tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82310589988643458782024-03-13T08:52:46.040-06:00Plein SpeakingPainting Plein Air in Greater Wind Canyon, and its suburbs of New Mexico, Arizona and California.Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-30474566127449504832019-06-10T13:54:00.002-06:002019-06-10T14:00:27.645-06:00SerendipityMy last post talked about life being an adventure. Believe me if I tell you that the cure for a humdrum life can be plein air. It has been for me.<br />
<br />
Because I like to learn all I can about my passion, I attend PACE (Plein Air Convention and Expo) each chance I can. This year it was in San Francisco. I loved it. It was everything that you could hope for such an event to be. We tried to paint the Golden Gate Bridge, but she had a case of the willies and kept hiding in the fog. No matter, I got to practice fog! We painted in Golden Gate Park! And there I had the surprise of my trip.<br />
<br />
Those of you who were at the event probably heard me talk about it. I painted at Stowe Lake. It was a beautiful place...seagulls flying past, walkers stopping by to wonder what the heck I was doing, photographers with all manner of lenses probably costing as much or more than my first car, the whole world seemed to come by this quiet corner of the park. And it had an open parking spot! My big ticket requirements were all ticked off! So I spent a lovely time painting a quiet introspective part of the park. Suddenly it was time to go. The light had changed and it was getting more atmospheric with each passing moment.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47FUVt_FcPhC9ucpiJ93ltvQa4xNLBzi-GriEDixPHh_0-CZsaSAMOdYLkTgIGG0rFdohsRqxMlBa0JI31CNA0kCFeHEi5IU8WUBp2cM3CItV-4aSzqGruHftWoBUq2NMckl-LHEaaBA/s1600/PeacefulFlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47FUVt_FcPhC9ucpiJ93ltvQa4xNLBzi-GriEDixPHh_0-CZsaSAMOdYLkTgIGG0rFdohsRqxMlBa0JI31CNA0kCFeHEi5IU8WUBp2cM3CItV-4aSzqGruHftWoBUq2NMckl-LHEaaBA/s320/PeacefulFlight.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peaceful Flight<br />
Oil on Linen Panel<br />
7x11 Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I threw all my things in the car, taking care to not get paint all over the inside of the vehicle. Suddenly a voice behind me tried to get my attention. I turned and thought "oh no, here comes one of those weirdos one hears about in the parks of San Francisco." But wait this person looked very clean cut and was respectful, so maybe this wasn't one of those incidents. As he tried to hand me his phone he said "I have something to show you.'" Oh oh, spidey sense up again! But what he was trying to tell me was that he had taken a picture of me painting the scene and wanted to know if I would like to have it. Wow!<br />
Aside from my round appearance, it was a pretty good picture, so I offered my business card with a request that he email it to me. Upon which it was his turn to be amazed. My new acquaintance said "You're not a Sackett?!!" I said I have been for 51 years! this man reached into his pocket and pulled out his business card... Mark Sackett! Holly cow! What the heck are the chances in a city this size to run into someone with the same family name? Especially a name that is not THAT common. Well the painting was not that special. I don't get a chance to paint water that often in New Mexico so I am rusty. But this painting is my reminder that life is an adventure and even when you least expect it you just might run into some long lost relative. He was a very pleasant person and I thank him for the one memory that I shall always have that makes a visit to a very large city a wonderful memory.<br />
<br />
Back in the hotel one of my roomies asked if I always had such a weird life. I think it was simply serendipity. That's what it was. If I had not gone to PACE, if I had not gone painting....the French have a saying 'tant pis', too bad,Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-16192033095602822052019-04-12T10:53:00.001-06:002019-04-12T10:53:17.833-06:00Life Is An AdventureGetting in the car is an adventure. Going to the store is an adventure. Going to a paint competition is an adventure. Yup. Its all about attitude.<br />
<br />
Last September Dick and I were in Utah, one of the most visually blessed states I have ever been in. I was painting in Escalante for the first time. Wow. Oh wow. Did I say wow?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqI6rC2vT1CJ2xFIu6QHZ8zi2x8B95-IJz7BZB81ZQO2hpaBiDIzHLT08Zi5tFThj1NfRv3WoKt6u0yrAOsu1Beol35lkVU7gRrC0sL8JBi_mD7hGuqD9oSfTdbdxUFVIiOavpNqA39lA/s1600/DeadHorse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqI6rC2vT1CJ2xFIu6QHZ8zi2x8B95-IJz7BZB81ZQO2hpaBiDIzHLT08Zi5tFThj1NfRv3WoKt6u0yrAOsu1Beol35lkVU7gRrC0sL8JBi_mD7hGuqD9oSfTdbdxUFVIiOavpNqA39lA/s320/DeadHorse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The event we were at was so darned friendly, that I forgot we were out of state. But the scenery reminded me. I never used so much Burnt Sienna in my life! I had a blast making and meeting new friends, painting in places where divine design was in every glance. You had to hunt to find a lousy view. I never did. My only gripe was the lack of turn offs where the painting view was astounding. It took a bit to get used to the heat of color in those vistas, married to the cool blues of recession in the landscape. It was a true WONDERland. We were like kids in a visual candy store. It was hard to pick out what spoke to you personally to use as a paint motif. Didn't win anything, having been outclassed at every turn. That was fine. To each their turn. Besides the winning pieces were deserving.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3VrhELFG5h412K4bjJ80ugsr0IROKWFkkOaRkS5VKQzWa9h0c_HUDRIof9tZojRecAxhKfQJWWLLr3uX6svkKdCXuWQuDAzRs2j3UkYb98MHVVwJpxGEocX__iQew4GRpZ8QDHDCKIY/s1600/Kiva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3VrhELFG5h412K4bjJ80ugsr0IROKWFkkOaRkS5VKQzWa9h0c_HUDRIof9tZojRecAxhKfQJWWLLr3uX6svkKdCXuWQuDAzRs2j3UkYb98MHVVwJpxGEocX__iQew4GRpZ8QDHDCKIY/s320/Kiva.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiva<br />Escalante Utah<br />11x14 Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S4TZWO7E0w5W4oU3qeGreebpZZUME4HORUlHaZVDmVPRTaVcfbhklR5PfxBeek230QIgo1PV7CrD2K0ry_AnPTO_IfdNt8GYKNKEbklSHSpf_Qw62g7_FGhtE7LX5tl9eKTiPN32x8s/s1600/KivaCleft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S4TZWO7E0w5W4oU3qeGreebpZZUME4HORUlHaZVDmVPRTaVcfbhklR5PfxBeek230QIgo1PV7CrD2K0ry_AnPTO_IfdNt8GYKNKEbklSHSpf_Qw62g7_FGhtE7LX5tl9eKTiPN32x8s/s320/KivaCleft.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiva Cleft<br />Escalante Utah<br />11x14 Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Dick took time to ride the not often used roads that were not paved. He searched out and found an ancestral dwelling, fallen into ruin, that had been in his family when they moved west with the Mormon Battalion. This trip had deeply personal connections for him. Ghost towns can be so evocative.<br />
<br />
At competition's end we left Escalante for Moab. The second of the plein air competitions for me. I had a few paintings under my belt with those vibrating red rocks. Onward!<br />
<br />
We camped at Arches View campgrounds and toured Arches National Park, Canyonland National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. Go ahead try to pick a favorite. The storage on my camera almost was exhausted.<br />
We had one night and one morning there and the adventure truly began. Not all adventures are as expected. Dick suffered a stroke. Ongoing symptoms required he be air lifted to Salt Lake City. I have NEVER seen such care! I hope to never again have to visit that hospital, but am ever thankful that it and its wonderful personnel are there. I have never been the recipient of such kindness in helping me get ready for the midnight road trip to get myself to SLC. I thought the wonders were in the rocks in Utah. Not so. It was in their people. From the helpers at the campsite to the stroke team at the University hospital each person was caring, supportive, thoughtful and kind. We were both extremely thankful.<br />
<br />
Moab would have to wait. Getting him home was the imperative.<br />
<br />
Dick is continuing his recovery and is following Dr's orders, but champing at the bit to be back on that bike. I swear if it could kiss, I'd have grounds for divorce! But he is planning to ride Utah again. I am planning to go back to Escalante to paint, having just signed up this morning. We refuse to have that state represent difficulties. It will in our hearts be the place where we had an unplanned adventure that started Dick's journey back to good health. A place that tested our reserves but brought us back to share values and a knowledge that all we have is today and each other. A place that taught us to accept kindness gracefully. A place that taught us that all we have is our shared adventure.<br />
<br />
Life is an adventure. Live it.<br />
<br />
<br />Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-55655821436493565302019-02-11T15:38:00.001-07:002019-02-11T15:38:56.815-07:00Through Love's Eyes<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The end of year is come and gone and this past one has been filled with changes. Some of them pretty big and others not so much. The task of another blog entry was more enticing than filling out the late Christmas cards. So here comes my latest blog entry. Besides, baking is out of the question. That would have mean dishes and a wider butt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I won a couple Best of Shows this year which was nice. I appreciate the vote of confidence from the judges, as any win is nice. And every show gives you another chance to tickle a judge's fancy, or not. But these wins are balanced by other life events that are beyond our control. I lost a friend this year, a close one, actually a family member. Which brought to mind everyone's time count down. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought what would I change? Not much. I'd definitely keep my husband of over 50 years. Each year with him is more precious than the last. Especially after his stroke and open heart surgery in the last quarter. Yes he is getting better, looking longingly at his motorcycle. I'd keep all my kids and grandkids, as they are turning out to be decent human beings, kind and good people. I treasure my friends and my health. Yeah there's not a lot I would change there. My list of reasons to be thankful seems to stretch every year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But painting....ah painting. Here a lot would change. I have the feeling that I may not be able to stick around long enough to learn what I need to in order to paint worth a darn. I mean worth a real darn. I try to paint for myself and if others like it so much the better, but I really do paint for myself. For the moment. For the inspiration. To touch that moment where it flows and you are a conduit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of painting is cerebral. The scheduling, planning, the forethought. I think its the follow through that 's the thrilling part for me. Lately, I have held a tight rein on my choices as I paint, I guess thinking that I needed more control. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I taught a workshop last October. I only do one a year. One of my students (they all worked their tails off) reminded me of why I paint. For the happiness of the process. The delight in color. The feeling. The last three landscapes I painted were fall landscapes. Colors were muted and dulled by the oncoming cold. No snow, just browns, beiges, duns and burnt oranges. This one student, Ann, painted the most glorious small piece. Color was bursting from that piece. There was a happiness to be about the painting process that was mirrored in her color choices. Fodder for thought for sure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went back to my canyon today. I decided to paint how I feel about the canyon, not how quiet she looked. You see, to me, the canyon is very female. She has a varied wardrobe, and her garments change with the seasons. Her moods, well they are as changeable as the weather. But I needed to remember how delicious is life, how brightly colored it is. So I looked at my canyon through the eyes of how I loved her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OPrJ64vaYZidjHhZ7Vht5jUNPk6mnLcNTkTC73I9vPrHKubcTG01OtCcQIKjlt4HpZ1rpwO8kV3yeb3GAJTKEO93gHcEPFFWB0if5FSkbyKfksMRoo1FaRrvMNUKkbUSjcb0t33nrQI/s1600/IMG_0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OPrJ64vaYZidjHhZ7Vht5jUNPk6mnLcNTkTC73I9vPrHKubcTG01OtCcQIKjlt4HpZ1rpwO8kV3yeb3GAJTKEO93gHcEPFFWB0if5FSkbyKfksMRoo1FaRrvMNUKkbUSjcb0t33nrQI/s320/IMG_0061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is Glorious Canyon. Mysterious, vibrant, beckoning. No quiet wall flower here, in this wonderful canyon of ours. Now let me tell you, the muted palette was there. But not in my eyes today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Was it Socrates who said the unexamined life is not worth living?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks for the reminder Ann.</span>Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-59297530351723284302018-05-29T13:30:00.001-06:002018-05-29T15:02:31.323-06:00Filling Time With Happy Pursuits<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How is it that I am retired, but have less time than before? I do have good intentions, but they say that the road to (insert your less than favorite place here) is paved with them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did take part in the first of my plein air competitions this year. The results were not so bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I won the purchase prize for an 8x10 painting of the Blues Festival, here in Silver. Its title is "Just a Sittin and A Waitin", of two over 60 blues enthusiasts waiting for the festivities to begin, seated in the shade and enjoying each other's company. Blues Festival on Memorial Day features more exposed freckled skin than you have ever seen since 1962 in the form of blues aficionados, and some pretty good live music. The place does have talent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During this festival we had the second in what people are hoping becomes an annual event, in our plein air community. