Monday, July 8, 2013

Road Trippin'




Back in February I took a road trip down to Meridian Mississippi. I love driving instead of flying. I don't mind flying but you see so much more and have a chance to meet so many more people when you drive. 
Right after that trip my 21 year old daughter, Taylor, said she wanted to take a road trip with me. This was a great idea except and also and idea that just makes me resize my little girl is growing up. She is in a relationship with a very nice young man and I decided if we were going to do it now is the time. 
So we are on our road trip. We only have 5 days and lots to do. So far we have been to Louisville Kentucky, we visited the Louisville Slugger Stadium (home of the Bats) and the Louisville Slugger bat factory and museum. We visited Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Then off to the Willet, Makers Mark and Jim Beam Distilleries. We even met and got our picture taken with the owner of Willets. 
Next we drove to Nashville. Dinner at Rippy's and walked along Broadway. 
All and all not a bad day for a road trip!

I hope this road trip idea is something that I can make a tradition with my daughters. I can't wait for one with McKenzie. Her trip will be filled with different adventures I am sure. 


Saturday, March 30, 2013

Watercolor Success!!

I have had a pretty good year so far with my painting. As I talked about in my last post I had a great trip to Mississippi to see the Paul Jackson Exhibit and got to hang out with Paul and Marla and make some new friends. Just recently I found out the my painting "Reflections of Sedona" won a weekly contest with Daniel Smith Art Supplies and the biggie for me so far this year is that it also will be in the Texas Watercolor Show in San Antonia, TX!!
Texas Watercolor Society
64th Annual Exhibit
The Bright Shawl
819 Augusta St, San Antonio, TX 78215
April 4-May 16, 2013

In addition I recently finished teaching a beginning watercolor class. I truly enjoy teaching watercolor. It is the coolest thing to unlock the pent up creativity and belief in these artists. The look in their eyes when they see that what they actually created, is far better than they imagined they could. Its also is a priceless feeling for me. 
 Ashley (Not quite finished but an awesome job so far)

Judy

Leigh

At this point I believe I will be teaching again for the Plymouth Education Foundation some time this summer. If you have ever said "I gee I wish I could paint" There's an excellent chance you can, if you just give it a try. 

Right now I am busy deciding on the different art fairs and shows to participate in, as well as contests and exhibits to enter. So far I am planning on the following shows:

Marshfield Mothers Day Art Fair...................................May 12th, 2013
Marshfield High School Fieldhouse

Cedarburg Strawberry Festival.....................................June 22-23, 2013
Washington Avenue Cedarburg


Check back as I may be adding to this list! I guess it will depend on how well received my work is received at these!


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Chasing Dreams




Each year I take a trip I call my Radical Sabbatical. It’s a time to step away from the corporate world and live my artist life. A time to be inspired and let that inspiration come from where if God sends it. A time for adventure and going where I feel led. And if there happens to be a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives stop along the way; even better.

This year my sabbatical started as a road trip to Mississippi to see my good friend and painting mentor Paul Jackson’s one man show at the Meridian, MS Museum of Art. The show was amazing. It was great seeing Paul and Marla, and Paul was very generous in introducing me to others and telling them of my own art. Before I left for my trip I thought that Paul’s show and spending time with him and Marla would be my inspiration, it was actually the people and scenes along this trip that inspired me even more.


Let me explain.

Matthew 25:14-30 is the parable of Three Bags of Gold. Normally this story pops up in sermons when it is the time of the year to pledge your donations to the church. But one year when I heard it I took a completely different way. In Greek they use the term “talents” to refer to 20 years of a laborers wage. I let that word talent come into my interpretation of the parable. What it said to me is that it is my responsibility to take the talents God has given me and develop them. It is up to me to work at them and make them 5, 10 or 100 times better than when I realized I have them. This is one of the many messages that moved me to work hard on improving my art.


This trip made this all come rushing back to me. While the art was great it turns out on this trip my inspiration has come from music and musicians. Musicians, chasing their musical dream just as I am chasing my artistic dream. On my trip to MS I stopped in Memphis and Beale Street. After the exhibit opening I traveled to Nashville. The music and the neon in Memphis put my brain in gear. The people I talked to and a few I photographed were interesting and wonderful.

In Nashville I was moved. At various stops I talked to people who came to Nashville chasing their dream.
I met a great guy named Duncan Houston who moved to Nashville 12 years ago. He was sure when they heard him sing he would change country music forever. Twelve years later, it’s an early Monday afternoon and he sings his music for tips in a corner bar to 3 customers and a bartender – just trying to make enough to get by. When his set is done he heads to the end of the bar and counts the tip jar, hoping there is enough to cover a bill or two. Then there is Kinsey Rose. She and her band are up after Duncan. She’s young and full of hope. You can see in her eyes the hope that maybe that person who can give her a big break will come in and hear something they like. But for now she sings to one man in an empty bar. But she entertains him like he’s one of thousands.

On the drive home it struck me. We’re all just chasing our dreams. We’re trying to multiply the talents God has given us and share it with the world. The dream may not be the fame and fortune everyone
thinks we’re chasing. It may just be that inner peace that comes with doing what you are meant to do.

Using your talents to the fullest. Growing, and sharing and helping others grow and multiply their talents too.

It’s a pretty awesome feeling. What's your dream?


With this post I’ve included my last painting – the most recent effort from my dream – along with a few
shots from this year’s Radical Sabbatical.


*** Both Duncan Houston and Kinsey Rose have Facebook Pages if you would like to check them out I posted a video on Kinsey's page I took of Kinsey singing a song she wrote.