Art in The City

Summer time is a great time to experience the arts. Not only are there many opportunities at the local fairs and festivals and farmers markets, but there is also the big daddy of them all, the Utah Arts Festival.

This has gotten very large over the years, from the small thing it was in the early 1980's to now. This year one of my fellow writers and talented artist is doing a demo there with her group of painters. Hazel Jensen will be demoing oil painting. She does great work, so you should go and check her out.

I am looking forward to the state fair, as usual. I love going through the exhibits and seeing all the different talents. Of course I spend most of my time in the fine arts building, but I've also gone through the other ones where they had the quilting (as I mentioned my friend had entered there) and the photography building. There is some amazing work out there.

The funnest one to go through is the craft section, the articles in there people make up is hilarious as well as enlightening. There are so many gifted and talented people in the world, it's simply amazing to see the abilities showcased in all the different exhibits.

If you don't feel up to the state fair, all the different counties have fairs as well. We like the county fair because it's free admission...grin. It also doesn't charge for submission of pieces to the fine arts.

They have a building that is filled by the senior citizens. It's so wonderful to see the work they do and the crafts they share and teach. I think if someone doesn't have a grandmother, they should contact one of these women to have them teach some of their skills -- lots of it is a lost art. Who teaches young women (or men) how to crochet? Knit? Cross stitch, needlepoint or tatting?

I was taught how to embroider and crochet by a grandmother, though she wasn't mine. I didn't even particularly like the lady, but I was grateful to learn how to embroider and crochet, both of which are art forms in and of themselves.

I have tried to teach my daughters and pass down these skills, and a couple of them enjoy them, but it's a hobby, nothing more. I remember when these skills used to be something that enriched a woman's life...a way to decorate an otherwise sparse home.

The art festival is the weekend of the 26th through the 29th, at the downtown library. The state fair is September 4th through 14, and the county fairs are at various times through out the summer. Searching through the internet will give you information and times on all of them. It's a good family outing, a good way to mingle with your neighbors (even those on yourldsneighborhood.com!) -- you'll never know who you'll run into, or what new thing you might try. The Neighborhood is fun to explore too. Have you taken a tour yet?

And...before you leave:
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Sorry, But Just Any Old Brush Won't do...

Okay. I mentioned that I would discuss paint brushes today. How many of you have even looked at paint brushes? That's what I thought. I'm not talking about the cheap things you buy for your kids to do the little water paint pictures with, I'm talking quality brushes that are going to last for a long time.

I'm the queen of cheap, honest. It drives my hubby to distraction. He's told me several times in our marriage that one pair of expensive shoes will last three times longer than three pairs of cheap shoes. What he didn't understand is that I like more variety than that -- except when it comes to my painting supplies.

I discovered through bitter experience that cheap paint brushes are just that -- CHEAP. They can say that they are sable, or horsehair or whatever, but they still come off in the paint and on your canvas! So, the first thing you want to do is make sure to find quality brushes. There is a whole selection of them in any craft store worth their salt, and I can spend hours there, believe me. I LOVE the look and feel of brushes and have to remind myself not to touch the bristles...sigh. That's right, the more you touch the bristles, the more oil comes off your skin onto them and make them dirty. Anyway...

Right now we are going to continue with the watercolor theme. In order to paint with watercolors, you need a couple of items. Either a board that isn't too heavy but large enough to hold whatever size paper you want to tape to it, or a pre-glued waterpaper pad or block that acts as if it's taped. Personally, I like the blocks -- much easier to deal with. If you're really into watercolor the way it's supposed to be, you'll probably want the board, unless you like to be portable.

You will also want an easel. I didn't have one for the first 20 years of our marriage, and I did just fine -- but once I got one for Christmas, it's been heaven. There are all sorts, but I like the solid thing I don't have to worry about knocking over should I bump it. (I'm rather clumsy)

You need a box to keep your paint and brushes in. I've used several different sizes and kinds, but a simple little plastic box, like a small tool or fishing tackle box will work. Just make sure it's long enough to hold all your brushes.

You need a pallet or paint tray. When I took watercolor in college, he had us make our own trays. This was basically a shallow 8 x 10 baking tray that we pounded little rounded dents into and he spray painted white. I still have my tray, and it's got lots of years ahead of it. You can usually find similar things in craft stores, and they aren't very expensive.

Paper. There are LOADS of different types of watercolor paper. Thick, (or weight), large sheets that you buy individually, blocks or tear off pads. Unless I have a specific subject in mind and want to paint something huge, I stick with the pre-stuck pads. I don't like messing with tape, and it's simpler for me to carry around. There are lots of different brand names, as well, but I seem to stick with the least expensive brand...grin.

What is really amazing is the amount of information available to those who want to look it up on the internet. There are sites that offer free instruction, sites that sell videos and DVD's, even local artists that hold classes that aren't too expensive. So if your urge to create drives you to search it out in depth, go online. Here are some sites that I found most helpful:

A class at this site:Derek Hegsted
http://www.fountainstudio.com/watercolor_tips.html -- all sorts of stuff here.

Enjoy, and look around -- you'll find lots of ways to improve. Next week we move onto other mediums.

