cabinart weblog

If you are in your 40s or 50s, you probably keep noticing that amazing phenomenon of how quickly time flies. An entire year has passed with almost every Thursday spent at The Art Co-op. I learned a few new things, and one is that an art co-operative isn’t the right place for me.  Another thing learned is that it is fun to watch the river, and I want to share that with you.

We opened on an August evening.

On October 13 it rained very hard. Here is Oct. 14 and 15.

For some reason, I didn’t take any more photos until January.

Water was noticeably up in February.

The flowering plum dominated my photos in March.

April was beautiful, of course!

So was May.

Here is my last day in June. Why no July? Even though we opened in August, we were setting up in July, so at the end of June, my year was completed. And, I feel compelled to tell you that Sierra Subs makes the best sandwiches I have ever eaten in my life. Truly! They are next door to The Art Co-op, which is still in business and has several new artists. Hmmm, did it take 3 more to fill my large shoes?

The title doesn’t mean that the Co-op is closing - it means, well, never mind, it means last Saturday. Anyway, there were several of us who set ourselves up outside to show and sell our wares. My things were off to the left through that gate.

 A nice man named Patrick brought some pruning shears and we took care of those errant acacia branches so I could paint without getting slapped in the back of the head. That would have been a serious distraction. The poppy painting got very detailed as you can see:

 If you compare it to the entry on May 29 you can see the tremendous improvement. Looks a bit overly bright in this photo. After this dries I will add touches of lupine color in the background and put in lacy poppy leaves . It has to be dry before I try those, because they are very specific and if I mess them up, I want to be able to remove them without wiping out a flower!

The map is too large to put here, so just show up on Saturday at either Anne Lang’s Emporium (open at 9:00? 10:00?) or the Art Co-op (open at 11 a.m.) and get a copy. This month there is a special incentive to visit all the participating places. Each place is worth a certain number of points and there is a wonderful prize!

Today wasn’t “my” day at the Art Co-op, but Ms. Saturday was sick so I worked. The river was roaring and muddy!

It is fun to watch the seasonal changes at that prime little spot. The brilliant yellow trees out front have been a treat, and I have been waiting for someone to come in and tell me their name.

 Today a lady named Martha (no, not my mom but another lady) told me they are Acacia trees without even being asked, just what I was waiting for! Have a closer look:

This is a Valentine’s Day card drawn in pencil. (Have I mentioned that I love to draw?) It was done several years ago, and there are a few remaining at The Art Co-0p. May Valentine’s Day be all that you hoped this year!

Now that I am so immersed in my technological items, I have begun thinking in the same terms. CD players and iPods reshuffle; apparently, so do I.  My paintings are in several different places, and I constantly rethink where they might be seen by the greatest number of people. Because the First Saturday Three Rivers http://www.1stsaturdaytr.com/ is turning into a huge success, I moved as many paintings as possible to The Art Co-op http://www.theartco-op.com/ for last weekend. My space is really really full right now (but I haven’t checked to see what sold over the weekend yet because i am messing with my electronic devices, painting on the giant secret project and walking like a maniac)

The months are flying by, and First Saturday in Three Rivers is coming up on February 6. If this is too annoying or difficult to see, just stop by Anne Lang’s Emporium or The Art Co-op to pick up a flyer!

I’ve been derelict on my notification duties. As part of the Art Co-op and as a participant in First Saturdays, I am supposed to notify my email lists each month. I don’t like receiving routine group emails, and as a result, I am reluctant to send them. So, my chosen alternative is to post info on my blog, and for some undefined reason, I messed up there too. Please accept this photo of The Art Co-op on January 2 for “Winter White” First Saturday as an apology and an invitation to the next First Saturday, February 6. (Just so you know that I am consistent in my pursuit of authenticity: all 14 snowflakes I cut had 6 points,  but none appear in this photo! ) The snowflakes are still in The Art Co-op; alas, the real snowman out in the courtyard is but a memory.

If you click on this little thing, it will get large. Very large indeed. I’m sorry that I don’t know how to make it a normal size for you.

There is a wood carver named Zachary Z. Zachary. (No kidding!) He lives in Visalia and is now showing and selling his totem poles at The Art Co-op. Have a look!