This weekend we went to Mineral King to open the cabin for the season. We were all excited to begin summer. It snowed on the way up, snowed in the afternoon, and more snow is predicted for this afternoon and evening. So, I guess more summer will be revealed in the fullness of time. . .
Check out this photo; it is the same view as the painting beneath it!
Eagle/Mosquito Trailhead – 8×10 – $80
For 14+ years I have been teaching people to draw. I tell them all “drawing is a skill, not a talent”. Some find reassurance in that; some feel disappointment. Then I liken it to typing – everyone can learn to type. Some type 25 wpm, and others hit 90 wpm. Those speedsters are the ones with talent, but all are typists.
Lots of people get the yen to paint, often when they are retired. However, most don’t understand that drawing comes before painting, sort of like grunting and pointing comes before public speaking. (not that i equate drawing with grunting, but hopefully you get my drift!)
Unless one can draw, one’s paintings will be weak. What I mean by this is that unless you can make your shapes believable, understand perspective, values (that means darks and lights) and can see proportions, your paintings will be exercises in frustration. (Then again, maybe you don’t care how they turn out!)
Some folks have taken lessons so long that I have become a habit to them. I tell them they don’t need lessons because they know how to draw. They tell me that unless they pay their $50 per month, they will not carve out time in their lives to draw.
Truthfully, I love these folks. I love my students – we become friends, comrades, buddies in the artworld. I show them my art and give them the freedom to tell me anything they think about it, good or bad. We speak truth to one another, and it is helpful and refreshing and sometimes, it can be hilarious! Drawing has to be fun, or we wouldn’t persist.
I have drawn this cabin in graphite multiple times, and it remains interesting to me! It is a cute little place, right on the stream, with a great view of Vandever in the background. (That is the peak on the right/west side of Farewell Gap that my studly husband climbs almost every summer while I sit on the porch with the 2way radio and my knitting!). Now I have painted the cabin twice, and probably will continue painting it from various photos taken at different times in the seasons and times of the day. Eventually I hope to paint it standing on location.
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