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It's Amaz-za-zing -- A Little Water, A Little Color...

I'm terrible when it comes to names. Ask my children. (Grin) It's even worse when it's the name of something, such as a paint color.

When I first started painting, I had no idea there were so many shades of red: Carmine, Grumbacher Red, Vermillion, Indian Red, Rose Madder and my favorite, (the tube is almost gone) Alizarin Crimson. You'll notice none of them were just plain red. And that's just what I use, I know there's lots more available.

In my ignorance, I figured they were all shades of the same color.

Take green, for instance. There is Chrome Green, Viridian and Lime Green. Apparently Chrome Green and Viridian are the most popular shades, because that's what I've got the most of.

What I discovered, is that it's important to know the tint as well, because if I want to paint something with warm tones, and it has too much blue in it, that messes the whole thing up.

It is also somewhat limiting. When buying beginner kits, they usually come with five to six, sometimes twelve, colors. Sometimes these will be basic colors, that they presume all artists are going to use, and sometimes they are a variety, to give you an idea of what colors are available. If the kit contains shades like Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine, Phthalo Green (pronounce that one!) -- blue shade, Yellow Ochre and Titanium White, then you are limited in what can be produced with those particular shades in that pigment. Who came up with these names anyway? It reminds me of the names they come up with for plants and insects. I think someone has way too much time on their hands.

I like watercolors. Watercolors are far cheaper than other mediums, and last much longer. When it comes to watercolor, there are several colors that have ended up being my basics, and that I always have on hand. Black, (although, the tube says Ivory Black -- isn't that a oxymoron?) Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, (which are both a type of brown) Lemon Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Alizarin Crimson (favorite red) and Viridian (a bluish green). I also keep white on hand because I like to lighten colors sometimes, and I never did get the hang of blocking watercolor paper to create the white spaces...(like I said, my style is different) While these are my basics, I do have other colors that I like to mix in and play with. Especially the latest one I found, Violet Purple. (sigh)

One would have thought the art class I took in college would have reviewed color, explained the color wheel and mixing colors. I don't even remember having that explained in any of my high school classes. Is that something considered so basic that it isn't covered any more? I don't know, but I finally got myself a color wheel. The only problem is, I don't have the corresponding paints in my box. If it's not one thing, it's another.


This picture is my favorite. I painted it a couple of years ago, and while it didn't win anything at the State Fair, and it came in 5th at the county, it's still the one I like the most. Why? Because of how the ducks came out. I had never painted them before, and they were little wooden ducks my father-in-law had carved a long time ago. I also liked how the jar with the flowers turned out. While I know it's far from perfect, and there are many things I would change, I really like it. This is the reason I do still life more than any other subject.

I'm told that anyone can paint with watercolor. Considering how different my style is from my art instructor in college, I would have to agree. (grin) Anyone who wants to try out painting, should start with watercolors. It's the most forgiving, quickest drying, and least expensive.

I would recommend picking a basic kit and starting with the basic (gee, another oxymoron) colors so you won't have to wonder what in the world is going to come out of that tube. Play with them, get familiar with how it feels on your brush.

Next week I'm going to cover a little bit about the other basics you'll need, like brushes. That's a whole new world...

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Art and Beauty With Spiritual Eyes

I was gazing out at my back yard which is decked out in green to celebrate the onset of summer, when it occurred to me -- A lot of what we view as art is sometimes a spiritual thing.

We've all heard the phrase that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think it goes even deeper than that. How many times have you been listening to a classical, instrumental or vocal piece of music and been moved to tears?

It's not a visual thing. It's not something that has to be held in your hands. It's in the spirit.

It always amazes me when a person who is known for having terrible morals can come up with a beautiful piece of art, be it music, painting, or otherwise. It makes me wonder how the spirit gets through the garbage to give them the inspiration for what they do. I find myself having to fight from being judgmental and accept the beauty they are able to create.

There were and are many troubled painters in our world. Some of them were considered masters -- of course after they took their own life. Van Gogh's work is hailed as the pioneer of expressionism. I find only a few of his paintings likable -- Starry Night, and Couples in the Park. I find it sad that so many of these tortured souls found no success in their lifetimes.

George-Pierre Seurat and Paul Signac introduced a whole new style, pointilist. I find this style fascinating, and tedious at the same time. I had a friend in high school that did a full upper body portrait of Bruce Lee in this style -- pen and ink. It took him almost the whole school year.

Perhaps that is part of what we have to ponder as we gaze at the pieces of art they create for us. Sometimes these canvases have more than brush strokes -- sometimes they hold blood and tears, sweat and pain, frustration and illusion.

Being an artist myself, I know that at times I can act spoiled. Fortunately, I have a wonderful husband who takes it in stride and reminds me of what is important in life. My art is only part of me -- and usually only a seasonal thing. It takes a lot for me to paint or draw -- it takes all my concentration. If there was only the worldly view of things, I guess I could easily have become someone who was paranoid and afraid of the dark.

But we have the gospel. We have balance, and I don't live for painting alone. I live with the idea that eternity waits, and so does my talent. I am gifted with a family that loves me, supports me and makes it somewhat easy to balance my talents with every day life. I thank The Lord daily for them.



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