November 15, 2002
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A
lot of interesting things have started to develop in my life these last
couple of weeks. I have begun the research into my biographical book
to be published within the next year or two. To this end, I am working
with a writer to develop the theme, and the content of the book.
I have delved into the archives of my personal photographs, to back up
my early years. This is really fun! It is a pleasant "walk"
down memory lane. The more things I discover, the more I recall about
the advancement of my artistic career. Also, I was contacted by an
author of childrens books to possibly illustrate, and do some cover art.
That is going to be exciting and quite a challenge.
There have been invitations to visit Panama,
The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and the frontier country of Kodiak,
Alaska. This will mean traveling to places I haven't yet experienced,
with lots of new adventures to portray in future paintings. (Load
up the digital camera, and carry plenty of floppies!) This is also
the season to get together with friends and family. Since they are
scattered throughout the Northwest, We will be driving across mountains
and rivers and through farms and cities. More photo ops! It
will surely rain, and maybe even snow. This month will find my husband
and I on a trip to Mendocino and Point Arena, California. I really
enjoy the journey down Highway 101, and the change of scenery as
we cruise along the California Coast. So. stay tuned; A whole
new world is opening up for me in this terrific career.
Next Issue: Still life: Alive and well |
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Wild and Wonderful
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| As long as I can remember,
I have been observing and memorizing the wild creatures of the world around
me. In Wisconsin, I saw wild mink in the carpeted pine forests.
There were beavers in the waters where they were building their dams, and
deer by the score in the vast woodlands of the northern part of the state
where I grew up. There was always opportunity to watch the
birds building nests, raising their fledglings, and flying southward as
the waning days of fall grew ever shorter. In the summertime, when
wild berries hung pendulously on tree and vine, black bears braved the
open farm fields in their quest for such treats. I saw the red foxes
steal noiselessly through grassy meadows. Skunks and racoons
crept out in the nighttime shadows of the full moon. In fall, rabbits
grew thick white coats and wild geese winged their v-shaped way to
the sunny southern climes.
"Skunks and racoons crept
out in the nighttime shadows of the full moon"
As soon as I could control pencil or
crayon, I was depicting these wonderful creatures that shared my world.
I illustrated the pages of note books with my vision of the wild animals
in their habitats. My favorite was the mysterious and elusive badger,
whose reputation awed and frightened me. I had not ever seen one
alive, but there were places where I could go to see one mounted, its sharp
teeth exposed in a forever grinning snarl. When I got home, I
drew it from memory. I heard tales of lynx and bobcats and
longed to sketch them someday. The nocturnal "whoooo!" of an owl
intrigued me. Other nightbirds called mournfully. Soon, I was
hunting the secret places of the nighthawk, and loon. |
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When I settled in Washington
State, I was thrilled to see some of my old friends inhabiting the fields,
farms and forests of the Evergreen State. I was delighted to
learn the ways of animals and birds here-to-fore unfamiliar to me.
'Possoms seemed to be a standard "nuisance" in the night. I saw pelicans
and seagulls by the score. Here were the common crows of my youth
as well as the new blue flash of the Stellars' jay. Robins scratched
the rich soil, alongside the Towhee and Varied Thrush. I soon came
to recognize their songs and flights.
"I soon came to recognize
their songs and flights"
Here was my first sight of a magnificent
Bald Eagle. Here was my first encounter with a chorus of sea lions barking
their melody from the haven of offshore rocks. Here, to my delight,
I observed the grace and dignity of the Great Blue Heron. There are
cougars in the mountains, and coyotes on the plains. There are wild
sheep and goats in the foothills, and wolves roaming the forests.
There were the coastal shorebirds from skittering sandpipers to the comical
Tufted Puffins. Cormorants and Common Murres became subjects for
me to convey on canvas and paper. I painted the seals in an impressionistic
style with gouache to emphasize their harmonious liquid verbalizing.
These wonderful wild things will be showing up more and more as I increase
my time at the easel these coming rainy winter days.
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