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Winning the purchase prize means I came home with money and left the painting for them to display or dispose of as they see fit. After all the hoopla was done it occurred to me that I never took a photo of it. Oh well....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I did take a photo of the second of my paintings to win an award. This one for Artwork of distinction. I titled it "Silver City Women's Club" (a definite nod to my less than stellar titling skills). I should have called it Casa Blanca, as suggested by my good friend Carol, or Casa Azul. This building is one that has captured my attention every time I ever went past it. it's just downright pretty in a territorial kind of way. It features lots of blocky modules, and a very nice play of light across its face early in the morning. Even better was my vantage point in front of the Chile Bowl Restaurant across the street. Safe, off the main thoroughfare, shady and pretty darned private. And I had the blessing of the manager. Important, that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is SCWomen's Club, or should I change it to Casa Blanca, or Casa Azul?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3b0VQUgIOGBk_6lTH21GyGceX9_h9CXeXRKtUz5uxtPox-wDDa3LmzXoNpCpMt3ynPG-7ed3EhWfOliQV4qr8RDqATp_G0HkwPIVV30hhUzvXbx8AMxYoLWNHks2spsb9v-Ck4CvebM/s1600/CasaBlanca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3b0VQUgIOGBk_6lTH21GyGceX9_h9CXeXRKtUz5uxtPox-wDDa3LmzXoNpCpMt3ynPG-7ed3EhWfOliQV4qr8RDqATp_G0HkwPIVV30hhUzvXbx8AMxYoLWNHks2spsb9v-Ck4CvebM/s320/CasaBlanca.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver City Women's Club<br />
11x14 oil on panel<br />
Available<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you would like this painting, <a href="http://louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank">go to my website</a> to purchase.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Monet "Creativity takes courage".<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-20313766172764579472017-11-08T19:24:00.001-07:002017-11-08T19:24:54.244-07:00A Time For Appreciation<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank">Go To My Website</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I enter into this decade of my life, a multitude of
things take me longer to accomplish, not least of which is finding time to do
my blog. I get the greatest ideas for blog entries, in bed, in the shower on a
plane or the road. Seldom do they appear as I sit to do another entry. But it’s
beyond time to do another, so here goes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This fall has been a flurry of comings and goings. I flew to New
Hampshire to see my sister and stayed about a month hoping the foliage would
turn. Very few leaves cooperated while I was there, I missed peak by about a
week. But I did paint a bit, one covered bridge and a few buildings. Corbin Bridge
is in her town and easily accessible with good vantage points, so I painted
that. It was an exercise in pushing color as the trees were still mostly
green. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujZJ3EKc5jyqMNLohw_VwpoR9ZloVU8WgKQXQbXkyJ_B3V0cTz2LQdiYh7s2pYMSr2XEM1ccBW95sRk2TZjBKcCsxD7G9ZgbfvjvK-mHDzgkMkKRNoVr03K5JITJshj1Pe6HFESWGglU/s1600/IMG_1432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1382" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujZJ3EKc5jyqMNLohw_VwpoR9ZloVU8WgKQXQbXkyJ_B3V0cTz2LQdiYh7s2pYMSr2XEM1ccBW95sRk2TZjBKcCsxD7G9ZgbfvjvK-mHDzgkMkKRNoVr03K5JITJshj1Pe6HFESWGglU/s320/IMG_1432.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corbin Bridge, NH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also painted on the Rockefeller
estate in Woodstock Vermont. That was a fun day. I got to speak French with a
docent and we visited grandly… I do miss it. I also painted the Woodstock
library as light was breaking behind it and over the hill top. Met a leaf
peeper (as the natives call tourists this time of year) off a bus with the same
last name as mine. Now that doesn’t happen too often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then after my return home, I was out camping with my husband
and two friends in Arizona. I painted there as well, but that presented
challenges of a different sort. Challenges of composition in making a straight
on view of a cliff face work. I also tried to make my translation of it more
abstract than rendered detail. Challenges of wind and cold were a reminder that
winter is supposedly on its way. It was colder in AZ than in NH, imagine! A
curious squirrel did everything he could to entice a morsel of food from me,
but I had brought nothing with me to share. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVyB4Aqz7z2sMgNbdra2YFc2FNAx_x1KPlDoaElI5DiXSS7nuwuXoBsN_5k3qwyYynhB3TnFvuFfygIOUCgTtUV3uT8tPv4qDRvICuZKkWrugTQfVuJVdPKA3lP9EhS4F-xsvY_6iv1k/s1600/Fool%2527sHollow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1449" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVyB4Aqz7z2sMgNbdra2YFc2FNAx_x1KPlDoaElI5DiXSS7nuwuXoBsN_5k3qwyYynhB3TnFvuFfygIOUCgTtUV3uT8tPv4qDRvICuZKkWrugTQfVuJVdPKA3lP9EhS4F-xsvY_6iv1k/s400/Fool%2527sHollow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fool's Hollow AZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All this travelling about got me thinking about seeing my
surroundings with a fresh pair of eyes. New England, Arizona or New Mexico, the
wonders of this land and the works of we the people are amazing. I really felt
a connection to all the places I was in. Surrounded by granite in New Hampshire
or lava flow in Arizona, the impermanence of our time here becomes inescapable.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This tends to make me even more impatient to catalogue what
I see in the time I am here. I sometimes wonder if the kids will have a garage
sale and toss the paintings that I have agonized over after I am gone. I hope
not.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t write so well that posterity will find any deep
thinking of value. But, I hope I paint better than I write. I hope that people
who view my paintings get a sense of the reverence I have for this land and appreciation
for all the sacrifices that our fellow citizens who came before us willingly
performed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have read this far, I thank you. Not all my blog
posts are this serious. But painting this land has settled a feeling of
thankfulness in me that I hope I never lose; one I hope I can hand on to
someone else through my work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">"In the moment of appreciation we live again the moment when the creator saw and held the hidden likeness." (</span><a href="http://www.art-quotes.com/auth_search.php?authid=4995" style="background-color: white; color: #000044; font-family: verdana, palatino, serif; font-size: 14.6667px;" title="More Art Quotes by Jacob Bronowski">Jacob Bronowski</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-73463969065672955262017-08-21T13:38:00.002-06:002017-08-21T13:38:13.304-06:00There's a reason why I haven't posted in a while...<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why you ask?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For one major reason. I wanted to see if anyone actually noticed if I didn't post. So far, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">only </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">three people even mentioned it. I am wondering if this is wasted effort.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lots has happened since running after the decoration sugar balls on the floor, while baking cookies. We had the holidays. Grandkids graduated and got into college. We bounced back and forth from CA, Colorado and here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went to the plein air convention in San Diego. That was like coming home. I took a workshop with my cousin Paul and Kim Casebeer in Evergreen Colorado. Wow, was it ever beautiful. Made a few new friends during the process and loved every minute. Moral - you can and will windburn even if you are slathered with sunscreen. Second moral - ALWAYS have a jacket in the car!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqm6Yqgx1sAaA-hCBoCthw6f0Dj4vGDC4-GoBS17ljY2jHmFUiAd5OO-YxG6RfT8E6L1zBXQ407jislc7_W3WBV5ACeK5XsM_NuzZq4UIIa-adEWdyw6mC5oj4ioFl_6rkxijQwaqu4I/s1600/Balboa+Carillon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqm6Yqgx1sAaA-hCBoCthw6f0Dj4vGDC4-GoBS17ljY2jHmFUiAd5OO-YxG6RfT8E6L1zBXQ407jislc7_W3WBV5ACeK5XsM_NuzZq4UIIa-adEWdyw6mC5oj4ioFl_6rkxijQwaqu4I/s320/Balboa+Carillon.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balboa Carillon - Sold</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I taught a workshop here in Silver and have been painting up a storm. I was asked to judge a plein air competition and did a defensible job. That was an honor, and was asked to judge two more, but what with travelling and family events could not do them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What have I been painting? Mostly landscapes. Mostly plein air work. But I have revised several studio pieces that have hung around bugging me no end. Because something just did not ring true in them. I have one more piece, a pastel, that will undergo a face lift in one area. Then the backlog of those that can be saved will have been. Others will not be allowed into the lifeboat. I cringe when I see an older piece that today I would not have allowed to live. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuhe9lT_J7jvMHaxoU-4bMXmHLa86-wUqjYSF1MSiRe3RbwbWaRvBYQtUvMv-VVpwdP9gw-caTbfFOJtC34hLKlwcj1BUc70lsulJ51WQgmsfAjjLRjI5sUe0HqAPHXhSoult9pZrzI8/s1600/MorningWalk_redux900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="900" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuhe9lT_J7jvMHaxoU-4bMXmHLa86-wUqjYSF1MSiRe3RbwbWaRvBYQtUvMv-VVpwdP9gw-caTbfFOJtC34hLKlwcj1BUc70lsulJ51WQgmsfAjjLRjI5sUe0HqAPHXhSoult9pZrzI8/s320/MorningWalk_redux900.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Walk - Gila<br />
11x14 Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best painting is always your next one. The worst ones always behind you. You hope. But I am learning to look with a more critical eye. Teaching a workshop really made me think about my process. What do I KNOW works. What is the major stumbling block to good solid work? I found, for me, the answer was concept and composition. I can forgive a color I would not use. I can forget a brushstroke that might be too exuberant. But bad composition, and loss or confusion of concept are fatal flaws, in my mind. What do I consider a success? Solid concept. Strong motif. Enticing composition. Defined, clear values. Finally, enhancing color and a deft execution of edges. Easy list right?</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QXxGIsb8JGDYUQXb1HJyQc8aXZKxFontAqPuwBJmhTh-q0N6TMH94rl4ZxfxfUl-kNLVzyxAWxXzItw91d8mKB9zhi7dca7t0cNrQz3Jhq9XjhoyvFXfVTYEWYQ3myyBlo3LRrHHs0E/s1600/Bearpaw+Bloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QXxGIsb8JGDYUQXb1HJyQc8aXZKxFontAqPuwBJmhTh-q0N6TMH94rl4ZxfxfUl-kNLVzyxAWxXzItw91d8mKB9zhi7dca7t0cNrQz3Jhq9XjhoyvFXfVTYEWYQ3myyBlo3LRrHHs0E/s320/Bearpaw+Bloom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearpaw Bloom 8x10 oil - Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My students told me it was one of the hardest and best workshops they had taken. It was my honor. I felt pretty much like a mama duck watching her fledglings toddle off and swim with the big boys. The body of their work, when compared to what they had done before was stunning in advance of quality. It was hard teaching plein air in a pouring down rainstorm. It actually washed away a layer of paint on my support! But we slogged on through and got some amazing paintings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monsoons in New Mexico! I don't think I could give them up.</span>Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-88228138316832489832016-12-20T13:19:00.000-07:002016-12-20T13:19:39.816-07:00Let It Go!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let it Go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed a good chance to win some money from AFV this past
week. All it would have taken was a short clip of me decorating the Christmas cookies
I made for my grandkids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQmeVi7VUZ_hOkvkmpR2hUCivGiJRyYQUPQpywPD2C_N_HjWbWuX-wEE_oFtRp-aevdFn1z3ycZzR1V47IYX-Jze2AQL7Vuhslb-7L49Hb2Vq0en4FUPFhtzZEvpWN3PaipEfbEe5M8A/s1600/cookies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQmeVi7VUZ_hOkvkmpR2hUCivGiJRyYQUPQpywPD2C_N_HjWbWuX-wEE_oFtRp-aevdFn1z3ycZzR1V47IYX-Jze2AQL7Vuhslb-7L49Hb2Vq0en4FUPFhtzZEvpWN3PaipEfbEe5M8A/s320/cookies.JPG" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was placing the tiny white sugar balls on the cookies with
a pair of tweezers when the cuff of my shirt caught the lip of the jar. Had I put
the cap back on? Heck no! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What followed was a wave of tiny white balls rushing
to the edge of the table as I yelled S^*%! They moved faster than the Israelites
running through the parting of the Red Sea!
