A Perfect Way to End the Old Year
12/28/2013 10:03:07 PMI started this blog post several times and ended up scrapping what I wrote each time. Somehow, my thoughts seemed trivial in comparison to the hardships that so many folks were experiencing this holiday season with no heat, water, etc. It was a pretty cold and bleak holiday for them. My struggle to get started gave me pause to think about the blessings in my life. Besides the obvious ability to flip a switch and have power, I was reminded and am so grateful for all the good things that have occurred over the past month.
The Sonoran Desert, with its diverse vegetation, is the lushest desert in the world.
While I love teaching and helping others grow creatively, it makes moving forward for myself a bit bumpy. A lot of my creative energy goes into working out solutions for students which doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for focusing on my own work. However, this December was different. Classes ended just before Thanksgiving and a couple of days later I left for Arizona to paint, gather reference material and to absorb as much information as I could on technique through studying the works of contemporary masters. One such artist (recently deceased) is the great James Reynolds, a master of light and color. Fortunately, many of his fantastic oils are in the Bashas Collection located in the corporate headquarters of the company in Chandler, AZ. Studying his work provided a treasure trove of information and helped to resolve some of the issues I’ve been dealing with in my own work.
Matt Smith in classroom. Sally Sullivan on right.
Matt Smith is a living contemporary master that I admire and have, for a number of years. tried to enroll in one of his workshops. As they fill immediately, I’ve not been successful until this year. Smith studied under Reynolds and is a master of light and atmospheric expression evidenced in his desert paintings. As you may have surmised this past year, I’ve been focusing on atmospheric concepts, striving to create a greater sense of place through the use of tension between color shapes and edges in my own work. Watching Smith paint and studying Reynold’s technical acuity was exactly what I needed to better understand my goals in this area.
New friends, Sharon Lazarowicz (left) and Cynthia Eckhardt (right).
In addition to the intensity of studying, I was fortunate to have an opportunity to discuss art with friends of a like mind and ability. This in itself is such a help to any artist. For me, my great friend, Sally Sullivan is such a person. I was a guest of Sally’s while in Arizona and we spent hours painting on location and traveling/exploring the Sonoran Desert together, seeing and discussing it in terms of art. So too, was the joy of getting to know Cynthia Eckhardt of New Mexico and Sharon Lazarowicz from Colorado, both fine artists in their own right. Cynthia and Sharon were also guests of Sally’s and it was a joy getting to know them and exchanging ideas on art. An added plus to this trip was an invitation extended to the four of us to visit Matt Smith in his desert home/studio. He has an extensive collection of art by contemporary masters as well as his original oils and plein air studies. They were a joy to see.
Sally and I working in the Sonoran Desert. It just doesn't get better than this.
I returned home feeling richly blessed. With only four days to prepare for our family Christmas celebration, my painting was necessarily put on hold. As I write this, I’m between Christmas and New Year’s and enjoying the fruits of my travels in my own studio. My studies are on the wet wall to help me recall the things I’ve learned and want to perfect. I’ve, so far, continued working on several paintings in progress with the kernel of a new painting in the back of my mind where it will perk for a while as I begin working through the concept and how I want to approach it. Aaahhhh! Isn’t that a wonderful state of mind to be in? I think so…happiness! A perfect way to end the old year and usher in the new.
Apache Trail; a 4 foot drop on right, 1000 foot drop on left. Here's hoping no one is coming up as we drive down.
Think that little band of metal will stop a car?
Happy New Year everyone….I’m wishing you a healthy and richly creative 2014. Think beautiful thoughts, immerse yourself in fine art and paint, paint, paint.
