Archive for June, 2009
Monday, June 29th, 2009
 Sealing Your Fate, Pencil, Image Size 3" x 5" I believe the best way to stay motivated and “seal your fate” in a positive way is to exercise your talent. Practice, practice and then practice some more.
This drawing was inspired by a photograph I took on a trip we’d taken to the Bronx Zoo last summer (I believe). The seals - playful and energetic -were diving and swimming around their pool - endlessly. What a joy to watch. It took me a while to summon the courage to draw this image and once I did I was surprised that it wasn’t as difficult as I’d anticipated.
It’s important to push past your fears with determination and try new things with great abandon while staying as detached to the outcome as possible. By painting or drawing each day you will tune up your observation and rendering skills. The result will no doubt be more successes than failures. One last thing… there’s no shame in using an eraser from time-to-time when things don’t go just the way you’d hoped.
Tags: Animal Drawing, pencil drawing
Posted in Art Talk | No Comments »
Monday, June 29th, 2009
It’s been raining here in Upstate New York almost every day for the last couple of weeks. I’d planned to take last Friday off and had something special on the agenda. My sister, Bet, and I had our day mapped out - garage sales, lunch and then more garage sales.
The moment we got on the road in search of our first sale it began to rain. We’re a couple of old gals and not easily deterred so we decided (more…)
Tags: Creative Motivation, Family, Motivation
Posted in Art Talk, Day-to-Day | No Comments »
Friday, June 26th, 2009
There have been too many goodbyes this week. Some I felt I knew personally, but didn’t - Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson - and one I met a time or two, but didn’t know at all either - Sue. Three taken by cancer and one, they say, from cardiac arrest.
Sue died on Saturday. She was a friend of a friend and we’d only met a couple of times, briefly. I didn’t know her at all really except that she was fighting cancer and wearing a wig to cover her head balded from the chemotherapy. Though Sue was living in the shadow of cancer, she still seemed to be determined to enjoy her life, socializing with friends, laughing, chatting and dancing. This is all I really knew about Sue. She was an acquaintance, but when I found out she died on Saturday, I began to cry.
And now the others we’ve lost - famous and familiar. Their stories so public that I needn’t rehash them here.
I cry for those we’ve lost, for those left here to grieve and for the mere fragility and shortness of life here on this earth.
As I’ve gotten older I think more about my own mortality and how important it is to solidify my faith and personal beliefs. And now seeing these familiar faces pass onto their next journey it prompts another round of taking stock and determining just what is important and a setting of priorities. Even more than that though, living each day as if your life depends upon it and doing your very best while treating others with love and kindness.
I know this is an uncomfortable subject, but death is a part of living and living in fear keeps us in bondage by limiting our experiences. My beliefs and philosophies about life are still being molded through study, reading and experience, but each day I become more certain that God is real.
I believe life should be lived with joy and gusto and the challenges that are thrown your way should be met with determination, perseverance and courage. Each one of us is here to help the other if needed.
I’ll try not to dwell on all this loss, but I do consider this a reminder to make the very most of every moment.
Tags: Faith, God
Posted in News, Our World, Things to Consider | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
 My Precious Fields in Early Spring (Photo) This is the site of the new grocery store and they’ve already begun tearing up the foreground fields, hauling in gravel with heavy equipment. I’d taken a few photographs of this spot over the years and I would imagine I’ll paint it a few times in all seasons - for posterity.
When I started painting in earnest in 1989, I didn’t realize that change comes with such frequency and swiftness. ”Here today, gone tomorrow,” the old saying goes. So true. . . so true. . .
I recall a particular corner, on my way to the mall, where an old barn once stood. Each time I drove by I’d always admired the gray, weathered wood and the straightness of the roof thinking it a fine building in spite of its obvious age. I was astonished and saddened, then too, when I drove by a few weeks later and the barn was gone. Nothing erected to replace it, just grass. Why, I thought, raze that fine old building? It held value - to me.
I believe that painting and photography are important for their creative release and their ability to record a moment in time. Change is unavoidable, but with my art I attempt to immortalize little pieces of my world in paint on paper and canvas for future generations to see what was.
Tags: landscapes
Posted in Photography, Things to Consider | No Comments »
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
 Upstate Birches, Original Watercolor, Image Size 4.75" x 6.5" Each summer, when I was a kid, our family traveled from Alabama (where we lived at the time) to Upstate New York for our summer vacation. All seven of us would pile into the station wagon with great anticipation as we headed for my Grandparents’ camp on Sacandaga Lake.
What a beautiful place and the Birches were abundant there. I recall what an anomaly they were to me, these white trees.
Our typical landscape in Alabama included mostly flat cotton fields that surrounded our home and red clay with a few scraggly plum trees on the borders where we’d smoke Winstons in secret. I don’t recall anything like these White Birches down south.
Now that I see them frequently I seem to have forgotten the awe they inspired back then so it’s nice to be painting and studying them with a renewed inspiration and awe.
