I was thinking this morning of how unconventional a woman my mother was. She was born in 1910. She went to nursing school and became a career woman in a time when most women married instead of furthering their education. She built a house in Wauwatosa. She bought a car and took her driving test in downtown Milwaukee. Her words "I didn't need a man to support me" still ring in my ears. She met my father and wasn't particularly impressed...at first. Then they married and had 5 children and they both worked full time while we all grew up. Unheard of in the 50's and 60's.
Television shows from the '50s had a very negative impact on me. Donna Reed and Father Knows Best gave the impression that normal was having your mother stay home, do all the housework, cook fabulous meals, and never, ever work to help support the family. I wished for a life like that when I was younger and had small children....and thank goodness, didn't get it. As a result, I am able to support myself, and although I'm happily married now, if something, God forbid, should happen to my wonderful husband, I wouldn't have to worry about the basic necessities. Those TV shows, in my opinion, tempered my independence. What kind of artist/person would I have been if I had followed my mother's example? Would I have been more unconventional than she was? Would my "I want to do it MY WAY" personality have come out in my paintings sooner and with more impact? I'll never know for sure. And how will this self revelation change the way I paint now?
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Warm Fuzzies
Okay, this is from one of those sappy emails that gets sent around every few months, but I wanted to put the sentiments somewhere I'd be able to access them now and again. Today I'm experiencing an overwhelming feeling of well-being and happiness with my life.
Here's the sappy stuff:
I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
Here's the sappy stuff:
I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Lately
10/6/10
It seems I’ve been a little distracted lately, and not spending as much time on painting, and not nearly enough time at the studio/gallery. Of course, it may be because I joined Sketch Club and although I haven’t been attending every Tuesday, it seems like a lot of evenings away from home. It could be that I’ve been preoccupied a little, as Ahnna has a bone infection in her toe, and she receives direct line antibiotics for a 2 week period. This past Monday, I had a sebaceous cyst removed from my head, and that has been a source of worry. Marcia 2 was in the hospital last weekend with sepsis, and is at home now, but off of work for the rest of the week. There have also been a lot of opening receptions lately, and they tend to be really fun, so lots of Friday nights at galleries.
The Thursday night painting class at Raven has been wonderful, and I’ve learned so much, not only from Lorin, but also from Troy. Troy can look at one of my paintings, and he will know that I pushed the limit on some aspect of it—lighting, color, contrast, etc, so during a critique, he will call me on it and not hold back, which I respect him for.
Tonight it’s off to the studio to paint, and I really need to start the commission of The German Bar very soon. The mini show is looming large, and so I’ve been steadily working on several of those. There are a lot of ideas, mostly for collage and mixed media, doing laps in my brain and stirring up the dust in the air space.
It seems I’ve been a little distracted lately, and not spending as much time on painting, and not nearly enough time at the studio/gallery. Of course, it may be because I joined Sketch Club and although I haven’t been attending every Tuesday, it seems like a lot of evenings away from home. It could be that I’ve been preoccupied a little, as Ahnna has a bone infection in her toe, and she receives direct line antibiotics for a 2 week period. This past Monday, I had a sebaceous cyst removed from my head, and that has been a source of worry. Marcia 2 was in the hospital last weekend with sepsis, and is at home now, but off of work for the rest of the week. There have also been a lot of opening receptions lately, and they tend to be really fun, so lots of Friday nights at galleries.
The Thursday night painting class at Raven has been wonderful, and I’ve learned so much, not only from Lorin, but also from Troy. Troy can look at one of my paintings, and he will know that I pushed the limit on some aspect of it—lighting, color, contrast, etc, so during a critique, he will call me on it and not hold back, which I respect him for.
Tonight it’s off to the studio to paint, and I really need to start the commission of The German Bar very soon. The mini show is looming large, and so I’ve been steadily working on several of those. There are a lot of ideas, mostly for collage and mixed media, doing laps in my brain and stirring up the dust in the air space.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Pewaukee and Locks of Love
Latest news is the WPA Déjà vu exhibition (photography and pastels combined), opened on September 16th at the One Way Café, and we received really good feedback from the attendees. From what I understand, Sandy, owner of the One Way Café, wants to make it a yearly event.
Saturday, I took 3rd place at the art competition at the Locks of Love event at Beyond Studio in downtown Waukesha. It was a really nice event…Chuck and I took Ahnna to it and we had fun dancing, making chalk paintings on the street, and listening to the wonderful music (blues mostly), but a shame it wasn’t very well attended.
