Christmas Greetings

During this Most Wonderful Time of the Year, I wish each and all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Creative New Year.

Our family has celebrated Christmas with cats for many years.  They add greatly to the festivities, and of course have inspired several Christmas cards.  Here is a painting of our beloved Maine Coon, Figgy, and a reprise of a little poem I wrote a few years ago.  Blessings.

Some visitors at Christmas time

come feathered and bedecked

But others--quite surprisingly

Are not what we expect

One was a tiny baby

so helpless and so small

but come to save the entire world

with hope and grace for all

So don't neglect to claim your gift

It will bring you peace and joy

All because one Christmas time

God was a baby boy

More minis

A Bow Wow to Dogs

Lest those among you who are dog-gone crazy about dogs protest, let me assure you that I am also quite fond of canines.  And, they are fun to paint.

The Black Beauty with the bow around her neck was Sadie, possibly the best dog who ever lived.

She enriched Sara and John and Katy and Nicki's lives immeasruably for many years.  She is missed.

Many Minis

Crazy about Cats

Here are two of my all time favorite cats:  the one on the bottom was Willie,  who, alas was only in our lives briefly.

 The one on the right was Stretch, who owned first my sister Ann, then went to run her daughter Kathryn's household.






Many of the artists at the TVAL Gallery, including me, have spent the last month or so painting mini paintings for our Christmas Tree.  It has been fun, rather relaxing (as in, no worries about composition) and given me a chance to paint some of my favorite subjects.

When I was a little girl, I had an old Tom cat named Socks.

He was my introduction the the mysterious, wonderful

world of cats.  I've been hooked ever since.  Rex, Sara,

Liz, and all the grand kids are equally smitten.  Here are

a few feline paintings.

Wild about Horses

I've been crazy about horses for as long as I can remember.  Although I never had a horse of my own, I was lucky enough to have a doting uncle who did.  Uncle Bob was a widower who lived with my grandparents and treated his nieces and nephews like his own children.

His hobby was calf roping in rodeos, and he had a horse called Smokey.  Smokey was named for his color, a dappled grey.  He was a large (actually, he always seemed huge to me) fairly good natured horse who allowed me to ride him without putting up a fuss.  Whenever Uncle Bob had time, which was not often enough to suit me, he would saddle old Smokey for me.  Sometimes, though, I just rode him bareback.  Riding him was always a treat.  Since then, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for grey horses.

I share my special regard for horses with my grandson, Danny.  We've spent hours of contented time looking together for "horseys" in my art magazines.  There are lots of horses here in the Fallbrook and Bonsall area, too, so we've been able to see lots of them on the hoof.  There is a pair of retired Arabians in a corral just a short walk from our house, so all the grandkids have gotten to know them.  When they see the kids coming, the whicker softly, knowing  that carrots are coming!

When Mary suggested that we spend some time studying and painting horses, I leapt at the idea.  I've spent a lot of time learning horse anatomy:  the skeletal structure, from the poll to the ilium to the cannon.  Even the tail has bones.  I've studied the muscles, both deep and superficial.  I'll never know enough, but am enjoying the journey.

But mostly, I am enjoying painting these beautiful creatures.  From the arch of the neck, the flow of the mane, the roundness of the rump to the delicate grace of the legs, they are a visual treat.

 This month I have four of my horse paintings on display at the Temecula Valley Art League Gallery:

This one is a tribute to old Smokey, and that's what I call it

I call this one "Follow the Leader"  I've never been able to decide which were my favorite:   Palominos or black horses


I loved the idea of the warmth of the sun on the snow reflecting on the under-planes of these almost white horses.  This one is "Snow Frolic" 

Even inanimate horses appeal to me!

On the Way to San Jose

Since Sara and her family have moved there, we have certainly learned the way to San Jose.  While we miss having them close by, we have had some beautiful drives to and from.  This last trip a few days ago was no exception.  

We usually beat it up the 5 in our eagerness to get there, but take the 101 and our time on the way home.  My camera and sketch book stay pretty busy then.  The oak studded, rolling hills are beautiful any time of year, and in the October light were spectacular.  Glimpses of the Pacific provide a nice contrast.

  

I have not yet done any paintings from the photos and sketches from this trip, but most certainly will.  In the meantime, here are a few from previous trips.

Moonstone Beach in Cambria is popular year round

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The Golden Hills of Paso Robles in late summer

A pair of ponies sunning themselves in Paso Robles

This one is pretty much from memory/imagination, but the clouds were real

October in Cal/Ital

October light is so beautiful here in Southern California. Sunshine is certainly no stranger here, but it takes on a special quality in October. Whether it's the lemony light of morning, the saffron gold of afternoon, or the peachy glow of early evening, it is both seductive and taunting. Seductive because it tempts me to go outside and bask in it's glow--and paint. Taunting because I know that the days are getting shorter; the sun makes his appearance a little later and goes to bed a little earlier each day. Come on, it says, what are you waiting for; come paint.

