Lesson of First, Profit the Next Trip

T'was our first RV "Shake down" trip. We'd planned to go to Lake Lomolo, up near Diamond Lake. We'd camped there last year and felt familiar enough to launch our new vehicle's maiden voyage there. So we drove the windy Highway 62, feeling, rather like driving a "cloud", and found the last available lake side camping site. I'm the one sitting in the driver's seat, dropping the hydraulic leveling system and Roland, on his side in the dirt below my window, when he notices "something" squirting out of an area that looks like the breaks. Oh, SWELL!! The next hour, we're searching the Owner's Manual to try locating where the break fluid reservoir is located ~ ~ finally we find it and it's very full. S-I-G-H!!! Ok, now perhaps we can enjoy ourselves. (But we still don't know what the squirting fluid is?)

I get household details set up, the beautiful dahlia's from Mary's garden that she brought over as we were leaving, get in their vase, place mats on table etc. and it's starting to feel like home. We take a walk down the shore watching Cody romp in the shallow beach in front of the show covered mountain backdrop. Later in the evening we manage to bake our first pizza in our lil' oven, well, it did burn a tad. The smoke set off the smoke alarm and freaked Cody out (as he loves peace and undisturbed quiet). I'm getting used to which switches need to be on for the water to work and where to crawl under the bed to see what our water level is (especially because we are "dry" camping). Sleeping in our comfy bed is relaxing and refreshing.


It's a chilly wake up, but with Roland's positive encouragement, even in the foggy rain, we head out to visit waterfalls! Our first stop is at Whitehorse Falls, a low, but thunderous cascade. Next we drive to Toketee Falls with it's near half mile hike thru lovely redwood forest with lush, white dogwood trees blossoming in front of rich evergreen shadows. This tiered waterfall has two layers (top drops 40 feet, the second 80 feet), both set back among basalt columns with lovely turquoise blue pools below. The most breathtaking waterfall was our third and last to see, Watson Falls. Not only do you get an enchanting hike into the forest, with numerous wild flower faces peering silently up at you, but one of the tallest 272 foot falls can be seen from a bridge right in the middle of the creek! By the second waterfall, the sun had burst out, sprinkling sun spots everywhere in the green surroundings ~ lovely day! We watch an evening movie after dinner and curl up early as the night's chill creeps over us.

This morning breaks with a 48 degree temperature and I'm turning on the heat to do my yoga and meditation! Breakfast finds things a bit warmer, but I notice the lights seem dim, don't they? Middle of dish washing, the CO2 alarm goes off!! This is like the last straw for Cody and he's outside in no time, standing over by the car, wanting to go home. Roland notices the lights too and starts a search to find out why the batteries are not recharging themselves. Roland has trouble starting the generator and finally, in a unanimous vote, Cody especially, we agree, heading home is the best thing to do before we can't get home. I drive the car behind the RV, and instruct Roland to JUMP if anything should go wrong en route! So we return home, tail between our legs.

Next RV endeavor, we've gotten several things repaired and ourselves more informed :) We choose a nearby campsite on Road #37 at the North Fork of the Butte Creek. Green, shady lil spot and just as I'm putting down the levelers again, I notice some kind of liquid on the sheet he's lying on under the RV. Grief, it's still leaking . . . ok . . . we opt to just stay crooked. I've been crooked before, I can live with this! We settle in and actually get to relax.

In the morning, we're attempting to set records here, it's 37 degrees outside! After a leisurely breakfast, watching the chipmunks hop from rock to rock, we don our day packs and head out for the meandering trail along Butte Creek. From this end of the creek we come up to the back of Fish Creek and at the crest of the dam we see this invigorating view. Mt. McLoughlin reflects in the quiet waters and two fishermen carve thru the mirror stillness. This is the kind of camping I'd been envisioning :)

We stayed another relaxing day, leaving the next day. I'm looking at alot of my little "cling-y" patterns that I want to keep doing even in the RV and am learning to let go of them, exercise flexibility. So I'm seeing this whole direction with the RV and the possible move to Mexico, as a huge learning experience for me. I certainly has freed up my attitude and I'm growing too, along the way. So, I encourage you all, to remain open. Just to see what magical gift the Universe may have in store for you! Happy trails . . .

