Category Archives: Nature as inspiration and beauty

Helping to See

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 “Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that is where I renew my springs that never dry up.” ~ Pearl S Buck 

My husband thinks I am blind. So many times, when I am looking for something, I can’t find it and yet, when he comes to my aid, he finds it right there in front of me.

The other day, something happened that made me think perhaps, there may be some merit to his words that “I must be blind.” We were driving on Route 40, a major thoroughfare in Steamboat Springs, Colorado that I travel almost daily and sometimes several times a day. As I passed by a strip of buildings, there was a store that I had never seen before. My thought was “why hadn’t I ever noticed that before and how long has that been there?” In a time when some stores are closing due to difficult economic challenges, I was quite surprised that someone would start a new endeavor . Perhaps the owners of the business  feel safe that they have something to offer that others need.

The store has a very interesting name! It is called “Come and See.” It also has the symbol of a fish on the sign. What’s  the deal? Do they want passerbys to come see the biggest fish that has been caught this spring on the Yampa River that flows through town? After all, this is fly fishing haven or heaven!

Perhaps I ought to act on my intuition. I had better stop in.  I am always on the look-out for fulfilling things.   Maybe I can find something worthwhile inside like some really meaningful books and gifts. I don’t know though,  from the name of the store, they may be handing out hope and healing for those who are blind and can not see.  I’m there! http://bit.ly/mdsLii.

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Coming to the Art Scene

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 “Nature’s own masterpieces will never go away. If I am able to cast just a few of them in favorable light, and convince you, the viewer, to look at them again with greater appreciation and perhaps a fresh perspective, then I have succeeded as an artist.” ~ Scott L. Christensen 

Tomorrow is the First Friday Art Walk in Steamboat Springs,CO. I particularly enjoy this ski resort’s monthly art walk when it is warm. It is more conducive to strolling from gallery to gallery when I’m not faced with bitter temperatures and falling snow.

This week, an exhibit arrived at the Steamboat Art Museum http://bit.ly/l9on0C  that  is on my list of “have to see.”  The work of landscape painter and Wyoming native, Scott Christensen, will be featured until October 15. I have been aware of Scott’s work for many years now, and I am very excited at the prospect of seeing his work, first hand, rather than in print in art magazines such as American Artist, Wildlife Art, Art of the West, Southwest Art and Images West.

Scott’s work has graced the walls of the most prestigious museums in the country such as the National Museum of Wildlife, the Gilcrease Museum and the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City. His paintings have won awards at the Arts in the Parks Competition and Prix de West, just to name a few. The Scottsdale Art School, Disney Animation Studios and the Fechin Institute have all been honored to have him as guest artist teaching his painting techniques.

The Steamboat Art Museum never disappoints in bringing some of the finest artists in our country to this small town of 10,000 people. A jammed, packed schedule of events is on tap here in Steamboat this summer and fall. Remember to put the exhibit of Scott Christensen’s magnificent landscape paintings on your list of fulfilling things to see and do.

Can’t get to Steamboat this summer? Order the book “The Art of Scott L. Christensen” or one of his instructional DVDs. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/jcVZXz.

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Frankly Speaking Again

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“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” ~Robert Henri 

About a year ago, I kept mentioning, through our company blog site, our friend Frank. He had almost became a regular topic of conversation on All Things Fulfilling. There has been so much going on in this world of independent thoughts, words and views that little mention lately has been made of my friend Frank…Gromling, that is. 

People everywhere have been saying to me ” Where is Frank? How is Frank?”

Well – Frank has been busy too! He has been busy hanging out and doing some fulfilling publishing projects with people like Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of the infamous ocean explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. In fact, he was just in New York City accepting a Ben Franklin Award on behalf of Ocean Publishing, his company, for the publication of Explore the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries with Jean-Michel Cousteau.

Ocean Publishing is a small publishing company on Florida’s east coast, and Jean-Michel’s first book, in a four part series, has been recognized for excellence by the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) for the documentation of the beauty of marine life environments.

This book is available at local bookstores, through internet booksellers and through Jean-Michel Cousteau’s non-profit organization Ocean Futures Society http://bit.ly/12RmEB and through Ocean Publishing http://bit.ly/m3dSNl.

Congratulations, Frank! You are meeting the goals of your company by “making waves with quality books.” Where will your ocean currents take you next?

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Plein Air in the National Parks Exhibit

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“There is an undeniable urgency when painting outdoors – nature’s so grand, the canvas so small. It takes the human mind with all its grand abilities and complexities to sort through … re-create on canvas the essential components of such beauty and wonder.”         ~ Jan Blencowe 

The Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts http://bit.ly/l6sOIx  in Springfield, Massachusetts is presenting a plein air exhibition that will be of interest to many artists all up and down the East Coast. The exhibit which opened on Tuesday, May 24 and will run until November 6th and it will be visited by “plein air painting enthusiasts” throughout New England. 

Some of most beautiful scenery in this nation can be found in our country’s National Parks. This collection of 94 paintings, represent the work of 35 members of the Plein Air Painters of America. http://bit.ly/iutYWU.  Plein air painting refers to painting outside of the studio in open air. 

