Category: Three Rivers

A year of co-op school

If you are in your 40s or 50s, you probably keep noticing that amazing phenomenon of how quickly time flies. An entire year has passed with almost every Thursday spent at The Art Co-op. I learned a few new things, and one is that an art co-operative isn’t the right place for me. Another thing learned is that it is fun to watch the river, and I want to share that with you.

We opened on an August evening.

On October 13 it rained very hard. Here is Oct. 14 and 15.

For some reason, I didn’t take any more photos until January.

Water was noticeably up in February.

The flowering plum dominated my photos in March.

April was beautiful, of course!

So was May.

Here is my last day in June. Why no July? Even though we opened in August, we were setting up in July, so at the end of June, my year was completed. And, I feel compelled to tell you that Sierra Subs makes the best sandwiches I have ever eaten in my life. Truly! They are next door to The Art Co-op, which is still in business and has several new artists. Hmmm, did it take 3 more to fill my large shoes? 😎

Sierra Subs and Salads Three Rivers

Dancing Feet on eBay!

Sierra Swinney is 15 years old and has lived in Three Rivers her entire life. Ballet seems like an odd obsession for someone who loves to backpack with her dad in the local mountains, but Sierra has been dancing since she was four and dreams of becoming a professional ballerina. She has been accepted to the American Ballet Theatre’s summer program in Alabama, and this little painting is for auction on eBay to help pay her way. You can go to eBay and bid on it now, and let’s make lots of money for Sierra!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110554193307#ht_500wt_896

Last Saturday at the Art Co-op

The title doesn’t mean that the Co-op is closing – it means, well, never mind, it means last Saturday. Anyway, there were several of us who set ourselves up outside to show and sell our wares. My things were off to the left through that gate.

A nice man named Patrick brought some pruning shears and we took care of those errant acacia branches so I could paint without getting slapped in the back of the head. That would have been a serious distraction. The poppy painting got very detailed as you can see:

If you compare it to the entry on May 29 you can see the tremendous improvement. Looks a bit overly bright in this photo. After this dries I will add touches of lupine color in the background and put in lacy poppy leaves . It has to be dry before I try those, because they are very specific and if I mess them up, I want to be able to remove them without wiping out a flower!

oil painting in progress The Art Co-op in Three Rivers

Peculiar sights #8

Here is a saxophone player:

I don’t know what this guy is doing, but he certainly is peculiar.

Three Rivers

Peculiar sights #7

Ever seen a poppy this color?

This one will last!

Do you remember my posting about the fat girl inside screaming to be left alone? Now I have the solution to those flimsy chairs:

These redwood chairs are made locally by Bob Kellogg of Three Rivers and when I sit in this, my legs stick out like Alice in Wonderland! It is my throne, and sometimes I am the Red Queen.

Three Rivers

What’s That Smell?

For eleven years I have been walking around Three Rivers. The spring is the best time, and this is the best spring I remember, ever! No hot spells, regular rain, tons of flowers in both quantity and variety. . . who could ask for more? Each year, there is a wonderful fragrance that arrives in May, something akin to orange blossoms. Diana and I couldn’t figure it out; Robin and I finally decided it was an orange tree that we just couldn’t always spot. I was not satisfied with either solution, and this year while eating dinner al fresco, I noticed it again. The next day Michael and I both noticed it on a walk, and this time we both discovered the answer.

It is BUCKEYE! Who’da thunk it??

Three Rivers

Redbud Festival Review

The Arts Alliance of Three Rivers did an outstanding job of organizing, publicizing and managing the Redbud this year! The music was just right, the booth size was generous, the signs leading the public in were visible and consistent in color and design, the vendors had high quality products, the food choices were plentiful, the parking was convenient, and the volunteers were always available and helpful! This was a great show! The hardest part was having too many people visit my booth at the same time so that conversations were abbreviated or I missed opportunities to greet folks who took the time to stop by. Look at all the paintings that sold: There might have been more, or I might have shown you the wrong poppies. . . hard to say because I slept last night. You can see that poppies were the favorite subject. What you might not be able to discern from this posting is that the most popular size was 6×6″. My theory is that people’s walls are full and while their wallets aren’t completely empty, cautious spending is the pattern. This is normal behavior in Tulare County rather than an indication of the entire country’s economic woes.

Arts Alliance of Three Rivers Redbud Festival Three Rivers

Redbud Festival

It is today, Saturday, May 8 and tomorrow, Sunday, May 9.
Saturday’s hours are 10-5, Sunday’s hours are 10-4.
Lion’s Roping Arena – up 198 to Three Rivers, cross the North Fork Bridge, go about 2 miles and turn right. Turn at the first left and follow to the arena. Park in the lower parking lot, not above the buildings.
My booth is under the awning.
There will be music.
There will be plants for sale by the Redbud Garden Club.
There will be food.
And, finally, there will be ART!

All at one time!

Yep, a paintbrush in each hand, in my teeth and one per foot. . . of course I am joking! But all of these paintings are wet and in progress and won’t be ready in time for Redbud Festival. Orders can be taken for commissions. . . 😎

The bridge is slowly advancing – the changes are probably too small to notice yet. The one on the right is in its very first stages – a single layer of paint just indicating where things will be and the general color.

This was one of the first scenes I tackled 4 years ago – wow, it is ever so much easier this time!

On top is the beginning of a commissioned painting of Mineral King in winter. The lower painting has been “mulling” for a long time but now the part above the bridge is finished as are about half the stones in the bridge.

The top painting should look familiar – I have painted it numerous times, but this time it will be a wedding gift. (Giving my art as a gift is a careful decision – does the recipient like my art? Have I chosen the right subject? ) The other 2 paintings are also Mineral King, also repeats. If a subject is great (and if it sells) I repaint it as often as I want. Why not? Can’t think of an good answer, so I’ll keep repeating myself!

Mineral King oil paintings Three Rivers Redbud Festival