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
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Monday, June 22nd, 2009
I was listening to a comedienne recently - can’t remember who - when she made reference to a slogan that I’d never heard before. “Use it up, wear it out, make do.” I’ve found out since then there’s a little more to it… add these words “or do without.”
Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.
I immediately knew the wisdom in those words and have adopted that slogan as a sort of mantra in an effort to simplify my life.
Use it up. We are a society of consumers, wasters and lusters, as a result we are a society in debt and enslaved by our appetite for the newest, latest and greatest thing. It occurred to me that by succumbing to the temptation for that “HGTV home” with stainless steel this and granite that we’re decorating our own prisons.
All these temptations are costly and the vast majority of us (me included) just plain can’t afford all that stuff. What’s more, I don’t need all that stuff. Now, if you have unlimited resources you needn’t read on, but the vast majority of us don’t have endless piles of cash and need to be prudent when it comes to spending. When we do spend we need to use it up and then wear it out, squeezing every bit of value from things you have around the house, before buying again.
It’s up to each of us to decide just how we want to lead our lives. As for me, I’ve come to realize that the trade-off isn’t worth it. The limitations placed on my life by making promises for my future income removes choices, thereby creating a life in bondage, eliminating or drastically delaying a life that can only be dreamed of.
So my approach these days - make thoughtful purchases. Purchases that can be paid in a reasonable amount of time and purchases that will make my life better. If this “thing” doesn’t fall into these categories, then saving-up maybe the best approach or rethinking the desire or doing without, if possible.
I prefer living a life with less limits and more chances to live the dream. So going forward, as we all dig ourselves out of debt accumulated from past purchases my philosophy is, “Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.” I’m empowered by the selective spending. My dreams are closer and it feels great!
[Side Note: Tom tells me the comedienne's name is Kathy Griffin from Comedy Central's D-List. I'll try to verify.]
Posted in Day-to-Day | No Comments »
Friday, June 19th, 2009
 Grazin, Original Oil, Image Size 9"x12" I have always had a great love of the land, farms, farmhouses and the animals (horses in particular). Here in Upstate New York there are still quite a few old farms, some of which are still in operation - though on a smaller scale. What a joy driving by to see what’s happening. New calves perhaps, fresh cut fields with wagons of baled hay waiting to be stored for the winter. Hard work - no doubt. Those who farm the land must have an innate love of the land as well. My thanks to them for keeping it running and providing me with such abundant subjects.
Tags: landscapes, Oil Painting
Posted in Day-to-Day | 2 Comments »
Friday, June 19th, 2009
Music is one of my very favorite things, as I am sure it is for most of you. Music has magical powers. Music can lift your spirits, make you cry or transport you to a different place in time. I don’t play an instrument or sing very well, but if my new favorite song comes on the radio, you might catch me singing loudly with great joy and abandon.
I was raised with music, all kinds of music. Music, from My Fair Lady (Wouldn’t it be Loverly) to Eddy Arnold (Love Bug Itch), Roger Whitaker (Last Farewell), The Oak Ridge Boys (Elvira) and so many more that were a staple in our lives.
We’d all sing, the whole fam-dam-ly on our many “road trips” from Alabama to New York for our summer vacation at the lake with Grandma & Grandpa. I can hear it now, “Three Little Fishies,” with Daddy singing the refrain in his deepest voice, “Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!” Gosh we sounded great - or so we thought.
Fast forward to my sophomore year, art class, on the record player you’d hear James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James and then Carole King’s Tapestry, over and over again. I purchased my own copies for home, to be played to infinity, leaving my sister running from our room and screaming, “Not again!”
Later you might hear “Wedding Bell Blues” by the 5th Dimension. Some of the lyrics go, “Bill, I love you so I always will…. I was infatuated with a few Bills back then though I don’t rightly remember who they were just now.
Then a new young love had me singing “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” with Blood Sweat and Tears and dancing with Led Zeppelin to “Stairway to Heaven.” And as happens sometimes, Bread would sing me through my breakup with the same high school sweetheart while crooning “Baby I’m-a Want.” Finally, after high school there was a new flame and a marriage while listening to the Captain and Tennille’s “Love will Keep Us Together,” (it didn’t).
There was a break in the music as I transitioned to a country and blue grass music fan while raising the kids. I connected with the bittersweet stories, sad love songs, downhome humor and could be found sitting up late into the night listening.
At that same time my life began to revolve around my sons, Jonathan and Michael. Their Fischer Price record player could be heard wailing Sesame Street Fever and the Dukes of Hazzard theme, repeatedly (must be a family trait). Then there would be Metallica (their first concert going experience), Guns and Roses and Tag Teams’ “Whoomp There It is,” played at all their high school basketball games, which I’d attend and watched with great pride!
A new phase of my life would begin as the “kids” went off to college, divorce became a word in my vocabulary and REM stepped in with “Everybody Hurts.” Follow that up with “Girl’s just want to have fun” and then meeting Tom with “Keeper of the Stars,” and a new marriage (my Mulligan) with Aerosmith’s, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”
Those past tunes, though, are never forgotten and are now being passed along to the next generation, which is evidenced each time our family gathers. Whether its a marriage celebration, an anniversary party or a holiday, playing “Elvira” will inspire a round of dancing, singing and kicking of heels. And the circle gets larger as each new generation is added to the group.
