October in Saint Louis and Florida

New Art: 

My entry in the Alliance For The Arts contest
Did not win but at least accepted by the Jurors 

Working on multiple canvases, hope to finish by Thanksgiving.

And, Class at the Bonita Springs Art Center starts on the 14th, it is drawing with a model. Have not done this in about 38 years. Should be fun. 

Listening To: 

Eric Clapton double album with hits, live, out-takes, and b-sides; Stone Temple Pilots, 90's #1's.

Reading: 

3 chapters in. Just as divisive then as now

Finished

And, still working on 12 Rules For Life by Jordan Peterson. This clinical psychologist is a lot smarter than am I, so I have had to go back and read each chapter 2-3 times. About half way through. Love chapter/Rule 5 Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them. In essence, you love your children, if you don't like their behavior, think how the rest of the world will view them/disassociate themselves from them since they don't love them like you do. You need to give them a chance to succeed in a tough, cruel world. 

From Days Of Old: 

I was sitting on a park bench several weeks ago waiting for my sister Val to join me at a restaurant in downtown Punta Gorda and looked over at my car. Hard for me to believe it is 11 years old. Looks pretty good, doesn't it?

When I reported to UMB in downtown Saint Louis I was stationed in the lobby on 8th. The other lender (Greg) and I had English writing desks. Unfortunately the leather was worn/torn. I was given the charge to contract with a restoration company that replaced the leather top and gold embossing around the perimeter. Back in the day someone would sit on each side, they both have drawers and the desk was large. Found this article recently which reminded me. Crosby Kemper had the townhouse style building fitted with colonial fixtures, Brazilian Teak herringbone pattern plank floors, custom rugs, and early American Art - expensive early American Art. 

The September before we were married, Linda threw a surprise birthday party. Clearly I was surprised as you can tell by my clothes (Stanford t-shirt, flip flops) as I entered her back yard. Family and friends were there, live music.

SURPRISE!!!

Trips:

In October I had a chance to visit Saint Louis to see family, friends, and attend my annual retreat at the Jesuit White House.

view of my favorite chapel, seats about 90

composite of the grounds and a small chapel, overlooking the Mississippi River

We are joining two couples in Gainesville to watch the Tigers vs. Gators this weekend so I wanted to get this blog out. Did this four years ago with the Tampa chapter of the MU alumni association and also saw them a couple of years ago vs. Minnesota at the Citris Bowl in Orlando.

Then, later in November we will take our first trip to Key West for a long weekend. Will use the Key West Express, a boat that stops in Naples and reduces the trip to 3 hours from 6 by auto. Looking forward to it. 

Humor: 

Funny (but scary) thanks to Amazon

Yesterday was Halloween: 

Had a scary visitor...

Thanksgiving heading to Christmas

Hope you enjoy. You can see all of my current work at my website - claudelylesartworks.com.

And for a good phone app, ArtLoupe.com to buy and sell art. go to Browse, Discover, and Buy to view. Move the slide from artworks to Artists and then look me up. You can see what pieces are still available. I will cover my latest trip to Ft Lauderdale and Miami with the Edison Ford Estate and more new art. 

New Art:

Two 8 x 10 oil on canvas pieces: View in Estes Park as you drive in past the large lake.

Xanten, Germany, from our August Rhine River  

Cruise.

Classwork:

I am taking a studio drawing class, have not done that since late 70's when I had access to models. There are 8 or 9 of us who meet on Wednesdays at the Bonita Springs Center For The Arts. In addition I signed up for a number of 2-hour demos where we just observe and ask questions; meet other artists. So, in this class there are the traditional 1, 3 - 5 minute warm-up sketches. We then have 30 to 60 minute poses. From my first class:

one-minute drawings

30-minute drawings

 I attended a two-hour demonstration on acrylic painting - Jane Slivka is the teacher.

Instruction

not quite complete

start

Finished

Old Art:

Still one of my favorites: 17 Mile Drive at Pebble Beach, CA. Acrylic on canvas

Listening To:

Between The Lines - Live,  STP; Love Runs Out, OneRepublic;  a couple of Tina Dico songs;  Los Lobos - Bootleg from their Quiero Creedence album.

Reading:

Finished Endurance the experiences of astronaut Scott Kelly who spent a year in space, plus other trips. He overcame a strong case of ADD. Decided to try for the space program from the opening of Tom Wolf's The Right Stuff. Right before he left the space station where he lived for a year he called Tom to tell him. You can read about the inglorious part, the physical pain, mental strain, family issues, study study study test test test, and real life and death risk. Physically, Mars does not seem realistic. 

