Caught with different art form … National – Read Comics in Public Day, Tuesday, August 28!

As a child my first introduction to reading was sitting with my dad as he read the comics (aka funnies) to me.  In addition to a regional newspaper, our daily newspaper, The Columbian, was an ever present source – the same as it is today. And it’s even under the same family ownership, how amazing!!!

In the newspapers we had access to the worlds of:

·       Beatle Bailey with Sargent Snorkel , Li’l Abner & Daisy Mae (with her revealing outfits), and Gasoline Alley

·       Lulu, Nancy (with Irma and Sluggo)

·       Pogo, Popeye, Felix the Cat, Peanuts, Katzenjammer Kids

·       Buck Rogers, Superman,

·       Smiling Jack (Steve Canyon), Mark Trail (which continues today), Rex Morgan, M.D.

Along with the newspaper comics, I also was allowed to occasionally purchase comic books:

·       Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Scrooge McDuck  etc. from Disney creations

·       Action comics such as: Superman, Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, Bat Man, Blackhawks, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Captain America and The Lone Ranger

·       Mighty Mouse, Tom & Jerry, Casper, Tubby, Betty Boop, Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, Andy Panda

·       Archie, Nancy, Pink Panther, Mr. Magoo

·       Mouseketeers (had very few issues due to law suit by Disney and change of name to “Mouse Musketeers”)

·       Characters from Hanna-Barbera: Puss ‘n Boot, Quick Draw McGraw, Yogi Bear,

·       Mad Magazine

Not to be forgotten from the list was the collection I was allowed to view at my aunt and uncle’s home. It included political cartoons, pin-ups and war related images. This uncle had served in WWII's Pacific Theater and had brought home many examples.

In later years, after marriage and birth of child, my husband began reading comics and Sunday funnies from the same hometown paper to our daughter. While we didn’t purchase comic books, we did purchase soft-cover books of Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes. Far Side creations by Gary Larson, also a WSU Coug – Washington State University Alum, were also prominent in our home.

Now many of the comic soft-cover books have survived to be passed from our daughter to our grandchildren. Our hope is that this will give them a joy for reading, for seeing more than one scenario or solution to a problem, and for imagining another world.

Join with our family, August 28 for the national Read Comics in Public Day!

For a related article: http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2012/08/comics-in-public/

              

Some days you gotta' test ...

Technology and electronics are great tools for an artist … unless you can’t get them to interact. They were set up, but those settings went away. So please excuse this posting as it is a test. Thanx.

Gadgets help show off art …

I like technology and gadgets – heck, at times I love it. While items can sometimes be challenging to use, they can mostly save time. With that in mind, I realized I didn’t like viewing photographs, especially of paintings, on my smartphone. The viewing area was just too small. So I started looking for a solution to fill my wants (not necessarily a need).

Friends have iPads. And Nooks are available. Another option is a Kindle, but it didn’t have the color I would need whereas the Kindle Fire did. After seeing a demonstration of a KF and comparing costs of gadgets, I made my decision and ordered one.

Now that I’ve had a Kindle Fire for a couple of months, I’m really happy with it. Although, after placing folders* of paintings on it I found that I needed to retitle the folders. Other downloads were getting into the alpha order and the painting folders were harder to find. Solution: Relabeling the folder’s names with an ‘a.’ before the folder title on my main computer, deleting the existing folders from the Kindle, the new folders were ready to be downloaded to the KF. Task done! (Note: new folder titles are now viewed at end of KF downloads.)

Another item I’m placing on the KF is the reference photo for each painting, unless it was a plein air painting. This is due to a situation a couple of years ago where I found a show’s winning entry was a forgery (done in a class and an exact copy of a professional’s painting), notified the organization, but because they didn’t know me – they never asked the artist about the painting. Instead they challenged me regarding my art.

The Kindle Fire has allowed me to share my art with interested artists and potential purchasers. If the KF is updated to more speed or space, I’ll probably check it out.

*FOLDERS (contain low resolution/pixel photos): Animals, Boats & the Sea, Buildings & Architecture, Exhibits ‘n Shows, Flowers, Fruit, Landscapes, People, and Studies (otherwise known as miscellaneous, bad paintings – also known as collage material, etc.).


PS: I do use a case for the KF to protect its surface.

Resolutions Update #1 …

When I stated “CLEAN off the painting table” in Resolutions #3, I didn’t name all of its elements. The painting table is actually three areas – all needing restoration. There is a ‘table,’ mostly buried under paperwork from a nonprofit, DVDs & CDs, books, and anything that didn’t have a home.

Success! The table, with its painting area, is back! It’s been cleared and staged for action.

(To be continued … pictures will follow in a 'resolutions update - conclusion' after other two areas are returned to original functions.)

