Spring Desert, Monotype
Currently in Rental Sales Exhibit
at Rogue Gallery & Art Center, Medford, Oregon
Currently in Rental Sales Exhibit
at Rogue Gallery & Art Center, Medford, Oregon
DREAMING OF YEARS GONE BY
I have always known I wanted to become a professional artist. Not that I knew there was such a thing when I was in first or second grade, but I certainly was aware of the illustrations and colors I was seeing in my school books. The pen and ink drawings with occasional watercolor washes over the illustrations in my reading book were exciting to me. In fact I can still recall the illustration that impressed me so much in my second grade reader and I have been able to duplicate it! N.C. Wyeth also impressed me with his amazing paintings and illustrations in Stevenson's Treasure Island!
I recall sitting beside my mother in the church pew when I was four and five years old. Mother would always have paper in her handbag. When I became fidgety she would quietly open her purse, take out the paper, hand me one of the church songbooks to use as a flat surface for my paper, a pencil, and then she would whisper. "Draw me a pretty picture" and I would.
Looking back now I know that my mother knew I was an artist and she helped me to believe in myself as an artist. Even though we did not have a lot of money and lived very carefully, she always made sure that I had art supplies and encouraged me to use them. My Father was very quiet but always looked approvingly at my artwork when I showed it to him. I always looked for his approval and it was very important to me! Dad was even civil to me when I ruined his electric drill when I was about nine. I used it attempting to carve a figure in a salt-lick block! I was successful to my way of thinking but I put away his drill never thinking that the salt would rust it!
Mother had two great friends who were artists.
Annie Stubblefield was an oil painter. I did not know what a fine artist she was until much later in my art education. Annie would give me brushes and paints and let me paint along side her when my family went to a mountain retreat center called Glorieta near Santa Fe, NM. Annie had a small cabin not far from Ghost Ranch where My family stayed. She would invite me to come and stay all day, painting and talking. I learned so much from Annie Stubblefield! It was through Annie that I was first introduced to the art of Georgia O'Keeffe, the "Taos Ten" and also art from the Hudson River School of artists. I learned to appreciate fine art from Annie. She preferred the work of these artists because they used vibrant color as did she. We would take long nature walks in the forest above Glorieta sketching, talking and observing nature close up. You can imagine how I felt actually working and talking about art on that level with another artist! I learned during those exciting times that my favorite artist/illustrator N.C. Wyeth's daughter, Henriette, lived in New Mexico! Later I learned that she was married to Peter Hurd of Roswell, NM another great artist and that her brother was Andrew Wyeth!
Mother's other artist friend was also her Sister-In-Law, Alice Orr. Aunt Alice was a porcelain painter. I did not learn as much from her in discussions but what I did learn was how important it is to be neat when painting! My Aunt did, however, encourage me to continue doing my art and also gave me art supplies for which I will always be grateful.
I recall sitting beside my mother in the church pew when I was four and five years old. Mother would always have paper in her handbag. When I became fidgety she would quietly open her purse, take out the paper, hand me one of the church songbooks to use as a flat surface for my paper, a pencil, and then she would whisper. "Draw me a pretty picture" and I would.
Looking back now I know that my mother knew I was an artist and she helped me to believe in myself as an artist. Even though we did not have a lot of money and lived very carefully, she always made sure that I had art supplies and encouraged me to use them. My Father was very quiet but always looked approvingly at my artwork when I showed it to him. I always looked for his approval and it was very important to me! Dad was even civil to me when I ruined his electric drill when I was about nine. I used it attempting to carve a figure in a salt-lick block! I was successful to my way of thinking but I put away his drill never thinking that the salt would rust it!
Mother had two great friends who were artists.
Annie Stubblefield was an oil painter. I did not know what a fine artist she was until much later in my art education. Annie would give me brushes and paints and let me paint along side her when my family went to a mountain retreat center called Glorieta near Santa Fe, NM. Annie had a small cabin not far from Ghost Ranch where My family stayed. She would invite me to come and stay all day, painting and talking. I learned so much from Annie Stubblefield! It was through Annie that I was first introduced to the art of Georgia O'Keeffe, the "Taos Ten" and also art from the Hudson River School of artists. I learned to appreciate fine art from Annie. She preferred the work of these artists because they used vibrant color as did she. We would take long nature walks in the forest above Glorieta sketching, talking and observing nature close up. You can imagine how I felt actually working and talking about art on that level with another artist! I learned during those exciting times that my favorite artist/illustrator N.C. Wyeth's daughter, Henriette, lived in New Mexico! Later I learned that she was married to Peter Hurd of Roswell, NM another great artist and that her brother was Andrew Wyeth!
Mother's other artist friend was also her Sister-In-Law, Alice Orr. Aunt Alice was a porcelain painter. I did not learn as much from her in discussions but what I did learn was how important it is to be neat when painting! My Aunt did, however, encourage me to continue doing my art and also gave me art supplies for which I will always be grateful.
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