Trying to stop those balls were like trying to herd cats. My husband came tearing down the hall coming
to see what had torn such emotion from my lips, when I cautioned him to not
step into the dining room. One look of the floor told us both we had had a snow
storm of immense proportions. White balls were everywhere! Suddenly I started to laugh….the idiocy of
the situation was full in my face. How could I not laugh? I let it go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I drew a parallel this morning as I was driving into town to
get the one package I sent off this year. The care I had taken with the cookies
was painstaking. The time was spent hoping to make my family and friend’s
holidays a bit brighter, one bloody ball at a time. Sometimes painting is like
that. You agonize over an edge, a stroke, a poorly drawn form, a seemingly
false color value in the wrong place. The problems with some paintings just do
not give you peace, even at night as you lay there thinking what on earth could
you have done to have made that painting better. The stroke by stroke replay
can leave you tossing. So when you view the painting in the morning you are
determined to fix it or kill it. The painting, that is. Because by then you
have deduced that the problem with your sleep pattern is not the too bright
moon, the too late dessert, that last cup of coffee, no. It is the obsessive
nature of a painter who demands from themselves that which their mind sees, but
that their hand is not yet capable of producing. We all paint masterpieces in
our minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the healthy direction then? What resolution is there
for this obsession? I have decided that
it is to do the same thing as I did with those fugitive white balls. Throw it/them
away. If I cannot improve it…..I can destroy it. Thereby keeping my sanity and
maybe finding a new way to work. By not placing a label of precious on the
thing, it has abdicated its power over me. I become the one with the power to
create, refine, change and if desired, to destroy. Let it go. See no work as
precious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cookies are done. Decorated with all their little
doodads intact. The frosting has hardened and set…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cap is on the jar of white balls. Tightened down. Twice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijB5czUxX0w5fDH8JuuE3jBzSxcyfrvTBnGDbisr90JgdZ9SUo1FTarpNDjP7hF2H1fL4Ti7bSaZrSUvsLtJNUk11c__e6VUg0pnhzb-9D5qZ2LnmRE8btycs4bZJS_1nWZlwA_UH0WE/s1600/Snow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijB5czUxX0w5fDH8JuuE3jBzSxcyfrvTBnGDbisr90JgdZ9SUo1FTarpNDjP7hF2H1fL4Ti7bSaZrSUvsLtJNUk11c__e6VUg0pnhzb-9D5qZ2LnmRE8btycs4bZJS_1nWZlwA_UH0WE/s320/Snow.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas and a Blessed Season to all.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-21261306275607869082016-10-03T14:42:00.002-06:002016-10-03T14:42:18.643-06:00Concentrate On One Thing At A Time<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank">Go To My Website</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My kids sometimes
call me Dora the explorer. Why? Because I often seem to go off in tangents,
forgetting what the heck I was doing. I really think it’s that my mind works in
flashes. The more insistent the flash, the more brilliant and beckoning it
seems. So off I go. Then comes the fall back to earth. I experienced this when
we held a paintout weekend in Hillsboro NM last week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I painted, very
patiently and logically the light on three old building remnants. One was a
shed, one was a crumbling jail wall, and the last was the arch of the old
courthouse wall, the only indication of what is reputed to have been a gorgeous
building in Hillsboro, when it was the county seat. All are working their way
to being vague memories. Relics is the title I gave this small but intricate
light study. It is pictured below. An 8x10, it is small, but full of
information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiPndxglBZHHJ5c5pjjuy5KXNCwUYw7GtMeAsw_thSvjpJbOOIUilWuIdlfrDB9ENCn-NP3gWQtDDI9T28eO9Sf99NVWb8lvC3YLVIvK7aMFQiia1u9S6A0MpJqZwJzYISLP7UWERzcI/s1600/Relics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiPndxglBZHHJ5c5pjjuy5KXNCwUYw7GtMeAsw_thSvjpJbOOIUilWuIdlfrDB9ENCn-NP3gWQtDDI9T28eO9Sf99NVWb8lvC3YLVIvK7aMFQiia1u9S6A0MpJqZwJzYISLP7UWERzcI/s320/Relics.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relics<br />Oil 8x10 Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Finishing the
piece I started to pack up my gear. Then Dora’s head popped up! Behind me,
aglow with light were absolutely glorious wildflowers! Their passing would
definitely not leave relics of their time in this world. They demanded to be
recorded. So back out came the paints. What resulted is a small 8x10 painting that I
call Morning Glory. It definitely was. Not only that, painting it served to
loosen me up after so very carefully painting the crumbling walls and the arch of the
courthouse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvp_3jF1BFrQDPSve-Dk0K-kYImB14XzBioBkeyX1kTeKAr5Q7im4iAOSWIAK10jICaJWQnvxtYYZErH_KeiQ4xUFGkm_gkmpSrkaMQ2fy8G52gXm1yR8RC7HjMpCia9fdyP8jaNBS0M/s1600/MorningGlory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvp_3jF1BFrQDPSve-Dk0K-kYImB14XzBioBkeyX1kTeKAr5Q7im4iAOSWIAK10jICaJWQnvxtYYZErH_KeiQ4xUFGkm_gkmpSrkaMQ2fy8G52gXm1yR8RC7HjMpCia9fdyP8jaNBS0M/s320/MorningGlory.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Glory<br />Oil 8x10 Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This fall back
to organization and reality can be tiring in its emotional intensity, or
on that rare occasion, insightful and insistent to the point that it MUST BE
obeyed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I used to be
organized, logical, methodical, and I think, totally boring. Not so anymore. I
wear purple far more. My white hair makes people a little more forgiving than
they were when I was the same age and dyed it. I think my lifelong admiration
of the greeting card character Maxine has caught up with me. (Watch out world).
So, creatively, I think flashes are good. Liberating, routine smashing, creative, and even desirable.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Squirrel???
Where???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-78260812880217091892016-05-11T15:58:00.000-06:002016-05-11T15:58:54.770-06:00Did She Really Say That?<a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Go to My Website</a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I cannot be the only one who plays back conversations in
their mind. I often know after the fact, EXACTLY what could have been said in
reply. But how many of us play back what the other person said and wonder what they
truly meant? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am talking about taking classes and workshops. I have read
too many books about art to list here. Lots of positive self-help stuff,
because as most artists, I am plagued by wondering if anyone really appreciates
what goes into painting. Especially plein air which I liken to painting on
steroids, or the Olympics of painting, for the sheer effort that sometimes can
be required. I have read what not to take into the field, but figure there’s a
reason why I drive an SUV. I am not a backpacker, hiker or any of those young
buff type advocates. I am looking at the looming end of my sixties with a real
appreciation of being able to do this at all. Physical things take longer to
bounce back from. Heck I don’t think I bounce at all anymore. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I do take classes and workshops. I truly try to grasp
with both hands what the teacher is getting at. I will try anything, go
anywhere, if I think there might be a breakthrough at the end. There’s lots to
learn and my time to learn it does not stretch out limitlessly. Nobody’s does.
So even if it’s well after the notes have been taken and reread, that when I am
standing in the shower, soaping up my head (or whatever), that when a
revelation hits, I stop and think. Gosh I’ve even gotten goosebumps standing
there all wet. But I have come to realize that not all of it sinks in. It’s
often like watching runoff after a drenching rain. The earth is parched, but
the water runs off. Likewise, my mind is hungry, but only able to take in and
digest what it is ready for. But there are times when you are ready… times that
stand out as that AHA, I’ve finally gotten it, moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do Thumbnails – Yes I mean you! At least three variations.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Use a limited palette – That means learning EVERYTHING that
primary colors can do.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How many greens can you mix? How many variations and
temperatures are there in one color family?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tone your board with an overall tone – NOT brilliant orange</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz9n2dbKnQn_7XS2nVkg2EUnHc2akYcub6cjVkrvMCnlzi46YblHhFiNnwQ4stWSg1OtFkgbpf5h82ijvBw7zE0VrzTsCro-FjWOGzSxhcwLNU8nVvbKgyAKws2dQVoLABrJ7bkdMtjo/s1600/Twisted+Oak+Winery%252C+Sunkissed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz9n2dbKnQn_7XS2nVkg2EUnHc2akYcub6cjVkrvMCnlzi46YblHhFiNnwQ4stWSg1OtFkgbpf5h82ijvBw7zE0VrzTsCro-FjWOGzSxhcwLNU8nVvbKgyAKws2dQVoLABrJ7bkdMtjo/s320/Twisted+Oak+Winery%252C+Sunkissed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twisted Oak Winery, Sunkissed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s what happened when I took my first Kathleen Dunphy
workshop this past April/May. I saw how wise counsel, trying it all, and saying
“what the heck” can get you. It’s not the vast number of paintings I did (I
only did three, and of those would only show two). Rather, it’s the willingness
to fail, to throw caution to the wind and </span><u style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">try everything</u><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> she suggested,
that brought me the best return. Everything she said I had heard before, read somewhere
before and never really accepted. I
figured if it works for her, what the heck? I am so glad that I left my stubbornness
at home and really listened. I feel that there is real substance in this
approach for me. I am going to give it a good try for a while and just see if
there is a difference at all in my work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWb3CT9Vl2SL_30D-Opnk0gymDatwlTLU6EpOoSYXqnzpFqDlioH1Lzf35fyB9tJ4LNxiO7bFXsvIaBlbQJ1LpZVGxZrNQ6yRYHVvbqk2wFkvX_MYJuY_ASUDBKIzUMlAQM2OPPrWOqo/s1600/Soul+Reflections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWb3CT9Vl2SL_30D-Opnk0gymDatwlTLU6EpOoSYXqnzpFqDlioH1Lzf35fyB9tJ4LNxiO7bFXsvIaBlbQJ1LpZVGxZrNQ6yRYHVvbqk2wFkvX_MYJuY_ASUDBKIzUMlAQM2OPPrWOqo/s320/Soul+Reflections.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soul Refllections</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s to growth. It’s not just for kids you know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-69694401301417702652016-02-23T09:44:00.000-07:002016-02-23T09:45:19.743-07:00Winter In New Mexico - Southern Part<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Go to My Website</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This February has been more like Tucson than Silver City. We are so very much higher, and cooler. So it is with surprise that we experienced 72 degree days this month!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perfect for plein air painting! And no snakes yet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My friend Gay and I went 'sploring on down the road in the Mimbres Valley, just East of Silver City. What we found was an area whose accessibility was determined by the rate of flow of the Mimbres River. Many people live on the far side of that river and rely on four wheel drive, lifted vehicles. Some leave a car on the city side to get out and do routine things like shop or get gas. We didn't have one of the aforementioned vehicles, so we stayed on the tame side. But we still had views that were varied and just downright gorgeous.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2JQ9RbUFKTKAJVbL_hPLRsp9jqzRBNMvbre3CQ9tPCU0098vsc2nI8DBtYIdJ9AVTG5eZ72ZIP1_vqDMln2MEuVU2jBzfOwscvlvsJi1JeIR67NwWFNuNlR6BuU_yzf9KXGFriw7rwY/s1600/Motif.