Collection of Antique Pick ups I have painted in watercolors. There is an oil and acrylic. I like to crop or use different angles.
Pick-up Paintings
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Category Archives: art
“Paint by Number”
These last few weeks I have been teaching “Paint by Number,” a lesson I created to promote success in student behavior. When someone feels you are vested in their successfulness, then they happily produce quality work. The project details history of the hobbyist kits from the 1960s sold to let anyone without artistic talent produce a realist painting. This kits are considered crude by anyone with talent. An interesting turn of events, these are now coveted by collectors. To me they are kitsch, humorous and remind me of my childhood when I painted sets of ballet dancers, clowns and horses.
I took this concept and had students photograph themselves, tweak them in Photoshop using hue, saturation and cut/paste filters to get the monochromatic out lined composition. Using an opaque projector these images are enlarged and traced on canvas. The novice student with no drawing or painting ability will have a wonderful rendition of themselves upon completion. Students love this assignment because when completed it looks like them and creates a feeling of success. Afterward, I will teach drawing skills and paint mixing. Their positive experience with the first piece has instilled a trust that will lead them into more complex ideas and projects.
Isn’t life about being successful and appreciated for what you do? Teaching is a wonderful way to not only teach history, media and techniques but trust, worthiness and success.
Inspiration by artist Dai Li
I find inspiration in the art work by artist Dai Li.
The Exhibit at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery is called “Games We Play,” and seeks to set up metaphorical connections between the games we play and deeper experiences in life. Moments of contemplation, when we are unguarded, or when no one is watching, are moments when people can reveal their true nature. Dai Li is a ceramicist and watercolorist from Sichuan, China and educated in Jiangxi province. Her work, petite in nature yet strong in commentary shows clay sculptures depicting a slice of life. Her humor is wonderfully candid!
Inspiration makes me happy! Check out her work and get a few smiles yourself.
http://www.daili.com.au/daili.com.au/Home.html
Empty Vessels and the 3 P’s of Art
Thinking about art to create and commentary has spurred a review of my work. Brainstorming words, “Empty Vessels,” comes to mind whether that be people, places or pottery. This acronym, “The 3 P’s!” describes my work in a “less is more” vocabulary. In general empty spaces appear in landscapes with extreme cropping, strong lighting and shadows. The people I chose seem to be looking another way, are expressionless and empty. Pottery I create in bowl forms incorporate slip painting of blank looking blue cubist women. So what does that say about me? Am I rummaging to fill the desolate spaces, do I show society in its infinitesimal form or am I probing for light to feature dismal objects? You the reader may think I am over analyzing my exploration of art. To me I am trying to figure out my purpose and why do I pick this subject matter.
Homeless at this point, living off family and running around like a gypsy with two suitcases in a green doodle bug, I am looking for a nest! For two years I have flitted around the world, learning and teaching. Time to settle down and create for real. This time the art space is more important than the living space. I need to have an ART STUDIO. Where that will be is still another journey and as always another story!
Kookaburra lives in an old gum tree
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“Kookaburra lives in an old gum tree.” This is an Australian tune. I wondered what a Kookaburra looks like and then I saw one in a gum tree. Here are some photos I took of this magnificent bird in the beautiful pink flowering gum tree.
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Australian Flowers!
Flowers are abundant in “OZ!” Here are a few I have found in the back yard.
Where in the WORLD is Susan?
Many friends gave me good bye gifts, dinners out, last minute trips and so many fond memories. Mr. Chen, you and your family were a blessing to have in my life. Spring Yan and Stone thank you so much for all the lifts in your car, the trip to Suzhou for a silk bed duvet, and spending New Years with your family. Lady Ma, my maid I will miss our Sunday mornings together and communicating not knowing each others language. I enjoyed having a tailor, Mr. Lin. He created a gorgeous Chinese dress and Capri’s for me. My wonderful neighbors across the hall, thank you for watching over me. Sarah, Fino’s mom thank you for helping me at Sentosa Gardens, first of all finding my 27th story apartment that overlooked the city and the Yangtze river. Secondly for bringing me food when I was so ill. Rita and her vegan mom, thank you for helping me mail boxes to Texas and introducing me to a wonderful Vegetarian Restaurant. Jane, Ellen’s mom for being a wonderful art friend and showing me Nanjing sites. Daisy and her sweet friends in Shanghai and Xi’an for all our vacation trips! Didn’t we have some fun? I love the picture of you as a concubine and me as the Empresses!
