SUMMER TIME AND DOWN TIME
July 15, 2009
Sawmill Sunset 18 x 24 Oil
Summer sun and gentle breezes call out my name and I leap at the opportunity to plein air paint as often as I can. This Friday, I am heading to Frisco, CO for some wonderful plein air painting through the weekend. Continental Divide Land Trust is hosting “Painting the Landscape/Preserving the Land” paint-out on Saturday, July 18. Pick up a map of locations at the Buffalo Mountain Gallery in Frisco and then ride your bike, drive or walk to various designated locations where you can watch as artists capture local scenes. Some of these plein air paintings will be for sale at the Buffalo Mountain Gallery in Frisco during the Patron’s Party between 5:30 and 8:30 on Saturday evening. Then on Sunday the gallery opens the show to the public for free from 10am to 5 pm. I think you will be able to find me painting on Saturday either at the Marina in Frisco or along the dam road near Giberson Bay – the Gallery will have information as to where I am. Come on up for the fun and keep your finger’s crossed for good weather.
As I begin this blog rain falls heavily outside once again and I am nostalgically thinking about last week’s hikes in the Colorado Mountains with old friends. Jon, our phones crashed completely on Sunday and we were wondering if maybe you had a hand in this, you devil you! Thanks Anne, our amazing, non-stop prep chef and cheer leader. Get that Smart Water, Judy and watch those brain cells multiply then go ahead and kill a few with marvelous Veuve Clicquot! And Z- Man, you kept us on our toes with your conversational challenges. Love you all!
Up on the Rocks 12 x 16 Oil
I can’t believe we are nearing mid-summer, but already I feel lazy as an old dog. A couple of weeks off and I’m confused about my place in the scheme of things. Long hikes in the mountains, afternoons by the pool and late dinners under the stars sure can be habit forming. Someone, please tell me how to jump start my former life! (Heavy sigh!) After all, I am one of the lucky people – painting is FUN – and I am contented and happy. Maybe I’m missing something in this unavoidable mood – something I should be investigating perhaps. If you follow along as I search for answers, perhaps we can all get back on track.
Thinking back to how I felt just before my trip to the Zapata Ranch for the artists retreat, maybe I can solve the mystery of what keeps me and many others unsettled now and again.
This week, Robert Genn (if you don’t subscribe click here to read his Twice Weekly Newsletter) wrote about artists’ loneliness which I found of interest. I never thought I felt lonely and I do understand that creativity springs from a certain amount of aloneness. In my case, creativity springs from my right brain which really isn’t social, has no voice but can hear and prefers to be uninterrupted for long periods of time. I paint, read, write, study, make up recipes and cook, design paintings plus many other esoteric things all in my right brain. The left brain is analytical, organized, has a voice, interacts with others and generally keeps me from being a hermit. Communication between the two sides of my brain can be awkward and interruptive, but over these many years of my life I have learned to listen to both and accept advice and direction from each side, though the right brain is still stubborn.
During the last few weeks I have been bouncing back and forth from right to left brain. First in the company of other artists then alone painting plein air; then being in the company of a wonderful group of friends and then creating and making exciting menus for dinner; organizing day trips, lodging, hikes for the group then overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape and frantically composing ideas for new paintings. Now, this week, I prepare for another plein air outing and time with collectors and other artists. Somehow, I think all this may be overload and I am really lonely for my own aloneness! I miss my time uninterrupted. I am exhausted from my communications with others and I long for solo time in the studio. Right! I need to think ahead and reserve alone time in the studio in the very near future.
That’s it, problem solved, and I feel better already. Even if you don’t think you are creative, you need your right brain time – this is were your true identity lies, where you center yourself, solve problems and reflect on beauty, joy and pleasure. If we ignore our right brain’s calling, over time we become unhappy, intolerant, confused, angry and maybe even violent, and certainly not very creative. So listen to your inner voiceless self and take advantage of what it can provide for your contentment with life. Thanks for letting me write this all down (from the right brain, of course, where most of my subconscious answers lie).
On the Easel UK Bridge 12 x 12 oil
(I’m still working on this one so watch for the finish!)
I’ll touch base after my weekend of plein air painting in Frisco, Colorado….but maybe not until I have a few days back in the studio with my paint, canvas and music; my “lonely” right brain fully engaged.
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Ciao!
Ginger