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2JQ9RbUFKTKAJVbL_hPLRsp9jqzRBNMvbre3CQ9tPCU0098vsc2nI8DBtYIdJ9AVTG5eZ72ZIP1_vqDMln2MEuVU2jBzfOwscvlvsJi1JeIR67NwWFNuNlR6BuU_yzf9KXGFriw7rwY/s320/Motif.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The motif</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I started my piece by rubbing a tone of a violet all over the board. (I have been watching Shana Kuntz" new video). Its great for making you think and start a little different from your normal starting point and method. Its that thinking differently gives you different results thing. I love the friendship of violet and greens, not to mention the love of yellows for violets, resulting in some of the most rich offsprings possible. We were at riverside and the water was so noisy that we couldn't hear each other talk unless we yelled. Somehow that just was gauche.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJAFC005XrLjwUv_5bcgClDDYi_o2t875txn0Tt9R6RSY7_fKDkEvxSwreFu3_m2e14bTPz1CBsuzmbjYquBLd4T1P09QyvCCKMsS1oar_ffpgLrSgblPfJo_7meTwqT0t9pl054YhtM/s1600/dev1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJAFC005XrLjwUv_5bcgClDDYi_o2t875txn0Tt9R6RSY7_fKDkEvxSwreFu3_m2e14bTPz1CBsuzmbjYquBLd4T1P09QyvCCKMsS1oar_ffpgLrSgblPfJo_7meTwqT0t9pl054YhtM/s320/dev1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The block in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Locals drove their monster tired trucks by ever so slowly so as not to dust us. Who says locals are indifferent to their surroundings? Its so nice to have such a kind and thoughtful welcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We painted until we got the sense that we were both starting to dink around with it. For me that is the moment that I think " I can make it better if I just do this", and then the last stroke kills all sense of immediacy - it kills the " I am there" moment. I wish I had a guardian angel who could break my arm before I do that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwwVGkr06pfEAYlRfdtgeh84YPBcE_wM08txk8Gs3CMeqrGrW-wpw32Xcapm6qdnnagNiXeviBb-knoJDyKLmj2q0RlqyT8erK7QVuVpfgOmfMHbaStJtuR9liEAQF5oSVGA9kVdwdkI/s1600/CookesPeakFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwwVGkr06pfEAYlRfdtgeh84YPBcE_wM08txk8Gs3CMeqrGrW-wpw32Xcapm6qdnnagNiXeviBb-knoJDyKLmj2q0RlqyT8erK7QVuVpfgOmfMHbaStJtuR9liEAQF5oSVGA9kVdwdkI/s320/CookesPeakFinal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In The Shadow Of Cooke's Peak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was what resulted from one of the nicest days in the sun, with a lovely breeze and friendly people. Mimbres Valley is rapidly becoming one of my favorite places to paint.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tALU8UHEf31ePA02nUpihURnrjcsOa3gvjoZzpdrQyf8zwDnjFogRD37AWW0XnBLK7vHzJfTjS19n_x2FYu37iUnU0cFik7z28wa_KVi1_KCt86dGxVTCL9uwM7iL3SJgDlkCEos0Qs/s1600/art+is+picasso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tALU8UHEf31ePA02nUpihURnrjcsOa3gvjoZzpdrQyf8zwDnjFogRD37AWW0XnBLK7vHzJfTjS19n_x2FYu37iUnU0cFik7z28wa_KVi1_KCt86dGxVTCL9uwM7iL3SJgDlkCEos0Qs/s320/art+is+picasso.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-77024374956610760652016-01-30T08:33:00.000-07:002016-01-30T09:16:45.953-07:00He Did Not Have The Time<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Go to My Website</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The air blew out of my sails this morning. Somebody I knew,
though not as well as I would have liked, is gone. Saim Caglayan posted this
morning that <a href="http://kenauster.com/" target="_blank">Ken Auster</a> is no longer with us. C<a href="http://kenauster.com/" target="_blank">lick here</a> to see his work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About 15 years ago, I called Ken in his Southern Ca studio
just to tell him how happy his paintings made me. I could not, nor did I think
I would ever be able to afford one, but just seeing them made me happy. When I told him how I had a visceral reaction
to the paint quality in his work and the simple happiness of being alive in his
lighting, he was absolutely tickled. The man was gracious to a fault as I
interrupted him that foggy morning. I could feel the smile in his words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Due to the fact that I was working over 50 hours a week,
keeping a house going and watching over my aging mom who was living with us,
taking a workshop was not going to happen. So I talked to him and bought his
first DVD. It was one of the first art lessons on disk I had ever bought. I
have watched that lesson over and over. I tried a month of using his limited palette, and could not figure for the life of me how that alizarin crimson got onto my skivvies! The fact that he used an ironing board
and wax paper for a palette was typical of somebody who painted with passion, who
could not afford being distracted by the small stuff. That small stuff just got
rolled up and stashed in the bin. There’s a lesson there. I told myself I had
time. After all, he was younger than me and I knew where he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seeing Ken at the PACE conventions made talking to him very
easy. He remembered who I was, that crazy artist lady who lived in San Diego
County and loved his work, and who tried to paint. I asked him why he had not
done a DVD on painting cities, streets, buildings. I had emailed him requesting
one too. He replied that he had said all he had to say, and he smiled. Not true. In the past two years, Streamline released the second of his DVDs. Subject, city streets. When I
saw Ken after that, I told him that I was thrilled. For someone who cannot get
to a workshop for either time or money constraints, a DVD is the next best
thing. I could do that, after all, I still had time to get to his studio and
take a workshop. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This morning brought home the fact that we do not have a
promised tomorrow. We have today. So to my artist friends I say, take that workshop. Go the
distance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It never occurred to me that Ken did not have the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Should the two links above not work for you, just go to www.kenauster.com</span></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-91648819647240319262015-11-17T16:37:00.001-07:002015-11-17T16:37:27.863-07:00Time To Take Stock<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Go to My Website</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the time of year to take stock in what we have. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have my health (relatively speaking). As Fonzy would say,
“Eh, you aren’t twenty any more ya know”. I have family and friends, and I have
my painting. My mental health depends on that last one. If I could not paint, I
would feel oh so sorry for my husband.
He tolerates a lot and supports me by cutting boards that I prepare for
painting, coming to openings he could care less about and to receptions where
he feels about as necessary as lipstick and a tutu on a biker. Yeah he’s a
keeper and for that I am thankful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I am still gobsmacked when I get up in the morning and
find what we got last night. Snow. This
was our first here in Southern NM, this year.
Wow! Transformation! Our move
five years ago for this part of the country was so very right for us both. I have missed the change of seasons for many
years. Now it is more pronounced than it
was during our time in San Diego county, a visual cue to me of the transitory
nature of our lives. It makes me want to
grab those I love with both hands and not let them go. It reminds me that we have today. Tomorrow is
not promised to any of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXDxyFefPblnd1E7e9kVwR7bCUKXVaiD35iAaX5zkyoZs5vhj5HDeLE3PjeF7ZMX11SKFVlxfP0ACT-i2Gshy-mi8lJVGrxtNU7WmSql5X4pSUfvwtF_fiPQPxqc0u6WbDFmRKq3XPMU/s1600/Towards+Tyrone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXDxyFefPblnd1E7e9kVwR7bCUKXVaiD35iAaX5zkyoZs5vhj5HDeLE3PjeF7ZMX11SKFVlxfP0ACT-i2Gshy-mi8lJVGrxtNU7WmSql5X4pSUfvwtF_fiPQPxqc0u6WbDFmRKq3XPMU/s320/Towards+Tyrone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So after throwing on my clothes, and getting my first of
several cups of coffee, I painted this little 9x12. I call it “Towards Tyrone”, mostly because
this is the southern view from our property, towards Tyrone NM. The sheer beauty of this place takes my
breath away. Some days you think “if
heaven isn’t this pretty I ain’t going”. Really. I can understand how the indigenous people
hated seeing us all coming in and taking over this land. We would have tried to
defend it too. I think when a body
paints the landscape, farms it, hunts it and protects it, you develop a
reverence for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is painted on prepared board, one that has been gessoed
and sanded, sealed on all sides. I did
not tone the board, figuring who cared if there was white peaking through? Its
snow after all. It peeks through
everywhere when it falls anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am thankful. For lots of things, most of which you cannot
touch except with your heart. I truly
hope your Thanksgiving is as heartfelt and profound as ours is this year. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-70781678573135715342015-09-28T15:43:00.000-06:002015-10-03T08:14:56.697-06:00A Question From Left Field<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A little bit ago, I was asked to put some answers up on my
blog from the <a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/blog/qa/" target="_blank">Patience Brewster website</a>. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Patience, if you’re not already familiar with her work, is the artist behind her self named company that designs and produces handmade </span><a href="https://www.patiencebrewster.com/ornaments.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Christmas ornaments</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> and other fun gifts.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That was interesting. Never before had I had that type of
request.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">People ask you questions, but I figure they promptly forget
the answers and go on to the next important thing in their day. So sometimes I
answer facetiously, with answers that would stop you in your tracks, obviously
made up and sometimes quite funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I am being serious here, today, for about fifteen
minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. As a child, do you recall a significant moment when you
felt truly affected or inspired by any particular artwork or artist?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, by my grandmother who did lovely pen and ink bird
drawings, with light color washes on paper that today has disintegrated and
been lost. (Note to self, use good materials). She taught me to draw atop her
kitchen table, telling me to feel the item with my eyes, then put down that
feeling onto the paper. Best teacher ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. As an artist, what do you hope to convey with your work?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I find that when I am working there is a mind shift, and I
try to imitate what I see, feel and experience, a true synthesis of the moment.
I hope to convey the respect for light and life, and a Higher Power, no matter
what the name you use for that Being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. What memorable responses have you had to your
work? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"My kid paints." Un hunh. Once I had painted
peonies and that person wanted the piece so badly. Peonies were her mom's
favorite and the day she saw it was the anniversary of her mom's passing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. What is your dream project?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A year in a motorhome, stopping wherever, painting whenever
and meeting new friends along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. What artists, of any medium, do you admire? (Famous or
not!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This list could go on until tomorrow. There is so much to be
excited about. A total command of medium and virtuosity is mindblowing to me.
