It so happened I had one framed original watercolor hanging in my kitchen. The painting was never entered in a show so it qualified. Thanks to my friend’s suggestion I received second place for my “Sweet Pears in Crystal.”

My First Juried Art Show

 Another source of inspiration for a painting is a poem. The theme for the show was to create a piece that was inspired by a poem written by one of six Georgian poets. The poem I chose was “Fire Eater” by Clela Reed. Clela wrote the poem while in the Peace Corps in Romania. Her words painted pictures in my mind. In the first mental image, I could feel her sadness, a cold dreary day, and how much she was missing home. In the second picture, she described a path she would walk upon returning home.

Fire Eater
Poem by Clela Reed

Hollowed out from winter,
steeped in gray and grayer,
I’m hungry for the sun.

I would be an eater of the flames,
tilt my face toward the sky,
lift a long, long handled spoon
and scoop the orange and yellow
into bites of light I’d swallow
until I began to shine!

Then all would know
what I’ve been dipping into.

I’d trail behind me
comet trails of summer glow,
and even walking in the snow’
marigolds and buttercups
would blossom in my path.

And I would feast with such delight,
quick in famished greed
that scattered light-crumbs
from my mouth would feed
the pecking weary birds
and lift them into spring.

I am happy to say the original painting found a new home. Giclees are available in your choice of size.

Where do You Find Inspiration for Your Paintings?
Part 3

The last of my three favorite commercial projects was painted at The Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. This project would be a departure from the type of floral subjects done in Part 1 and Part 2.

While working in my studio in Colorado I receive a phone call from Tag Galyean, an architect/designer based in Virginia. He asks if I was interested in painting a resort in Arizona. How can I say no to that?

The first area is the original wood plank floor in the lobby.  American Indian motifs from tribes of that geographic locale seem appropriate. The area is over 20 feet wide and will require a repeat pattern. I decided
to design and cut stencils for the motifs to expedite the painting process.

It’s early morning the day before I begin the second phase of the project. The urge to take a drive through the desert is beckoning. The  glowing sun is rising above the horizon. To my delight, the desert has many plants in bloom and it’s a sight to behold.

As I drive, the ideas for the historic fireplace begin to fill my mind. The fireplace was also in the lobby. An eleven-foot wide adobe fireplace painted a rich earthy mocha brown. The five-foot-wide arched opening seems to be calling for  flowering cactus with a few desert critters as elements of surprise.

It seems I am not missing the extraordinary moments  after being home many more hours than at any time in my life. For now, I prefer the gentle hums of beauty that are so plentiful in nature. The dreams that are already in my days, and my heart exist in every moment … when I pay attention.

Adding to my dream of creating another cutting bed will hopefully be coming to fruition soon. Forty bulbs and eight rhizomes are planted. Three white Knockout Rose bushes flank the end of the screened porch. I anticipate the rewards being subtly life-changing as I soon pick a bouquet of homegrown flowers and snip herbs from pots for home cooked meals.

Paying attention to plants as they grow emphasizes the passing of seasons, the weather, and the idiosyncrasies of nature. A few annuals and some bearded iris rhizomes occupy space around a moss-covered stump left behind after a sixty-foot-tall tree needed to be removed. We never know when Mother Nature will throw us a curve. I had a good tussle with her after a hail storm last June. She commands a lot of respect and I know I will never control her.

This little treasure was placed in a large pot on top of the moss-covered stump. The only description on the tag was Shrimp Plant, something I had never encountered while scouring nurseries.

Framed art has occupied my time for nearly a year now. The creative process itself is a time of wonder. Not knowing for sure what the finished piece will end up being is in
itself an encouragement to finish.

As mentioned in my last newsletter, I have begun a mural in my master bedroom. Being busy with framed art I haven’t felt a rush to finish it until the first signs of Spring
appeared. The idea of my bed in the center of the room no longer makes me giggle at the disarray. I am wanting my space back.

This painting on my sketch pad is one of many tiny blooms on top of a stem of an agapanthus. Below are photos of my forever flowers in progress. The photos that I took of my little garden in bloom last year were the inspiration for the mural.

