Goats Grazing - Pastel in Progress
Aspen Road - Pastel in Progress
Jerry and Joe had pancakes for breakfast. And soon Jerry's visit here was over and he left for another day of painting on the western slopes of the Wind Rivers. He said he got four more studies done. I thought this he emailed later was interesting because I've been thinking the very same thing: "The wind was blowing and while I was painting the hill I was working from lost it's fall color right before my eyes. I looked up and something was different, the leaves were gone. It was a beautiful day and fall is not going to last long." I enjoyed seeing him so much and getting to talk to another artist for a while. We have a lot in common to discuss and debate. And Jerry, thank you again for bringing back my errant "stuff". And thank you so very much for the wonderful gift of tomatoes from your garden. We will sure enjoy those! What a nice man he is, and always so willing to share what he knows about art.
After Jerry left I opened the package of matboards I took to the pastel workshop at WAA back in May. Hadn't seen them since then. I was remembering one painting of goats, but found that there was another one of a road and fall trees that I'd forgotten about. I think they both have promise for finishing and will give me a couple more new pieces to go out into the barn. We will see how they change and develop. I'm kind of eager to get to work on them. Those are the pictures above. The workshop teacher was pretty loose and contemporary in what he was teaching us. See Monday May 14 for the photos of the convention where I was working on the goats.
This afternoon Roberta and Betty came to visit and look at the art show. I haven't seen either of them for a long time and Joe and I will enjoy their visit. They are a couple of brave ladies with all that's gone on in their lives lately and its good to see them out here and looking so good.
Also yesterday afternoon a lady called and said her name was Trish and she lived in southern California. She had bought a painting of mine at a consignment store and wondered if I could tell her something about it. (I always put my contact info on the backs of paintings.) It turned out to be one that I'd given to my sister Barbara for her birthday in 1995 - #677 Poppies For Barbara. It's a 20x16 oil and I told Trish it would be worth about $1800 now. She paid $100 for it, so she was happy she got a good bargain. And I am glad to know that the painting has a good home. She said she loved the painting. Barbara passed away a couple of years ago now. The rest of the story is that the last time I was down there to visit I asked her where the painting was and she didn't know (Barbara had Alzheimer's), she thought maybe Robert had put it out in one of her yard sales, or (my thought) maybe on the curb for the garbage men to take. I also gave one about the same size to Robert of a girl in a turquoise dress on a swing in a big tree. He said he liked it a lot, but I wonder where it is too. Barbara had a couple of older watercolors of mine too, and a whole book of my early drawings. Robert wants no material possessions beyond basic necessities. We'll never know how it got into the consignment store twelve years later, but it's a painting with an interesting history. I'm very glad to know the story and where it is now. Barbara and Robert lived in San Diego.
A really gorgeous morning, so far. The wind will probably blow again. Yesterday it blew pretty strong most of the day. Venus has sure been beautiful lately, rising just before dawn. I am usually awake about the time it is rising (then go back to sleep again). From Spaceweather.com - At the moment Venus has assumed the form of a slender crescent. "The only planet named for a goddess is as beautiful as she is mysterious," This week the morning goddess reaches maximum brightness. Shining at visual magnitude -4.5, Venus is 10 times brighter than Jupiter and 16 times brighter than Sirius--the brightest star in the heavens! Before dawn, look east for the brilliant light.