Mid-summer's Brush 2010
In mid August, Debbie Callahan (one of us 3 Martini Girls), and I painted in the Oconomowoc Mid-Summer’s Brush Plein Air event. On Friday, Aug. 6th, Debbie picked me up at home, we drove to Mayfair Mall, and headed straight to Claire’s to buy tiaras. We had decided to wear the tiaras while we painted because we thought it would be great fun, and we were correct! Afterward we drove out to Oconomowoc, picked up our artist packets, got our canvases stamped, and went to lunch before driving around the town to look for a proper place to paint. We set up our easels on Main Street across from the candy shop with the red striped awning. I painted the Sweet Dreams Candy shop, and Debbie painted the light post, and a window box of flowers.
On Monday, Aug. 9th, Debbie picked me up, we headed straight to Golosi Café and ordered large lattes with a double shot of espresso, then walked over to Sweetie Pies and got some bakery to tide us over until lunchtime. We set up our easels at Chaffee Road Park, which mainly consisted of a softball diamond, a childrens playground and most importantly, bathrooms. We painted different views of a stately weeping willow tree.
After that, we returned to Golosi, each got another latte with a double shot of espresso, and then had lunch at Sweetie Pies. We were having so much fun, painting, drinking iced coffee and eating that we decided to go over to the gazebo at Fowler Lake and paint some more. Wendie Thompson was there, painting in the gazebo, so we decided to join her. It was really hot outside, so the shade was a welcome respite from the sun. We each finished a painting, then our energy level dropped like a bomb, and we could barely get our stuff packed up and loaded into the car. We hardly spoke during the ride home, we were so exhausted from being out in the heat all day. We probably looked like zombies. Even after I got home, I was cranky, out of sorts, and probably over heated, overexherted, and overcaffeinated!
Tuesday, we had our routine down. Iced latte at Golosi’s, then something to nosh from Sweetie Pies, then set up the easels and paint. We did not repeat Monday’s double expresso shots. Fred came with us, and we all had a really good time!
Wednesday was more of the same, and Thursday we turned in our paintings. Unfortunately, by Friday evening, the weather turned on us and it started to rain during the silent auction, so turnout for the auction was low, and as a result, sales were dismal.
On Monday, Aug. 9th, Debbie picked me up, we headed straight to Golosi Café and ordered large lattes with a double shot of espresso, then walked over to Sweetie Pies and got some bakery to tide us over until lunchtime. We set up our easels at Chaffee Road Park, which mainly consisted of a softball diamond, a childrens playground and most importantly, bathrooms. We painted different views of a stately weeping willow tree.
After that, we returned to Golosi, each got another latte with a double shot of espresso, and then had lunch at Sweetie Pies. We were having so much fun, painting, drinking iced coffee and eating that we decided to go over to the gazebo at Fowler Lake and paint some more. Wendie Thompson was there, painting in the gazebo, so we decided to join her. It was really hot outside, so the shade was a welcome respite from the sun. We each finished a painting, then our energy level dropped like a bomb, and we could barely get our stuff packed up and loaded into the car. We hardly spoke during the ride home, we were so exhausted from being out in the heat all day. We probably looked like zombies. Even after I got home, I was cranky, out of sorts, and probably over heated, overexherted, and overcaffeinated!
Tuesday, we had our routine down. Iced latte at Golosi’s, then something to nosh from Sweetie Pies, then set up the easels and paint. We did not repeat Monday’s double expresso shots. Fred came with us, and we all had a really good time!
Wednesday was more of the same, and Thursday we turned in our paintings. Unfortunately, by Friday evening, the weather turned on us and it started to rain during the silent auction, so turnout for the auction was low, and as a result, sales were dismal.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wall space
At this point in my life I have a wonderful, supportive husband who I love, and we enjoy a lot of the same activities such as biking and kayaking, traveling, dining out, particularly at ethnic restaurants, gardening, socializing with friends, and the occasional glass of wine while cooking dinner together. We have 3 adorable grandchildren who are growing like weeds. And last, but not least, my art business is slowly but surely progressing in the direction I want. Why, then, do I feel restless and uneasy, like I need a major change? Lately I’ve been thinking that when I retire from the city, I would like nothing more than to move into a loft instead of another house. A space with high ceilings and massive wall space, with a balcony large enough to hold a table, chairs, some bird feeders, and some potted flowers and vegetables in the summer. I would like to paint larger canvases. I have no time for the garden anymore, I’m more concerned with attending art events, participating in the plein air competitions around town, spending more time painting in the studio/gallery, visiting the grandkids more often, and travelling with friends on the weekends. Of course, this new living space would have to have storage for the bikes, kayaks, golf stuff, and painting supplies. Does such a place even exist, or would I have to trade an old house for an old building?
Monday, August 2, 2010
The Hibiscus
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