Last night I was awarded the Community Impact Award from the Masons – Occidental Lodge #20.  It was the 13th year of the Impact Award program.  I am writing my acceptance here to keep me accountable and remind me to reach for the stars as an artist:

Artists for centuries have brought notoriety to their
communities. Tourists were lured to the west with paintings by Bierstadt and

Painting by Bierstadt

Moran.  Georgia O’Keefe made New Mexico
accessible to others by painting the landscapes.

Painting by O'Keefe

Monet made Giverny live forever with
paintings of his gardens and lily ponds.

Painting by Monet

Arles is placed in museums because of the paintings that Van Gogh did of
the area.

Panting by Van Gogh

Artists give places
recognition by their observations and works of art.  While I cannot compare me to these masters, I
am inspired by what they left us.  I love
using art for good deeds, filled with beauty, moral messages, and symbols of
strength and hope, perhaps to be discovered by generations to follow and
perceptive people who are aware now.  I
feel inadequate to be given this honor, but am inspired to become worthy.  I promise I will continue to find people and
places to elevate through art, especially our own community.

Painting of Downtwon Greeley by Colette Pitcher

Fall meets Frost

The leaves have been spectacular this fall season.

They usually are here.

Marvel.

It won’t be long before they disappear.

Take time to look.

Revel.

The same advice goes for people.

Take time.

Listen.

Enjoy.

Before they are gone.

Juried art shows have a chosen professional, a juror, to decide which works of art get in the show and which ones are rejected.  The juror also may chose prizes and awards.  So what are they looking for in art?  That was one of the questions answered last night at the Colorado Watercolor Society’s program led by two artists that have been jurors for several shows.   The audience, including us, went with the expectation of learning the answer.  I think we were delusional to think that an answer exists.  Of course every juror seeks art that suits their own taste.  Oh sure, they look for creativity, design, originality, but the two jurors couldn’t even agree on whether technical proficiency mattered.  They claimed that an artwork should have some message or idea that grabbed the viewer.  “Intrigue” and “unusual” meant more than the artist’s skill.   As usual, the program dug up more questions than answers.  Art usually does just that.  We certainly had a lively conversation on the hour drive home.

Pastor Nate Miller on a Pumpkin

Here’s a fun portrait idea for Halloween:  pumpkin portraits!  Our church recently had a celebration in honor of calling a new pastor.  Since it was fall, we needed a pumpkin and it was only natural to put his portrait on it.  HA!  He has a great sense of humor so it was fitting.  Here is an easy way for you to do your own pumpkin portrait.  I got a photograph of my subject, imported it to Photoshop elements.  Click filter, adjustments, posterize and choose only 2 layers.  Print out your pattern.  I touched the pattern up with a sharpie until it looked like an artist did it instead of a computer.  Tape it to the pumpkin and place transfer paper underneath and transfer the drawing onto the pumpkin by tracing over the lines.  Remove the pattern.  Use a small knife and carve through the pumpkin skin and peel away the light areas of the picture.  It takes a little time and a bunch of patience, but the result is well worth the effort.  Surprise one of your friends with this project.    Happy Halloween!

October 1 was a spectacular weekend for fall color in the Rockies.  We drove through Rocky Mountain National Park and then across the Peak to Peak highway going south from Estes to Lyons.  The color was unbelievable.  Nature has a way of making all our painting efforts pale in comparison.  Never the less, take a camera and “sketch” by snapping scenes.  The camera is a great tool to gather images to inspire paintings.  You make decisions with the camera that start your painting design process.  First decision: vertical or horizontal.  Next you crop and decide what makes it in the photo.  Digital photography allows you to take oodles of pictures and delete ones that don’t look as good as you thought they would.  You might get one good photo for every hundred taken.  As a painter you can use photos or parts of a photo to compose your painting.  It is powerful.  You have the ability to move mountains!  You can use Photoshop and move parts around or use a pencil and paper to draw the scene, depending on your techie skills.  There will be a new series of videos on designing your painting here at www.LivingWatercolor.com.  Planning and designing will take your painting to a new level.

Rocky Mountain National Park Fall 2011

Today is day 2 of a 5 day workshop on the joy of design taught by Dora Hagge.  It is the sixth year Dora has blessed us with a week long art workshop at the Showcase.  It amazes me that each time she takes us to a great place within ourselves.  The students in this class are analyzing subjects that will make power design paintings.  First we take photos or use sketches of subjects for paintings.  We reduce them to line and check for midpoints, look for power lines and edge relationships.  Next we make a value plan analyzing white patterns and dark patterns.  I can’t wait for the next few days to see what other items will make a difference to take our paintings to the next level.  Workshops like this recharge our batteries as artists.  Indulge your career with one or two workshops a year.  This workshop will give me new batteries for the whole year!

UNC Michener Gallery hosts the Colorado watercolor society Members Show 2010

Did you know that galleries across America often stay open late and offer receptions on the First Friday of the month?  Some places have expanded to Second Saturdays, third Thursdays, etc.  Take advantage of these opportunities to visit art establishments.  The more you are exposed to art the more you will learn what you like.  You may even discover something brand new.  Your mood and life journey will influence what attracts your attention.  You may see something new each time you go.  As an artist it is a good thing to be a consumer of art.  Go shop.  See what catches your eye and analyze why it does.  Is it contrast?  Shapes?  Edges?  Color?  If you can objectively view and analyze, you will be able to incorporate the elements that excite your senses into your own art.  Maybe there is a story to the painting.  Symbols can give depth and meaning to art.  Find some like-minded friends and have a great discussion driving to and from your art destinations.  If you are not buying for real, buy pretend.  Make each person choose one work of art to “buy” and tell why.  Keep looking and enjoying art.  Make it a habit to visit art locations regularly – hopefully you will find a First Friday program near.

It was a perfect day at the Windsor labor day parade.  Gary drove his 1951 fire truck pulling the trailer carrying “Every Day a Hero” the bronze sculpture that has been designated the rotary 9-11 memorial to go to New York Memorial Day 2012.  The truck sported the banners of Centennial Rotary and Eaton High Plains.  Our honored guest was Bill Huss, a retired NY fire fighter.  On the truck we were joined by Kim and Brian Larson, their son Hunter and friends and our Rotary exchange student from Mumbai India Maullic Propet.  The Windsor Rotary club drove behind in a beautiful Model A and a rousing and energetic display from the lawn chair drill team.  District Governor Mary McCambridge and husband Jim marched behind drill sergeant and Assistant Governor Susan McDermont.  Truly impressive!