Category: Sources of inspiration

A California Artist in Chi-town

The Captain and I really did make it into Chicago. We had several hours before our flight left, and it seemed right to use it by visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. That would turn a visit to Cousin Maggie into a business trip. That’s the way we self-employed artists think.

Ooh, ooh, there is a city in the distance! I even got a little shiver up my leg when I saw “Indiana” and “Milwaukee” on road signs. I don’t go many places, and am truly a California artist, through and through. Common sights to most normal people do give me a thrill. It’s a little embarrassing, but that’s the truth.

No, really! Look at those giant buildings!

The road goes UNDER THE POST OFFICE! I’m not making this up. Look at this. I think they might be a little low on space or something.

And it goes under the Stock Exchange too. Really, these people have some strange ideas. Not enough sunshine, perhaps?

What is on the roof of this building?? I photographed this through the windshield and later discovered it was the public library. Cities are so exciting!

Even the train is over the streets. They call it the “El”, because it is an elevated train. You probably knew that, because you probably go more places than this California artist. I actually knew it from visiting Chi-town in the winter of ’77-’78. Cousin Maggie’s daughter and I are great friends, in spite of being second cousins. (or because of it?)

Sunshine, snow, skyscrapers – I need to go knit a few rows on something to calm down a bit before continuing this exciting story of a California artist in Chicago.

See you on Monday?

Chicago

A California Artist Gets Inspired by Snowy Scenes

Yesterday, I left you in the snowy woods of a Chicago suburb.

Remember when I told you everything looks better with the right light? It was sunny the day we left, and I was snapping photos like a crazy woman.

Beauty and sunlight inspire me. I want to paint. I want to draw. I might even want to write, dance and sing. Never mind. I’ll do the last 2 in private. Thanks for your concern.

Another really great thing about traveling is the knitting time. Uninterrupted knitting time on the flight is such a treat!

You Thought I Was Kidding?

Did you read my post from Friday? It was called “What Happens in My Brain“, and I said at the end, “This is hard – maybe I should just go to Chicago for a weekend. . .”

The snow in Three Rivers was so fun that I decided to go to a place of true winter.

I went to Chicago for a weekend. Actually, I visited Cousin Maggie in a suburb for a few days. I’m not making this up. (And Scott D., I emailed you to try and connect, but am wondering if I sent it to an old eddress. . . ?)

This was the view out of the hotel window the first morning.

running away from home? — Running away from home??

My dear friend, AKA The Captain, went to a suburb of Chicago to bury her aunt. Turns out it was the same burb where my dearest Cousin Maggie lives. That’s not the sort of coincidence one can easily ignore.

She drove me to Cousin Maggie’s house, but we chose not to take the rental car up the unplowed driveway. Do I get any dorkier than this? Never you mind.

This is the first real live cardinal I’ve ever seen! They resemble our scrub and stellar blue jays, and I was just beside myself with excitement. Is that dorky? (Don’t answer that!)

I went walking in the woods behind Cousin Maggie’s house. It is a deciduous forest preserve, and I would LOVE to see it in the fall. It was cold, but I had my trusty LL Bean boots, and lots of wooly knitted items. It was very satisfying to actually need all those things I’ve been knitting all these years.

Everything looked beautiful to me. I love to see new things, to explore and to discover. . . although I have to admit that while we were sitting in the San Francisco airport ready to take off for Chicago, I told The Captain that I couldn’t wait to get home. My travel muscle is a bit flabby – love to BE there, but oh my, the effort is stupendous.

To be continued tomorrow. . .

Chicago

Somebody Went to Mineral King

But it wasn’t me because I was drawing The Cabins of Wilsonia. (I know not to begin a sentence with the word “but”. Thanks for your concern about my writing skills.)

And the weird spot on my camera is not there this time!! (Sometimes things do fix themselves, contrary to what my auto mechanic says.) I think this would make a wonderful painting, should I ever finish drawing The Cabins of Wilsonia.

No, this is not a weird spot. It is Trail Guy, happy to be retired, happy to be in Mineral King, happy to be eating lunch.

This is not the Trackster. It is a Pisten Bully. (I am not making this name up.) It is how Trail Guy and Ted got to Mineral King. Ted is in uniform. He is not retired. He gets paid to do the heavy lifting. Trail Guy is just an unpaid volunteer who happens to have tremendous equipment operating skills and experience. Please Ted, don’t run over Trail Guy’s lunch box. (It has happened, but it wasn’t Ted. He might not have been born yet.)

Everyone Loves a Rainbow

We enjoyed a fabulous rainbow last week. It was the full deal, complete with an echo or a reflection or whatever the right term is.

I love rainbows. Who doesn’t love a rainbow? They are a gift from God. Just are. There is a verse in James (in the New Testament of the Bible) that says “every good gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights”. This rainbow was definitely in that category.