So in no particular order, Len Chmiel, Ken Auster, Irby Brown, Don
Demers, and such stalwarts as Monet, Degas, Celia Beaux, Bougereau, and Van
Gogh. Standing in front of a Turner has brought me to tears, as has viewing a
Sargent. Life is not long enough to list them all. They continue to give us
gifts beyond measure and I believe a teeny glimpse into God's mind's eye.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-27403825056797530212015-08-27T10:27:00.001-06:002015-11-22T12:28:21.204-07:00New Painting, New Title<a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Go to My Website</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes the titles of my paintings elude me, like a tiny flower under leaves along a forest path. Would that they were more forthcoming. <br /><br /><br /> Take this painting of a Pinos Altos house allowed to go to ruin. I do not know if anyone owns It. Clearly nobody is currently tending it. It looks as though someone once took pains building a rock wall that is now with overgrown weeds and grasses. The rock wall looks like it will outlast the wooden building. But the house had windows that were nice and large at a time when transporting them was costly and probably pretty precarious. It was probably fairly snug for a house of its time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hesitated to get into those tall grasses as I really do not like snaky surprises. So I painted her from the road.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACJ_cWCA6lN-OjDkbQ97itNy9n7HpdGQJ6gWWX1DlJJA6xESSTpC7joK8aTIe9hqtmnEdEzB7_lh09fdpKJiCW5VRWywq1Um7nooxjjdWYsMvSWqvZW68DNYK5c3R22Z63xaov74iYEo/s1600/PA_Dowager1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACJ_cWCA6lN-OjDkbQ97itNy9n7HpdGQJ6gWWX1DlJJA6xESSTpC7joK8aTIe9hqtmnEdEzB7_lh09fdpKJiCW5VRWywq1Um7nooxjjdWYsMvSWqvZW68DNYK5c3R22Z63xaov74iYEo/s320/PA_Dowager1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Not too many people were about in Pinos Altos that morning. There was a honey truck, one person walking her dog and someone who must have been late for work. Most everyone took long looks at the weird painter under the blue umbrella. But nobody interrupted.<br /><br /><br /> I called this painting Pinos Altos Dowager, mostly because she seemed to have seen better days. I can relate. But upon reflection, she might have been better named "Keeping Secrets", the way the entrance was so overgrown, with fallen down tree branches. Is she hiding something, or simply keeping close a time that was happier and more promising?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGjOBuslOqVOx-VtDt1_xggSkE6cj8cL4GWug16VfvdLts-c3lc9Ji4AEbyrQUKRPHRP56Xroi4ycq0UNVbU7137xbjkPp-9Sd3EXbwe0ghaCfu7-7m9UAQGmmLvN6_4tuLQarMcZPSg/s1600/PA_Dowager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGjOBuslOqVOx-VtDt1_xggSkE6cj8cL4GWug16VfvdLts-c3lc9Ji4AEbyrQUKRPHRP56Xroi4ycq0UNVbU7137xbjkPp-9Sd3EXbwe0ghaCfu7-7m9UAQGmmLvN6_4tuLQarMcZPSg/s320/PA_Dowager.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keeping Secrets, or, Pinos Altos Dowager? </span>Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-45733488738995566852015-08-01T11:36:00.001-06:002015-08-01T11:36:47.035-06:00Its Not A Pig!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank">Go to My Website</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some days painting en plein air are just plain weird.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Painting buddy Gay Scheibl and I decided to take a quickie
road trip up to Lake Roberts and paint. I kept telling her how pretty it was
with greenery around the lake and pink cliffs above. So we went as she had
never been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They had drained the lake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a puddle. It was teeny. The fishing pier (brand new)
was 50 feet or more from the water. You’d really have to cast to get to them
thar fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we decided to go to Upper Mimbres Valley and hunt down a
goat ranch we had seen with lots of goats in a lovely sunlit pasture. We found
it and partially unpacked. Almost together, we heard at least 5 shots from a
gun. At which point Gay, (the decidedly brighter of us two) said “This doesn’t
sound like such a good idea”. And I had wanted to drive up and ask to paint on
their property! Like I said, one of us is smart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Run away! Run away! Run away! Sounds like Monty Python doesn’t
it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ran on down the road and found a beautiful pasture
bordered by red /pink cliffs and habited by three horses. A lady was walking
her afghan hound and we asked if we could paint on the property. She said yes
and we opened the rope gate, closed it to not let out the horses and proceeded
to paint. It was beautiful! It was great! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfenRi8e4mNWBOyTa9-2k4h1xMYVVFbilnwMR8FEZh48mV6UL7f5UX7Xci1KeGI-9iqW-aojSjN06xCC-FWJqQ568nI9fTCKsOgGFggMeARbM5sGVHp8EWtfyXNc3hMBhsNWP5uLEYAA/s1600/UpperMimbresMorningMunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfenRi8e4mNWBOyTa9-2k4h1xMYVVFbilnwMR8FEZh48mV6UL7f5UX7Xci1KeGI-9iqW-aojSjN06xCC-FWJqQ568nI9fTCKsOgGFggMeARbM5sGVHp8EWtfyXNc3hMBhsNWP5uLEYAA/s320/UpperMimbresMorningMunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I can tell you, if you think boats are hard to paint,
try horses. They walk away. They pose for two minutes, look at you, figure you’ve
almost got them and they saunter on off around the far side of the buildings.
They do it on purpose. So here is my painting of Lake Roberts (just kidding).
Here is Munching Out in Mimbres Valley, with a bit of a glare for which I apologize. Complete. I don’t usually paint
animals. I find them non-cooperative. You wildlife artists are amazing. I just am
happy if my horses don’t look like pigs.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-4973791700779080842015-07-27T10:10:00.000-06:002015-07-27T10:10:38.836-06:00The Return of a Friend<a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go to My Website</span></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s been a long time since my last post. I did not want to
restart the posts and then fall down due to lack of energy. So I waited a bit.
That does not mean I have not been painting, I simply have been building back
energy. Plein air can sap it right out of you. So can trying to type in proper
English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plein air in New Mexico is a tale different from any
other. The southern part of the state tends to attract a wide array of
personalities and so when an attractive piece of land is posted “No Trespassing”,
the prudent thing is to not trespass, no matter the enticement to paint it. Luckily there are often pull outs along the
road offering safety from traffic and views like nowhere else on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today’s offering is called “48 Ford Firetruck”. There are
two of these old gals in Hillsboro New Mexico. One is being cannibalized to
give new life to the other. I like to think of it as an amalgam of the best of
both, affording the ability for both to live on. The historical society is
working on the transformation. Both sit in a field, just off the main road
through town. Because the field was fenced and cordoned off, my buddy Gay and I
did not want to overstep bounds and tred on sensibilities. So we painted from
the roadside. But after having met some of the locals who are working on the
trucks, we now have permission to return and enter the field to gain a better
vantage of these living historical icons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRztxBbPQowJ90n_FJxyo2Aim570OL_Ab0-qUIHuW6ltWAweoKhdwdC0GNA6Y3B-thBBaA_t1pasCe_O10cWOVprEcHSJKylBAGVMB9uUHF5R9cq9iNznrldVWlWdYTkFkszgYN8_ZgI/s1600/48FordFiretruck_Reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRztxBbPQowJ90n_FJxyo2Aim570OL_Ab0-qUIHuW6ltWAweoKhdwdC0GNA6Y3B-thBBaA_t1pasCe_O10cWOVprEcHSJKylBAGVMB9uUHF5R9cq9iNznrldVWlWdYTkFkszgYN8_ZgI/s320/48FordFiretruck_Reduced.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was my view from that day, glorious sunny and warm. So
was the welcome from the Hillsboro residents. This is “48 Ford Firetruck”, an
11x14 oil on board, and soon to appear in SouthWest Art magazine.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-79641130796276118542014-11-14T15:14:00.000-07:002014-11-14T15:14:50.603-07:00Settling for Fewer Plein Air Paintings<a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go to My Website</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fall is the best time to go out and see the colors in nature before winter settles in. Late summer is what I had to settle for this year. August was as far as I got.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To not belabor the facts, I started with a leg infection in June, it went to my artificial knee and I ended up only having one knee after the surgeon plucked out the offending joint, mid October. There went my plein air painting for the better part of the summer and into winter. Can you say envious???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I did manage to get to Maine to paint about nine paintings, some of which are still awaiting finishing details and slight attention in the studio. This painting is one that was done totally onsite, so very early in the morning, that the pink was still in the sky. It made it into the Randy Higbee 6 inch squared show in Costa Mesa. Some day I am going to go and actually see one of my paintings hanging alongside some people whose work I greatly admire. This entire show is populated by pieces no larger than 6x6 inches. Its a big show made up of teeny tiny paintings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you get the chance to stop by and take a peek, its on Kalmus Street, Costa Mesa, and will run from Dec 6th through the month.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is my little painting "Dawn, Port Clyde Me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRU-sJZfNoBOzI0ueAkXkbgGpIRqt6dRe8qn3pK8f34Iw9UI2yZ4DPtIhxBttfAVKwB1VVD3vukYpYZQVic7N0DQtKe9tbSHHK2g8bDd3YQMPk-w1BGVEVopH1JLcKB7nbiK4yYUpqsc/s1600/Sackett_PortClydeME_Dawn.jpg" height="297" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn, Port Clyde Me.<br />6x6 oil<br />Currently showing at the Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, December 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRU-sJZfNoBOzI0ueAkXkbgGpIRqt6dRe8qn3pK8f34Iw9UI2yZ4DPtIhxBttfAVKwB1VVD3vukYpYZQVic7N0DQtKe9tbSHHK2g8bDd3YQMPk-w1BGVEVopH1JLcKB7nbiK4yYUpqsc/s1600/Sackett_PortClydeME_Dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plein Air pieces may be sparse from me for a bit.......there's a new knee that's gonna be under the Christmas tree this year. About time!</span>Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-33425384729605867842014-09-29T12:52:00.001-06:002014-09-29T12:52:49.056-06:00Panting in Maine<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank">Go to my website</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life has been hectic since my return from a painting trip to
Maine, combined with a BIG loop to visit family and friends, through Tennessee
and North Carolina. I intended to paint along the way, but the rain followed me
and dogged my route. Huge sheets of it. I thought Texas was having a drought?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coupled with last minute preparations for the BRAI sponsored
plein air competition and show we are having October 9<sup>th</sup> to the 12th,
getting into the El Paso International Show, and the Clifton AZ Colors of Copper Show, makes my plate just a
tad bit over overflow right now. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I thought you might enjoy a few of the paintings I did
in Maine. I am intuitively dialed into that palette and have to feel my way to
the palette of the Southwest. Growing up under a canopy of trees makes you
welcome the quiet places, shadowy and light dappled. Occasionally I have to
return to refill my soul and to hear the accent that filled my ears as I grew up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first piece is the view to the left of the Port Clyde,
Me. Lighthouse, titled “The Sentry”. I love the pines in the Northeast. They
have obvious character, having survived the onslaught of numerous murderous
winters. They reach for the sky and they thrive. There’s a lesson there.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMJbbRc3OJqbyrd-ph4zti7J9nONDgVF8xGwIhcCm4B24YNIX_JBCwcsGuIctJwkX12YYhK612vFWqtdDH2ECigAYxMPQrpi_hZvWOXTR2rk0Yc2WJVETE8mlelMiqINOBSyzqy-qc3o/s1600/Sentinel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMJbbRc3OJqbyrd-ph4zti7J9nONDgVF8xGwIhcCm4B24YNIX_JBCwcsGuIctJwkX12YYhK612vFWqtdDH2ECigAYxMPQrpi_hZvWOXTR2rk0Yc2WJVETE8mlelMiqINOBSyzqy-qc3o/s1600/Sentinel.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second piece is a view of a garden along Turkey Cove, an
ocean inlet just outside Port Clyde and Thomaston, Me. The light filtered through the boughs, and gently teased it’s way
through the branches to fall on the flowers. The house was nestled in among the
trees and was totally at home surrounded by the huge pines. You could smell the
