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I had such fun at the Tower Grove Park Flower Power luncheon last week! I'd never been, and the only people I knew were the busy staff, but several hosts were on the watch out to welcome lost looking guests, which was kind. The Piper Palm House had centerpieces everywhere, on all the scattered tables, and someone, brilliantly, had bedecked the marble busts of composers.
Art is my vocation but is also occasionally a good social ice breaker. Once I was given my champagne, I realized I could stand around with it awkwardly, or I could sketch a while, keep myself busy, and maybe meet a few people in the process. I chose option two. Sketching occasionally makes a good parlor trick.
Art is my vocation but is also occasionally a good social ice breaker. Once I was given my champagne, I realized I could stand around with it awkwardly, or I could sketch a while, keep myself busy, and maybe meet a few people in the process. I chose option two. Sketching occasionally makes a good parlor trick.
Charlie Barnes, the event photographer, noticed what I was doing and took a couple of photos. He also photographed me after the luncheon was over, when I had changed and gone out painting. You can see those photos here.
The ladies at my table continued the kind welcome and made me feel at home. Both women beside me had Tennessee connections, and we had a lovely meal.
I kept sketching after lunch during the program by James Farmer, who was delightful. I felt at home with his Southern accent and family stories. My grandmother from south Georgia sounded a lot like the women he grew up amongst. He had an easy manner and kept everyone laughing, and people were sorry when the talk was over. (Not always the case at these things.)
The ladies at my table continued the kind welcome and made me feel at home. Both women beside me had Tennessee connections, and we had a lovely meal.
I kept sketching after lunch during the program by James Farmer, who was delightful. I felt at home with his Southern accent and family stories. My grandmother from south Georgia sounded a lot like the women he grew up amongst. He had an easy manner and kept everyone laughing, and people were sorry when the talk was over. (Not always the case at these things.)
It was a delightful day in a beautiful setting, and I was so glad for the invitation.
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I was in St. Louis last week to attend a luncheon at Tower Grove Park. The photographer shooting the event was Charlie Barnes. Artists are often drawn to talk to each other, and I was sketching at the event because I didn't know anyone, so we ended up talking. He saw me changed and heading out to paint at the end of the luncheon -- I try never to waste an opportunity to paint in Tower Grove -- and Charlie asked if he could shoot some photos of me painting. I was delighted because you can always use a lovely professional photo of what you do professionally, and I was also enjoying talking shop to him about making a living somewhat outside the normal system.
I had spotted a gorgeous copper beech I'd never noticed before on my walk that morning (the park is so rich in beautiful trees), and it was calling my name, so we headed there. It turned out to be a perfect choice.
I had spotted a gorgeous copper beech I'd never noticed before on my walk that morning (the park is so rich in beautiful trees), and it was calling my name, so we headed there. It turned out to be a perfect choice.
I'm amazed at Charlie's eye and portrait skills. That top photo especially is perfect to me. Somehow, on just thirty minutes' acquaintance, he managed to capture the magic I feel in what I do and how I see the world around me and the connection I feel with trees. (Dad calls me the Ent Wife.) I don't know how Charlie did that, but I'm deeply grateful to have this record of the joy I feel in my work.
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The Memphis Urban Sketchers met downtown at the Greenbelt Park today.
I took Mr. Darcy since it's a quiet park and he'd been so good at our forest outing. I had a little trouble keeping his butt out of my paints (he stained it sap green on one recent foray by lying directly in my paint box), but otherwise he's excellent company on a sketching trip.
I took Mr. Darcy since it's a quiet park and he'd been so good at our forest outing. I had a little trouble keeping his butt out of my paints (he stained it sap green on one recent foray by lying directly in my paint box), but otherwise he's excellent company on a sketching trip.
It's been a while since I painted at the river, and it felt good to get back there again.
Printmaking all afternoon, and then I rewarded myself for a long week's work by going over to the Latino festival in Overton Park. I got a taco with chorizo for dinner and a paleta for dessert. It was a perfect evening to sit out and eat and enjoy the park.
I couldn't help sketching my favorite tree again when I was done. It's just so lovely.
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I started a new print last night while I listened to the baseball game. Good to be back home and working. And yes, it's my same tree I can't stop drawing. I did this sketch back in January and had no real plan for it. I just saw the moon and wanted to draw. I'm grateful to the Memphis Urban Sketchers for getting me more in the habit of ongoing drawing. It's nice to have that much material to leaf back through and be inspired by.