Where do you find inspiration for your paintings?. . .  Part 2 continued

A Not So Timid Garden

It’s a few weeks before the 2011 US Women’s Open begins at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. I receive a call asking me to design a three-foot-tall floral garden for an eighteen-foot curved wall. The staff is making sure everything is perfect for their guests when I arrive with a sketch in hand. The architect looks at the sketch and says, ”make them six feet tall”. Although I had never painted flowers that tall I loved the idea of flowers six foot tall. Ahhh, the fearlessness of youth.

The wall is nearing completion when a guest stops to inquire about the mural. We talk about the flowers I chose and upon leaving she smiles and says, “Well, it certainly isn’t a timid garden.”

This wall is still one of my favorites of the over 35 areas I’ve had the honor of painting at the five-star, five-diamond resort. Photos of friends and their relatives sitting by the mural still arrive in my mailbox occasionally. They bring back many good memories. The photo below was taken as I was painting the “Not So Timid Garden.” My friend sitting in the chair in front of the finished mural took my photo. Years later I received a photo of her sitting in front of the finished wall.

The inspiration for the wall goes to Tag Galyean, architect and designer for the resort. I chose flowers indigenous to Colorado. Most were taken on my hikes.

Next project, Kings Mill Resort near Williamsburg, Virginia. This time I get to choose the flower for the aerobic room floor, a purple iris.

After returning home from painting the aerobic room floor, I receive a call from Tag asking for more flowers. This time the flowers will cover two fifty-foot corridors. 211 linear feet of flowers, birds, and bugs painted on commercial grade wall covering.

The paint I prefer to use for murals does not adhere long-term to vinyl. After several weeks of research, a manufacturer tells me he has a product that might work. They use water-based ink in the printing of this wallcovering. I have high hopes that I found the answer to my dilemma. A tear-sheet arrives in the mail, I paint the sample with flowers and send it to a chemist at a paint manufacturer in California. A few days later I
receive a call. The wall-covering is not vinyl. It is an acrylic polymer which is exactly what my paint is, perfect adhesion!

While researching at the Denver Botanical Gardens Library a particular flower caught my eye, the white agapanthus. Little did I know this flower would influence my flower garden and a mural years later.

In studying the blueprints I see several door openings and a hall off of each corridor. Changes to the placement or size of the doors or halls would affect my design. I decide to paint within fourteen inches of each door. I will paint the purple, white, and pink undulating vines of clematis around each door on site. To my surprise the 54″ wide commercial wall covering weighed 300 pounds when shipped.

I arrive at Kings Mill Resort, on the banks of the beautiful James River in Virginia. Upon inspection of the corridors, I notice the inset boxes for the firehoses and the fire extinguishes. A hall off of one of the corridors is narrower. None of which show on the blueprints. I will be using the unpainted panels of wall-covering I shipped.

The firehose boxes were 48” wide. I pull the painted panel and replaced it with an unpainted panel. Then I continued with the design from the adjacent panels.

As before, the inspiration for this project goes to the talented Tag Galyean and some of the facial technicians and massage therapists who inquired about the insects and birds I added to the mural. Some mention their favorites. As a surprise, I include those on the wall outside of their respective rooms. I find inspiration in the tiniest of detail.

Few leaves have begun to transition at this writing. Early morning is a sweater or soft blanket day this time of year. Ah, the contentment that comes from a cozy spot, a simple view of beautiful tall trees with the sun beaming through the branches creating dappled green leaves. Add a warm drink on this crisp early November day, and all is good.

Knowing the rest of my day will go by at a more rapid pace I relax and enjoy sipping my tea. Birds are chirping and leaves rustle as squirrels busy themselves gathering supplies for the winter. A few new bulbs seem to have appeared in my mailbox recently. I am going to have some pleasant surprises next Spring. For now, I await the remainder of glorious autumn.

Here is a sneak peek of the beginning of a mural for my little cottage. Believe it or not, I’ve never painted a full wall mural in any of my homes. I’ve painted designs around my windows in lieu of curtains or draperies but I have never taken the time to paint a full mural. Being semi-retired is allowing me to take time to indulge myself with a year-round gift of forever-flowers. Can you guess what variety?

