that the  Prairies to Peaks plein air begins here in Cheyenne.   http://www.deselmsfineart.com/events/  Barbara and I decided to do some porch plein air.  I admit I am not accustomed to long hikes with my significant amount of gear to find a perfect  spot to paint.  Barbara just wanted to try capturing the outdoors as most of her painting has been from reference photos.  Many artists do nothing but plein air painting, finding their inspiration from all of creation.  The mountains, the lakes, buttes, wildlife, meadows and even the windmills, oil rigs and junkyards that coexist.  I am drawn to flowers and water.  So taking the easy route you see my study of the front yard on Legacy.  It still needs some work... values and composition, but that will have to wait as time is up.  

Barbara works BIG.  She had never tried doing the background in turponid to create some values and cover all that white surface.  After she got got home she worked a bit more and then decided to crop in half.  Great way to change it up and make a whole new composition.

Sea Glass - -

Oh it is lovely, pastel and soft after its rough and tumble life at sea.  A broken bottle that never made it with its note across the ocean.  A ship wreck or simply garbage tossed about, will come back after a storm or the right tidal action.  According to Wikipedia Sea glass can be found all over the world, but the beaches of the northeast United States, California, northwest England, Mexico, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Nova Scotia, Australia, Italy and southern Spain are known for their bounty.  Niece Lindsay can find sea glass in the northwest United States all around the shores of Washington. It began as a bit of a hobby when she moved to Sequim WA.   Lindsay and her partner Mary Beth started West Coast Sea Glass and it is now a business that allows Lindsay be a stay at home mom.  http://www.westcoastseaglass.com/index.html

Lindsay has a real knack for finding the hidden gems.  We sat on the beach near their home Tacoma and she found several glass shards as we chatted about her next show at the lavender festival in Sequim coming up next week.  If you are in Washington you should go!


If you click the link you will see their jewelry and can even buy the sea glass for your own use,  There is also lots of history and you can learn why red sea glass is rare.  

Ahh ....no more drift wood collecting for me.  I will see if I can find sea glass.  It will be tough in Cheyenne WY but another trip awaits and it will have a shore.  

Oh, The show at the YMCA is up and the reception is on July 15 from 5 to 6 PM.  Hope to see you there.  

Art on the Walls at the Y

Field Poppies 6x7 Pastel  $48

It is a busy time this summer.  Ya would think I could be painting but there is a another show coming up at the YMCA.  Chris Shay invited me and my friend Gail to do a show that will hang during July and August.  Getting ready for a show is not the most fun part of art but required if one wants to get their art into the world.  I had to update the inventory of paintings and determine if a piece should be held for a pending entry into a juried show.  And then there  is the framing to complete.  Many times a painting will be left unframed for just a bit more work or there just isn't enough time to get the framing done....  and the little show tags must be created.

The show will hang the beginning of July and the reception will be July 15th at the Y from 5 to 6 PM.  The Y is located just east of Holliday park accessed from 19th street.  

Market Finds 9x12 Pastel  $188

                                                       
See Gail's web site to see what she may be bringing. http://www.gailwatford.com/

You can email me direct at enliven.art@gmail.com


See you at the show.  

Crafting This Week With Neckties

Wow it has been a plumb full week with  our two G'sons staying here while their parents are traveling (in two directions)  No time to paint but I wanted to share this clever little purse.  I have saved old neckties for years and this is a perfect way to use them.  Choose two coordinating ties and cut them to 17 inches from the wide end.  Choose a thread color, but generally black works the best, especially with the black cording as shown.  Overlap the ties by 1/4 inch and stitch the two ties together up the middle with a flat seam. 

The handle can be the cording as shown or use a piece of the skinny part of the tie.  Remove the sizing to create a matching handle.  It can be long or short. Or you can even skip the handle if you want a little clutch or a jewelry bag.   

Fold the narrow part of the double tie piece over the handle and stitch.  Then fold the purse as shown and stitch each side just to the edge of the handle.  The closure can be a matching corded frog or make your own with the scraps of the cut ties. 

So all you crafty people out there, including the Girl's Gone Mild, find those old ties and get creative. 

Plein Air

Reference Photo Shellback Ranch Road

Jeanne Mackenzie was our instructor for a two day workshop in plein air, which is translated from French as painting outdoors.  Jeanne paints outside in all weather and was an excellent instructor.   She says, start with just big shapes, not tress and water and sky and land and a lilac bush, just big shapes.  Then discover the values of the various shapes.   The sky is typically the lightest value and the closer the shape usually the darker the value. Though Jeanne paints in oil, I had my pastels to paint with.  I discovered that painting from the great outdoors is hard. Finding a pleasing composition, with all there is to behold, takes discipline.  Finding the shapes and values for the preliminary sketch is not intuitive for me.  I did take reference photos but fininishing in the studio isn't technically plein air.  Guess I won't be a purist.   I started three paintings but none are finished.  


A gust of wind knocked over the easel.  Pastels went a flying but at least they didn't land in the cow pie.  The next gust knocked over the easel again and hit me in the head.  