Starting Secrets of the Savanah about 23 years in the African Wilderness and The Man In The Glass House, the architect Philip Johnson's bio.

Did You Know?

Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood were both born in 1930 (and only two years younger than my father); Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump graduated from college the same year, 1968 (our image of them in office is of different ages, isn't it?)

Humor:

Someone lost their lunch...must have set it on their roof or trunk to load the car before heading to work.

Travel:

Key West long weekend, 3 hours by boat from here. First visit. Rain for some of the time.

Gallery:

Photos of two of my pieces shown for sale in The Wynbrier LTD. Wildlife Gallery in Estes Park, CO:

November Art and updates

Well, the Holidays are upon us - my favorite time of the year. Click on photos to enlarge.

New Art:

Two pieces from photos from our trip this summer, the first being a stream near the windmills in Zandaam northwest of Amsterdam; the second a view of a canal in Amsterdam. Both are oil on canvas, the stream is 12 x 9, the canal 10 x 8. If you are interested in purchasing either (or better, both) contact me and we can work on price, logistics, framing or if you would rather frame, etc. Photos are a little washed out, originals slightly more color-intense.

It is now "season" so art programs are ramping up with visiting artist workshops. I will take one in Feb. In order to conserve funds, however, I purchased 11 demo sessions which preview on what the  teaching artist will be presenting. Most are two hours. The workshop might cost $300 - $700, the demo $20. This is the first one. I have never tried alcohol ink and even though I am not really into crafting, collage, etc there were still a good number of takeaways that I can use down the road from this session. Learn to think "what if" I try this medium or that topic or ...

Old Art: 

Call it Other's Art:

I framed a photo of a Christmas card. M-I-Z

Travel:

A fun weekend in Gainesville/Orlando as the Tigers drained the Swamp.

Travel companions with high hope, turned out well.

Early in the game, note homecoming crowd

2 minutes to go, note no home crowd, just happy Tigers who moved down to the field railing

 Thanks to Ben and Courtney, we and Scot and Rene didn't have to move closer from our 35 yard line, 6th row seats behind the Tiger bench.

Listening to:

My collection of Patty Griffin and Tim Buckley, and the bridge song between them: Goodbye; and albums Panic! At The Disco - Pray For The Wicked; Death Cab For Cutie - Thank You For Today; and Alice In Chains - Live. The live version of Goodbye is one of my favorite songs of all time, the lyrics, engineering, etc. But, sad subject.

Reading:

Finished a couple from the last blog, still working on The First Congress and 12 Rules For Life. Just finished After The Party: Andy Warhol works 1956 - 1986; Drawing And Painting Buildings; Hidden Treasures Revealed: Impressionist Masterpieces and Other Important French Paintings Preserved (meaning won't return to the rightful German/Polish Jewish owners) By The State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg, Russia. The benefit to an aspiring artist in addition to viewing seldom seen works, with commentary, is close-ups of technique.  And, just starting Endurance - A Year In Space, by astronaut Scott Kelly. 

Not reading but took a free Apple class on the Mac. I try to keep learning about Apple devices and internet techniques. Each time I pick up something new. Apple lives in a different world. The follow -up survey wanted to know how well the presenter did, subject matter relativity... and then they go off into things like what world-changing feelings did I gather at this universal feel good session with their diverse and full of love teammates. But, then again, it IS free, so I can put up with the nonsense. 

From The Vault:

2005 trip to Europe, found it when sorting photos last week...

Windsor Castle, jet lag on our face

Humor: 

Oldies BUT Goodies:

Snowing yet for you?

And, a current one with which I can relate:

For Sale:

My sister has a Florida auto for sale, I have driven it and it is in good shape. It is an extra car which is why she wants to sell it.  See the flyer below. If interested call me at 314 799 6808 or email her at vjbl.d20@gmail.com, not Leo as listed. If it will help, I'll drive it to your place for delivery.

In Closing: We are making our first trip to Key West this weekend, so expect some pics in the next blog, Scott Kelly's newest book which consists of photos from the space station during his year in space, and I am close to finishing 4 more oils. Next I want to work on larger canvases. Linda will visit Greg in Colorado Springs now that he has returned from Kosovo. While she is gone, I will travel with the Edison Ford Estate directors on motor coach to Fort Lauderdale's Flamingo Gardens, dinner and an evening at the Bonnet House.