The inspiration for this project was from my client. She requested sunflowers and butterflies for her She-Shed. This brought a smile to my face. The sunflowers are from my photos. A treasured mermaid plaque brought back from Maui, will hang across the top of the door.

My mural painting has many examples of where to find inspiration.

Part I: 

One of my first mural projects was for the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1994. The Golf Club House was still under construction when I received a call. The Broadmoor historian wanted to view my portfolio and give me a tour of the hotel.

The history of this five-star five-diamond resort is fascinating. Over 100 artists from New York and Italy created the artwork that still graces the resort today. Each room executed in different styles.

One of the many areas I admired was the elevator in the foyer of Broadmoor Main. Above the small elevator is an arch decorated to resemble the ceiling of the Villa Madama in Rome. The heavy circular pieces are in the style of Luca Della Robbia (a fifteenth-century Italian artist). It incorporates whimsical references to the hotel’s location. Above the elevator, a cupid is brandishing a tomahawk and wearing an Indian Headdress. (Paraphrased from the book, Broadmoor Memories.) The cherubs seemed like such a dichotomy from most of the art in the hotel but they always bring a smile to my face.

Tag Gallean, the architect, requested murals for three areas in the lobby of the Golf Club House. The first arch was above the tall elegant leaded-glass entry doors. The shape arched like the design over the elevator in Broadmoor Main. This was four times the size of the elevator in Main. My designs would need to be more elaborate but a take-off of the design in Main seemed fitting. Time to complete the project was short and I could work faster and longer hours in my studio. An installation would be a more efficient use of time than painting on-site.

I chose to paint a cherub wearing a vintage Gatsby hat and a golf club in his hand rather than a tomahawk. After all, it was the Golf Club House. When the architect ran the idea by the president of the hotel he balked at the suggestion. As I was measuring the area around the entry doors he stopped by. His concern was that cherubs might look a bit silly. I assured him it wouldn’t be more silly than the cherub with the Indian headdress and tomahawk in the lobby of Main.” He grinned and agreed.

The Inspiration for this area of the lobby began with the original art in Broadmoor Main. I felt what I painted needed to be in keeping with the character of the original murals painted in the early 1900s.

After completion of the Lobby, Tag suggested I paint a 10-foot long-stem rose on the aerobic room floor. He said, “Make it look as if someone tossed a rose onto the floor.” The pale yellow bloom tipped with a deep red was 32 inches wide. I painted a single petal off to the side as if it had fallen from the blossom as it floated through the air.

The Inspiration for the rose began with the architect’s suggestion. I chose one of my rose paintings.

Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia was researching ideas for their new Spa. The vice-president visited the Broadmoor Resort to check out the amenities. The two things that most impressed her were the outdoor lap pool and my ten-foot rose on the aerobic room floor. My journey continues to Kingsmill Resort and the Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona

I hope you enjoyed reading about ideas for inspiration for your paintings. Part II of Where do you find Inspiration for Your Paintings will continue in the next newsletter.

Daffodils
I wandered lonely
As a cloud
That floats on high
O’er vales and hills.
When all at once
I saw a crowd.
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake,
Beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing
In the breeze.
—William Wordsworth.

It was the first week of March and year two at Gibb’s Gardens. The branches of most trees were naked but showing signs of budding. One towering tulip tree with its branches draped over the trail held a profusion of blossoms with the azure sky peeking through the suspended bouquet.

We were two weeks earlier than last year. It made a difference in the numbers and varieties of fleeting blooms. The hillsides were a myriad of green hues weeks before. Spring had sprinkled the meadows with yellow, cream, and white daffodils. In shaded areas, their golden heads stared at the ground. Those who enjoyed the rays of the sun stretched their faces upward to kiss the sky. I discovered my favorite variety.

Throughout the trails of Gibb’s Gardens, guests delight in custom-designed sculptures. Jim Gibb’s garden dream included creating a Grandchildren’s Sculpture Garden.

