Woodmansey Artist-In-Residence June 2023

 Today was relatively quiet. The sky was clouded almost all day. I was featured in the Beatrice newspaper today: https://beatricedailysun.com/news/local/homestead-hosts-artist-in-residence/article_469cd62a-0f18-11ee-a72f-d3f4c724bb12.html I started my morning drinking coffee on the Heritage Center's patio. I drafted 6 Haikus on my iPhone-- but frustratingly, they have somehow now disappeared! Maybe with tomorrow's coffee, I can remember and rewrtite them? I didn't do any painting today. I pencil sketched. I made another attempt at a Killdeer and was satisfied with this sketch. I sketched the Palmer-Epard cabin. I have previously watercolored this cabin; but today was a pencil sketch. Immersed in moonlight Prairie mariners sailing a cross oceans of grass West to safe harbor I did a rough sketch of an idea for a poster contest I am planning to enter next Spring. This 1930 Model A was parked in the Heritage Center lot this afternoon. The park is busily preparing for this weeke...

Marking Time Fifty-nine candles Require strong lungs to blow out. I hope for sixty. It semed breezy enough to fly my kite today; but only marginally so. Wind Ho! The kite luffs and then the taut string lifts it upwards pulling hand and arm I sat on the Heritage Center's back patio and enjoyed my morning coffee. Percolator The aroma is bold, awakening first thoughts: my morning coffee. Pablo Picasso said,  "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." I guess both my art and this blog serve as such. Then and Now From fingerpainting and Crayolas to today, I remain inspired. I have recently become fascinated watching Bob Ross' painting show on PBS Television. I am amazed at his skill and speed -- and his even demeanor. One of his great quotes is, "There are no mistakes -- only 'Happy Accidents.'" Even though his medium is oil paint, some of the skills tranlslate: imagination, color, shadow, composition. PBS Painter “Happy Accidents” Bob Ross makes ...

Today is Juneteenth, the holiday celebration of the emancipation of slaves in Texas. The Homestead National Park includes numerous details of the homesteading efforts of freed slaves. I drank my morning coffee from the back porch of the Park's Heritage (Visitor's) Center. It has a nice view over the park.  The sky was pure blue until a jet trail bisected it. White Line The cloudless blue sky becomes divided by an airliner’s white trail. Inhale No words can describe  the pure freshness of the air. Close your eyes and breathe. Bending, Yielding The tallgrass prairie rhythmically bows to the breeze. A gyrating dance. Imaginary Boundaries Fencing in or out? Barbed wire defines fields and range. Except leaping deer. Instinct Killdeer are actors, faking a broken wing to distract from their nests. Can you taste it? My tongue catches a released sweat bullet sliding down my cheek. Salty. For Mom Cancer is evil: The Devil stealing bodies. But strong souls resist. Later, I spent time on ...

My Dad passed away in 2017. I recently heard someone use the term, "half-orphan" to describe my condition, with the loss of one parent. This implies that one can become orphaned at any age with the loss opf one or both parents. Today I am thinking how my Dad would have appreciated both the historical and agricultural aspects of this National Park.  Emancipated Abraham Lincoln: What was he thinking when he  signed the homestead act? Today I spent 4 hours painting at the "decked" elevated viewing platform along the Old Grain Growers Highway route. I painted 2 images. While I was there, I saw a young deer casually walking into the brush to enjoy a cool afternoon nap. Camouflaged The motionless fawn. Blending in; not standing out. Awaiting mother. I have this collapsible wagon to haul my easel, stool and supplies. It is a great transport tool. I got the idea for this from Becky, a Dentsply-Sirona rep, who I worked with near D.C. last Summer. She had one of these wagons ...

I awoke to a thunderstorm this morning. Thunderhead Overhead Morning thunderstorm. Raindrops pound on the rooftop. Going back to sleep. It was a strong rainshower. I waited for some "drying off" before heading to the park.  My Mom suggested I read this book to get in the mindset of the homesteaders, so I am currently reading this: BTW, It is also available on streaming media as a mini-series. At the park, I set up my easel by the Palmer-Epard cabin and quickly watercolored this image. Then I "played" with a few monochromatic images. Can you tell that I am drawn to abstraction over realism? After lunch, I took a walk around the park. I brought my pocket kite, thinking the breeze would fly it, but it wouldn't fly. I found this scat but couldn't determine its source. It looks like it has raspberry seeds in it. Bears have only rarely been seen in this park. Maybe it is raccoon? Does a bear scat in this park? I saw this possible badger den near the Freeman graves...