Come out here and paint en plein air.

Ah, it sounds so glamorous in French, doesn't it? Well, it's not. I think of it as the tent camping of painting. You have to get everything you might possibly need---and it's a long list--try to pack it in such a way that you can carry it in one or two trips, find a place to park that's not too far from the car or a restroom, find a fairly level spot to set up your easel, choose a subject to paint, choose the appropriate size and shape canvas, squeeze out paint, adjust your umbrella, gnash your teeth over whatever essential item you forgot, resolve to do without it, block in your painting, and hopefully, all before dark! Seriously, rapidly changing light is the biggest challenge, and that's even on days when there are no clouds chasing each other across the sky. But let's not forget wind, glare, bugs--even the occasional snake.

But it's worth it. There is no teacher like Mother Nature; no better way to learn to actually see the temperature of the light and the colors it reveals. No other way, really, to establish your bona fides as a landscape painter.

Some days are more productive than others: some days you return to the studio with nothing more than a couple of sketches, some memories, and perhaps a few good reference photos. Often, though, the sketches, the memories, and the photos combine into a worthwhile studio painting.

Three years ago in October Rex and I were in Italy, our second favorite place on earth. Both the light and the terrain are so similar to San Diego County that sometimes it's difficult to tell them apart. Here are a few paintings from both sources.

JAM Today??

A few inquiring minds want to know where JAM Today came from.  Well, there are a couple of answers to that question.  JAM, if you use my maiden name, Arensdorf, as my middle name,  are my initials.  I hope that Today evokes the idea of being contemporary.

But the reference actually comes from Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland."  When Alice was experiencing (I almost said enjoying, but not sure that is quite accurate) the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, she asked for some jam.  "Oh no," replied the March Hare, "You may have jam yesterday and you may have jam tomorrow, but you may never have jam today."

Well, pooh!  I don't like that idea at all.  While the past is part of our lives, with wonderful memories and a few regrets, yesterday is gone.  Let it go.  While we need to plan for the future and our hopes and dreams, tomorrow isn't here yet.  Let's not worry about it unduly.  Let's live in the present.  Let's have jam today!

It has actually taken me a long time to fully embrace that philosophy, but I do think it's a good one; I still have a tendency to worry and to procrastinate, so JAM Today is a reminder.  And I need it, there is that yoga class I keep meaning to take....

Speaking of Tea Parties, here is a painting of Clare enjoying her first High Tea at Four Season's Aviara:



The next two photos are the two I used in combination for reference for the painting of Clare





Here's a painting of another cute little girl is a big hat:

Blog On

In response to requests from far flung friends and family to see my paintings, I've decided to blog. Not only do I enjoy painting, I enjoy "talking" about my work. So here goes, blog on--we're off.

Guess the first post needs to be the obligatory bio blog:

I don't ever remember a time when I didn't want to be an artist. As a child I drew, painted, and modeled clay with abandon and encouragement from parents, grandparents, and teachers.

In high school, however, I fell under the influence of a charismatic journalism teacher and turned my attention to the written word. It was all part of God's plan for me; the skills I honed as editor of our school paper helped me earn a college scholarship.

When I got to college, I returned to art, my first love. Those were the days when the art world was declaring painting dead. So I continued to study drawing, but changed my major to design. Once again, it was a useful detour. I received a thorough grounding in color and the elements of design. Both of these are vital to painting. Without a sound design any painting, even a non-objective one, falls apart. Color is the frosting on the cake, but must be used with care.

After college, life got in the way. And a very good life it has been! I married a wonderful man and raised two beautiful daughters. Art was on the back burner, but never entirely off the stove. I continued to study art history, life drawing, photography and water color. But I never tackled oil painting.

Then along came Mary Mulvihill. She likes to say that when the student is ready the teacher will come. I was ready! I've had lots of art teachers, but no one like her. She is not only a gifted artist, but a wonderful teacher, generous with both her considerable knowledge and her time. She has become friend and mentor. Under her tutelage I have blossomed.

While working as an interior designer I discovered that the aspect of the job I most enjoyed was choosing art for my clients. Then I realized that what I really wanted to do was make that art. And that is what I am doing today.

Right now, candid portraits are what I most enjoy doing. It is exciting to me to transform a snapshot, or a combination of them, into a painting that perhaps captures a side of my subject that the photo may not express.

Here are some examples, including candid portraits of those two beautiful daughters.

This is Sara in "Blue Reverie"


This one is "Surf Romp", starring Clare, Danny and their friend Alexis


Here is Liz and her first cat, Tux. They truly chose each other, so I call this one "Chosen"