The beauty of such grand gardens sobers me and my wandering mind. I can think of no better way to appreciate the moment at hand than to be in a field of flowers.

We are having glimpses of summer in Georgia and it is a glorious time to be out of doors. The areas I cleared at the forest’s edge offered up delightful surprises this year. Wild strawberries produced a few small berries and violets with heart-shaped leaves and asymmetrical blooms had previously been hidden in the underbrush of the woods. Red raspberry bushes displayed luscious blossoms but only the tiniest of berries showed themselves.

Poison ivy and poison oak have overtaken several 50-60′ tall trees in the woods behind the cottage. Vines cling to the trunks and branches. I cannot tell you how often in my lifetime I have had poison ivy and poison oak, suffice it to say – a lot. One morning as I was weeding and it hit me . . . an idea for ridding a couple of trees of the pesky poisonous vines.

Jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, a mask, sunglasses, hat, leather gardening gloves, and my tall polka-dot boots were necessities. I was on a mission. I grabbed my tree trimmers and back to the woods I went. It didn’t take long. I cut the half-inch diameter vines at ground level around two trees and headed back to the cottage for another shower.

Researching is part of the fun I find in my work and caring for my yard. Did you know that birds and squirrels feed on the berries of those poisonous vines – without side-effects? Not to worry, there are plenty of ivy-covered trees in the woods for them to feast on next winter.

Happily, the lily-of-the-valley I planted last year graced me with delicate petite blossoms. Oh, joy! Bringing those itty-bitty beauties indoors made me feel more grounded and peaceful. They were so small they fit in a shot glass. Sometimes it just doesn’t take much to improve my day.

Did you ever wish you could have more time at home? I know I’ve been guilty of that. In the past few months, I’ve learned to be more descriptive of my wishes. (Preferably more time of my choosing, to be at home.) During this collective timeout, I hope you and your family are safe and well.

Thank you for allowing me to share my art, my thoughts, and my creative life from the cottage. Wishing you kindness, humility, and compassion.

A little note:
Crystal Organic Farm

I recently found a Georgia treasure. Crystal Organic Farm, located in Newborn, Georgia. A lovely thirteen-mile drive through the countryside from Covington. It is one hundred and seventy-five acres of USDA certified organic land. The farm is one of the oldest certified organic farms in the Southeast.
During the pandemic the restaurants they serviced closed. As a way of compensating they increased their farm box program. The farm is located at 425 N Johnston St, Newborn, GA 30056.

It’s easy to order and pay online or they accept cash or checks. After ordering online you’ll receive an email receipt with a pickup date of your choice. I usually pick up on Friday afternoon. If you live in Corrydell I am happy to pick up your order and deliver it to you, my # (719-260-1440). To place your order, go to https://www.crystalorganicfarm.com

I am in no way compensated for mentioning Crystal Organic Farm. I’m thrilled with the freshness and variety of produce and eggs. Of course, the availability of fresh produce is only that which is in season at the time of your order.

In July, friends/clients emailed a photo taken on a recent trip to South Africa. They had been on a tour of the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park when the bus stopped, the guide directed everyone to look at The Big Old Man Tree. The tree was larger than most in the area but certainly not as big as a Sequoia, my friends wondered what the big deal was. After looking at their photo they began laughing. Others on the tour were curious about the laughter, no one had noticed anything unusual – not until they saw the photo.

My clients asked, “Can you paint it for us?”

Challenges have always intrigued me and I love an unusual project. At the end of September, my car was loaded and I began a relaxing drive cross-country. This mural was a lot of fun and so were my clients, as always! Oh, while I was painting, I was watched over by Troggins. Here he is after his morning hike. In upcoming newsletters, I look forward to sharing other murals I painted on this trip.

As I was planning my trip to Colorado I saw a post from a friend on Facebook telling of the upcoming Monet exhibit in Denver. Amazingly, the Denver Art Museum’s website showed only one Friday in October with tickets available, I didn’t think twice about ordering.

The Denver Art Museum was the only museum in the United States to have the honor of sharing over 125 original paintings by Claud Monet. “Claud Monet: The Truth of Nature.”

