Non-painting Topics: a Mental Ramble

This is a bonus post, because I got up too early this morning and have many non-work-related thoughts. No reason, no point, just sharing a mental ramble…

Reading Rabbit, AKA Salt & Light

I just read a memoir (currently my favorite genre) titled “Holy Ghost Girl“. Holy cow, holy guacamole. I believe in the God’s healing power but am very appalled over the mess that these so-called healers make of their lives.

I just listened to a three-part series of sermons by Jack Hibbs on UFOs. Again, all I can say is holy cow and holy guacamole.

These aren’t holy cows. I don’t know what a holy cow actually factually is, other than perhaps the ones that wander the streets of cities in India.

It is raining today, which I hope will prolong the greenery and wildflowers that make March such a fabulously beautiful month in Three Rivers.

The annual studio tour is this weekend. It used to be exclusively a Three Rivers event, happening every 2 years. After it went county-wide, things changed in a manner that caused me to opt out. I hope it is successful for those who are participating, in spite of the rain. I am NOT participating.

This is a fairly outdated image of The Dome, taken as a screenshot from Google Maps.

Kaweah Arts has reopened in the building known as The Dome, 42249 Sierra Drive. I delivered a load of new paintings, along with previously shown paintings, notecards, coloring books, and The Cabins of Wilsonia books, but haven’t been inside the premises yet.

Some dear friends have been through a difficult time recently, so when they said they were bringing lunch over yesterday, we just put everything else aside to enjoy a few hours together on a perfect spring afternoon.

My neuropathy is not from diabetes, chemotherapy, or a back problem. It is time to see a neurologist, not in the Central Valley, and I continue to await the arrival of a referral so I can move onward with this unsolved mystery.

A dear friend has a weird cancer. I hate this. Undoubtedly, she hates it more.

The redbud trees are in bloom in Three Rivers. They look like Chinese tallow, but they are either Western redbud (native), or Eastern redbud (native somewhere else.) Western redbud are shrub-like with many branches originating at ground level; Eastern grow like a tree from a single trunk. Or perhaps Eastern are just pruned that way; maybe Western could be forced into a single trunk tree-like formation. (These are speculations from a sleep-deprived mind.)

Thanks for stopping by.

Frustrating to Productive, All in One Day

I had a day that began in frustration, feeling as if I was spinning my wheels and wasting precious time. First, I made a big list of what needed to be done on paintings in progress, or what needs to be finished, or what should be started next. Then, I lost the list. So, I did my best to rewrite it from memory.

Next, I decided to see if I could sell my four broken watches on eBay. Sure enough, lots of people sell broken watches. I took photos, then began the process of listing them. I had to try four times, and it still wouldn’t take.

Some had the batteries replaced and stopped working immediately. One has a back that WILL NOT COME OFF. I love that one in front, as much as a person can “love” a thing. Sigh.

I was pretty frustrated, so I went for a walk. On the walk, I came up with a couple of good ideas for the upcoming (next fall) solo show at CACHE in Exeter. Then I encountered a friend walking the opposite direction. She reversed course and accompanied me to my destination. So, it was a good solution although I wasn’t planted in front of the easels.

Eventually, I made it to the easels where I started two new paintings.

Then, I tackled this one, an olive grove. Challenging, to be sure, but also forgiving, because who will say, “Nope, you have that limb in the wrong place!”

That’s what I did one day. It started with frustration and ended with incremental progress, both in the idea and painting departments.

P.S. The listing finally took on eBay AND I planted some tomatoes, ridiculously early.

Ten Things Learned in February

1.Have you ever heard of a leucistic raccoon? I read about it on The Frugal Girl blog in the comments and had to look it up. Leucistic means an abnormal condition of reduced pigmentation affecting various animals (such as birds, mammals, and reptiles) that is marked by overall pale color or patches of reduced coloring”. (But why isn’t it albino??)

2. There is a website with all sorts of information about comfortable shoes for women, recommended according to one’s foot condition. Alas, Barking dogs shoes doesn’t mention neuropathy.

3. While we are on the topic of comfortable shoes, there is a brand I’ve never heard before of shoes with wide toe-boxes. (Have you ever wondered why we squish our toes to a point in shoes? What’s the point?) The brand is Bronax. (I’m still wearing Crocs.)

4. Never let cockleburs get into your hair. NEVER.

5. While wasting time on the internet, I stumbled across this little piece of wisdom. “When you desire, admire, don’t acquire.” It isn’t necessary to own things just because you like them. This is important for those of us who try to keep our possessions to a minimum. I am in that group, because the more I stuff I own, the more stuff breaks (and gets lost).

6. Straw sausages have a weird name: waddles wattles. (Thanks, JC!) (And thanks MB for correcting the spelling)

7. I drive a “three-peddle car“. This charming term came to me from a friend who loves cars, so I am now using it. (Thanks, JR!)

