Sketching California: Capturing your travels in art

Golden Gate Bridge from Copper’s Point

Summer is nearly upon us and people everywhere are getting ready to do a little traveling.  Maybe for vacation or maybe just to visit some friends and family in distant places.  Most of us capture our visits with dozens if not hundreds of photos in our phones, or as I like to call them, our personal entertainment devices.  But how many of you actually go back and look at all the photos you’ve taken?  Probably not too many.

I want to encourage you to develop the habit of recording your trips and making small sketches in a travel journal.  This doesn’t have to be complicated or involve carting around tons of equipment.  And you surely do not need to record details of every minute of your trip. But a travel journal is often helpful to prompt your recall of that marvelous chocolate shop in the Marais District of Paris, or the intriguing rock shop at Zion National Park.  A note now will save much time trying to recall those lost memories. 

I recently had the very great pleasure to visit relatives in California, both northern and southern.  Although I have traveled to California before, this visit was pure pleasure and exposed me to many beautiful sights.  Plus, I dined on all kinds of delicious food.  Yum.

Since I was traveling very light, I only took the barest of art equipment and a journal in which I’ve recorded many other trips over the years.  I make brief notes of daily activities, plus some essential facts about the details of my travels.  My greatest pleasure is to capture some scenes through sketches and small watercolors.  The best part of my recordings is that they help me to concentrate on the scenes and set them firmly in my memory.  Obviously I can’t capture every scene, but am happy with the ones that I do.  They mean so much to me when I review my travel journals at a later time.

Small sketch kit. Prang watercolor kit with my added professional paints, book, mechanical pencil, permanent ink pen, collapsible water container.

These are some of the sketches from my recent journal. My metal Prang watercolor set has been refilled with professional watercolors. It is so old that it’s a collector’s item now. I only carry three or four small brushes, a mechanical pencil (no sharpener required), a pen with permanent ink, a folding water container, all in a resealable bag.  The notebook is only 5 x 7 inches. I have smaller sketchbooks and larger ones but this size fit in my backpack and was easy to carry.

Municipal Rose Garden, San Jose

The first day we visited the beautiful Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose.  I could smell the scent before I even entered the gardens.  People of all ages were strolling or lounging in the shade of some magnificent redwoods.  We sat in the shade and caught up with life  while I made this sketch. You do not have to include every detail when you are sketching but may take liberties to change things to suit your needs.  You’re trying to catch the spirit of the scene, not necessarily the exact replica.

Pillar Point Harbor at Half Moon Bay

Driving down California Highway #1

Another day we drove out to Half Moon Bay and walked out to Pillar Point to see the surf.  Later, we drove down the iconic California Highway #1 to Santa Cruz for dinner on the pier. I even spotted a plein air painter on a bluff above the ocean.

The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

One day we took the train up to San Francisco for a day of sight-seeing.  Starting at the Palace of Fine Arts, we walked to Crissy Field, down the shore to Copper’s Corner. I sketched the Golden Gate Bridge from this vantage point.   Fortunately my son took pity for my knees and respect for the hills of SF to hire cars to take us to various spots.  We ended our outing having lunch at the famous Sam Wo’s restaurant.  I was exhausted by the time we took the train back to San Jose.

Later, I flew down to LA where I reunited with my sister and nephew and niece whom I haven’t seen in many years.  They were the best hosts and tour guides.  We visited the outstanding Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.  Another day we went to the Getty Museum atop the hills.  The collection was beautiful as was the museum and the views.  One day was spent at the wonderful Hilbert Museum viewing its impressive collection of California art. Special kudos for my nephew’s husband and his navigation of the LA traffic, all without a hint of impatience. 

Did I sketch everything that I saw or visited?  Of course not!  But I captured some significant to me places and events.  Plenty of food for thought and future paintings.  Meanwhile, I can refresh my memories with my sketchbook and notes. 

So while you’re planning your next trip or vacation, don’t forget to pack your sketchbook and some drawing materials.  Happy traveling!

Here are a couple of links to previous postings about travel sketching.

Sketching in New York

Keeping an art journal

Another view of the eclipse

The eerie darkness shadowed the land while the skies on the horizons were light. All the yard lights came on. There is a video clip of this on the KitMiracleArt Facebook page, too.

Maybe you’ve been overwhelmed with all the reports about the solar eclipse this past week, but for those of us in the direct path, it was a life-time experience. For me, it right up there with the spectacular Hale-Bopp light show back in 1997, and the birth of my children. 