ocean on the breeze. The entire experience was timeless. There was a feeling of
permanence to the lovely grounds, so I call this piece “Timeless”.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qd1dh_i4IaAk891E5ulVv2QV2AIsdRuOXneswzgqNfqR3rPa6HOhhX43DNyN9OsjXCdlZ-iXz3HWx9_6sjwCgRaabKW38OmOaLKCwEhKmqrUHAPJND9pZ6VEUF_R7Nzc2iTZBsydwsE/s1600/Timeless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qd1dh_i4IaAk891E5ulVv2QV2AIsdRuOXneswzgqNfqR3rPa6HOhhX43DNyN9OsjXCdlZ-iXz3HWx9_6sjwCgRaabKW38OmOaLKCwEhKmqrUHAPJND9pZ6VEUF_R7Nzc2iTZBsydwsE/s1600/Timeless.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both of these pieces 8x10 were executed during a workshop
with Don Demers. He is astounding. Best of all for me, was his total New
England wit; slightly sarcastic, self deprecating and insightful. Loved it. It
was wicked good. His ability to drill into the crux of the painting problem you
are having, and gently suggest solutions was very helpful. His demos were worth the trip alone. I have at least six
more pieces from that week that are not ready for viewing and one is a germ for
a much larger piece to keep me busy while the winds howl here this winter. It
was worth every interminable mile that I had to drive in the mugginess and rain
of the Eastern part of the country. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sun came out to play the whole time I
was on the coast. Maine sparkles in the sun, like a gem. It was a welcome to
remember.</span></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-29154430345402723912014-08-03T09:41:00.000-06:002014-08-03T09:41:25.214-06:00You Know What They Say About The Best Laid Plans<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You wait for a nice spell of weather, thinking to get out
and paint, and then you get an infected leg and artificial joint. So much for
careful plans. All the result of a little tiny bug bite, the leg and subsequent
hospital emergency room visits, and doctor visits have slowed down any outdoor
painting plans that I had. But my friend Gay Scheibl called and said ”lets go
paint at my house.” She just got a new
deck put on the south side of her Silver home and it even had a roof! So there
would be no painting on the ground, subject to bug bites and no sunscreen. Just
a lovely day of painting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her property is so cleaned up since the first time I
saw it. They have certainly been busy. When you buy an older home you are
required to spruce it up, and they have been sprucing. There are lots of
outbuildings of various configurations and ages too, not to mention a deep
arroyo carved out by Whiskey Creek. It’s a great place to paint.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She has an old shed, complete with old wringer washer, and
that is what I painted. There was no laundry on the line, but the added in bits
were necessary to explain the washer. So I put out her laundry for her
(figuratively speaking). And the soil where she lives (we are separated by only
ten miles) is far redder than the limestone cap we live upon. I loved the
complementary play of the very green trees with the red pigmented earth.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiMGNWspdW9nqhOzbHcp-X537JPP4I2lB1H-B5-mC0dwiIfohau680N_K7CldBWVVkI_hBCPbHRQO8CD4LBCAOYfBkywyqV7G5-NRNbgI4HVaDuGHfpTE77ltAu53d8qK53bXkHjPpaI/s1600/WashdayReduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiMGNWspdW9nqhOzbHcp-X537JPP4I2lB1H-B5-mC0dwiIfohau680N_K7CldBWVVkI_hBCPbHRQO8CD4LBCAOYfBkywyqV7G5-NRNbgI4HVaDuGHfpTE77ltAu53d8qK53bXkHjPpaI/s1600/WashdayReduced.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washday<br />11 x 14 oil on lined prepared board<br />Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is “Washday”. An 11 x 14 that saved my sanity after not
painting for 5 weeks. Shoot.</span></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-1836439263322038752014-07-01T09:28:00.001-06:002014-07-01T09:28:49.185-06:00Thrilled to Get Best Of Show!Open For Business<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had not planned on painting in the Ralph Love Plein Air
Competition. But, I went and painted for two mornings. There were other artists
there, painting the week long. You could see plein air artists up and down
Front Street, Temecula on any given morning. The light was perfect, the heat
held off till midday and the passersby were congenial and interested. How fun. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We handed in all paintings on Saturday from 12 to 3. They
were hung for the public to view in the convention center, downtown, Old Town,
Temecula for the remainder of the weekend. It was a lovely facility. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Sunday, I went to retrieve my two submitted paintings.
Only one could be submitted to be judged.
So I picked the small one, an 8 x 10 of the store European Living. The
owner of the store had been particularly friendly and the spot was lovely, with
parking directly in front and the light breaking over the right back side of
the building. <u>Open for Business</u> was its title. When I entered the
convention room, I was thrilled to see a ribbon. I thought, ‘Great! I won a
third!”. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17RuBm1melLESZN7sy795EH1u3pm9iG6_Pw3BpGFTqMTsX9ZXUKI5EVW3WWfSGG2klJEGfsS6qfAI-SRgD_lBRJgqericwzeE0pU4lBwhEGEKSLY6CoL1EGgclUdGiet7E3v_ncNnMS0/s1600/WinningRalphLovePA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17RuBm1melLESZN7sy795EH1u3pm9iG6_Pw3BpGFTqMTsX9ZXUKI5EVW3WWfSGG2klJEGfsS6qfAI-SRgD_lBRJgqericwzeE0pU4lBwhEGEKSLY6CoL1EGgclUdGiet7E3v_ncNnMS0/s1600/WinningRalphLovePA.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Judges awarding the Best Of Show Prize<br />Yup, to me!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I got closer, I read the ribbon – BEST OF SHOW !!! Holy
C#&p! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have waited a long time for that elusive award. I had resigned myself
to never getting it. I had told myself that many artists went their career long
never getting the Best of Show, and to be happy for anything thrown my way. A
grateful heart is far more becoming than sour grapes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only thing I can say is that there was an over abundance
of paintings of the new bridge in town, and that each one had to be compared to
the next one. You can only do so much with a landmark. Originality of concept
is as much a part of painting as are the actual strokes. There were some competent
paintings there. But there was a commonality that ran through the most of them.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW8OCpQf0FV1z2eJf1yATusjxDnjaRR5oD2IGQikRePABCQmjz5TZPtspy39ARgRViTZzwpmruks96w58_qrqPZ_ww2lERO1pUBYGoZfwelptKfrvAm32TAY5zLvbHdyYL8dwAGwjoKQ/s1600/OpenForBusiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW8OCpQf0FV1z2eJf1yATusjxDnjaRR5oD2IGQikRePABCQmjz5TZPtspy39ARgRViTZzwpmruks96w58_qrqPZ_ww2lERO1pUBYGoZfwelptKfrvAm32TAY5zLvbHdyYL8dwAGwjoKQ/s1600/OpenForBusiness.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open For Business<br />Sold<br />Part of the Municipal Collection of Temecula CA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a purchase prize show; which means that my little $260
painting got me $500 and will hang in the City Hall as part of their permanent
collection. My daughters who live in Temecula will be there to accept the award
in my place. My granddaughter Taylor was there when it was announced. How cool for her to see her grandma win.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always wanted to paint Old Town Temecula. What a
lovely experience. I am glad I waited.</span></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-51433952617316810482014-06-09T11:53:00.001-06:002014-06-09T11:53:51.833-06:00The Big and the Little, Views, That Is <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank">Go to my website </a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have spent the last two months or so bouncing between
Texas, AZ, CA and NM, having company and hosting an oil pastel workshop. And I will be going back to CA later this month to see
the Sorolla show at the San Diego Museum. So I have not painted as much as I
would have liked. I have painted several still lifes, and because they were
painted from life, probably qualify as a plein air experience. The studio
windows were open so that counts, right?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But while I have been home, I have painted several views of
the area here. Two specifically come to mind, one a mountain range view of the
Mogollons and the other a far more intimate view of the road leading up our
mountain. Both are done on 11 x 14 prepared wood boards with linen. I find I am
pleased with that format for the road piece, but wish I had used a wider one
for the mountain range. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other differences include color choices and the angle of the
sun. I was looking square into the sun when I painted “The Plume Is Blooming”
and the sun was coming up over my right shoulder in the “On the Way to
Mogollon”. I think the treatment of the paint in the Apache plume piece is far
more impressionistic and uses a wider range of color. Conversely, the more
limited range of color in the Mogollon piece leads to a more harmonic painting.
Both have their strengths, but I feel as though they look to be done by
different people. To be fair my goals were different in both. Maybe one is by
my evil twin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_1GDLk5okhvCBh1ARC7zVpy04DzXseKdXReXXPcQFiKldLVf-Gjv3OdEAZJNvheCgLkSveHMM5LCfIfcT89ClZT4Dt0c0rhsZeW97pp0gLVFCHX0y51UqftTzSP8FQiBRgqlvkcWmug/s1600/Plume's+a+Blooming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_1GDLk5okhvCBh1ARC7zVpy04DzXseKdXReXXPcQFiKldLVf-Gjv3OdEAZJNvheCgLkSveHMM5LCfIfcT89ClZT4Dt0c0rhsZeW97pp0gLVFCHX0y51UqftTzSP8FQiBRgqlvkcWmug/s1600/Plume's+a+Blooming.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Plume's a Blooming<br />Oil on linen covered board<br />Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plume is blooming is actually a rework of a piece that I
had painted last year with Ken Auster’s limited palette. It took me two weeks
to figure out that that palette was not my personal one. The alizarin was way
too strong a purple. I am currently trying out a couple of madders that have
purple undertones but are not as all consuming as alizarin. So when I spied
this piece in the studio, I took it down to the flats of the canyon and decided
I couldn’t foul it up anymore than it was already. The amazing thing is that I
gave myself permission to fail with this and have fun. It is far more successful than the first
attempt. And you really get the feeling of the muted silvery plume being lit on
the tips by the sun rising. And the evergreens are believable, and not little
stick trees.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiYYjYnziObFLt-SLpxP7ItQ1BbD5jXnRlYHnQoV3w22SvAk32VDhVAQTbincrQJN_rm3G7q1ZTiP5Fo6bdmxBDCrpTSrmhFjpoDfZ_cbrcrKjK1R6Gxt3BlW1ex1XRec5NWfiD30CjY/s1600/On+the+Way+to+MogollonReduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiYYjYnziObFLt-SLpxP7ItQ1BbD5jXnRlYHnQoV3w22SvAk32VDhVAQTbincrQJN_rm3G7q1ZTiP5Fo6bdmxBDCrpTSrmhFjpoDfZ_cbrcrKjK1R6Gxt3BlW1ex1XRec5NWfiD30CjY/s1600/On+the+Way+to+MogollonReduced.jpg" height="254" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Way To Mogollon<br />Oil on linen covered board<br />Available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way to Mogollon was an amazing morning, golden with
hints of the hot day coming on. The most memorable thing about this piece is
how EVERY single car or truck passing by slowed way down. I know that out here,
in the country people stop to offer help to those who have broken down.
Distances are far and roads are long. But once they saw my bright blue umbrella
and realized what I was doing, they often honked their horns and waved as they
went on by. To be serenaded by the cows and refreshed by a soft summer breeze
is a great way to start the day. The only real pain about doing this painting,
was that as I packed up to go, the view over my backside had changed so
dramatically that now I need to go back and paint it. Nobody would believe the
blue of the mountains.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what’s the thought here? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little view or the big picture,
which is your favorite?</span></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-9348307147675362122014-03-27T11:51:00.002-06:002014-03-27T15:45:32.881-06:00Dare to Fail UP - thoughts on the creative process<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go to My Website</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the Huffington Post’s third metric, redefining
success beyond money and power, truly creative people often “Fail Up”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do they mean? Simply stated, truly creative minds often
set themselves a goal or a problem, and try multiple solutions. They ruminate
and allow their inner voice to be the guide to truly wonderful and some not so
wonderful pathways. They fail more than they succeed. But the difference is
that they do not translate that failure into a measure of personal failure.