I know. I’ve probably lost half my readers with my God-talk. I’m sorry. Here. Let me make it up to you with some fantastic photos of the rainbow. How can someone not feel inspired by this? (especially someone who draws every day in shades of gray instead of painting with lots of colors!)

What passes for winter in Three Rivers would make my friends in Northern climates just moan in envy.

Three Rivers

What is Inspiration?

Two blogs I read regularly addressed the subject of inspiration, and I realized that I am confused between inspiration and motivation.

Today I will tackle inspiration. People often ask artists what inspires them, and it is good to have an answer at the ready. (That’s a weird way to say it!)

Time for a dictionary. (Don’t you love dictionaries? online and on computer and big heavy paper ones? And do you remember how annoying it was to be told to “look it up” when you asked how to spell words? How can I do that if I don’t know how to spell it? It forced us to dig around and accidentally discover new words, which was the primitive version of surfing the web.)

Inspiration: mental stimulation to do something creative (this is my condensed version of the long dictionary definition.)

I am inspired by beauty. The right light makes almost anything beautiful. Color, shape, textures, subjects I love – everything nice is so much more beautiful when it has the right light. It makes me want to draw and paint.

Here are two examples, just what you’d expect a California artist to use!

This Sequoia tree has nice light. There is no question that it is a beautiful object. I could paint this. I might have already done so!

The light on these two Sequoias below is more than so-so – it is inspirational to me.

I want to paint and draw these. Why do I find these inspirational? Taste is an individual matter, or as my Dad was fond of saying , “Degustibus non est disputandem”.

Isn’t Latin fun?

California Artist Sequoia

An Afternoon and Evening at The Lake

Growing up in Tulare County we simply referred to Lake Kaweah, created by Terminus Dam, as “The Lake”.

(and there is still a stupid dark spot on the lens.)

Now that I’ve lived in Lemon Cove (at the base of the dam) and Three Rivers (on the rivers that flow to The Lake), I’ve learned that it is The Lake. Not “Kaweah Lake”, (pronounced “Kuh-WEE-uh”, not the River Kwai!) but The Lake.

At this time of year, there is a lot of real estate at The Lake bottom for camping, walking, biking, and horseback riding.

Our very dear friends, whom I shall call “Cowboy Bert and The Captain”, have horses. They brought them to The Lake and camped and rode for several days. I’d show you a photo but the only one I have shows The Captain bending over to inspect Blue Doc’s feet, and I don’t show photos of friends bending over. Makes you want to be friends with me, hunh?

We joined them for dinner on 2 evenings – we really know how to whoop it up on New Year’s Eve! Ummmm, not.

Going places, even in my own town of Three Rivers, provides inspiration. IF I were painting these days, which I am not unless it is a commissioned piece, I’d probably paint one of the top 2 scenes (minus the weird spot on the lens).

Which is your favorite photo? (and please disregard the weird spot)

Kaweah Lake Three Rivers

A California Artist Visits a Santa Barbara Beach

Yesterday I began talking about California beaches and ended up showing a little bit of the Santa Barbara Mission, one of 21 missions in California.

Today I will show you a few photos I took at a Santa Barbara beach. Wow, it was beautiful! (Thank you, Captain Obvious) I took a pile of photos that I really really want to paint! But, I will only show you 3 photos, because you are probably skimming this quickly when you are supposed to be doing something else. (Isn’t everyone supposed to be very busy this time of year? I’m not that busy, but I’m a bit of an odd duck. Thanks for being polite about that.)

Is this not just stunning? Holy cow, this California artist who lives near and in the mountains is sort of experiencing a bit of beach envy.

We walked about 1 mile, probably less. HEY! Where do those stairs go?? Ummm, that would be up? Gotta see!

We climbed to the top of this very long staircase and read the sign “One Thousand Steps”. Really? I counted them on the way back down. Anyone want to guess?

Oh yeah, this is a source of inspiration for me. I feel so inspired that I might just go draw another cabin.

Thanksgiving in Mineral King

Yup. We had cheese and crackers and apple and dark chocolate for Thanksgiving dinner. This was our view:

Is there snow in Mineral King?

Some in the shade and on the north facing slopes.

P.S. Michael smoked a turkey the next day. We had leftovers of almost all the good stuff except pumpkin pie. Feel free to send some over if you are tired of yours.

Mineral King

Some Studio Artists Paint from Photos

Did you know that some studio artists paint from photos?

I paint from photos. They provide ideas, inspiration, visual guidance and instruction.

I paint from photos that I take. Sometimes I adjust them on my computer. Sometimes I have other people shade my lens, hold branches out of the way or manipulate the scene in other manners. Sometimes I arrange things and rearrange them and move them around to other locations.

My friend Jimmy brought me the most beautiful pomegranates he could find. It was at a busy time as I was preparing for 2 different shows. I knew they would shrivel before I could paint them. No problem. I have a camera and am not afraid to use it.

Perhaps this is just the practical side of being a California artist in rural Tulare County.

California Artist Tulare County artist