Picking up pastels

Namaste

Namaste  self- harding clay

The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. "Nama" means bow, "as" means I, and "te" means you.   I say Namaste and show the gesture at the end of my yoga practice, or sometimes a calming gesture or a salutation as I greet a friend.   It is a calming motion for me so perhaps that is why my last 3D class with Barbara Wolf evolved to the figure in Namaste.  Lovely how this art thing works.  I just wanted to do a female figure and as the piece evolved the legs crossed and the hands went into the prayer position and the head bowed.  Kristin, my curly haired daughter, asked if this was her or me.  Perhaps a compilation.   There is one more 3D class at the Cheyenne Artists Guild on June 9th so don’t miss your opportunity to try this art form.  

Namaste side view

Neltje

The Foundation at Ucross

What a phenomenal weekend!  The Advisory Board for the University of Wyoming Art Museum met in  Ucross Wyoming for the quarterly meeting.  The location was selected to allow for a visit with our benefactor, Neltje, who lives there and in addition is the founder of Jentel one of the artist residency programs in the area. The Jentel Artist Residency offers dedicated individuals a supportive environment in which to further their creative development. The artists and writers are allowed unfettered time allowing for  reflection and meditation on the creative process.  I was surprised to learn there is a second program, the Ucross Foundation, located on a 20,000 acre cattle ranch and just a few miles from Jentel.  Both programs support the artist for a week to a month with a gift of time and space that can be transformative.  My friend Georgia Roswell had a residency at Jentel.  

Neltje and Vanda at her home near Ucross

How does one describe Neltje?!?  Passionate, gracious, tenacious, generous, inspiring and so much more. Neltje is an artist with bold, dynamic expression. http://www.neltje.com/  The board was treated to a tour of her store, Turned Antiques, with thousands of square feet of antiques, gift and crafted items from her travels around the world.  We then had a personal tour of Jentel where the artists live and work in a luxurious two story home and studios. Mary Jane is the Executive Director and keeps Jentel on track.  The day concluded with a dinner in Neltje's home with the board members and many of her friends from the area.  A phenomenal woman that will leave a lasting legacy to Wyoming.  I am privileged to meet and know her.

Theta Brainwaves

Market Day  pastel 12x9

I am a bit driven, a type 'A', multitask-er, full of energy - so settling down, finding time to paint as well as finding the focus to create is a bit of a challenge.   I heard about the brainwave activity and capturing the more creative state of Alpha and Theta.  Without going into the science a short definition  explains that when the mind focuses upon the external world, it is at the Beta level. This is my hurry up, get it all done state of mind.  When the mind focuses and increasingly concentrates self-reflectively upon itself and its inner processes, it climbs in awareness from Alpha to Theta, and finally to Delta.  Leaving the mundane Beta state is where I want to go and of course I wanted a short cut to find the creative muses in the Theta level.  You can do you own Google searches to discover the dialog as it is all very intersting.  I found numerous CD's that claim to help the process and play them while I paint.  Ahhh to slow down a bit and just let it all be.  Someday I may learn...or not.   This is my latest painting.  It has memories of my friend and artist Terrie. 

Clay Day at the Guild

Barb's sculpture

I love pastel and still work in mixed media along with crafting my cards.  The workshop, Clay Day by my friend and artist Barbara Wolf, was a perfect way to try sculpture AKA 3D.   She had all the tools and the slabs of clay.  I had asked to try hands, as I love her pieces of hands that clasp or hold a pen or wave.  We had nine in the class and she gave us all the attention we needed to be successful. 

Barb helps me with the baby hand

I decided to place a small hand in my hand, wanting to capture the essence of my grandsons.  Others decided on masculine hands, and a hand to hold soap and another to hold a cigar. 

Ginny - Pam- Sue Ann

Check the Cheyenne Artists Guild web site cheyenneartistsguild.org to discover when the next Clay Day will be scheduled in May, or email me at enliven.art@gmail.com

Art For The Cure

Tis a Rose  9x12 Pastel Donated to AFC

 
If you want to be wowed by extraordinary art and yummy food and support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Wyoming, plan to attend the event on April 29th at Little America at the 9th annual event.  Harvey Deselms is a coordinator of the art donations at Deselms Fine Art. 

Along with the food and fun you can support the AFC by bidding at the silent auction for your favorite piece. You can see the original art,  in a variety of media donated by artists from around the country, at   http://www.artforthecure.org/gallery/

You can get your tickets in advance by calling

307 432-0606 or email nfo@artforthecure.org

Artful Hand Gallery

Artful Hand Gallery

I wasn't nervous, in fact it was FUN, and I sold three pieces of art at my first show.    I sent postcards to friends to invite them to the show and that made it a fun reunion for a few people I haven't seen in ages, many of my artist friends and even Josie from Tia chi.  I also met new ADD'ers ...Art Design and Dine, Georgia's project to get people out on second Thursday to many art venues.  We had some yummy treats and I demonstrated pastel to those that had no idea of the medium.  The gallery is open today until 3 PM and by appointment.  http://artfulhand.org/links.html 

Artful Hand Gallery

You can also see my paintings at the Old West Museum through Sunday, Deselms Fine Art through the 24th and the Cheyenne Artists Guild 50th Annual Easter Show through the end of the month.  The Guild will host a reception on Easter Sunday from 1 to 4 PM so see you there.