The opportunity to see so many historically important paintings by one renowned artist in one location in my life-time was rare. The exhibit nourished my soul. Experiencing these works only a few inches away from my eyes was truly moving. You could almost feel Monet’s brush as he struggled relentlessly to finish before the lighting changed and the beauty of the moment lost. From the headphones, you could hear authentic historical lessons as if you were on a well-organized trip to the late 19th and early 20th-century world of Monet.

The Denver Art Museum’s Monet pieces were enriched with originals from lenders located in 15 different countries around the world. “The Truth of Nature” gave a peek into Monet’s creative development. It began with ”View from Rouelles,” painted in 1858 at the age of 18-years-old through the abundance of pieces created at his house and gardens in Giverny, France, where he lived until his death in 1926. I intentionally chose the paintings to follow as those I felt few would recognize as Monet paintings.

View from Rouelles, Le Havre, Claud Monet

Monet was fascinated by the way the light changed a scene. The exhibit included several series of paintings of the same scene painted at different times of the day. It was fascinating to see the differences in his color palettes. Few artists of his time could capture light as Monet.

The Port of Le Havre, Night Effect, Claud Monet

Painting the white of winter landscapes was not common in that era. Considering the number of winter scenes on display, Monet must have found snow mesmerizing – the subtleness of peach, pink, lavender, blue, and cool greys reflecting from the sky seemed to bounce off the snow capturing the transformation of shapes and color. This striking series was quite a departure from his many landscapes and the gardens of Giverny. Seeing this exhibit was truly an awe-inspiring experience.

The Frost, Claud Monet

In Georgia, signs of Spring arrived early again this year. Forsythia could be seen in late January with their brilliant yellow flowers lined up in rows along their sprawling stems. These bell-shaped blossoms precede the leaves allowing an unobstructed view of their brilliance. I also spotted the cutest little daffodils blooming around the base of a neighbors mailbox. They certainly brightened my mornings as I headed to my studio.

Late spring of last year found me returning from visiting family in Indiana, lily of the valley filling half my trunk. Eight huge beautiful clumps dug from my big-hearted sister’s bountiful flower beds. Oh my, the rich black soil of Indiana. It took only a few minutes to dig, well, probably twenty. I only mention this because the following photo shows the tools needed to plant those sweet luscious plants in beautiful, lush, humid Georgia. Need I mention Georgia clay with gravel? The first hole took me 45 minutes with a shovel. A neighbor stopped by. When she noticed the hair framing my face was drenched and sweat pouring down my face, stinging my eyes, looking as if I had been caught in a sudden spring downpour she said, “I have a pick” and she grinned. She bought her pick when she moved into the area. The next hole I dug in less than half the time but it got way easier after I called my grandson. His comment was, “Gramma, you should have called sooner.” This year it would behoove me to do as I’ve been told.

The two white dogwood trees planted a year ago this past fall offered a season of glory – if you consider green, robust leaves glorious, and I do. The tree outside my bedroom window did grace me with two delicate white blossoms last spring. The other had no blooms. After the sweltering heat of our Georgia summer, it looked as though the little lovely outside my bedroom window may have bit the dust. Each morning I make my rounds in the yard to see what surprises might be forthcoming but only the white dogwood tree at the edge of the woods, across from the screened porch, has buds. The tree outside my bedroom window – well, suffice it to say the prospect of leaves or blossoms is not looking good.

“To be interested in the changing of season

is a happier state of mind than 

to be hopelessly in love with spring.”
—George Santayana, Philosopher

Thank you for being a part of my artful life.

Creating a painting is not unlike a butterfly struggling to shed its cocoon, growing flowers, or growing our lives. The painting process begins by the painter making sure quality art supplies and thumbnail sketches are in order before the preparation of a next canvas.

As a gardener, you break up the soil and start anew. Then there is clearing out the dead leaves and roots of the winter. With a good disposition, a gardener must make sure the proper nutrients are mixed in the soil.

In representational art, the artist’s painting won’t have enough depth without properly preparing the background and planning for the next phase of the painting. Of course, there are exceptions.