Britt Festival Opening Festivities

Yes, this day finally felt like Spring is actually approaching for real. Our small art group, "Art Presence", created to present more professional quality art and artists in Jacksonville, was thrilled to be part of this event. In concert with and celebrating the opening night of the Britt Festival (http://www.brittfest.org/) Jacksonville closed off both the north and south parts of 3rd Street adjacent to the main street. One side was for the artists and the other side, for wine pouring and music.

The day blossomed gorgeous, sunshine and clear blue skies (it was rainy and 40 degrees last week). Our "Art Presence" officers arrived at 9am to tape off the booths and shortly, the artists began arriving. Town was already hopping and by noon the people were swarming our booths, delightful, lively music dancing through the atmosphere ~ ~ and Summer-ready faces ALL smiling.

We artists had debated the event, as to possible sales, but as usual, just being visible and available for personal relations was the real pay off! I had a previous client come by and tell me they were interested in me doing a commission for them. Later in the day, a local business owner, who'd been sampling three of my giclee prints, dropped in to let me know he wanted to purchase two of them!

As the afternoon passed, I took up my journal, to start in a sketch. I nested in a corner of my booth, out of the hot sun, and captured this nicely cropped vantage point. I was most pleased with the brick effect I acquired with use of my favorite wax crayons! What you think?

Once all packed up and delivered back at home, we opted for a quick Boca Burger in town and a weird "Freckled Lemonade" (where one had to fish out the strawberries from one's lemonade).

On our after dinner walk, I was complaining that it was way past time for our local deer to birthing their sweet babies and that I was suffering "fawn with drawl". I swear, not ten feet further we came across our first fawn nestled in deep grass with her mom (of course, I didn't have my camera). But the next morn, out our kitchen window we saw these tiny twins hobbling clumsily across our back yard. OH, they are so adorable!!!

I have to admit that this time of year, ending of Winter and the flurry of Summer, punctuated with the start of the Britt Festivals, is one of my favorite parts of the year. After a couple months of grey rain and a town of quiet (although I love our lil' green wood burning stove that glows warmth and charm into our home), I relish flood of visitors touring through our sweet Historic Town of Jacksonville, the cascading of live music around 3pm when the Britt performance of the evening practices up the hill from us and floral blossoms and green are every where. Does life get any better?

Start of Summers Journal Entry

They say Memorial Day is the "declaration" of Summer start. I'm in total agreement, however, our Oregon weather has disagreed. Up to a few days ago we had rain showers and very cool days. But my lil' family forged ahead, ignoring that silly unpredictable weather and made picnic plans for Sunday May 30th.

I got home from church and we each made an unusual sandwich accompanied by drink and packed off to a nearby park. Oh my, it was packed!! We'd read in the paper that national soccer groups were gathering here for playoffs but didn't GET the impact til we saw the soccer fields speckled with players and attached family, picnic gear and coaches. Luckily, we found a parking place AND an open picnic table. Cody, our lovable Golden Retriever stationed under the picnic table, should there be any food droppings, and us perched gazing ~ ~ we reveled in the cool breeze, the abundance of families playing, chatting together ~ ~ just an overall feeling of joy and freedom. In the background, I heard the Ice Cream Man come along with his sing-songy tunes repeating in the air - there's some childhood memories! My favorite vision was of this little pink-be-decked girl, holding hands with her older brother, both were smiling. After lunch we took a prolonged tour around the perimeter of the park where it was more quiet, savoring just b-e-i-n-g.

For our further initiation into Summer, we completed our meal with our first annual visit to DQ for a soft ice cream cone. One lil' decadence we still enjoy ...