Here in southern Indiana, we were in the direct path of totality.  Every little town and burg was prepared. Events were planned months in advance.  Businesses were using every type of marketing to entice visitors to the region.  I joked with my husband that we ought to rent out our front field for parking.  We didn’t.  However, the nearby winery was charging $40 a car…in a gravel parking lot.

Many varieties of eclipse glasses. I was not successful in filming the actual eclipse on my phone by placing them in front of the camera.

And then there were those people who complained at the last minute that they didn’t have the special glasses.  Really?  You didn’t know the eclipse was coming?  Libraries and other organizations were giving the glasses away for free.  One disgruntled person in a fit of sour grapes commented, I hope it’s cloudy that day!

I was fortunate to experience the solar eclipse back in 1997 but it was only 93% coverage.  It was still impressive.  But total eclipse was beyond anything I expected.

The eclipse casts crescent-shaped shadows.

As we sat on the patio with our eclipse glasses on, we watched the shadow take over our area. We noticed how the birds and other animals quieted, and the frogs in the creek fired up. The yard lights came on.  The eerie darkness with the lighted sky on the horizons prevailed. We could take our glasses off for a few minutes while the eclipse was a peak.  Noting stars, the corona, other mysterious solar events. The experience was overwhelming.

A visiting blacksnake added to the excitement of the event. I didn’t know that they can raise themselves up. Watch a video of this on my Facebook page at KitMiracleArt.

Meanwhile, a big black snake came out and our border collie alerted us to the invader.  I did not know that snakes can stand up when they feel threatened.  I’ve posted a still shot of this side event, but you can check out the video on my Facebook site at KitMiracleArt.  All ended well.  The dog was called off and the snake headed towards the woodpile to feast upon little rodents.

 I hope that many of you have some memorable moments about the total eclipse.  This was truly one of those lifetime memory events and I won’t forget it anytime soon, if ever.

Spring, time of rebirth and renewal

A little house on the hill overlooking the Easter eggs hidden on a sunny spring day.

No matter who you are or what beliefs you hold, nearly everyone experiences a time or season when they feel compelled to break out of their rut and try something new.  For many of us, spring is that time.  Other people seem to adhere to a new year as a new beginning.  Sometimes we just want to shake off the old and strike out for new territories.

As an artist, I’ve had many rebirths over the years.  I painted in watercolors for over twenty years.  Then I just couldn’t figure out where I wanted to go with it anymore.  So I switched to oils and explored that for ten years.  But I became concerned about the fumes in my studio.  So I switched to acrylic paints.  There were challenges with each medium and some things I had to learn from the beginning.  However, after I mastered the mediums, then it was very stimulating to try some new ideas and challenge myself.

I think many artists go through such periods of renewal and rebirth.  It’s what makes us the creative people that we are.  We get bored doing the same thing all the time.

Brightly colored Easter eggs hiding under an azalea bush

In the past couple of years I’ve explored adding metallic gilding to some of my paintings.  That definitely has been a learning experience but it has taken my work in some new directions.

More recently, I’ve been working with some different color combinations.  A little brighter, not my normal palette.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.  The whole point is to break out of my comfort zone.

Here’s my basket of eggs!

This week I created some Easter cards for you.  These mini-paintings are approximately 4 x 6 plus margins.  They are watercolor, pen and ink on Fabriano watercolor paper.  They are all originals and make nice little pieces of frameable art.  I am giving these away for free.  Just drop me a note on my Facebook page, KitMiracleArt.  Send me your name and address.  They will go to the first four people who respond.  Free shipping, too, US residents only.  (Sorry, it’s the free shipping.) When they’re gone, they’re gone.

Follow my blog at my90acres.com or my Facebook page KitMiracleArt for future surprise offers.

Happy Easter.  Happy Spring.  Celebrate a little something new.

Colored Easter eggs hiding in the tall grass

Georgia O’Keeffe visits Birdseye this month

Cow skull. This is the largest one in my collection.

The outside of my studio is decorated year round with my found collection of skulls.

Another famous artist visited our little library this month.  After the exciting visit by Van Gogh last month, Georgia O’Keeffe thought she would pay a visit.  She brought several of the skulls from her collection for the kids to use as subject matter.  These included a cow skull, a fully-antlered buck skull, two antlerless deer skulls, and a bird skeleton.  One of the boys in the class pointed out that the small deer skull was probably a baby as it had no teeth.

Two brothers working on their paintings. One is using the large deer skull with antlers and the other is referring to some O’Keeffe paintings in an art book.

Discussing the branching of the antlers.