I’m now into a Toby Keith phase, enjoying his humor (I Wanna Talk About Me), selective tenderness, adamant patriotism and upbeat perspective. It’s suits me and I enjoy it immensely.
You know what’s most cool, I can purchase “My Life In Music” online for less than $20.00 by choosing specific tunes and downloading them for a mere 99 cents each! Then anytime I’m in the mood for a stroll down memory lane I can pop in my self-compiled CD and sing away.
Music truly is one of my favorite things and I thank all those musicians for making music one of their favorite things! Rock on people! Or in my case Country Rocks!
Tags: Rainey's Favorite Things
Posted in Day-to-Day, Rainey's Favorite Things - Like Oprah But Affordable | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
 This Lunar Moth stopped into my studio to pose for a minute while I lick my wounds of rejection and prepare to forge ahead! I got rejected yesterday. It was somewhat devastating, deflating and not the first time. It wasn’t an official rejection. There was no letter in the mailbox and no email saying, “Thanks, but no thanks. You suck.” I discovered my rejection while reading the latest AARP newsletter.
I’ve submitted a couple of essays to AARP over the past few months and after hearing nothing I figured, “No news is good news.” Then yesterday, while eating my lunch, I sat down with the latest AARP periodical in an effort to stay informed about the President’s proposed health care revamp.
Anyway, in each issue AARP posts a “writing prompt” in search of submissions to include in a future issue. April’s writing prompt had something to do with your definition of eternal youth. Well, I immediately thought of my parents and their curious, adventurous nature and spouted off proudly about them. I thought I was a shoo-in. No problemo. Can’t miss!
Wrong. Rejected! I can’t help thinking it must be a mistake.
The essay that won this coveted (by me) spot was good, but mine was about Mumzie and Pa. Some rookie must have done the screening. So here I am with another rejection and the wind is gone from my sails - a temporary setback, but not the end of the road.
I’ve come to realize that it isn’t the person with most talent or intelligence that wins the day. It’s the person with the most personal fortitude. In my younger days, I’d sulk for days, eat to soothe my injured spirit and maybe even quit for a while. But now that I’m older I take these things in stride. My rejection will ultimately make me work harder and I’ve already begun evaluate the piece for ways to improve it.
I am the captain of my ship and after I eat this hot fudge sundae with extra whipped cream and nuts it’s full steam ahead!
Tags: Creative Motivation, Insights
Posted in Day-to-Day | No Comments »
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Another Grocery Store
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009They started breaking ground in this beautiful field last week. I’d heard there were plans to build a grocery store on this picturesque spot so I’ve been watching. Watching as they placed stakes with flags all around, watching as they drilled a well, watching as they plowed snow off the field and watching as a group of men met there afterward. It was late winter.
Then one day all the activity stopped. There was nothing going on for months and as happens in Small Town USA I heard the local Astronomy Club was trying to stop the project. Light pollution. I understood their objection and was hopeful they would succeed.
This spot provides a panoramic view of gently rolling hills with homes and farms dotting the landscape while a country road meanders up the hillside seeming to touch the sky. I’ve often thought this spot perfect fodder for a folk art painting.
Unfortunately, now when I drive by the view will be of a grocery store and parking lot. What’s more, the small businesses (several grocery/deli type stores) that popped up all along Route 20 over the years will be impacted and only time will determine whether they can survive this latest intrusion.
I’ll admit that this store will be convenient for me, being right on my way home from work, but I settled in the country for my love of the land and wide-open spaces. People who live here adapt to not having “conveniences” right around the corner. I prefer it that way. If only I could wish this project away…
I recall driving by one Saturday a few years back and noticing that this field had been freshly cut. A tall wagonload of hay sat nearby waiting to be taken to the barn when gravity took over giving the wagon a slow ride into the lowest valley near the hedgerow. There was no one around and even if there were I doubt the wagon could have been stopped. Soon closest thing you’ll see to that scenario is a random shopping cart pushed by the wind toward someone’s car.
Okay, I know I’m on my “soapbox” about this, but I just don’t understand this need in the human psyche to constantly develop the land and grab after yet a bigger “market share.” I’m not sure whether this grocery store is a good thing or a bad thing, but for me it is just another scar on the landscape.
I wonder sometimes if there is a better way to approach things in lieu of this constant need to develop the precious, untouched countryside, justifying it all by calling it progress. I yearn for a simpler life and think most of us would benefit from a less is more approach. I believe we need to be more selective when it comes to scaring the landscape and we need to make use of buildings that are sitting fallow before erecting more.
I guess I’m just mourning the loss of “my” untouched fields where deer could be seen grazing near the hedgerow at sundown. As an artist I suppose all I can do is paint what was, creating a chronicle to remind me of what I’ll be missing. I’ll always be a lover and observer of the land with its wide-open spaces and tended fields. This project just plain makes me sad.
Tags: Commentary
Posted in Our World | No Comments »