The adjacent journal entry page was an adventure. I was working with a private student, demonstrating Light Molding Paste which was dry, and attempting to squeeze out some liquid Alizarin Crimson Acrylics onto the page. Yep, you guessed it - - the slight clog unclogged all at once -- squirting a pool of blood-like pigment all over my page. I sopped up as much as possible and made an attempt to add lighter value pigments to soften what my student had now named "a crime scene". But nothing helped. It remained a red, ghastly blob on my page. What to do???

My original idea for the page had been "play" so I went in search of anything that could bring back that feeling. I came across a jester I'd painted and using opaque gouache, overlaid this flamboyant fellow and his white spinning pins over my bloody mess. I have to admit, this helped and now, I'm fairly at ease with my disaster.

So once again, I want to model for you, well, maybe not the accidental means by which I started this "need for a creative solution" but, at least the process. You can "save" almost anything . . . don't give up . . . let even your life lessons be avenues to see differently. I'd love to hear about some of your "creative solutions" . . . and your feedback.

Portrait Demos

These last few weeks have gifted me with a flutter of private students. I've personally noticed that, since I've been practicing portraits in my journal, they have been becoming better and better.

Here, I'll show you one of my earlier (and painful at that) portraits. You can see the people look pinched, with little attention to color in their faces.

These latter two are recent demos for students. Lil' June, a sweet older woman, is not really finished, but shows some beginning techniques, while the baby, is pretty complete. You can see I usually start with a light wash of Aureolin Yellow, or in the case of the Oriental/African American skin tones, more of a Yellow Ochre. Then, I start to fill in the darker shadow areas with a darker value of usually a mix of Thalo Blue and Brown Madder. This mix can take you to cheery cheek shadows all the way to intense warm blues for behind ears. My cheeks usually are intense, pure pigment of Quin Pink, Perrol Orange or Brown Madder and then toned down with shadows. I always try to remember, I can "take back" a brilliant pigment, but can never bring back to "life" a dull color!

With the baby's background, I found I could help define the chubby cheek. It had gotten a bit bulge-y when I painted it and the background moved in the edge some. I also chose an especially pure blue, hard edge against the cheek orange profile edge to help create a focal area.

So who knows "who" will be my next "suspect" to help me develop more those quick, skilled portrait skills? Volunteers anyone? And I just want to encourage you to "b-e-g-i-n" to try portraits, you don't have to show them to anyone and ~ ~ practice does improve ones skills. Take my word for it!!!

Adventures in Gardening

Next entry, my husband and I have taken a plot in a nearby Organic Community Garden. Our first visit was cleaning out the plot and harvesting the remains from previous years gardens. Pretty lovely harvest, crisp diverse lettuce and parsley(used it in my morning smoothie!). Roland set up the soaker hoses with a timer for convenience.

Next visit, we took one sunny afternoon to get planted all the lil' green kids we'd so far acquired.

We are blessed to have the raised plots, saving our backs from strain. I also learned that some of the locals have a special name for those gardeners using these raised plots. You see there are three, evenly spaced arched bars placed over the gardening plots (probably for bracing taller plants to later in the season) and it took me awhile to understand what this one woman commented, "Oh, the covered wagon gardeners are back again!" I get it, if I placed canvas over the bars, hooked up some horses in the front and wheels to the sides - - it WOULD look like a lil Calistoga Covered Wagon!!!
The garden we had had the last two years at our home didn't fair well - not enough sunshine. So we have a little experience with tomatoes, peppers and basil from previous plantings. But this time, with all the extra space and sunshine we're planting tomatoes, peppers, basil, and also beans, eggplants, butternut squash, onions. We longingly searched for Fava Bean plants ... but may have to use seeds or skip 'em for the year. Around the lil' green 'kids' I've added Marigolds and Coreopsis for bug control (hey, that's what I read).