They tend to look at periodic and often repeated failures to achieve a goal
as simply steps in their process of discovery to what does work. It’s that
miles and miles of canvas thing again, rearing its insistent head. And have you ever heard of WD40? Thirty nine
failures? No - thirty nine tries to get to the success.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lucky for me, a friend once said that the bulldog could use
persistence lessons from me. Thanks John. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often try things that do not work. I often change media
just to shake up my unconscious work habits. New formats cause me to think in a different
way. A rut becomes something to avoid at all costs. So I change supports and their
measurement ratio. Changing a comfortable subject for one painted less often
becomes a good idea. I might try working with oils more as a watercolor at
first application. I might try glazing over an acrylic underpainting. One time I
might try drawing with the brush on a canvas, only to use a color block in
method the next time or a tonal wipe out on the third piece. An undertone to my
painting support might become a raucous color tone of the opposite color on the
color wheel, to what I envision the finish to be. I DO envision the finished piece before I start; the better to know when I am done. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQoCiKJY7ig5nXXp_hggjGkBIO41TERCukSpaKofYxpGUqrES4wddWgYcKGGm6W6GwU7slh-mOciXd7ShUpg6gB5wlsozaaHVSWjgA5FqsPDhp95YB4qpUpTkNReNJkP2wH6Rbl_bC58/s1600/TriangleTTrailblockInReduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQoCiKJY7ig5nXXp_hggjGkBIO41TERCukSpaKofYxpGUqrES4wddWgYcKGGm6W6GwU7slh-mOciXd7ShUpg6gB5wlsozaaHVSWjgA5FqsPDhp95YB4qpUpTkNReNJkP2wH6Rbl_bC58/s1600/TriangleTTrailblockInReduced.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Block In - Avoiding trail horses and almost as big ants</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read. I read about how to think of my work differently, to
try something new, to critique it for different things. I love Maggie Price’s
book on how to work through creative blocks. I read it even when I am not
blocked. It keeps the creative juices flowing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am not alone. Meredith Milstead, in her blog <a href="http://meredithmilstead.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/tumamoc-red-orange-22514-1500/">Excursions</a>,
shows a wiped out attempt at a plein air pastel followed by a lovely desert
landscape. She showed the wipeout for crying out loud! Yay Meredith! She worked
through it. But she got there by learning that what she tried before wasn’t
going to work this time. She failed UP, and she succeeded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I fail UP, choosing to put the emphasis on the UP part and
not on the fail part of that term; because lately I am learning ever so much. A
lot of my work lately has been wipers. I tell myself that it is the process. I
am still building strength. I am still honing my eye. I am becoming a critical viewer, a step that
is essential to becoming a critical painter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Painting certain elements in a
composition are fraught with frustration. Maybe this time it’s a car, or a truck or a building. I have been
known to wipe out an entire rocky beach because it contained, you guessed it ,
ROCKS. So it is with some trepidation that I show you this painting
“Triangle T Trail”, painted at the
Triangle T Ranch in Texas Canyon, just off the I10, East of Benson AZ. It’s of
an area known locally as Boulder Cove. I think that might have made a better
title, had I known it. It’s between that rock and a hard place, just south of the interstate. I recommend stopping by if you
need a place to stay and rest. The folks there are super.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYjuhET25PM-Jnr3TO0-DlJuV5I3hr1-mHThynkbpzlEc26GwUWM07jmKNH3pCayoB4-CwGNl651B0GI8juoyyCI995zoTs60AeFLXWZvSfgDLHYpb6CF8KxicQezdqzjRqZSnHXMnB8/s1600/TriangleT+TrailReduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYjuhET25PM-Jnr3TO0-DlJuV5I3hr1-mHThynkbpzlEc26GwUWM07jmKNH3pCayoB4-CwGNl651B0GI8juoyyCI995zoTs60AeFLXWZvSfgDLHYpb6CF8KxicQezdqzjRqZSnHXMnB8/s1600/TriangleT+TrailReduced.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Triangle T Trail<br />Oil 12x16 - Available</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So regardless of the pressure to produce works, I find it
more of a pressure to produce GOOD works. I paint and sometimes I wipe and
paint over. I keep reminding myself to aim for higher than I think I can grasp
and to allow the process of ‘failing UP’ to help me fulfill my promise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Failing UP can be a really good thing, you see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">"Creatives fail and the
really good ones fail often,"<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler/2012/10/11/einstein-at-the-beach-the-hidden-relationship-between-risk-and-creativity/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_hplink"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #6aa3b1; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Forbes contributor Steven Kotler wrote</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">in a piece on Einstein's creative genius.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="quote">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calling All Artists! </span></b></div>
<div class="quote">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please <a href="http://www.blackrangeart.com/october-2014-art-show-information" target="_blank">click here to go to Black Range Art</a> for exciting news about an October 2014 opportunity to show your art, win prizes and take part in a new New Mexico Art Event!</span></b></div>
</div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-12094580366873171592014-03-08T16:34:00.001-07:002014-03-08T16:54:35.130-07:00Prepping For An Oil Pastel Workshop<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go To My Website</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because there are no supports to get the result
that I like with oil pastels, I have devised a way to get my preferred surface by making it myself. Soft pastel artists also do this because of the
desire to work with a non-commercially prepared support, with predictable
evenness of texture. Karen Margulis comes to mind, with her unique homemade
supports.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My very first plein air was in oil pastel. I had no idea
what they were or how to use them. They simply seemed easy to travel
with. After all, my set was in a wooden box with a handle. Now how convenient
was that, for trundling through the fields with paper or board under my arm
looking for an aesthetic epiphany? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nobody
told me they melt when left in the car, and we lived in sunny southern
California at that time. Nobody said how like lipstick this medium was to work
with, all smooshy (technical term) and greasy to use. Nobody warned me how
difficult it was to get them to stick on some papers, I guess Bristol was a
poor first choice. And there was a real lack of direction on how to go about
using these things, and precious little in the way of receptive papers, when I
first started working in oil pastel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was pretty upset with my first effort. And it did seem
curious that everyone in the plein air group came by to remark on what the
medium I was using was, and gee, they couldn’t understand why I was using that
particular medium. My first piece was not what I would call a rousing success.
I was challenged. It was difficult. And yes the oils and watercolors did look
easier to use.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well there were several reasons for the shortcomings of my
then chosen medium:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There were no commercially prepared supports
available in my city that I knew about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->I had to prepare my own</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->I still do this</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There was little in the way of recipes that I
could find on how to prepare a ground</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Recipes were available for homemade soft ground
pastel supports, not for oil pastel</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Soft pastel grounds were not ‘toothy’ enough and
filled too quickly with oil pastel</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->I had to mail order my materials</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->This is still true as my local art store does not
carry what I need, though where I get my materials has changed</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->I had no work area where I could prep boards and
let them lay about until they were dry enough for multiple layers of applied
ground</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->This is the one thing that has massively changed
– I now have a HUGE studio where processing supports does not impede my work
flow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thinking about the problem led me to understand that I could
use a combined approach, and start by making my own supports. The first time I
tried this medium after the plein air foray, I ordered an abrasive additive
from a supply house in Washington state. This supplier no longer carries the
abrasive, so I now order from Jerry’s online. A material that Matisse Derivan
(Australian art supply maker) calls crushed garnet, is similar and yet, still
finer than what I used to use. When suspended in diluted gesso and rolled on
with a fine foam roller, it leaves a surface that is similar, if not as
rough. The rougher version gives more broken color upon application, but I have
yet to find a supplier for a rougher grade crushed garnet or crushed marble
dust.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbpJMT3tXeOgizYYRH0_I0uRXfV5xXk6uDNoCWHuXNJTpOiz4HBIvqP6bvfsWsfdJRH7WcvcgtFk8HRn7yLI1BA6CQKXS7ObdDt6a5aohl-q0B0iOSHtSNYh0qS_Z004N3WQj3ZINOvI/s1600/CrushedGarnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbpJMT3tXeOgizYYRH0_I0uRXfV5xXk6uDNoCWHuXNJTpOiz4HBIvqP6bvfsWsfdJRH7WcvcgtFk8HRn7yLI1BA6CQKXS7ObdDt6a5aohl-q0B0iOSHtSNYh0qS_Z004N3WQj3ZINOvI/s1600/CrushedGarnet.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crushed Garnet Abrasive Additive For Oil Pastel Grounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Process:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Start with an MDF board or untempered masonite board no
thicker than 1/8 to ¼ in thickness, precut to the desired size. Sand the side
you will use, the smooth side. This provides a surface to which the gesso will
adhere effectively.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdVxa5T-mns_uPWyqBNL-Wf3HqpYFLEkRXk-agzaEIhP5RUH3Ut-cbjW1_iUMJO74A7I9WraNXfKZ9ys8Ud6mjpmmupqhSrWjQEHMdQfH6E7RKN0HcJb_oJWETHxKti2nNZoYQmUG3N8/s1600/Rough_vs_Smooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdVxa5T-mns_uPWyqBNL-Wf3HqpYFLEkRXk-agzaEIhP5RUH3Ut-cbjW1_iUMJO74A7I9WraNXfKZ9ys8Ud6mjpmmupqhSrWjQEHMdQfH6E7RKN0HcJb_oJWETHxKti2nNZoYQmUG3N8/s1600/Rough_vs_Smooth.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough Back Side on Left - Smooth Side on Right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Then start by applying one coat of gesso, unadulterated from
the container, on the reverse side to seal in the board. Seal the edges at this
point as well. Let dry. Drying time will vary as to the moisture in the air and
the ambient temperature. If it is dry, it should not be cool to the touch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using a large, empty Cool Whip container with lid, as the
mixing bowl and the storage for unused recipe, I assemble the following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 wooden paint stirring stick</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 measuring cup</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 container of crushed garnet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 bottle or can of white acrylic gesso</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut, sanded boards, my choice of size</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix the abrasive ground in roughly this manner:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To 3 cups gesso, mix in one cup of water and the entire
container of Matisse Derivan crushed garnet. If you prefer a toned support, mix
in acrylic color at this point, to the desired color saturation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix thoroughly with a wooden paint mixer stick, suspending
the crushed garnet. There will be tiny little dark red dots similar in look to
vanilla beans in cream.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1IuNVJFIKKtTJEdQPzamgXVMPqejmr2ja8CdC4tNyhBYtrO_kUWoB3hBnubB8shaBU0seNWosiPAr3WoQYlw1cnYz9TDUdY5d8T6y_Yvk6uSLM15kR1aCTdRNAG4RPMa-Jw-dXhbY0s/s1600/OneCoatWGranet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1IuNVJFIKKtTJEdQPzamgXVMPqejmr2ja8CdC4tNyhBYtrO_kUWoB3hBnubB8shaBU0seNWosiPAr3WoQYlw1cnYz9TDUdY5d8T6y_Yvk6uSLM15kR1aCTdRNAG4RPMa-Jw-dXhbY0s/s1600/OneCoatWGranet.jpg" height="313" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Coat Applied - Wet Area Still Shines<br />
(I use wooden blocks under the boards to forestall sticking to the work table)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a foam roller, roll this mixture onto the sanded
boards. Go in one direction. Go in another direction on the second layer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is not a commercially made product, so do not
