Resilience

It’s been a year of dramatic changes – including learning:

·         the full meaning of the words social distancing, self-isolating and lockdown;

·         to wash hands, sterilize surfaces and wear a mask; and

·         to navigate at-home, hybrid or remote models of work and school.

The ongoing pandemic has created a radical shift for all of us – on personal levels as well on national and global fronts. Yet we are grateful to have survived – to still be healthy, to be able to have a joyful Christmas season, and to look with hope to the New Year. At this particular time, it seems fitting to have an upcoming art exhibit centered on the theme: “Resilience.” Reflecting the spirit of our current day, the exhibit will be held at artZ Gallery in Amery, WI, from January 2 through February 5, and feature artwork from artZ member and guest artists. 

This week’s painting is slated for this exhibit. Defiance is 8” x 10” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, and captures a pine tree thriving in spite of being forced to grow in a formidable rock. For me, this reflects the inner strength that God gives each of us to endure and perhaps even thrive despite our circumstances and adversities.

Galway Memories!

There’s something almost magical about sunsets in Galway, Ireland. There have been songs written about it and people travel for miles just to sit on the shore and watch the sun set. And for me, it’s a wonderful excuse to paint dramatic, color-filled skies.

This week’s painting, Galway Memories, 11”x 15” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, recalls special evenings on the Wild Atlantic Way of Ireland and watching the sun set into the sea.

 

   

Happy Dog!

My cousin, Allison (a granddaughter of my sweet Aunt Petie), reached out to me in mid-November to see if I would paint her dog, Jackson. I had to think about it for a long time – he’s an active border collie, and I wasn’t sure how to go about capturing all that energy! Plus Allison had some specifics about how she wanted Jackson portrayed – against a white background and with his mouth open in a doggy smile. After much thought and planning, this is how it came out! I used the portrait paper from my class with Alicia Farris in Springfield, MO (May 2019) – 300 lb. hot press watercolor paper – because I can get the clarity of the eyes so much better. The painting was shipped to her this morning, and I so hope she enjoys it in her home!

This week’s painting brought the most comments that I’ve ever received on Facebook! Jackson is a 9”x 12” watercolor on 300 lb. hot press watercolor paper, and seems to reflect the eager face of an happy, much-loved dog!

Gales of November

November seems to be such a tumultuous time – especially this year. It’s traditionally a time of upheaval – losing our daylight at 4:30 p.m., working to clean up the yard and gardens, and realizing that depending on the first snowfall, we may have 5 or 6 months of intense indoor time ahead of us. I’ve always loved winter; however, with age I’ve become less tolerant of the length of the season. Anticipation of upcoming holiday celebrations is fun, but by March, I’m ready to be outside and in the garden again. And of course, this year, that’s all moot. There surely won’t be a Thanksgiving gathering or a big family Christmas due to ongoing COVID concerns. We are trying to acclimate ourselves to the latest reality – family celebrations alone at home or via Zoom! Ah well, we are thankful every day that those dear to us are staying safe and healthy. 

I’m beginning to think about paintings for the upcoming January 2021 exhibit at artZ Gallery in Amery. This special month-long show invites members and 2020 guest artists to display paintings that reflect this year’s theme, “Resilience.” In mid-summer, we realized that a little Pansy had self-seeded in a small crack in our front steps. It was a prolific bloomer – in spite of the daily traffic of our enthusiastic dog, Maddie, and countless people coming and going on the steps – and kept right on blooming through our first snow in October.  This week’s painting is another name for resilience – Tenacity, is 9” x 9” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, and captures the joyful, tenacious spirit of the Pansy.

Early Christmas Musings

The weather turned this week and on Friday, we had snow! Although it’s the middle of October, it still catches us by surprise! The gardens immediately took on the sludge-y look of frozen foliage, and I spent part of yesterday mucking them out and washing up planters and bird baths. I think there is a general weariness of spirit as we go into this winter. This week, Wisconsin had the horrible distinction of being the top hotspot in the nation for outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus, and restaurants/businesses are closing for the winter because they can’t figure out to keep their staff safe. So it was wonderful yesterday to get the line-up of upcoming Hallmark Christmas movies from our friend, Randy! Twenty plus new movies beginning now and going right through to the end of December. I think the tree may be going up the first of November!

I’ve got Christmas cards on my mind and this week’s painting, Grand Island Light, 9 x 11 watercolor, features a forgotten lighthouse. We both love visiting lighthouses – we had pottery lighthouses as centerpieces at our wedding reception – and on our recent trip across Upper Michigan, one of our favorite finds was the Grand Island Lighthouse near Munising, MI. Built in 1868 of wood, this simple-framed lighthouse was hard to see from Lake Superior, so the light was removed and service discontinued in 1913. After years of neglect and deterioration, the Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse Rescue Committee was formed and worked to preserve this unique historical structure.

September Batik

 No matter what’s on my easel at the time, my heart is always near water. That may sound a bit odd coming from someone who’s land-locked in the Midwest, but I feel more at peace when I’m standing on the edge of a mighty sea or sitting in a boat on a lake. Paul says I actually begin to breathe better when I’m within sight of Lake Superior, and I believe that’s true. The rush of the water quiets my spirit and settles the “noise” in my head. We’re living in a time of astonishing information overload; yet, we’re faced with the reality that most of the chaos and injustice of this world is totally beyond our control.  It’s a daily decision for me to respond simply to the things within my control – listening and helping to meet the needs of family, friends and those around me, and helping to steward the earth by tending my little plot of land, conserving resources and caring for the critters. When my energy level seems depleted, I head for the outdoors and navigate towards water. It restores my sense of place.

This week’s painting, Freshwater Sea, 9” x 11” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures a moment sitting on the edge of Lake Superior. I love how the water turned out in this painting – reminds me of beautiful batik fabric. If you check out my gallery page on the website, you’ll see that many of my paintings recall special times on or near water – see www.wildriverarts.com  

October Colors

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” - Anne of Green Gables

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on this site. As you can guess, it’s because I'm outdoors enjoying a lovely summer and fall. It’s our seventh summer on this piece of land – seven years of taking out overgrown trees, planting new trees and bee and butterfly bushes, and adding mulch and top soil to the technically “dead” ground of a Norway Maple grove – and the gardens flourished this year! And with the ongoing coronavirus mandates, it’s been easy to stay home and just dig in the dirt!

We took a few days in late September to celebrate our 12th Anniversary and went on a roadtrip along our favorite route in Upper Michigan – traveling up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor and then across to beautiful towns of Marquette, Michigamme, Munising and on to Sault Ste. Marie. The scenery was spectacular with incredible autumn color smacked up against the bright blue water of Lake Superior and the myriad of spring-fed lakes and waterways. Everywhere we went, everyone was wearing masks and it was fairly easy to “social distance.”  At one point, the navigation system on our truck went blank with only a blue line of the road stretching out on the map. So cool to realize that there are still parts of this grand ol’ earth, close to home, that fall off the grid!

This week’s painting, October Woods, 10” x 10” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures the wonderful free-fall colors of this beautiful season.