Our first group "clean up" day was last Sunday ~ a gorgeous sunny, breezy spring day. We met several of our peer gardeners and tidied up "community areas". I was assigned the weeds interspersed with the bouncing California Poppies and Iris. Roland carried off the weeds and other compost that had seeds to a flat, dry and sun scorched area that wouldn't allow the seeds nor plants to survive. Maybe like a plant "hell" ... I don't know. The small group met afterward to update any news. We'd voted "Yes" to allowing a group of recovering women from a nearby facility to have one of our available plots (I'm excited to meet them). Following the meeting, I'd so gotten into pulling weeds, that both Roland and I dug into the pathways around our lil raised beds, hacking and pulling at any weed that resisted us. Quite fun actually!

Isn't digging in the dirt just one of the most gratifying things alive? Must be a carry over from my childhood of some innate need ~ ~ whatever it is, I'm always so gratified after the fact. What can I add? Happy diggin'

Adventures into "Stitched Window" Journaling

This journal page entry seems to contain some sort of adventure energy. It must have something to do with it being Spring and the re-birth of life and vitality ~ because I'm daring to do things that thrill and surprise me.

I'm testing out a new venue within the Ashland Art Center where they have opened a new gallery in the back part of the building. I'll have my pieces on display on the main floor (will continue with my studio on the second floor too). Along with this venue goes a weekly, 4 hour shift on the "Creator's" register.

The contour drawing that began this entry came from our training session. I was looking to entertain another "stitched window" in my journal, specifically for one of my private student's class. I did the small painting of this "most intriguing artist" at the far right of my contour drawing, cut it out and then cut out a window that echoed a similar shape as my small painted image. To stitch the window together, I'd wanted to use a special yarn I'd just purchased ... it was this nice warm copper color with copper metallic threads woven thru it. I wanted it to express the warmth and camaraderie I felt in the training room but, integrated with my anxious irritability, and flashes of impatience. I felt the metal thread would indicate that. But after I'd gotten the holes punched and attempted to sew with the yarn, I realized I couldn't use it. Too clumpy :( So, on to a thread that could work.

To stitch the page, I had to clip a bulldog clip to my lamp, that gave me access to both sides of the page. I add some french knots (from my previous life as an mad embroider) to mimic her beautiful white hair.

And eventually, tah-dah, I got it all completed. Here's the finished wide view contour drawing the a few added color spots to add intrigue and carry you across the page. Hope it tantalizes!

May with "First Friday" & Class Demos

This time of year just seems to start vibrating with life. So many opportunities appear and it's difficult to make choices that best serve your dreams and still maintain some sense of sanity and peace of mind in the process.

Several month's ago I committed to being the "Boulevard Cafe's May Artist of the Month". So now that I'm all installed, I was prepared to go sit at the "Ashland's First Friday Artwalk". Unfortunately, the cafe is just two blocks off the center of the town and as yet, many people haven't discovered this lovely, cozy and friendly spot which is now part of First Friday. I arrived just before 5pm and brought my trusty journal. My vantage spot gave me a vista into the cafe overlooking a window panorama. I got the angles and chair in and debated what to include when this cute lil girl, dressed in pink took a seat at the cafe computer. That was the focal spot I'd been missing. I sketched in the closer window, computer and chair ~ ~ then of course, she left with her mom. Booo. But thank goodness for my trusty digital, I'd gotten a shot of my lil "star" and completed her at home. That was the main success at the Cafe ... there never was one visitor coming in specifically for the Art walk.

The next entry on this Journal page evolved from what was to be my "Intermediate Journaling and Watercolor Sketching" Class. But just not enough students signed up so, one dedicated creative student still wanted to persue the class agenda in private. So our first session we reviewed her portfolio of watercolors and then reveled as we traveled thru her imaginative journals. Next we did a brief overview of pigments and an exercise to show opacity of the pigments that she was not familiar with. I've also had several students curious about how to paint night skies ~ so I whipped up a quick demo of two night skies, one with sparkling stars and one with fireworks. Both she and I were surprised how well they turned out!! Then she proceeded to replicate the demos. We had so much fun towards the end, even invented a tiny campfire in one of her night scenes! But she made me stop when I suggested putting lil people around the campfire :) Who ever said I really get into things?!?