trouble yourself about evenness as there will not be a uniform deposit of
garnet. The unevenness of the materials deposit allows for some serendipitous
effects down the road when working with this support. You must wait until it is
totally dry to paint on another layer. Failure to wait until the first and any
subsequent layers are dry, before over-painting to even things out, will result
in picking up with your roller what you have initially laid down. In other
words it totally fouls up the works and you will have to do more remedial
layers to approximate a semi-even layer deposit. Keep your gesso thinned and the suspension
stirred for the best results. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0NRy8xs_r-5RDZNu6cSQWaGXDlOduKDuIl887l3at_7fXBEtbFPH6clr2VYgmD5auCPZFUcA0UKbOC0B3KxHWMav7kMPT2gtN8ixKDjmrjvVT_o78a93YUtQd7yzxXLC69yfGy_sO1E/s1600/FinishedBoard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0NRy8xs_r-5RDZNu6cSQWaGXDlOduKDuIl887l3at_7fXBEtbFPH6clr2VYgmD5auCPZFUcA0UKbOC0B3KxHWMav7kMPT2gtN8ixKDjmrjvVT_o78a93YUtQd7yzxXLC69yfGy_sO1E/s1600/FinishedBoard.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished Board With Uneven Texture<br />
Happy Effects Waiting to Happen!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I keep my little roller in a zip-lock snack bag to limit air
exposure between applications to not waste time, water and product washing out my roller, not to
mention my hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you will try this as it is a really fun support to
work with. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be doing a free, one day workshop in Silver City on
how to proceed from the finished support on June 7<sup>th</sup>, 2014. Email me
if you would like to participate. For
hands on, there is a materials charge for your prepared board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="quote">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calling All Artists! </span></b></div>
<div class="quote">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please <a href="http://www.blackrangeart.com/october-2014-art-show-information" target="_blank">click here to go to Black Range Art</a> for exciting news about an October 2014 opportunity to show your art, win prizes and take part in a new New Mexico Art Event!</span></b></div>
</div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-5597218703435605462014-02-12T10:35:00.000-07:002014-02-12T12:06:23.635-07:00New Mexico Peppers - A Pastel Workshop<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank">Go To My Website</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In New Mexico, February is usually cold and blustery, with
snow and ice thrown in for good measure. That is why I have my yearly pastel
workshop, here, in that month. Also, it’s a really good thing to have something
to look forward to after the holiday stuff has been packed away and everyone
hits the mid-winter doldrums. So while this is not plein air, there is a setup
available for the students to look at.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, it was in the mid 60s! What’s up with that? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did have the wind though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always ask myself what I can do to make the next workshop
better than the one we just completed. Next year, I am going to include how to frame a pastel correctly. We did not even get close to that topic. And perhaps it will be a two day Friday/Saturday workshop with an optional Sunday to finish if a body feels pressed for time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnebU9yTiP5egX1gshdzfY1Oe2hTbkdszzIkeOjJN1ZrG18d8TAbQJDPdX02SHmMPP0lcYsJxoRAyU-rLEfCX_MPxZaPTqjSRVF5h3BEpA_RNys8NStxYFFjV2cHs-t20ATSK46uTmP24/s1600/IMG_3428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnebU9yTiP5egX1gshdzfY1Oe2hTbkdszzIkeOjJN1ZrG18d8TAbQJDPdX02SHmMPP0lcYsJxoRAyU-rLEfCX_MPxZaPTqjSRVF5h3BEpA_RNys8NStxYFFjV2cHs-t20ATSK46uTmP24/s1600/IMG_3428.jpg" height="200" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julie working away</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For this project, I thought that everyone might enjoy a
piece of the Southwest. So I took my handmade Indian pots and set them up with
some bright red peppers that were available in the market. Below you can see
the efforts of the students. A couple of them had never worked this way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVEQI5XpYwfTaJXVloNxOVu_EwGSsKJbUNgLKwntu1d7hDz4kv3oOK9G7n8BmRhCutEJATRmlEjTmDLiwsxwKFmRehHgo_hvLGtzVt_R9CBlqfKsWukQfvyIK5Pu6J_oKsy-XLphBCrM/s1600/Sudent01-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVEQI5XpYwfTaJXVloNxOVu_EwGSsKJbUNgLKwntu1d7hDz4kv3oOK9G7n8BmRhCutEJATRmlEjTmDLiwsxwKFmRehHgo_hvLGtzVt_R9CBlqfKsWukQfvyIK5Pu6J_oKsy-XLphBCrM/s1600/Sudent01-2.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth - working to done</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbO0bc-JjU82-nchzzU3aY4y-O2d35VFinyud0L0LxjrBjHJXVW0IbftkJlOYsRQDc_auEZFmA5404qNr-XrwRmajSWxoJLTnSANeggVsVspfR_8y_4vQF6Sn_TSENEkF6w9kvBryTIM/s1600/Sudent06-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbO0bc-JjU82-nchzzU3aY4y-O2d35VFinyud0L0LxjrBjHJXVW0IbftkJlOYsRQDc_auEZFmA5404qNr-XrwRmajSWxoJLTnSANeggVsVspfR_8y_4vQF6Sn_TSENEkF6w9kvBryTIM/s1600/Sudent06-2.jpg" height="195" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diana - almost there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKakVvbUc9hImfcVu2P28zkPlXplvKUt7lo5OCXlizKj8AptYn40ysi6FzDX0qt5bJ111RQILHjTZ4LwAUDAC26WmgSyke2oooBnzvf8l6aRWWy6GpBSHx19IYCP7a0dzddlfuYg4YRqw/s1600/Sudent03-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKakVvbUc9hImfcVu2P28zkPlXplvKUt7lo5OCXlizKj8AptYn40ysi6FzDX0qt5bJ111RQILHjTZ4LwAUDAC26WmgSyke2oooBnzvf8l6aRWWy6GpBSHx19IYCP7a0dzddlfuYg4YRqw/s1600/Sudent03-2.jpg" height="168" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyn - almost there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyrkH233wM3GcEoduY-8PWyo1eQn-kNzjjLg27VTZbX3um_bXJ-3-00h9QJnDO5LdtFNtM3f0uwPlYaVKFlIKrBf7LpoMdXBAPqRZeT7tmNzzjEWQ6oLfcuWfEZ85uGH2HtTz-1cNk8E/s1600/Sudent02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyrkH233wM3GcEoduY-8PWyo1eQn-kNzjjLg27VTZbX3um_bXJ-3-00h9QJnDO5LdtFNtM3f0uwPlYaVKFlIKrBf7LpoMdXBAPqRZeT7tmNzzjEWQ6oLfcuWfEZ85uGH2HtTz-1cNk8E/s1600/Sudent02.jpg" height="183" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Jo - almost done</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezCIiXWh9lK_5Zo_5bahxZ1jD_U1Nl7dJWrlsf9AtcwBMbvj9oYfl5KWxEYGVZN9IX84qS-RjDWEPPvL_r1T4fwB_qXMcCpRRklqVb2aaVRvYA-butIM4ucOCOomaAFZiihk2wHV0wP8/s1600/Sudent05-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezCIiXWh9lK_5Zo_5bahxZ1jD_U1Nl7dJWrlsf9AtcwBMbvj9oYfl5KWxEYGVZN9IX84qS-RjDWEPPvL_r1T4fwB_qXMcCpRRklqVb2aaVRvYA-butIM4ucOCOomaAFZiihk2wHV0wP8/s1600/Sudent05-2.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marianne - with her piece close <br />
to finsihed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2ZbKAPWqzbNMkzDuoiAdn24mAr6Xq2lN8SNCxfj-6B_x6rU4RG630gA0evtXvwpZwHL5wmfta1BN6_tJ44CiY9J_uSd9aTTWLKJ2HI3p5nxdmHeLfA8efgfxp4xxADFRCqplCkZNlVU/s1600/Sudent04-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2ZbKAPWqzbNMkzDuoiAdn24mAr6Xq2lN8SNCxfj-6B_x6rU4RG630gA0evtXvwpZwHL5wmfta1BN6_tJ44CiY9J_uSd9aTTWLKJ2HI3p5nxdmHeLfA8efgfxp4xxADFRCqplCkZNlVU/s1600/Sudent04-2.jpg" height="200" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julie - almost done</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not a scrubby way of working. I usually save that for my landscapes in pastel. Following this deliberate way of working, an artist works out </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">compositional problems at
the drawing stage and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">once that is done, the artist can just immerse themselves
in the passion of applying the pigment in a rich saturated way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6kHI2eS0JZp2lNU8ap5DcrkIUaFSJbhiyFPTaMvjpJlF5o7wMtjHE-NoABVEpMHyZievlsD4ldiq6WtHZ0NBJlz5ZwXz2PbOqSCL8X8zyv5saE2syU_CwWCEOQiZuOdd8I5bb4uDG8M/s1600/NM-PeppersReduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6kHI2eS0JZp2lNU8ap5DcrkIUaFSJbhiyFPTaMvjpJlF5o7wMtjHE-NoABVEpMHyZievlsD4ldiq6WtHZ0NBJlz5ZwXz2PbOqSCL8X8zyv5saE2syU_CwWCEOQiZuOdd8I5bb4uDG8M/s1600/NM-PeppersReduced.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need help with title - suggestions please?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like that at that stage, I can concentrate on value and
temperature to make the piece coherent. Color is then the reward I get for the
prior work. And I love the juiciness and satisfaction I get of applying that
color. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is in need of a title…..never did get around to that.
So help me out here. What is its name?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>An 8x10 print goes to whoever names it.</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Favorite quote:</span></div>
<div class="quote">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Artists must know what they are doing and how they are going to
do it, while allowing room for spirit and intuition to influence the creative
experience. </span> <b>(</b><a href="http://quote.robertgenn.com/auth_search.php?authid=837" title="More Art Quotes by Donald Demers"><b><span style="color: #000044;">Donald Demers</span></b></a><b>)</b> </div>
<div class="quote">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="quote">
<b>Calling All Artists! </b></div>
<div class="quote">
<b>Please <a href="http://www.blackrangeart.com/october-2014-art-show-information" target="_blank">click here to go to Black Range Art</a> for exciting news about an October 2014 opportunity to show your art, win prizes and take part in a new New Mexico Art Event!</b></div>
<div class="quote">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="quote">
<b><br /></b></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8231058998864345878.post-2332004191183070772014-02-05T16:03:00.000-07:002014-02-06T14:50:57.244-07:00An Art Lesson From the Beatles<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.louisesackettfineart.com/" target="_blank">Go to my Website</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, in fact in four days, those of us who are old
enough will remember the Beatles and the British Invasion of the 1960s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why is this important? Well why are the Dutch masters
important to Western Civilization’s Art? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both are important for the very same reason. They were and
continue to be seminal influences on the generations of artists that came after
them. I heard one commentator say that on February 8<sup>th</sup> 1964, nobody knew who they were, and that on February 10<sup>th</sup>, every kid
wanted to BE them. Such was the power of the Ed Sullivan Show In those days.
Every kid had a garage band and everyone wanted to sound like them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the interviewer for CBS had a far more profound
observation than “they looked so happy and they were having such fun”. If you
are old enough to remember, you hear their music and even today it puts a smile
on your face. They were smart, they were energetic, they were happy, and they were
fun. And we needed it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The really smart musicians thought through the imitation and
developed their own talents, using the Beatles as their unknowing mentors. But
even as they did that, the ones in the know noticed that they no soon as got
the sound down, than the Beatles’ sound changed. That’s right they kept reinventing
themselves. They even went to India to study and learn Eastern instruments well after
their fame and fortune had been insured. They never stopped changing their
sound while keeping their focus of producing great and often thought provoking
music. They continued to change and redefine themselves even after the group's disbanding and the death of two of their group. I'll never forget the day when one of my girl's asked me if I knew that Paul McCartney had belonged to another group before he was in Wings!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think as a listener and definitely a fan of the four young
men who needed a haircut, I knew what they were doing from an artistic
standpoint, even though what I know about music is minimal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They consistently REINVENTED themselves. They learned. They
grew. And they took us along for the ride. Whether you like the Beatles or not,
you have to admit that John Lennon’s “Imagine” is about as far as you can get from
“It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night” and their early sound bites. They evolved.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What better lesson for artist or musician than that?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a prospectus to take part in a great Plein Air Event in Southern New Mexico, this October 2014, please go to <a href="http://www.blackrangeart.com/">www.blackrangeart.com</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Favorite quote:</span></div>
<div class="quote" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">People can relate to the musicality of shapes...
Painting is 'silent music'... Soft and hard edges are similar to loud and soft
notes... Harmony, chords, pitch, rhythm, syncopation and timber can all be
translated to the visual arts.</span></span></div>
<div class="quote" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Clyde Aspevig </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Louise Sacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15262641087684199577noreply@blogger.com0