I thought the “ick” factor of the skulls would attract the kids…and it did although probably not as much as I anticipated.  In this rural area, hunting is part of the culture and most kids are used to seeing or being around hunting and fishing.  In fact, my sons both were required to take a hunting and boating class in seventh grade which makes sense.

Sketching your subject before you paint helps you to become familiar with all the shapes and shadows.

I showed the kids how the skulls were alike and different.  They were allowed to examine them closely (they’d been cleaned with bleach water several times and were pretty old.  I also suggested that they practice by making drawings of the subjects before they try to paint.

Discussing brush sizes. Each girl has selected the skull she wants to work from.

Each child is encouraged to choose his or her own composition.

Someone was interested in layers of fossils, and added a whole flock of crows later.

We discussed why O’Keeffe was attracted to bones and skulls when she lived in the desert southwest.  And we also viewed some of her paintings, how she changed them or added to them. The kids were allowed to choose the the bones they wanted to work from and create their own compositions.  One child chose to create an archeological dig of bones and fossils in layers. 

The next class will be in early May and is open to ages 8 through 14.  Contact the library to sign up for this free class.  We will be making nature prints from real materials that we’ve gathered.   

Tradition

These two rascals appear every March around here. They always make me smile.

Today we celebrate St. Patrick’s day.  Or, perhaps, some readers are regretting that they celebrated a little too much last night.  Whatever your situation, you or probably someone you know is proudly wearing the green.  We’re all a bit Irish today, aren’t we?

My mother was an English war bride.  But what many people in the US don’t realize, that many English natives have Irish ancestry, too.  While nearly five million Irish immigrated to the US during the Great Potato Famine and the years that followed, nearly one fourth of all Americans have some Irish background. That is a huge amount.  No wonder we’re all celebrating.

My mother always kept some Irish traditions going.  As kids, we always wore the green to avoid getting an Irish pinch on the special day.  There was sure to be cabbage with our corned beef for supper.  Maybe an old-fashioned pudding for dessert. 

She kept the legends of leprechauns and brownies alive, and they would be blamed if the milk got spilled or a button fell off.  I still like to carry on these family stories a bit myself.  Years ago, I purchased this little pair of leprechauns and told my boys that they symbolize the mischievous characters around here. I always drag them out this time of year.  Probably much to my sons’ annoyance but, well, it’s my choice. 

This past weekend, my granddaughter built a little fairy hut for the leprechauns.  Some twigs and sticks, leathery magnolia leaves and a seed pod, plus a snail shell and some green Irish moss.  Funny how the little guys found their way outside to enjoy a pipe and ray of sunshine.

The two resident leprechauns enjoying a pipe and a bit o’ sun.

Let us all be proud of our heritage today and always.  We all come from somewhere and bring our unique traditions, food, song and culture to this amazing melting pot.  Enjoy your day. Watch out for pinches.

Van Gogh visits Birdseye library

Showing the kids some images of real Van Gogh paintings.

Vincent Van Gogh visited the Birdseye public library this week…sort of. 

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, this little library plays an important role in the community.  As small as it is, it hosts a number of activities for patrons of all ages.  All of these activities are FREE to attend although attendance may be limited due to space. 

I brought in a few of my own sunflower paintings for some inspiration.

Recently I volunteered to teach a few children’s painting classes.  The first of these classes was to learn about Vincent Van Gogh and to paint a picture in his style.

Although the class was limited, we had a nice turnout this week.  I explained to the children a little about Vincent Van Gogh, who he was and why he was important.  Also, they learned about his painting methods.  Each table had several vases of sunflowers (faux) which the children were encouraged to choose what and how they wanted to paint.  The library supplied all the art materials and even had little aprons just their size. They learned about mixing colors and how Van Gogh was known for his bold brush strokes. 

Each child composed his or her own painting.

Disposable palettes and tablecloths made clean up a snap.

All in all, it was a great group.  I hope the kids had as much fun as I did.

Next month, we’re going to learn about Georgia O’Keeffe and her skull paintings.  I’m bringing in a collection of real skulls (cow and deer) for them to use as subject matter.

Many thanks to AmyJo, the library branch manager, and other patrons who make programs like this possible.  Public libraries are the best bargain around. What’s happening at your library? 

The Singing Tree

The Singing Tree, acrylic on canvas with sterling silver gilding, 30 x 24, Kit Miracle

I have a singing tree in my front yard.  Actually, right next to the house.