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I'm in New York visiting one sister and celebrating a birthday with another. We're mostly here to see theater, but I'm doing a bit of sketching as well, of course.
Above is my taxi ride from La Guardia, and below is the view from the diner where we had lunch. I was so happy we snagged a booth in the window.
We went to see Helen Mirren in The Audience last night. I was so excited to see her on the stage.
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I've been out painting in the forest again. It's a very good day when I can call the woods "my office." Mr. Darcy likes those days too. I've been utterly thrilled by the wildflowers this year. Truly I am every year, but I'm not really a flower painter and have always been unhappy with my efforts. This year the markers and the small watercolor sketches have let me capture my favorite wildflowers, and I'm really having fun.
Above are a couple of more finished watercolors. Here are a couple of quick, on my dog walk sketches. Someone dug out the jack-in-the-pulpits I knew about last year, and I was heartbroken. My photographer friend Peter Ceren, also taking lots of wildflower shots in the Old Forest, found a new batch and gave me directions to find them. They are lovely, and I was delighted. I'm also still in love with the mayapples.
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I got to show off one of my favorite places on Saturday. I led the Memphis Urban Sketchers into the heart of the Old Forest in Overton Park my wildflower glade that was blazing with wood poppies, trillium, phlox, and mayapples. I'm continuing my love affair with mayapples this spring. I'm planning a possible three part print of them (I'll do one first to see how it looks), so I sketched some more closer up to give me a bit more information to work from.
Even some long time Memphians didn't know the beauty we have hidden in the forest. It took me years to find it myself. People didn't much go into the center of the forest when I was growing up, but I have loved finding it. I always say that I have the best of all possible worlds. I live in the heart of the city and walk in a forest every day. It was fun to share the magic.
Even some long time Memphians didn't know the beauty we have hidden in the forest. It took me years to find it myself. People didn't much go into the center of the forest when I was growing up, but I have loved finding it. I always say that I have the best of all possible worlds. I live in the heart of the city and walk in a forest every day. It was fun to share the magic.
Before diving into the forest we met up by my favorite tree. Elizabeth laughed at me for sketching it yet again.
Of course Mr. Darcy went with us. I don't go the park without him.
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My show at Germantown Performing Arts Center this month has its opening reception on Friday night from 5:30 to 7:00. The show is new watercolors from Paris, done on my last trip there, so come have a mental vacation and a glass of wine if you're free. It's open to the public, so bring any friends you think would enjoy it.
Above is the Place des Voges. All watercolors are 7x9" and $135, except one larger one. Come see!
Above is the Place des Voges. All watercolors are 7x9" and $135, except one larger one. Come see!
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The weather has been largely gorgeous lately, and the wildflowers are popping out. It's my favorite season in the Old Forest of the park by my house. I've been going out sketching in between deadlines and another dance weekend. Above are Mayapples, which have got me thinking about a print. Below are trillium, first budding and then fully open.
I've been running around meeting a few deadlines and turning in a show, but when I'm lucky, this is what my office looks like for the afternoon.
I'm excited to get to lead the Memphis Urban Sketchers in the Old Forest this Saturday. Come join us and draw. We'll meet at Veterans' Plaza in Overton Park at 10 am. I'd suggest long pants for poison ivy, which is just starting to come back up, and something dry to sit on. But it's been lovely to take my sketch pad and journal and hang out in the woods the last week.
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It's finally warm enough to sketch outside again. Cloudy, but warmish. I ran down to Elmwood Cemetery today to drop off some prints for their gift shop, and I also sketched this gorgeous magnolia while I was there.
I've been having fun with the fountain and brush pens. I got a new bold tip Lamy fountain pen, and I tested it out last night. I was mostly carving a new print block, but I took a couple of breaks and sketched Mr. Darcy while he lay beside my chair.
I've been having fun with the fountain and brush pens. I got a new bold tip Lamy fountain pen, and I tested it out last night. I was mostly carving a new print block, but I took a couple of breaks and sketched Mr. Darcy while he lay beside my chair.
Mr. Darcy also accompanied me to the farm today. The daffodils are blooming on a hilltop out there. Every year I try to sketch the beauty, and every year I fall short, but here is this year's effort.
It feels good to be out in the world sketching again. I hope spring has really come.