Saint Louis trip a success; Back in Fort Myers

Well, I was able to salvage 1/2 of my road trip, had to cancel the western half, but made it to Saint Louis, saw about 30 siblings, friends, colleagues and some great restaurants: Roberto's, Kreis, Il Bel Lago, Brio, Nudo House, Sportsman's Park, University Club in Columbia, etc. Spent time at the St Louis Art Museum, pictures to follow. Good weather. Bad football, but joined by my sons, one of which thought it was fun (War Eagle), just not good football. Non-stop flights on Southwest worked as planned.

So, Have not produced art while traveling but saw some of my favorites in the Impressionist and Fauve Rooms, add some Picasso and a fun stainless steel tree outside. He goes. Enjoy:

First, the big guy, himself, (St) Louie the 9th

His front yard overlooking Art Hill

And now some of the works I think YOU can lick on or pinch open to enlarge frame):

Van Gogh anyone?

Picasso

And the rest (not in this order) including Matta, Thiebaud, Close, Mehretu, Rosseau, Corot, Richter, de Stoel, Hofman, Mattise, Corinth, Vlamink, Gauguin (former banker), Davis, and more.

detail on the left of this Close photo-realist

 Hope you enjoyed my tour, will have MY work in next blog. Use the Comment section to let me know what you think. Claude

Post Irma; Saint Louis trip:

The hurricane caused me to abort the western half of my trip, Denver, Ft Riley, Kansas City, which broke my heart. Lots of friends I wanted to see. So I flew into STL Monday and have been visiting non-stop since. Lots of great conversations, pictures, etc.

First Irma...here are some photos from Bell Tower Park where I live. We had no building damage, no surge. No power for 5 days so we were uncomfortable, but not suffering. If you are able, pinch open for a better view

In STL I had a chance to visit Chandler and Robin at Art St Louis on Pine Street where I was on the Board. Treated to a cup of coffee and a scone while we talked. There is a link to their site on my website: claudelylesartworks.com

I chose a few pieces that caught my eye...

If you can expand...just  beautiful. By Dion Dion, Ballwin, MO; 2017, oil and acrylic on canvas.

A print with reflections from the ceiling lights: 

And, My favorite. Just love it. 3 dimensional, so much detail, imagination, color. The buildings, for example, are raised from the canvas. WOW.

OK, thats all for now. IF I survive the Mizzou - Auburn game Saturday I will return next week.

Preparing For Irma, new paintings, music notes:

Always trying to impress the girls, purchased some flowers for our guest this weekend, Irma. Hope she is impressed - I have a feeling we will be impressed with her.

We should be OK regarding wind and rain, concerned about the water surge. I think we are 16 feet above sea level, 6' or less we should be ok. 

Finished a number of pieces. The first I am going to title Irma Left and Irma Right since we don't know which way she is going. They are meant to hang together. 9 X 12 oil and enamel on canvas.

Next is my second in a series of color, this one is Beige. If you remember, last spring I did Black. Still might add some more silver ovals, but not many, to retain the theme. It is larger, 16 X 20, acrylic on canvas.

(For reference, this was Black)

And, then, I finished a small 5 X 7 oil on canvas of one of the fountains on our lanai. The photo prints lighter than the original but you get the idea. Think I will price it at $49 plus S&H.

Not sure if I mentioned it, but joined Centers For The Arts - Bonita Springs. I added a link on the Home page of my website: claudelylesartworks.com. Just checked and see that I DID mention that I was going to enter an oil; here I am at the reception on opening night:

Before I update on my music digitizing project, wanted to mention that I made my first entry into social media: Instagram - under my llc name estudiocieloazul. Kind of fun, a great way to waste time.  Mostly I have used it to check out other artists. There is some amazing work out there, particularly enjoy the plein air artists.

So. two comments on recent transfer albums. Diana Ross, 1970, Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand) album. Surprised like I was on Temptataions GH album - this time instead of Smokey Robinson doing the writing: of the eleven songs, including the title track, plus You're All I Need To Get By, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, etc. were written by Ashford and Simpson. I knew they have written for many, many recording artists but they essentially did the whole album. They must live large.

Closer to (former) home: David Sanborn's Hideaway album. Knew he grew up in Kirkwood. Knew he recorded many albums. Knew he played on many others. Wow, when I looked it up - on what album did he not play? The funniest was adding a track on an album by Ween (if you know this group, the whole idea is absurd) 2007's La Cucaracha.

On Hideaway, there is a little bit of South County meets NORCO - Michael McDonald co-wrote 2 songs. And, although it credits "background vocals" James Taylor; "thanks to" Carly Simon and Rickie Lee Jones, I'm not sure I heard them. Drums on most tracks, the ubiquitous Steve Gadd. HIs friend and Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer played Fender Rhodes. Being a little piggish, on Creeper, his two guitarists were Waddy Wachtel and Danny Kortchmar. Too bad Steve Cropper and Larry Carlton couldn't complete a Hall Of Fame session.

Thinking of Irma, I think of The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald. I love Gordon Lightfoot lyrics AND music ( I am sensitive to this, once was criticized by a work colleague when I mentioned his music - I was only allowed to admire the BRILLIANCE of his lyrics). And not trying to be overly dramatic because I think we will be fine, just wet, or a lot wet. "The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait..."

When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin'

Fellas, its too rough to feed ya

At seven pm a main hatchway caved in, he said

Fellas, its been good t'know ya"

So, will blog again either on my Denver/KCMO/Columbi/SaintLouis next week, or after we clean up a big mess here. Hopefully the former.