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"