Fellowship of Artists

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May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.” J.R.R. Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring

Yes, indeed, Christmas does come in May! Last week I had a beautiful holiday in May when I unpacked my 2nd most treasured possessions (unfortunately it was not my family that I unpacked and moved here).  But, my art that had been in storage for five years. When we moved from Vermont to Colorado we were in living in a place that really was not conducive to hanging artwork. So, except for a few choice pieces, the work remained in their boxes, that I had carefully constructed to store each piece. I learned how to build the custom boxes through observation. I had watched what the master artists from West Wind Fine Art, LLC did when they transported and sold paintings.

On May 1st we moved into a new place that showcases the art magnificently. As I carefully unpacked each and every piece it was as if I was seeing the artwork for the very first time. I had forgotten how beautiful my collection. Over the following days, my husband measured and hung the beautifully framed limited edition prints (and a few originals) to perfection. I have a good eye for placement of design, but the mathematics of getting the artwork hung just right proportional to the spaces without putting a million wrong holes in walls is tricky. Terry, thank you – it’s spot on! You have a much better perspective on that than I and it is a task that overwhelms me.

When I look at my collection, much of it came from West Wind Fine Art, LLC. It brings back wonderful memories of the time I spent working with some of the finest master painters in the world – Timothy R. Thies, Nancy Guzik and Richard Schmid. Their curator and representative, Kristen Thies, creates and orchestrates some of the most outstanding art exhibits in this country. timothy thies painting

Pastel Garden © Timothy R Thies

In 2011 Kristen traveled to the U.K. as an emissary for master artist Richard Schmid when his painting of the Manor home of Sir Walter Scott was unveiled for the Abbotsford House. She had the honor of meeting and hearing the praise about Schmid’s painting ‘from HRH Queen Elizabeth during the grand re-opening of the house and Visitors Center.

To read more about the artists of West Wind Fine Art, LLC please visit www.westwindfineart.com. Don’t miss out on their latest video about their painting expedition to the gardens of  historic Middleton Place in Charleston, S.C. The images in the video will beautify your day, and so will the music. http://bit.ly/1jEyyCm .

Seeing my treasures hanging on the walls of my place of residence once again has been a gift that will bring me great pleasure, years beyond my Christmas in May.

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.

Sue’s memoir
 

Wisdom from Artists

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“A good teacher, like a good entertainer, first must hold his audiences attention, then he can teach his lesson.” ~ John Henrik Clarke

Last week, when I was pouring over Southwest Art Magazine, I came across an article called Drawn to the Garden, featuring artist Kathy Anderson and her gorgeous floral still life paintings. http://bit.ly/XleImY. Being an avid perennial gardener, I was instantly drawn to the article, even though dabbling in paint is not a medium I work in.

Anderson spoke of the honor she felt when invited by Richard Schmid to “come paint with the Putney Painters.” She discussed in the article what she learned from working side-by-side with Nancy Guzik,  co-founder of the group. Guzik’s advice to Anderson was “to look over every single spot (on a painting) and make sure it is beautiful.” To read the full story, pick up the April issue of Southwest Art in your library, at the bookstore or at the newsstand.

These words of wisdom are useful to anyone who wishes to become a craftsman in any profession. After all, the definition of an artist according to the dictionary is “person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.”

I am taking Guzik’s words to heart, and spending time once more, looking over every spot of my manuscript, to do all I humanly can to provide a narrative that will help others understand the path I’ve walked, and perhaps bloom and grow aesthetically, themselves, when they read my story.

Today, I am feeling grateful that in my gardenful of experiences in life,  I have come to know some of the finest painters of our time, such as Nancy Guzik, the late Timothy Thies and Richard Schmid, just to name a few. And I continue to learn from mentor, Kristen Thies,Click here for Guzik & Thies publications  who gave me roots  to understand the value art has in my life. Click for Richard Schmid painting videos

timothy thies painting

  Painting by the late Timothy R. Thies©

Photo credit:© Terry Leonard

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.