So life patters along on its merry way and I'm just smilin' ~ ~ glad to be part of it and hoping to bring sunshine to the lovely spirits I touch along the pathway. Happy Trails ...

April Journal Updates ~ Tah Dah!

April just seems so long ago and so full. It takes on the full weight of the ending of Winter snows in addition to the savory teases of Springtime ... and long with that, comes all the awakening. The planning of Spring/Summer art shows, getting the ole garden dead fall removed so that designing this years plot can commence and pacifying the urge to outside in the sun, hiking and relishing flowers. So, rather than journaling, I've been doing all of that.

But I'm wanting to share all that flurry and the results, so, finally, TAH-DAH!

As you already know ... the upper left image of Zanfel tells the tale of my encounter with poison oak. It also personifies the fact that I'm extremely human (note the misspelling of the label on the front, compared to the correct title on the backdrop) ~ ~ don't you love it?!? This mischievious portrait was my favorite from the "Taste of Ashland". It's my peer artist and dear friend, preparing decorations for the evening. And, YES, she really is that mischievous!!

And dancing across the bottom of the full spread page was a thought that tumbled across my mind one afternoon driving home. I was pleasantly hopping from the earliest spring flower that appears in our yard, the Snowdrop, then came the Crocus, next our hycainth, then the Daffodils appear, followed by the Star of Bethlehem and most recently comes the Tulips. So I decided to create a medley of just those lovely blossoms. Aren't they divine? Don't their cheery faces just make you smile?

And so settles in my memories of 2010's month of April. Isn't life full of luscious events, people, and potential? I'm aiming at experiencing as much of it as possible in my life ~ ~ won't you join me?

The Delicious "Taste Of Ashland"

This is an annual Ashland event . . . the Taste Of Ashland, a city wide sampling from restaurants, bakeries and caterers as well as various wineries (and even an organic Vodka!). This year their kick off event, the "Gala" which incorporates the "Quick Draw"(where artists create, ready for hanging, a piece of artwork in just one hour and auctioned off for fundraising) took place at our new "Ashland Art Center".

Since this is where I have my second floor studio I was present for the wild, gregarious and thrilling evening. There were drink and food samplings everywhere, two bands and 17 artists who participated in the "Quick Draw". I chose to watch, paint casually and take photos while encouraging my peer artists. It's one of the decisions I did make to lessen stress in my life (now, believe me that lil inner critic squawked about my not participating, but I'm acknowledging those comments and moving into happier, healthier commentary) and I got some hilarious images.

You can see how packed the space, even with three floors, was with celebratory guests and artists. Guest began piling in at 7pm and flooded every open area. Artists had been decorating the entire day in prep and psyching up for the "Quick Draw". At 7:30 the "Quick Draw" began and here are a couple of our artists at the onset of the event.

People milled around nibbling and enjoying watching the artists sweat it out. The public was requested to refrain from talking with the artists but, you can guess how well adults sipping wine, vodka and festivities followed requests!

Most artists finished on time and with all the flurry of energy and spontaneity ~ we had only one disappointment in the art creations. Susan's sculpture ended up being a bit to moist and just collapsed onto the floor. Our artist maintained an optimistic attitude and smiles, as you can see. My nearest neighbor, Sylvia Trujillo, completed her rolling hills oil piece and it sold immediately for the full asking price!

What a night to remember ~ ~ and, perhaps I'll take part in the "Quick Draw" next year. We'll see . . .

One Show Comes Down, the Next Goes Up

This lovely venue, the Palace Cafe (http://www.palacecafeashland.com/), came to me on a quick spurt and I was able to fill this pleasant, well-lit wall. The owner, wanted new work on his walls, had contacted the Ashland Art Center, and they gave him a couple of us artists who have large format pieces. The other artist was "spread a bit thin" right now with lots of Spring shows, so mustered together ALL the bigger pieces I could and well ah!! All fourteen framed filled his walls with pleasant breathing room.