Oh, it’s not belting out O Sole Mio or anything like the latest rap.  It’s more of a gentle, low key humming, singing really.  The first time I heard it was when I was walking around the yard on a windy day.  I kept looking around to see if anyone was there.  It took me a while to realize that the sound was coming from a tree.  The twisted branches were rubbing against each other, creating a sound. 

Our house, like so many older homes in this part of the midwest, is surrounded by yard trees.  These were planted decades ago to provide shade to houses in the heat of the summer, long before air conditioning.  The trees nearest the house are all maples, mostly black or sugar maples.  (Lovely colors in autumn.) Although we’ve lost some of the trees over the years, there are still enough to provide some shade.

The Singing Tree, original photo

The Singing Tree, black and white photo manipulation

Last spring I took a photography course.  I was mostly interested in learning how to use the features of my cameras.  Didn’t need much help with composition.  One of our weekly assignments was to get out and film nature.  The Singing Tree was one of my entries.  After some computer manipulation, I did a very striking black and white, almost abstract.  I was going to paint is as such, but then reverted to a muted impressionistic painting with added sterling silver gilding. I even added a maple leaf motif to the edges of the painting, in sterling silver, of course.

The Singing Tree, detail 1

The singing Tree, detail 2

The Singing Tree, edge with leaf motif in sterling silver

The whole painting has been sprayed with clear acrylic which prevents the sterling silver from tarnishing.  Adding the gilding adds several more steps to the actual painting which slows the whole process.

Getting out of my rut

Cold snowy walk

As with the rest of the nation, we’ve been in a deep freeze here in the Midwest.  This is especially annoying after the balmy holiday season at the end of December.  My husband spends much of his time cutting and splitting firewood, moving wood, throwing it in the basement, feeding the impossible iron beast to keep us toasty at night.  Yes, we have a gas furnace but he just sees dollar signs floating out the chimney when we turn it on.

I have spent most of my time moving between the house and my studio.  Feed the birds, take out the trash, take the dog for a short walk rather than our usual ramble.  Dang, that icy wind blows right through several layers of clothing, coats and socks.  Let’s just say, I’m happy to hole up in the house with a book, take a nap, and veg out. 

But…I did make one of my goals this year (see recent post about goals and resolutions) to attend at least one live performance a month, and visit one gallery or museum monthly, too.  This isn’t too hard to accomplish, even in this rural area.  There is always something to do.

This weekend I had tickets to attend a backstage performance by Julian Gargiulo, a talented world-class pianist with an amazing sense of humor.  He is also known as the Pianist with the Hair.  A look at his photos will explain that description.  The Backstage series is the smallest one at about 100 seats and the audience sits onstage with the artists.  Very intimate and great for showing off the marvelous Boesendorfer Imperial Grand piano.  We always try to have at least one pianist per year and often more.

When I was Director of the Jasper Arts Center (now retired), it was my job to present candidates for performances to the entertainment committee, keeping in mind our budget and a diversity of performers for our audience.  One way I did that was to attend the big arts presenters’ conference in New York every January.  Yes, January. Here I met with hundreds of agents and representatives for various performing artists.  Obviously the big names didn’t do showcases, but many of the other performers did.  Most showcases were held right in the mid-town Hilton but others were scattered throughout the city.  This was an exhausting week with some events starting at breakfast and many running past midnight.  I would take my scheduling book, circle the performers I was interested in learning more about, and make appointments with their booking agents.  Sometimes I would need tickets to certain showcases so I would have to arrange for those, too. 

Julian Gargiulo performing at Carnegie Hall

I was very fortunate that Julian’s agent invited me to attend his performance at Carnegie Hall which is just blocks from the hotel.  When I saw him perform, he was so talented but extremely personable, too.  I met him later at the agent’s booth.  We weren’t able to get him for the following season, but a few seasons later, we booked him for our stage as well as some educational performances for the schools. 

Julian and me in 2018

Me and Julian after the performance January 2024

So this weekend I got out of my snug little huddle on the sofa and dragged myself into the arts center to see Julian for the third time. He’s added more to his performance, including a new digital real-time view of his keyboard work.  Telling amusing stories about his kids and introducing his father who was accompanying him on this tour. I bought a new CD after the show and asked for a photo.  He actually remembered me!  Which was so nice of him to say.  I’ve been retired from the performing arts business for several years now, but I’m still a huge fan and supporter.  Despite the dreadfully cold weather, I am so glad that I made the effort to get out for some live entertainment.  It’s just too easy to remain a slug at home.  I hope you all can get out to support the arts in your area.  There is probably much more going on than you realize. You don’t know what you’re missing.

http://www.pianistwiththehair.com/ 

Leo is back home

Out for a brisk stroll.

