An Art Filled Day

It's fall. Every view out your window is a beautiful painting. The reds on the mountains, the yellows of the devil's club plant and the pink of the raspberries in my back yard all create a stunning palette.

Ginzee and I took a bike ride on Friday. I was on my pink coaster bike, Bonnie. The world looks different on Bonnie. She prefers slow and easy, taking in the scene and enjoying the moment. We wound through a neighborhood that I had yet to explore. My puppy's exercise needs have opened up a lot of new experiences.

Our winding trip took us to a trail that we frequent during ski season but don't often visit this time of year. Ginzee took off after a grouse and I parked Bonnie to reel the dog back in. On my way back into the clearing, there sat Bonnie all content on this beautiful fall day. Yellow leaves scattered about with her pink paint against the green grass. The sun was peeking through the clouds adding a glint of orange to the mix. Every artists dream.

It is short season here in Alaska. I try to make time to enjoy every minute. Fall sure makes it easy to have art filled days!

The Carnival of Summer

Ahhhhhh, a picture of bliss, quiet and wonder. Here, my puppy Ginzee is absorbed in Alaska's summer beauty. The early morning sun gleams over the soaring mountains and warms our camp. The earth smells so good and the birds are chattering about. In this moment I love summer.

Did you just raise an eyebrow? Doesn't everyone love summer? Well, I happen to be the salmon swimming against the current.

Don't get me wrong, this photo is the ideal of what summer in Alaska is all about. But this photo doesn't show the chaos, the maniac, frenetic energy going on at sea level. Campers clog the roads. Drivers become drugged with sun and warmth and direct their cars as if they are singly on the road. Parking spots don't exist. Getting into your favorite breakfast, cafe and pizza joint is an impossibility. And the noise! This makes summer fall off my list of favorites.

It really becomes like a crazy carnival. People-watching becomes a 'train wreck' kind of experience. You watch people try to stuff their car into spaces that don't exist. The sidewalks are filled with hat-and-glove-bundled visitors while you stroll about in shorts. You see people carry trinkets that you didn't think anyone could POSSIBLY buy.

As an artist, summer is essential to my survival. I don't curse tourists or roll my eyes at their silly Alaska life questions. I know they support my livelihood. I remember being one myself a decade or so ago. I can smile and nod and laugh with them. Why? Soon the cold will descend, the flakes of frozen water will lilt down from the sky. The streets will clear, the cafes will offer my favorite tables, the noise will slowly dissipate. The pace slows, people invite you over for cozy dinners. Winter brings bliss, quiet and wonder.

THAT, is my favorite season.

I Live Here

WHEW! On Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. I finished my last painting for my July show titled, " I Live Here". It features different images from life here in Alaska. After many starts and stops and frustration I finally brought it all together with not much time to spare.

I was feeling free and easy on Wednesday. After having a schedule that required me to be easel focused I decided to take my puppy for a nice walk. Ahhhhh, great way to clear the mind and celebrate 8 fresh paintings.

Off we went with a spring in my step. My step soon became a shuffling moon walk of sorts when I came upon a moose cow with a baby. A moose mom is deadlier than a bear so we about faced and headed a different way. Ahhh 'I Live Here' you know, just a beautiful reminder of this great state.

Plan B came screeching to a halt when a moose mom with twins poked her head out of the woods. Poked her clearly crabby head out of the brush. Even Ginzee slinked away, that moose had a fierce stink eye! Heh, heh 'I Live Here' you know. Moose everywhere. Just a slight inconvenience, no big deal.

Plan C was in full motion when we came upon a black bear. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I LIVE HERE YA KNOW! I stood weighing my options and best route of survival. Still wanting to "Live Here" by the end of the day. I mean, how much wildlife can you pack in a 2 mile span?

We took our chances with our route back home. I was twitchy,the dog was twitchy. Ginzee would flinch, then I would flinch, then she would flinch from my flinching. We were a twitching mess when we finally hit the relative safety of our yard.

Alaska is amazing everyday. True, I was a bit fussed when I got back home but not everyone gets to see that much wildlife on a simple dog walk. That is why when ever a tourist says, "Where are you from?" I smile and answer, " I live here".

Online School

I am taking my very first online workshop. I saw the ad in my Artist's Magazine offering a free online class on art journals. I have seen some VERY impressive journal/sketchbooks in my day but none of them have ever been mine. My sketches look like a kid got a hold of the pages. I always understand the idea even looking at it years later but it's a bit embarrassing!

The lesson you see above was my first class. The idea was to print out some images of your own art and recreate the work through different compositions adding magazine clippings. At the time we were having one of Alaska's HORRIBLE wind storms ( think 75-85 mph winds). My brain seemed to naturally choose the peaceful, soothing images of flowers and birds. The phrase, "He looked at her and said, 'Just think of flowers and bird songs' popped into my mind. Again, I am sure a thought inspired by my current circumstances.

Truth be told this was my second attempt. On the first page I used the suggested collage glue which made the painting cutouts bleed. The instructor warned about this but stated you could creatively blend it in. Nope. Black (from the bird and brown flower) do not 'blend' into yellow. I tried to just leave it but I couldn't stand it. I started over and used a UHU glue stick which I liked working with much better.

I am already excited about next weeks class and hope to create another journal page tomorrow. It was interesting to me how a very structured project still couldn't help but reflect what I was dealing with at the time, crashing limbs and howling wind. Of course, that is the whole idea. It becomes a diary of sorts with art. Keep your eyes peeled to the blog for next weeks lesson.