There was some confusion on when I was to take down the show and I double checked, mentioning I'd be able to leave my pieces there for another month if necessary. But I received a call, letting me know another artist was anxious to hang and I could come pick up. I was a day of flurry, because that very same day I was to hang for the upcoming May Ashland First Friday at the new Boulevard Cafe.

This venue I also heard about thru the Ashland Art Center. A newly redecorated end of the Strafford Inn on the south end of Ashland has long, well lit walls and will be on the Artwalk too. The have fabulous coffee and delectable eats along with a spacious room with overstuffed, comfy accommodations for patrons. They are very kind and accommodating to their month artist as you can see from their website: http://boulevard-coffee.com/cafe/events/

Because of the open, wide cafe and an awaiting audience available in their Inn guests, I had a flash idea. So I've proposed to them, my offering to their guests, along with any of my previous students who'd like to partake, a "Journaling Clinic". I'd offer a short presentation in a class-like manner and then, just be available for questions and helping anyone who had requests. We are now bouncing back and forth the idea and may or may not incorporate this "Clinic" idea into their newsletter for the upcoming Shakespeare Theatre patrons and Souther Oregon tourists.

Life IS full of great opportunities and gifts . . .

I'm learning and trusting I'm open to all to the Universe's abundance. Join me won't you?

"Jacksonville is for the Birds" ~ A Birdhouse Project

The Winter's Project for our "Art Presence" group, focused on highlighting fine art in our historic town of Jacksonville, was "Jacksonville is for the Birds". We'd solicited artists to create an inventive birdhouse to be auctioned in benefit for the "Jacksonville Woodlands Association" (10%), "Art Presence" (10%) and the individual participating artist (80%).

In February we previewed a portion of the completed birdhouses at the local Jacksonville entryway display case. From there, the thirteen various birdhouses nested into windows of main street retail business windows for a period of 6 weeks.

The culmination of an entire project took place on April 17th in common celebration with Jacksonville's Annual Hike-a-thon. In between all the gregarious out-door celebrations of Spring was our Birdhouse Auction. This year not only was there a hike followed by a breakfast, but an additional hike to dedicate a new trail to a local woman, who'd operated a long time business here in town, and recently lost her fight with cancer.

Our Auction went pretty well. Not as many bidders as we'd hoped but our professional auctioneer, Steve Wall, conducted a lively and humorous fundraiser. All in all, ten of our thirteen birdhouses found homes and we raised $261 for the Woodlands too!

Our "Art Presence" group learned alot about how to improve our presentation and effectiveness for next time. We'd succeeded with our first Birdhouse Project!! Next year we're thinking of "The Chair Affair" ~ ~ want to participate? Just start dreaming about your most magical, imaginative chair, table or even ottoman.

The First "Frit" Sighting

Those of you familiar with wildflowers may understand that "call". Living here in Jacksonville, OR, I've come to be acquainted with this silly sounding name for a plump, richly colored, trumpet-like rare flower. We here in Jacksonville even have an entire month we celebrate this blossom, we post children's drawings of the flower all over local business windows and have a hike-a-thon in April in search of the first "frit". The Scarlet Fritillary (Fritillaria recurva) is from the Lily Family.


So the other day, when Roland, Cody and I'd gone on a short hike and I'd stumbled across my very first "frit" sighting, I was thrilled. We've lived nearly 5 years here and on most of our hikes, it was more in the heat of the Summer, when all the lilies were long ago wilted. Among nothing but grey sticks, stretching across a dry, high ridge, this lil beauty glistened with it's robust color. Of course, she had to be the beginning for a new journal first entry.


My painted version shares the page with the starting sketch from our Ashland First Friday Artwalk for April. These pigment tubes are 'on sale' from a peer studio artist and was something I could quick sketch out on a bustling Friday evening. I played with the copper metal flakes to add the sparkle of the metal lid in which the tubes lie. A pleasant, colorful start for a new journal. And you know . . . the journal continues and continues :)


Happy Creating!