January 20th, 2023

Gate F9 at the Airport

In 2020, I signed up for a six-week ‘stay’ program in Bordeaux, France.  Having visited Paris, and painted in Aix-en-Provence and Bedoin, I was very excited to see new locales- the program included day trips to the coast as well as walking tours in Bordeaux.  Of course, I was also looking forward to painting while there, as well as improve my pitiful French speaking and listening abilities.  On the 4th day in France, I scouted some delightful painting possibilities- City Hall, outdoor markets, Roman ruins, St. Andre Cathedral, the museum of renowned history of Bordeaux wine, outdoor cafés and people in the streets.  
Unfortunately, the next day my tour group was  informed the President was closing the US borders due to CoVid. 

In July, Rapid River Arts and Culture Magazine invites artists to pay homage to influencers on their art. My homage is to all the teachers, gallery owners, fellow artists, patrons and friends who helped me see and pursue beauty in painting. I have also been inspired by artists whose work delighted me in books and museums. But there is one underlying theme which continues to serve a special purpose over the years.

In an early workshop, the instructor asked me, “What is your painting style?” I blurted out, “Slash and burn.” I loved to put color on a canvas and totally neglected planning before splashing.

I painted more thoughtfully after a workshop with a fabulous representational landscape painter and teacher, Scott Christensen. But occasionally, I felt in need of a break. I chose a workshop with CW Mundy.  Midway, he startled classmates by asking if we wanted to be impressionists. As each of us answered yes, he took a Gamsol cloth and erased all the hard lines in our paintings and advised us that round oranges are boring. Yes!

The final step was an art critic’s assessment of Cézanne’s still lifes as “brutal.” (Even though Cézanne was meticulous in his planning and painting)-Yes! I painted “Hommage à Cézanne and Van Gogh.“

I still paint representational still life and landscape, but when I feel bored or stuck, I return to my ´slash and burn’ roots.
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​My homage is to all the teachers, gallery owners, fellow artists, patrons and friends who helped me see and pursue beauty in art. I have also been inspired by artists whose work delighted me in books and museums. But there is one underlying theme which continues to affect my painting over the years.

In an early workshop, the instructor asked me, “What is your painting style?” I blurted out, “Slash and burn.” I loved to put color on a canvas and totally neglected planning before splashing.

After a workshop with a fabulous representational landscape painter, Scott Christensen, I painted more thoughtfully. But occasionally, I felt in need of a break.

In a workshop with CW Mundy, he startled classmates by asking if we wanted to be impressionists. As each of us answered yes, he took a Gamsol cloth and erased all the hard lines in our paintings and advised us that round oranges are boring. Yes!

The final step was an art critic’s assessment of Cézanne’s still lifes as “brutal.” (Even though Cézanne was meticulous in his planning and painting)-Yes!
I painted “Hommage à Cézanne and Van Gogh.“
​
I still paint representational still life and landscape, but when I feel bored or stuck, I return to my ´slash and burn’ roots.