The other day I read an article about an art collector and I love the heart behind his art collection. Part of his collection is being shown at a community library. The owner of the paintings has amassed the paintings for a reason far different than for it’s monetary value. It goes much deeper than that. Here is a link to the article, and it is well worth reading because it explains what is at heart of the gentleman’s collection. Click here to take a few minutes to read this short article.
Happy Birthday U.S.A!
Every 4th of July my faith in our country is restored when I see all the American flags and banners of red, white and blue and hear the patriotic tunes. It leads me to believe there are many in our country who have the same American spirit of faith our forebearers had when they built this new country.
So, tomorrow on America’s birthday, celebrate the independence we have as a nation and all it stands for. As President Herbert Hoover once said, “Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.”
On both sides of the aisles and
our patriots serving near and wide.
Today marks the very near conclusion of a writing project I have been working with a client on for about two years. The manuscript has just gone to the printer for a proof copy. It is a publication which you will not be able to find through internet searches because it was written to not to gain fame or draw attention, rather to share a retrospective look at one’s life with a select group of people – family, friends and personal connections.
The advantages of independent publishing led my client to chose this option because she has come to understand after a long life, the words of Robert T. Kiyosak who once said, “You and only you are responsible for your life choices and decisions.” These wise words are reflected throughout many of my client’s personal recollections.
Independent publishing allows for a book to be published and sold (or not) perhaps more uniquely and creatively without regard to certain traditional publishing standards. I am an advocate for it’s flexibility and I thoroughly enjoyed working with my client on this independent publishing project. I am most grateful for the time spent together.
My client and I look forward to holding the book in our hands and celebrating together when we receive it.
More than fifteen visual artists stopped by the weekly gathering yesterday on May Day, to say, “Hey, take a look at my new painting!” It was a great day to be outside. The sun was shining and there was a gentle, moderately warm breeze which swept across the lawns and portico at the historic Palladian Mansion, “The Liriodendron.”
The art talk was as interesting as always, with creatives sharing their methodology and their visions about what they brought to various surfaces. The exchange of questions led to insight about their individual style preferences, favored art supplies and so much more, such as when their paintings will make their debuts in future local, statewide and regional shows or beyond. Thus, I restrain from posting photos of individual works of art, most of which were very colorful.
It was so good to be among these artists once again. The only disappointment was although the wisteria overhead was still dripping with flowers, their purple shades of color have faded to mostly shades of gray to white. Then watch out! It is known to become wild, carefree and unruly. The new shoots of green will quickly wind and twine along along anything they can grab onto and hug.
It was a fabulous May Day with some of the many talented Harford County artists at the historic home and estate of Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly and his wife Letitia.
Harford County, Maryland has much in the way of talent, including creatives! Pamela Lofgren Wilde, wife of one who has proudly served this country, is using her portrait painting skill to bring to fruition an art exhibit in this area and beyond this fall. She has painted the faces of military women and men who are also artists. What a beautiful way to honor those who have given so much to protect and defend our country.
Here is a link to a preview video https://bit.ly/4cWEMgi . More details will come when the date of the exhibition is put into place.
Pamela Lofgren Wilde is an artist who has relentlessly used and given her skills in many ways to the artistic community in this county. A real warrior she is who has strengthened this creative community by her presence in it.
Artist and Quaker-raised James Turrell once said “It was important that people come to value light as we value gold, silver, paintings, objects.”
Happy Solar Eclipse Day! I guess today is a good day to put our attention on all things celestial ~
“Hallelujah,’ I said to myself the day after Easter, “I can see the light from both sides now.” What prompted this thought, was a move I made on Easter Day from one place to another. Where I was living, faced in one direction. All light came from west-facing windows only. When I awoke on April 1st in my new abode, I realized how my exposure to the sun had changed. The day starts with the bright light coming in the Eastside windows and then moves around to the other side throughout the day. I can now see both sunrise and sunset.
And very fortunate for me, as an early riser and one who writes first thing in the morning, there is a beautiful little window seat on the East side where the light streams in brilliantly. We will see what new thoughts and perceptions come from my new early morning writing space.
Read more on American artist, James Turrell, who “is known for his work within the Light and Space movement.”
Today, I’d like to share a piece of my writing, which has never been published, titled The Spring Outing! May you feel refreshed, renewed and encouraged by every new dawn during the Eastertide Season.
The Spring Outing
©Sue Batton Leonard 2004
*************
Winter’s chill has passed
I shall no longer shiver
Today, I am off to the river.
I’ll scamper
along with my hamper.
Go to the weeping willow
where there will be a soft pillow.
A mound of moss,
for my clean linen cloth.
Before me I’ve strewn,
A canteen of steeped tea
a silver fork, knife and spoon.
A spring onion tart
with ‘shrooms and cheese,
and a tasty salad of caprese.
A square of dark chocolate
is in the pocket.
I’ll save one cup
for after I’ve supped,
while watching spring erupt.
With the yellow forsythia branches
I’ll weave in tender pussy willows
dotted with long stemmed violets.