Pencil drawing, “Mineral King From The Bridge”,

8. Theobot is Artificial Intelligence to describe art. I posted a drawing to it, and it came up with 4 paragraphs of flowery gobbledygook. This is one of the paragraphs, and the robot didn’t know to use the article “an” when a word begins with a vowel. It used the word “tranquil” twice in one sentence. (I won’t be using AI for a long time, if ever.) “The background features majestic mountains, their peaks lightly shrouded by clouds or mist, conveying a sense of elevation and the grandeur of a alpine wilderness. The careful shading and attention to detail throughout create a realistic and tranquil scene reminiscent of a tranquil wilderness escape.”

9. A blog reader (Hi Marlena!) told me that Jackson looks as if he might be a Savannah cat. This is a breed I’ve never heard of. I looked it up, and decided that no, more likely he has Bengal in him, because he looks like our former cat Samson. However, Samson was active and liked water, whereas Jackson is fat and grumpy and always hungry.

10. Just for fun, here is a list of about 100 things you can do to boost happiness in your life—The Emotion Machine.com

Randomness: Paintings, Clouds, Cat

Today’s post is a series of unrelated topics, just short glimpses of my little life.

These two paintings were dry enough to varnish, and then I left them in the sun for awhile to set-up. They complete the set of seven paintings painted specifically for Kaweah Arts reopening in March.
Hi Jackson. I like you when you aren’t complaining.
This painting will take awhile: building up the grasses, enhancing the poppy brilliance, painting the bare oak tree, and finally, painting the lupine.

Took a walking break in the middle of a painting day, because it is February and the sun was shining.

And I puttered around in my herb garden one afternoon.

I love February.

Analyzing, Thinking, and Walking

A week or so ago, when explaining the thought that goes into planning for a show to a friend, he said to me, “You are too analytical!” I asked why he thought that was a problem, and he said that women aren’t usually analytical. Well, if I don’t analyze what to paint, then when it is showtime, I might end up with too many pieces all the same subject and all the same size. (He just shows up for work, does what he is told, and collects a nice paycheck. Sounds boring.)

This painting was a little too wet, and the workshop was a little too cold to dive back into this. Since I am working from multiple photos, it is taking a lot of concentration and focused thought to get the right elements in the right places at the right sizes.

So, I used my powers of concentration and focus to do some analyzing in preparation for the upcoming solo show. I went into the studio and made lists. How many blank canvases of which sizes do I have? How many paintings of which sizes are either finished or in progress? Where am I lacking in sizes? How many paintings of each subject are either finished or in progress?

Next, I moved to the file of reference photos—kind of a mess. I organized them into groups: Finished (but keep handy just in case), Nope not gonna do these after all, and then put the remaining ones into proper order: citrus, Mineral King, Sequoia, Three Rivers, foothill scenery, Exeter and ag. These were photos that I had selected a few months ago thinking they were the best ones to work from for the show.

I thought about the subject matter: plenty of citrus, could use a few more Mineral King, people don’t care that much about Sequoia at an Exeter show. Do people at an Exeter show actually care about Three Rivers? How many foothill scenery paintings do I need? And finally, what will fill the bill for Exeter and ag?

I chose the next four paintings to work on, two foothill and two agricultural and “drew” them onto the canvas.

I looked at the poppy painting again, looked out the door, and decided to go for a walk. The flowering pear is starting to show buds, and the green looks fake.

The flowering pear across the highway from the Remorial* Building is always the first to bloom and the last to hold its color.

There’s plenty of time to finish another 15 to 20 paintings before October.( Let’s not think about the paintings needed to sell at Silver City, the possibility that the Ivanhoe liberry** might suddenly be ready for me to begin their murals, the trips I have planned, the fact that it is too hot to paint here in the summer, and time at the cabin.)

*”Remorial” is how our neighbor taught us to say “Memorial” when she was 9.

**”Liberry” seems to go with “remorial”. Prolly.

Working From Photos Is Not Wrong

The Art World in general looks down on studio artists who work from photos. I mention this from time to time, because the notion that working from photos is wrong bothers me.

In order to work from my photographs, I have to find the scenes, find the best angles, light, and cropping. The photos go on the computer for editing. It takes time and thought to decide which might be worth painting and how many different photos to combine to have all the angles and details needed.

It is a rare instance when a single photo tells the whole story. This is why I loved painting “Rose” —a single photo, easy to understand textures, forgiving colors, specific shapes. Sometimes I need an easy project to rebuild confidence.

A friend took a photo while hiking. She recognized the subject and textures and light as something I might like to paint. She was right, and generously sent the picture to me.

