A BRUSH WITH RETIREMENT
The best way to approach retirement is with a ‘bold brush’!
Now that I am retired from education, this is my time; to set my own schedule and ‘put as many colors on my palette as I like!’ At first I was reluctant to move away from Ceramics, which I so dearly love, but moving fully into Oils opened up such exciting new ways to approach the canvas, so now I’m all in!
My Studio, such as it is, was created as a third bedroom. Unfortunately, not to code because of the subterranean location it has remained the perfect spot for my paintings. Good lighting, and cool in the summer…I’m not complaining.
Joyfully, I still have time for my three adorable grandchildren, Alice Leigh, Ellie and Caspian!
https://photos.google.com/search/CglGYXZvcml0ZXMiCBIGCgQ6AggBKKbNnM3mMg%3D%3D/photo/AF1QipOq0yuNdG8Uac6_feB2OIo_rzjfuVSAJ1DwLUa3
Picture of Kathy in Pink T-shirt
I still have time for Yoga at the Greater Morris Township YMCA, and the gym or PickleBall and Mahjongg on alternate days. As you can guess I am a lazy painter.
I love people and as luck would have it I do connect with some great friends while learning new skills and keeping in shape!
https://photos.google.com/search/CglGYXZvcml0ZXMiCBIGCgQ6AggBKMHU34z+Mg%3D%3D/photo/AF1QipO3ukQKdBxOcpwBCm9IMML9xQhN8aTpjv4AiF9W
Image of Yoga at YMCA
https://photos.google.com/search/CglGYXZvcml0ZXMiCBIGCgQ6AggBKMHU34z+Mg%3D%3D/photo/AF1QipO3ukQKdBxOcpwBCm9IMML9xQhN8aTpj4AiF9W
Image of Foster Fields
A PickleBall friend saw this landscape I painted of Fosterfields in Morristown and then commissioned her own ‘story’’.
https://photos.google.com/search/CglGYXZvcml0ZXMiCBIGCgQ6AggBKKbNnM3mMg%3D%3D/photo/AF1QipOycLYnYPVL4QP5IBn_Dipd8v88kRklwoIbrXcs
This is how I like to work…just visiting places and capturing beauty wearever. Working with someone else’s STORY, and using THEIR REFERENCES, well. For me, that’s more exciting and challenging. So, after I listened to my friend’s touching story, the landscape moved to Acadia National Forest in Maine where she and her husband had spent many wonderful trips. She shared several favorite photos from their travels and explained why the painting would be special to her.
My initial sketches were in pencil.
Image of sketchbook
After compiling several drawings that pulled the landscape together I started to work on a sepia-toned wash to map out the scene and give it depth.
https://photos.fife.usercontent.google.com/pw/AP1GczNIPLbVHYltoXL_tdwcX_vJg_iS7jAIx6z9GgufZCfCqLNrSWAkc1AglQ=w769-h577-s-no-gm?authuser=0
Sepia Image
The final Image made her tear up. I was so happy with the finished work!
NIAGARA FALLS gave me new opportunities to find great shots
And create new paintings. This one was inspired by a Lake Lewiston Sunset
.
https://photos.fife.usercontent.google.com/pw/AP1GczPOOD_q_Bh64XfxdfIhA-soUFMhkX8rctLKyUx9TqEyQQKCyXG5eTVHWw=w136-h180-no?authuser=0
https://photos.google.com/search/CglGYXZvcml0ZXMiCBIGCgQ6AggBKKbNnM3mMg%3D%3D/photo/AF1QipN7ouqlh3PBOeFskQar6T6amzwuNrnPoWw8jXzM
The Final Painting was exhibited at the Artist Framer Gallery in Cranford, NJ
www.artistframer.com
https://photos.google.com/search/CglwYWludGluZ3MiOxI5CjcaNQoIL20vMDVxZGgSKQonQUYxUWlwTjRNNUNwNXdyTWdpd0ktS0JaV3B0SVBINElJaGZ4T3dFKIru+o3+Mg%3D%3D/photo/AF1QipOSoqYCf8sIzwJwtQMWDpvScOhFJ2-N4nmTED_T
Caspian