A crown to place on my head
before I lay on my makeshift bed.
Amidst snowdrops,
little bunny hops,
and silly daffodillies,
I’ll nap and dream
of summer’s August.
When aside the garden
I’ll sit in the long grass
Among the wildflowers mass
drinking chilled sassafras.
Above: Havre de Grace Amtrack train track by artist Pamela Wilde
Ahhh…the golden age of train travel. It was an era when travel etiquette was expected. Some of the first few paintings I encountered yesterday when I walked into Monkton Mill Station/Gallery exhibit depicted the romantic side of train travel, rather than the trade and commerce aspect of what railroad transportation brought to our country.
If nostalgic feelings come to you, like me, with seeing the rust and gears of an old steam engine, a view looking out a train window hung with a curtain of lace, the graphics on train cars or the sight of a train crossing sign, then there were romantic images presented by all the participants. You can take in all of this and more from the works of the participating artists – Don James, Heather Shreve, Henry Coe, Don James, Douglas Lake, Dora Patin, Raymond Burns and Janet Little Jeffers.
The exhibit included oil paintings, photographs and other archival artifacts such as the formal uniform of a conductor and old tickets sold by the cashier in the booth. The entire exhibit relates to the train industry. There was even a beautifully constructed model of a train car which enhanced the overall experience of the show. Indeed, it was a journey through a time which was central to western expansion, when family names like the Vanderbilts, Edward Harriman, Andrew Carnegie and other industrial pioneers and railroad tycoons were tossed around like baggage being moved from train to train.
Stop in and see the show, which will be at Manor Mill Station/Gallery until April 21, 2024. And there will be a train day at Manor Mill Gallery on March 30, 2024. Get your kids or grandkids aboard by registering!
March is here. I can already feel a wellspring of creativity bubbling up. Before every next leap I’ve taken in this creative life of mine, I’ve known it because I awaken around 4 am every morning. My mind becomes active and I may as well settle into whatever it is that is brewing, write it down and complete the dialogue I am having with myself. Or occasionally I’ll dabble with paint. Trying to go back to sleep before daybreak is a lost cause.
I am grateful for even earlier than usual awakenings because to me that means spring is in the air and creative energy is stirring.
Charlotte Brontë was right when she said, “A ruffled mind makes a sleepless pillow.”
Watercolor is a medium which I’ve always considered a “wild child.” It wanders where it wants to go and easily gets puddled up in messes. From my own experience of just “dabbling and splashing about” with watercolors, its a very hard medium to tame. Thanks to artist, Frank Spino who was graciously giving of his time and explanation, he shared a few tips he uses to get the results he wants. I understand a little more of how he keeps control on a paint medium that strays and meanders. Using his easel set up with a work-in-progress, he talked with me about his process, which was so informative.
My meeting Frank Spino came last Sunday, when I went to an art exhibit he’d curated. He and four more watercolorists -Kathleen Maling, Joanna Barnum, Matthew Bird, Janet Means Belich “Five Voices in Watercolor,” was exhibited at the Gallery 220 in Havre de Grace, Maryland. All equally talented having earned what many might call “elite status” in the world of watercolor painting. Their work has been juried in to the prestigious American Watercolor (AWS) International Exhibition and many have been featured in top-notch art magazines.
Each one of the artists is set apart stylistically by what they bring to the paper. Frank Spino wowed me with the high level of color saturation he has been able to achieve through a very watery medium. A transplant from Florida, you can see where the interest in the citrus subject matter came from. His work is by no means limited to fruit.
As with former Floridian, Kathleen Maling, whose interest often lies in painting very large scale reptiles, such as lizards and crocodiles, alligators and Komodo dragons. Gigantic creatures! But that is not all! Her watercolor “Egret,” shows her adeptness at painting shorebirds.
Matthew Bird‘s work has a special softness to some of his figurative work, which upon my first introduction to him seems to be in-line with his demeanor. “Stopping by the Woods” and “Angel of Music,” as well as his classical still life paintings had me doing a triple-take, as I thought they were oil paintings.
“The Poet is a Funnel” by Joanna Barnum brought to the viewer a very emotive piece, depicting the face of Grace Cavalieri who was the tenth Poet Laureate of Maryland. It shows the poetess in three poses whereby her deep feelings for perhaps what she was writing or feeling about poetry she read are on full display. Grace has obviously been very moved. As you can see in much of Joanna Barnum‘s work on her website, it is affective, imaginative and powerful.
Last, but certainly not least, the Indian corn, leaf paintings and the Amish and simple life paintings brought to the exhibit by Janet Means Belich, were all synchronistic down-to-earth images. Much of what can be seen in her images are found in the fields and destinations in this partly rural county and in nearby Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Sue Leonard:
Back row – Artists Frank Spino (l) and Matthew Bird (r),
Front row – Johanna Barnum(l), Janet Means Belich (c), Kathleen Maling (r)
“Five Voices in Watercolor” was a spectacular exhibit. I enjoyed the art, speaking with each of the artists and taking in the “art vibe” once again in Havre de Grace, MD.
All Things Fulfilling 