I sometimes paint the focal point first but the progression of the painting depends on preparing each stage properly. You won’t get beautiful blooms in life until you first do the work just right. The topsoil in your garden must be aerated and left loosely packed on the surface. The newly formed butterfly can’t strengthen its wings without the painful struggle to break free of its cocoon. Without this battle, the butterfly dies without taking flight. When our gardens are balanced with care we can harvest beauty while living a life of grace and enjoy each stage of the process.

Art is a mirror that casts a reflection on our lives. Nurture all you’ve been given, cultivate your garden for sharing your beautiful gifts and plant your seeds for the future.

I’ve begun cultivating my next canvas . . .

View from the Cottage

The glorious Spring in Georgia comes earlier than any place I’ve lived. Just a week after the New Year began one of my neighbors picked a bouquet of Camellia from her back yard, a surprise birthday gift as well as a surprise to me that anything was blooming that time of year. Oh, the joy.

During the winter I watched squirrels dart along the leafless branches of tall oak trees with moss covered trunks. Oak trees in Georgia grow 45 – 65 feet tall, so straight they look as if they are reaching for the stars. But those cute little squirrels I enchantedly watched seem to like digging up my newly sprouted monkey grass and crocus. Right now I’m rethinking how cute I think they are.

The redbud and tulip trees began blooming early February this year, a bit earlier than usual. The Pear trees were fabulous and formed a canopy over many of the residential streets. As the blossoms waned it looked as though it was raining delicate white petals in a breeze.

Now I’m ready for hummingbirds. I’ll be moving the Spider plant to the screened porch and replacing it with a blooming plant to attract more hummingbirds. What do you think, will the windchime scare the hummingbirds?

Gibbs Gardens

March was a month of growth on many levels. A friend that I met in Physical therapy a few years ago suggested a day trip to Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, Georgia. I knew I would be walking among millions of Spring flowers but I couldn’t have dreamed of what the extent of one man’s love of gardening could produce. The gardens are closed only a couple of months the year. Each season brings a different kind of beauty.

Sixty varieties of Daffodils covered the hills and valleys of Gibbs Gardens, over 20 million blooming between March 1st and April 15th. Several varieties of tulips standing over two feet tall were breath-taking. This was so worth the drive to take in the early Spring display.

Jim Gibbs traveled for 15 years covering the nation and the world viewing gardens of every style and decided that he wanted to design and build a world-class garden. He spent six years looking for a suitable site with a strong source of water and beautiful mature trees covering a rolling topography. It was truly “a dream come true” when he found the most beautiful site in the nation to construct the garden. The property is 292 acres and the house and gardens include 220 acres, making it one of the nation’s largest residential estate gardens.

I couldn’t resist buying a season ticket to the Gardens. Mr. Gibbs has written a new book about the property and I can’t stop thinking about it. On my return visit for the next season of walking among the flowers I plan to treat myself by taking more pics and purchasing the book.

https://www.gibbsgardens.com

Spring Fever

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so.”
–Mark Twain

This year grandson #2 asked if I would paint something for the master bedroom in his first home. When I asked if he knew what he would like, without hesitation, he said, “a gorilla.” I laughed and said, “Really?” He smiled and said, “Yes, gramma.” Still smiling I told him about a phone conversation we had when he was a preschooler. I had returned to Colorado from Georgia after adding animals to the juvenile jungle in his bedroom. The conversation went something like this . . .

Brady, excitedly: Gramma Mickey, I know what I want the next time you come!
Me: What would that be Brady?
Brady: A zebra!
Me: A zebra?
Brady, even more excited: Yes gramma Mickey, a zebra!
Me: Do you mean one of those animals with all those stripes?!?
Brady, like he couldn’t believe I wasn’t getting it: Yes gramma. a zebra!
Me, kidding: Wouldn’t you rather have a BIG Gray Elephant?
Brady: No gramma, a zebra!

It never occurred to me that I would paint a gorilla, or three. I found a reference photo on Pixabay, a perfect specimen taken by a photographer in Switzerland, Sponchia, I emailed her and she graciously gave me permission to use her photo.