Resolutions #3: Be visible …

Often resolutions are very private and personal. For an artist they may need to be visible. So with that in mind I’ve set a couple of resolutions for myself:

1. Redefine my workspace: CLEAN off the painting table, file any newsletters that are to be kept, update painting history list and resumé, review supply inventory, etc. Tend to the business of art!

2. Feed the painting spirit: watch all art related DVDs in my collection, especially the new series by Eric Wiegardt. Review notes from past classes and workshops.

3. Good or bad – complete a painting every seven to ten days. Some will be good, many will be bad (if bad, they can be used in collages…ha!)

So, no matter what time of the year it is, set a plan (call it resolutions, goals, or whatever). The main thing is to try to follow through and produce ART!

(To be continued … update in a couple of weeks!!!)

Resolutions #2: When’s the best time …

It’s typical to hear resolutions mentioned just before the month that starts with the letter “J.” Yes, those pesky little words we all spout and vow to follow.

Within a couple of weeks, heck days, these precious words are often out of sight and out of mind. Why does this happen to a majority of people’s resolutions?

Consider that the lists of words are put together during a very busy season: celebrating the various holidays with gatherings & parties, special dinners, baking, making & sending cards, cleaning & holiday decorating of the home, buying, sending & receiving gifts, church activities, employer sponsored functions, employer’s community charity activities, etc.; dealing with depression or anxiety can accompany the dark gloomy days of winter or any interaction with undesirable family members; and possibly your job may involve year-end and year-beginning financial or tax related duties, finalizing projects, etc.

Why are resolutions tied to the calendar year? Could they coincide with a fiscal year? If so, then look at June and July. They are often the end and beginning, respectfully, of the fiscal year. It may still be a very busy time of the year: Memorial Day, graduations, Flag Day, weddings, Independence Day – just to name a couple of happenings. Yet, this time of year has something that doesn’t accompany the traditional resolution time period – sun and warmer weather!!!

So enjoy the warm rain and set resolutions!

(To be continued in Resolutions #3…)

Resolutions #1: Must one follow the parade …

January seems to be “blogging month for resolutions.” Many are posted by what I’d call young’uns since they are dealing with issues related to children, work, time commitments, family, gardening, hobbies, activities, in-laws, etc. and their goals numbers are in double digits. They parade wish lists they hope  to accomplish while not sharing if they fulfilled the previous year’s list.

As I read some of these articles I must admit they did get me to thinking – what are my goals for the coming year? I didn’t really have any fulfilled goals for the last couple of years except for one – get past the next hurdle and survive. Health issues first for me and then my husband overtook any goals I’d had.  

At first I felt compelled to create a list of resolutions but then I allowed other things to fill my time and I procrastinated. So now what should I do. It’s June!

(To be continued in Resolutions #2...)

The gift that gave back …

The months turned into the language that referenced ‘over a year.’ I’d say, “I’m going to start painting this week – see I’ve made an appointment with myself!” While over time everything else became a priority over painting. Heck, there were a couple of times where house cleaning was even on a higher need. And, the fear of not achieving a finished, painted product grew larger.

One of the activities, that became a priority (as in taking over my life), was my role in sitting on the board of a local non-profit. In the past I’d served on several boards and also been employed or volunteered at several other non-profits, but nothing had drawn on all my talents, skills, and abilities like my current activity.

It was at a Monday meeting for my new posting where a committee was discussing the structure of putting on events. The dialogue went from having small in-home fundraising parties to “Bobby’s an artist – I’ve seen her business card. She could do a quick sketch of the house that could be used on the invitation and then be given to the event hosts.”

There it was out, it seemed like it was stated in one long breath. First thoughts were, “No, no, no!” This was followed by a bit of shock and fear. Then, “How do I get out of here?”

While it was a fair idea to plan something like this, it wasn’t something for me to do. I don’t paint on demand! And, my assigned tasks with the non-profit are immense. I don’t have time to paint!

Now it should be said that the person who made the statement was also having a party, the invitations had already been sent and received. I was amongst those being invited. And by Wednesday, I was starting to think about what to take as a hostess gift. Yes, I could try to do something with ink and maybe watercolor.

On a foggy, gray Thursday, I drove past the event location, took a couple of pictures and hoped I had something to use. An attempt would be made to create something!

The natural lights were turned on, the paints and brushes were ready and the photo image was transferred to paper. Knowing nothing was going to appear without actually putting a brush containing paint on the paper – I started to paint.

Memories of other paintings returned, formulas remembered and, oops this isn’t going to work. This painting of a big, elegant home was just too big and complex for me to paint. So, I reduced my focus and redrew it with just the entry.

When it was close to completion, I laid a mat on it. Wow, what a difference. After it was fully dried, I slipped it into a clear protective sleeve for presenting to the hostess. Along with inviting me to a very elegant party the hostess gave me back my desire to paint again.