Nan Shi Fu Zhong and my wonderful Chinese colleagues friends, what can I say? My office mates, Sue, Jenny, June and Alice, ladies I could have never asked for better friends. The library and offices down the hall with Esther, Shirley, Serena, Maggie, Tracy, David, Emmy and Ms. Wang, the teachers that work all day and night! The upstairs admin and teachers, Stephen, Mr. Can, Jackie, Mr. Hao, Tess, and Guo, you did so much to make my life run smooth. Thanks for getting that latte maker! To Sophia, girl I could never thank you enough for all your expertise, care and patience. “Let all my troubles pass through the hollow places,” you said describing the stone Lotus you gave me. You are a wise woman. To Gong Yan, the leader of the tribe, love your teachers as they work hard for the IB program.
My best friends Michael from Britain and Peter from Australia, how can I thank you for you brotherly friendship? I adore you both, for the care, time and lunches we shared. You were there for me in so many ways. Friendship is something I treasure and I will love you both forever and ever! We were the “Three Musketeers!”
“There was something in the water,” as Americans say when everyone gets pregnant. Drinking Nanjing water is no different. Sophia and Jenny had boys last year! Tracy just had a wee one this week. Alice and Sawyer, next month it is your turn and what good parents you will be. I wish I could be there when your daughter is born. Serena will be next! Oh my, so many sweet moments I will share from afar. I will be waiting to hear from each of you about the wonders your children are creating in your lives.
Lastly to all the national curriculum art teachers that befriended me. The art teachers are inspirations. The graceful dance teacher next class over, what a marvelous dancer and kind soul. I learned Tai Chi from the retired teachers, they were so patient with me. Then the sweet janitor lady that gave me hugs daily.
My graduating Seniors, Joy and Iris of higher level– you are talented young ladies! Iris, Elaine, Stephanie, Tiffany, Karen, and Willson of standard level, isn’t it nice to be finished with your Visual Art’s CRB? Move on, go to college and stay motivated with art or whatever you want to be. Cheng Peng, you are now at SCAD! You busted out of China early and are the happiest I have ever seen you—become the artist you want to be. My Juniors—Angela, Ellen, Rita, Cookie, Arno, William, Peter, Kevin, Jane, Becky, Sam, Fino, Amy, and Moon! Kids what can I say? You are all on track with IB, almost all 7’s and each of you totally motivated with art. I will miss you guys and remember you the most! You were the teenage art blessings in my life. The 10th grade foundation art students, to the fifty of you keep speaking English daily, stay focused and motivated, you are the future of NSFZ!
Now that I have said my thank you’s to China, what am I doing? I moved to Australia, retired and am relaxing. It is warm if not hot here, I am barefoot and happy. Learning to “BE” and not “DO!”
Summer is over!
To my surprise, I am back in China! Surprised because the time flew by. What a summer! I enjoyed seeing friends, family, past Allen high art students, college roommate, Plano high school friends from the 70’s, watercolor art friends, past teacher friends, and it just goes on and on. So to all my loving friends, family and new friends…Thank you for a beautiful summer. Those of you that welcomed me in your home, thank you so much for a bed, sofa and meals. I love you all.
Texas home of BIG culture
Texas is my home or was my place of residence. Now it is just a vacation place. I love seeing my friends and listening to what they have done over the past year. It’s a hot summer, sweaty and at least 100 degrees daily. Randy treated me to a baseball game at Ranger Stadium. It’s been years since I’ve seen a game. Last one, Houston Astros, when Nolan Ryan was pitcher. That will date me! Baseball is a typical American event, everyone sporting red, white and blue T-shirts with TEXAS printed on the front. Hot dogs are $1 and beer is expensive at $8. The stadium is packed with 36,000 hot sweaty fans. The Minnesota Twins win 7-2. Darn! Best part is the American patriotism and culture!
AMERICA – home at last!
AMERICA!
What a country, the land of abundance! I cannot tell you how happy I was to land in New York, get my feet on American soil, see a real western restroom with toilet paper and seat covers! Yea haw the land of plenty, not like the squatter toilets of China.
I was not expecting the culture shock and trying to settle back in. America is over-sized, mega-sized and revolves around the owning and hording of stuff! The amount of belongings seems to limit ones relationships. Homes are large enough, but the stuff is overflowing and no room for people, not like China. Relationships in China are cultivated in the tiniest of environments, with the littlest of stuff. My beliefs on how to treat people has been enhanced in China. Watching the Chinese grandparents care for their grandchildren and my colleagues care for me I came to value relationships more. Seeing my family and friends after ten months was the utmost on my mind. Being alone only made my heart grow fonder.
A week with my children on the lake rejuvenated my soul. A trip to Galveston, the beach, biking the canals, walking in the sand, swimming in the salt water, photographing the stormy clouds, and seeing art on the strand filled my face with smiles. Visiting with my friends, reminiscing over stories of life past and ideas for the future are filling this Texan girl with memories to savor during the next teaching year in China.
Here are just a few moments in time to remember and enjoy.
