This photo looked so peaceful to me. I wanted to capture the feeling of quiet seclusion. Perhaps we all want a little quiet seclusion once in a while. When I work in my studio that peacefulness takes over my life. Sometimes the music is loud and sometimes not, but the power of aloneness with my art is powerful to me.
One of my friends posted this beautiful video on his blogspot and I thought I might share it with my fiends and followers. Degas work in figure, form and color is amazing and delightful. So many of us would like to be able to emulate the emotions he expressed in his artwork. He was obsessed with ballerinas and in watching this you can see why, with grace mobility they make the dance look elegant and simple.
Several years ago I was asked to write a book on presentation style hand drafting for interior design. That book “Hand Drafting for Interior Design” was published by Fairchild/Conde Naste and is used in many colleges around the country. I love to take the pencil techniques into pen and detail my sketches as one would a drawing/rendering for interior design or architecture.
The Bloedel Reserve is an 175 acre parklike setting. i previously did a pastel of another beautiful area in the reserve, but love the view of the Beach Cottage built in 1928 for Collins family in the style of 18th century French Country style. She named it Collinswood, and the family vacationed there when Bainbridge had very few roads and most people arrived by boat.
It has a rich history that can be viewed at http://www.bloedelreserve.org
My son, Chadwyck Wirtz took this photo in san Francisco and I sometimes wonder if it is as true in the painting world, that what you name your photo can really make a difference. I often wish I were as clever as he is in naming his photos.
Better close your window certainly brings a whole new connotation to the photograph. Maybe I should just have him name my paintings, life might be a whole lot more fun.
I used to live right next door to the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island. It is 175 acres of lush gardens. My three sons used to slip under the fence and go exploring. They once shared their secret place with me and we all climbed the bank by the water to go see their favorite meadow. It was magically beautiful and a memory I shall always cherish. This is not that meadow, but it is a beautiful one just as you enter the reserve.
There are times in our lives when we wonder about our art. Should I be an artist and try to sell my art, or should I just enjoy the everyday wonders of retirement and paint and sketch when I want to do it.
Last week I painted three days with three different groups of friends and think I must have hit a plateau, as my back sent me to the chiropractor, and none of my paintings were worth sharing.
So many blogs talk about being inspired by friends and nature, but right now most of my friends are artists. we talk about doing art for the beauty of art or for the merchandization of art for the sale.
The one think in life I never want to be is a “Thomas Kincaid” of art. He started out as a fine artist, and gave up his work for the joy of making money. Where do you draw the line in art?
Yesterday in my painting class I worked all day on a painting of the Bloedel Reserve. I had taken in five photographs to choose from and discussed which one to paint with my instructor. She helped me select a photo that was far from my first choice.
Mid day I was doing well, but by the end of the day the painting was not working. I had wished I had selected another photograph to paint. As the day ended, she commented that I select lonely looking photographs to paint, then have a hard time with them.
Perhaps I should listen to my inner spirit and select the photograph I love, not the one someone else thinks would work.
What do you think? What works best for you?