Artists have transferred their visions of the landscapes onto canvas through plein air painting since the 1800’s. As the westward expansion took place, the canvases of early plein air painters held great interest to surveyors, cartographers, geologists and naturalists who were studying the land where only pioneers had trod. 

This touring exhibit is organized by the Haggin Museum http://bit.ly/gVaIJ  of Stockton, California and is under management by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services of Kansas City, Missouri. http://bit.ly/jlLwKb. 

For those who are unable to visit this exhibit, the Museum Store has an exhibition catalog available for sale.

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Excellence in Independent Publishing

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“Art is not a thing; it is a way”.  ~Elbert Hubbard 

What inspires me to no end about independent publishers is the way in which they convey through books, films and music their vision about what the world needs now. After all, the world is changing! 

Yesterday, we featured two authors who will receive 2011 IPPY awards (Independent book publishing awards) on May 23rd inNew York City. These are just two of many non-traditional publishers that are being recognized with an IPPY award for their excellence in publishing. 

For the next few days, we will feature a few more IPPY award winners.  I have chosen a few titles that I feel might be of particular interest to our readers. 

Fine Art Category: Picasso Looks at Degas (Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute) http://www.clarkart.edu/

Performing Arts: The 101 Greatest Song & Dance Movies (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers). 

Photography: Stieglitz, Steichen & Strand: Masterworks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MetropolitanMuseum of Art & Yale Press) 

Architecture: Ecological Urbanism, by Mohsen Mostafavi with Gareth Doherty (Lars Muller Publishers). 

 Tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, we will feature IPPY award winners in the categories of religious fiction, visionary fiction, children’s picture books and juvenile/teen/young adult. 

The full list of 2011 IPPY award winners is lengthy and contains more than 80 categories with gold, silver and bronze medalists in each category. To see the entire list, please visit http://bit.ly/llL02x.

 Come on back into our world tomorrow for more independent words, thoughts and views!

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The Art of Mastery

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“The problem is that we humans are compelled to understand things and use words in an attempt to do so. All of those words cloud an experience that is seen and felt on an individual basis” ~ Unknown

What is mastery? “Possession of consummate skill and full command of a subject of study.” Mastery comes by way of many forms and subjects. Just when we think we know it all, we often find, there is always more to learn! Education is a life long process. Such is the art of living. 

There is an event in September that artists around the globe have looked forward to for the past three years. It is a coming together of some of the most prominent representational artists of the 20th and 21st century, to share their knowledge and expertise with others. The event, this year, will be held in Monterey, California at the Portola Hotel and Spa. It is the Weekend with the Masters, http://bit.ly/iaoxhp scheduled for September 7th to September 10th. 

Richard Schmid www.westwindfineart.com whom many celebrate as the most masterful representational painter of our time, is scheduled to be the Keynote Speaker. This event has gained international recognition for drawing other top artists to lead discussions, give painting demonstrations and workshops about the revival of representational painting. It is no wonder, just a few notables that will be educating and sharing their expertise in representational art are: 

To view the full list of participating master artists, please visit, http://bit.ly/iaoxhp. Each artist is extraordinarily gifted and is so generous in sharing their knowledge, with others, in this weekend event. 

For more information on the outstanding accommodations at the Portola Hotel and Spa, please visit http://bit.ly/klpIlz. The facility is Monterey’s first and only LEED Hotel. It’s water-front views provide artistic inspiration as well as a wealth of other activities available to conference attendees. 

If the hospitality is as masterful as the artists attending the event, it will be no doubt, be a fulfilling weekend to remember!

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Nurturing Talent and Creativity

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 “There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul  made cheerful by work, love, art and knowledge.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche 

Today is National Teachers Day! No matter what field of education a teacher has chosen to enter into, the vocation requires skill in motivating and communicating, a nurturing spirit and knowledge and expertise in a specific field. 

For those who have chosen to be educators in the art and humanities fields there may, perhaps, be a different set of skills that are necessary to effectively fulfill the duties as an art teacher and mentor.

  1. Understanding relationship between nature and creativity.
  2. Kindle independent thinking.
  3. Encouraging students to use their imagination.
  4. Teaching that each new day provides new opportunities for creation
  5. Interpreting and communicating feelings, thoughts and ideas into art.
  6. Using all senses to find inspiration
  7. Exploring new possibilities
  8. Sharing how art brings light and understanding to the world.
  9. Nurturing talent and passions.
  10. Joyful expression of individuality 

National Teachers Day was put into place in 1953 by a proclamation of the 81st Congress. To read more on this national day of celebration of educators, please visit http://bit.ly/jLEw8D. 

People are increasingly becoming more aware of what art brings to our lives – mental and emotional stimulation, conceptual ideas, reflection, hope and freedom to look at things from a different point of view. Happy Teachers Day to all educators around the country and around the world.