That leaning tree had to go. Easy enough, but without it (and even with it), the photo felt unbalanced, with all the redwood trees on the left. As beautiful as the yellow ferns are on the bottom, they just didn’t quite seem balanced to me. I cropped in various ways, and chose this:

As much as I wanted to just copy the photo, I cannot. This is not “cannot” as in “I cannot tell a lie” —it is “cannot” as in I lack the ability. The background greenery is too mushy and vague while the ferns are far too many and far too detailed. I think painters are supposed to interpret the photos, using their own abilities and opinions to show something that will ALWAYS be better in person (both the actual scene and the painting).

This painting is about three main elements: the sequoia trees, the golden ferns, and of course, the light. It is 12×16″, titled “Below Panther Gap”. Or maybe “On the Way to Panther Gap”, or “Somewhere Below Panther Gap”.

So many decisions to be made. At least I have settled the decision whether or not to feel guilty about painting from photos.

Ten New Things Learned in December

If you receive this in your email and want to see the photos, click on the title “Nine New Things Learned in December”.

One of those things is actually a relearning situation. I’ll put it last because it makes my head spin, which makes it hard to type.

  1. Did you know you can order pet prescriptions from Chewy? You need a vet to allow you to connect with them, and the vet has to approve the order, of course. But it certainly beats trying to wrestle this guy into a box or pen for a long car ride, although I did have to restrain him while my vet friend/neighbor examined his boo-boo. Jackson was very displeased with the entire situation.

2. You know all those ads for “miracle cures“, prescription-free supplements guaranteed to fix whatever your health problem is? They all employ the same tactics of “Call now with this special code for this amazing one-time offer”. Then, it turns out that you have to order a 12-month supply of their product in order to get the promised discount. They all guarantee their stuff for 90 days, but it is supposed to work after 90 days, so how are you supposed to get the refund when you don’t know if you have used it long enough? Despite knowing this pattern and recognizing the hard-sell tactics, once again hope has triumphed over experience. I ordered a 3-month supply of a “mystery herb, recently rediscovered” and expect it to fix my peripheral neuropathy.

3. apricity (noun): The warmth of the sun in winter. I find myself seeking apricity during December.

4. Apple cider vinegar is a current cure-all food trend. If it comes with the mother, it is better for you. This means it contains natural probiotics. So, if you want to use “ACV” as it is known by its aficionados, pay twice as much as store brand so it comes with its mommy.

5. The mystery of why some of my blog subscribers can see the photos in their email notifications and other blog subscribers cannot is getting closer to being solved. Those with Apple devices who use either the app that came with the device or use Yahoo to read their mail cannot see the photos. Those who use Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, or AOL are able to see the photos. After spending 1-1/2 hour on the phone with Apple, all they could say was that I need to call the host of my website. Ugh.

6. Kaweah Arts will have a new location. They will close right after First Saturday (January 6, 2024) and reopen in March at The Dome! This is so excellent—I rely on Kaweah Arts to do my selling in town.

7. When I told a bank teller that I was having trouble balancing a checkbook, probably because the ink is too faded on my printing ten-key, she taught me how to change the ink cylinder. I didn’t even know it had such a thing!

8. “Lido” means outdoor swimming pool. I learned this while reading the novel The Lido, by Libby Page. I’d heard the term “lido deck” in reference to a particular level on a cruise ship but had no idea what it meant. It’s been 10 years since I went on that cruise, so I can’t remember if the lido deck contained a swimming pool. I do remember a pool on the way to one of the dining areas that was always loud and splashy with children, but I didn’t photograph that one.

9. A friend once told me that Adobe and Mac are like 2 people in a bad divorce. This little piece of wisdom came alive again when it took me about 2 hours to design a little sticker using Photoshop Elements. I searched and searched for help online, and every piece of instruction said to use tools that were not there. I finally stumbled across what I needed, no thanks to “Photoshop help”, Adobe, or online tutorials. No matter how many times I have used Photoshop Junior or InDesign, or even Word, each time I return to it nothing makes sense.

10. Reimer’s Candies and Gifts in Three Rivers has sold to Stafford’s Chocolates from Porterville. I know no more regarding name changes or products, although a friend enlightened me to Stafford’s a few years ago, proclaiming their chocolates to be superior to any she had ever had in her well-traveled life. (Good grief—I’ve lived in Tulare County 64 years, and she’d only been here 2 years at the time!)

Did you learn anything in December? (I hope it didn’t include frustrating head-spinning sessions with Adobe programs or non-functioning photos on Apple devices.)

In case you can’t remember what we learned in previous years, here are the past three Decembers for you.

EIGHT THINGS Learned in December 2022

ELEVEN THINGS Learned in December 2021

ELEVEN THINGS Learned in December 2020

Favorite Internet Places for You

If you receive this in your email and want to see the photos, click on the title “Favorite Internet Places for You”.