About two thirds of all American households have at least one pet.  We have had many and various pets over the years, often more than one at a time.  Dogs, cats, a bird, chickens, fish, frogs and toads,  snakes, tortoises, snails, crabs, and those are just those I can remember off hand.  Some only stay awhile but some have lived here for years, like our previous cat who lived to age twenty-two.  And she was an outdoor cat, too. Currently we have two pets, a lively border collie (high energy, very smart but also stubborn), and Leo the cat who has appeared in previous postings.

Leo was a gift from my son who had a litter of strays delivered in the window well of his house.  I wasn’t really interested in another pet at the time, but he’s definitely grown on us.  He’s an indoor/outdoor cat and has grown to be a pretty big boy from the tiny kitten we adopted.  He sleeps all day in his special spot and prowls around outdoors all night.  And he’s always ready to explore his food bowl but won’t touch any people food or live prey.  All food must come from a box or a can.  A teense spoiled but really, how much can one cat eat?

Earlier this week I noticed that he didn’t seem his usual self.  He was slinking around the house, hiding under the furniture.  Just acting different. Then he began yowling.  So I took him to the vet and they quickly diagnosed him with a UTI, in this case, crystals forming in the bladder.  That’s a little bit personal but I don’t think he’ll read this.  A little minor surgery and a few days at the vet’s for some care.  I picked him up yesterday with heavy rain and wind gusts heading our way.  He yowled all the way home. 

It’s funny how quiet and empty the house felt with one little fur boy absent.  Even my husband noticed the difference.  Those of you who have pets know what a hole they leave when they’re not around.

Anyway, everything seems to be on the mend.  Although Leo definitely does not like the new food that was prescribed. He’s been outside a few times but with the artic air rolling in, seems content to sleep in the warm cellar (or on my lap). 

So that’s what is happening on the home front here in the deep freeze.  Hug your pets for me.  We all could use a little TLC now and again.

Leo taking center stage in the middle of the living room.

Too many books!

So how are those new year’s resolutions working out for you?  How did you do with keeping them last year?

Statistics show that about 1/3 of all adults in the US make resolutions.  Statistics also show that 23% will give up their resolutions after the first week.  And only 8% will keep them all year.  I think I read that bit last year which may have influenced my list of resolutions that I made this year.

Actually, I prefer to call them goals.  That sounds like something to aim for, not just I resolve to do such and such this year. Maybe that’s splitting hairs but whatever works, I always say.

Unfortunately, as with most people, I tend to want to fix everything at the same time.  Lose weight, get more exercise, eat better, etc.  We all know how that goes. I find better results if I stick with fewer goals than to tackle too many at once. 

One of my goals last year was to not buy any books.  That doesn’t make the top ten in resolutions, but is certainly needs consideration in my case.  I have a wide range of interests and love books of all kinds.  But…they do take up a good amount of room.  And they’re heavy, very heavy if you have to move. Also, they’re visible proof of where I spend my money.  New clothes?  Nah.  New books?  Oh, yes, please! 

Most of the books that I buy are non-fiction.  I always justify my purchases in that they are actually reference materials, I can learn something from them, I might need to know this stuff later.  What if the internet goes down and I’m left with only my personal library?  You can recognize a true addict by the excuses they make.  I even buy a lot of used books, many times for such low prices that I can’t pass up the good deal.  (See what I mean?)

So, I’m mostly proud to say that I stuck with my goal to not buy any books last year.  At least until July when I had a little melt down when I took my granddaughter to the bookstore.  That doesn’t mean that I didn’t read; I just resisted buying the books.  I’m fortunate that I have a fairly good library system which supports my reading habit.  Also, I’ve made very good use of the two electronic systems that they belong to where I can borrow nearly anything from books to music, videos to movies.  Too much, actually.

But back to the no buying book resolution, er, umm, goal.  I got back on the wagon…mostly.  I did have a few slip-ups with buying some used books online.  Although I’m very proud to report that I went into the local bookstore to shop for Christmas presents for others and did NOT buy a single book for myself.  That wouldn’t have happened in the previous years.  Magazines don’t count, do they? 

So how did you do with your resolutions last year?  I did manage to add more fruits and veggies to my diet.  And walked more (with the help of the dog.)  Cleaned out a few attics but not all of them.  Some of the other goals are being recycled for 2024.  No sense in getting crazy about improvements, is there?  We’ll just see what I can stick with this year. I haven’t given up ice cream yet.