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Spring Poetry

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“It is always the simple things that change our lives. This is how God does things.” ~ Donald Miller 

Although warm weather has not yet arrived here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, http://bit.ly/O9KMI there was a renewal of spirit, on Saturday evening, inside the United Methodist Church http://bit.ly/lAT08q  . The Yampa Valley Singers presented an event that was the very definition of poetry “an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound and rhythmic language choices so as to evoke an emotional response.” 

The beautifully poetic production, Spring Awakening, was produced and directed by the talented, Marie Carmichael. It was an orchestration of all things fulfilling  –  a multi-media production of art through the compilation of inspiring photographic images, magnificent music and even a little dance between flames up and down the center aisle of the church. Although indoors, the lovers light and lively interplay was interpreted in my mind, to a dance in a garden-like setting between flowering blossoms of spring. 

The musical arrangement of Time to Say Goodbye brought a little tear to my eye but it was quickly forgotten as the Yampa Valley Singers launched into tunes from my favorite form of art – musical theatre. A lively Broadway Medley of some of the most well-known songs of stage productions, such as Oklahoma, the Sound of Music, Carousel, the King and I, State Fair and South Pacific brought a huge smile to my face.  I was delighted and charmed by two precious little children singing Do-Ri- Me,  too!

There are so many ways people can bring light into their own lives during this season of rebirth. The most celebrated writers in history have put their interpretation of this season into the literary form of poetry. To read a collection of 114 poems about spring from Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, Katherine Mansfield, Henry Van Dyke, Carl Sandburg, Emily Dickinson and more, please visit http://bit.ly/li8miV. 

Thank you, Marie Carmichael and the Yampa Valley Singers http://bit.ly/jph2do for ushering in spring. My spirit has been rejuvenated, in earnest, by your inspirational interpretation of art and culture. As for the warm weather, bring it on Lord, bring it on. We are ready and prepared for the arrival and we will be extremely grateful, too!

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Movies for Art Buffs

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“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.”  ~ Albert Einstein 

Happy Arbor Day, on this Film Friday! It has been a busy week, so the blog today will be brief.  So often we have featured historical art fiction books on this blog site. Today, we will fulfill the needs of movie buffs who like to watch films about art and artists. Here are ten top favorite movies on this subject: 

1-      Pollack – About the abstract expressionist painter

2-      Basquiat –  The life of the 1980’s graffiti artist

3-      The Agony and the Ecstasy – A Biography of the genius of Michelangelo

4-      Art School Confidential –  This film was inspired by comic strip by Daniel Clowes

5-      Dirty Pictures –  About a controversial exhibit of photos by Robert Mapplethorpe

6-      Frida – Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo is featured in this film

7-      Goya in Bordeaux –A biographical film aboutFrancisco Goya, Spanish romantic painter of the 18th and 19th century.

8-      I Shot Andy Warhol – About the woman who tried to shoot pop artist Andy Warhol.

9-      Klimt – A 2006 Austrian film about Gustav Klimt, the artist of the famous painting The Kiss.

10-  My Left Foot – An Oscar was won for the actor portraying the Irish artist born with cerebral palsy who made art using his left foot.

To see the full list of the top 20 art films, please visit http://bit.ly/bIed89.

Enjoy the weekend, and we will be back on Monday with more independent thoughts, words and views!  

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Living the Royal Life

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“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”
Dalai Lama

There is tremendous media coverage these days on the upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Over the Easter weekend, we talked with our son about all the preparations that are being made at Reelz Channel www.reelzchannel.com  for the broadcast of the Royal Wedding.  Don’t miss the brilliant airing of this very special live event. It is bound to be the Bees Knees. 

Admittedly, I am a groupie of Britain’s Royal Family. I watch every TV special I come across on the history of the monarchy and the family of the Queen of England. I love seeing it all:

  • The carriages
  • The royal garb
  • The swords
  • The royal etiquette
  • The pageantry 

We all know that it doesn’t take being a royal family member to have some of finest things in life. Our own mindset can make the difference between feeling as if we live a life of privilege or not. By recognizing what basics are really important to us in life, and living according to what is true and right within our souls, we can feel as if were given the birth right of a dynasty. The most fulfilling moments come in our lives, when we focus on appreciating the little things. Many of us already have the greatest wealth available without even recognizing it. We are greatly endowed if we have: 

  • Good health
  • Satisfying relationships with family and friends. Non-feuding, I might add!
  • Clean air to breathe
  • Enough food and water to nourish and sustain us
  • Decent shelter over our heads
  • An appreciation of nature and the other gifts the Universe provides. 

If we have common sense enough to know that  happiness is independent of great material ‘ things”, then we are very rich.  Yes,  we can still live a life of  prosperity without great monetary accumulation, indeed!   

My personal invitation for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding has not yet arrived from the royal family. But, thanks to modern day broadcasting, it will be aired so each one of us can attend www.reelzchannel.com. We, in America, can have front row seats from the comfort of our homes. Get up extra early, fix yourself a proper cup of tea, a scone, a biscuit or some kippers, toast and eggs and enjoy! Remember – the key to your dynasty of personal fulfillment is to always treat yourself and others like royalty!!

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