A favorite place NOT on the internet (not a recent photo)

There are some places on the internet that are too good to not share with you. It is hard to find well-written blogs with regular posts, blogs without ads or with too much self-focus or excuses for not writing or no posts for months at a time. So many that I used to like have just gone splat or poof, but these have endured.

STILL is a blog with photos of natural found objects arranged in patterns. The background is just plain white without ads or words, but if you want to know what you are seeing, you can click on the tiny word “Details” on the lower right. It is simply stunning.

I took this screen shot off the site without permission. (Ahem, STILL blogger, please forgive me, and I hope this results in more followers.)

Tim Cotton Writes is a blog written by a retired policeman in Maine. He tells stories and observations about his life in a manner that feels a bit like Prairie Home Companion meets Mike Rowe (which is where I “met” him). You can read about him on his home page here. (I have his first book The Detective in the Dooryard if you’d like to borrow it.)

The Frugal Girl has become my favorite blog. Kristen is consistent, honest, personal, and responsive to her very active commenting community. She regularly posts lists of frugal things and things to be thankful for, encouraging her readers to do the same. She feels like a friend, and she even answers emails.

“Frugal Pear”, painting from The Frugal Girl’s photo, now sold to one of her readers.

Everyday Cheapskate has so many helpful tips about almost every aspect of life. Look under the heading ARTICLES on her site and be stunned by the tremendous amount of wisdom available. Want to clean your shower? Keep brown sugar from going hard? Want to read some “News You Can Use” articles?

GoodReads is not a blog but it is the best place to learn about any book you might want to read, WITHOUT A USER NAME AND PASSWORD! It is also a place to keep track of what you have read, what you are reading now, and what you want to read. (That requires the hated user name and password routine). I use it regularly to decide what to read next and to keep track of what I have read. And you can sign up for give-aways, when authors have random drawings for their books. (I won one once!)

Reading Rabbit, AKA Salt & Light

Happy New Year! Consider these sites and recommendations a gift to start your year off with learning and entertainment.

Inspired by Beauty

If you receive this in your email and want to see the photos, click on the title “Inspired by Beauty”.

Earning a living with art in one of California’s poorest and least educated counties often causes me to reflect on the difficulty of my chosen career in this location. Art is a luxury, and most people around here are just trying to keep gas in their cars, food in their refrigerators, cell phones up to date, color on their hair, and acrylic on their nails. 

But while art is a luxury, I believe beauty to be a necessity. Art is a way to introduce beauty into a squalid place. For example, look at the before and after of my studio:

Beauty restores and heals. You cannot overdose on beauty. (I got these concepts from John Eldredge.)

Something about painting a mural sets the stage for people to have deep, personal, and meaningful conversations with me. While I was painting at St. Anthony’s Retreat, an observer told me that the reason people strive for money is so they can use their riches as protection against ugliness. Wow!

Several good conversations took place while I worked on this painting.

A friend used to send me articles by Gerard Vanderleun of American Digest. He once wrote that most contemporary art is garbage, has no soul, and is shallow. Harsh words, but they contain some truth when one considers the lack of attention to beauty in much “modern art”. Here is a direct quote:

“When I thought about why that was, a host of reasons presented themselves to me. Perhaps it was that the ability to draw was no longer taught and expected to be a basic skill of those who would call themselves our ‘artists.’ Perhaps it was that the proliferation of art schools and ‘art majors’ gave the baby boomers and their offspring a way through college that required as much intellect as a point guard, but not nearly as much talent and dedication.” (I added the bold for the part on drawing.)

I heard an artist interview several (many?) years ago. Sherie McGraw said this: “There is a beauty to solving a problem.” She also said something that could have come straight from your Central California Artist’s mouth: “I am somewhat of a dinosaur but what I am inspired by is beauty.”

So, in this unlikely place to earn a living as a professional artist, this place I’ve called home for 64 years, this place of high unemployment, low education, and low income, I persist in doing my best to capture the most beautiful parts and places, on paper and on canvas.

Kaweah Oaks Preserve, as seen from Highway 198 in the spring, east of the Farmersville exit.

Boxing Day, Bonus Week

If you receive this in your email and want to see the photos, click on the title “Boxing Day, Bonus Week”.

Boxing Day is what the English call December 26, because that is the day all the unwanted and excess gifts get boxed up to donate to the poor people.

In America, people probably box up the extras and ship them back to Amazon.

That’s not what I came here to tell you. The week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day has always felt like a bonus week to me. It doesn’t really have any obligations, many people are not at work, kids are not in school, and it seems as if the entire world is just on vacation (and driving through Three Rivers).

So, this week I will write about topics that are out of the ordinary. Tomorrow I will tell you about being inspired by beauty. Thursday I will give you links to five internet places that I really enjoy and hope you will too. On Friday, well, let’s see. . . it’s close enough to the end of the month that it will be our monthly Learned List.

Next Tuesday I will return to showing you paintings in progress.