Plumbing and Painting

If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.       - James Goldsmith

We’ve had some major plumbing done recently. It involved digging giant holes in the yard with complicated machinery and finally a mound of dirt that they promise will settle.

The bill will be enough to raise our eyebrows, of that I have no doubt.

We’re a lot the same, plumbers and painters. We have expenses that others outside the business don’t stop to consider but which still have to be accounted for. We also have skills that others don’t have but wish they did. The better the skill the better the product, and the final price will often raise eyebrows.

Have you ever hired a cheap plumber? Bet you only made that mistake once. 

Handsome Husband and I will pay our plumber on time and sign the check with a flourish because he earned it. We want water, and we want it in the right place at the right time and the exact time we need it. Our plumber has earned his paycheck.

Into the Woods, 6 x 8 oil, $300, available at Burkholder Project, Lincoln, Ne.

 

Buy the fine art you love.

 

 

Coming Home, 11 x 14 oil, $540, available at Norfolk Arts Center, Norfolk, Ne.

 

Don't play cheap.


 

Howard County at Dusk, 6 x 8 oil, $250 available at MONA in Kearney, Ne.

 

Really gorgeous artwork is also available at Graham Gallery in Hastings, Ne., and Lux Art Center in Lincoln, Ne.

Buy the good stuff the first time. You'll never regret it.

 

 

 

Not Today

Greetings Dear Reader –

I've often said that the goal of this blog is to post something by 9 pm on Sunday whether I have anything to say or not.

For the most part I am able to rub a couple of brain cells together and squeeze out a thought that I may or may not have known I had.

File today's post under the “not” category.

This is the weekend after Thanksgiving. We had a lovely holiday with gobs of siblings and spouses, with a few young’uns tossed in for fun.  The table was laid out with abundant food and shared with those we love most. For that I am truly grateful.

The hard part is not the preparation, cooking or cleaning up. The hardest part is in saying goodbye to family who, it seems, just arrived. How is it they spent days here and we hardly had time to visit?

And now, because it is the Sunday After Thanksgiving, the Christmas tree has been hauled in from its place in the garage, erected and lovingly graced with priceless, one-of-a-kind ornaments.

 

After laughing and eating and teasing and eating and debating and eating, eye-rolling and eating, long walks and one last lick of the spoon, I confess I am pooped.

As I sit here in my jams at noon, dining on the remains of our holiday feast, all I can think of to say is, thank you. I am deeply grateful for all of you. And maybe this:  while you're out and about this next month, keep this in mind ...

My exhibit, titled Common Ground, will be at Norfolk Arts Center until December 29^th. I’m pretty proud of it.

The Burkholder Project and Lux Art Center in Lincoln proudly display my work, as does Graham Gallery in Hastings and the Museum of NebraskaArt in Kearney.

As for me,  I've got just one more thing to do...

The Week in Pictures

Holy cow!!

 Most of the time I spend my days alone in my work space.  I share witty repartee with myself, and win almost every debate.  This week, however, was an exception.  Handsome Husband and I ventured up to Norfolk Ne. for the opening reception to my last exhibit of 2012, with a stopover at the high school for some art class fun. 

My week in pictures -

 

Handsome Husband and I ventured to Norfolk Nebraska to attend the opening reception for my exhibit titled "Common Ground". I shared gallery space with Omaha sculptor Travis Apel.

 

Because Travis and I have completely different points of view, I wondered how the two collections would mesh in one room.  Turns out they look pretty fabulous together.

 

 

 

 

 

Those who attended were very gracious in their praise of our work. Exhibiting in a place like the Norfolk Arts Center is such a pleasure. The room is elegant and airy, with lots of room to breath. More importantly, the staff is terrific to work with and were very helpful when I needed their input. 

 

Huge thanks to Kara, Melinda and the board of Norfolk Arts Center, as well as Le Roy and Pat Von Glan, and Jody and Tom McQuillan, for a fantastic reception.  Much appreciation as well to Jaicee, who played grand piano for us. Tres chic.

 

 

 

The next morning I showed up at Norfolk High School to hang out in the art room. Their instructor, Ms Fonder, is an exceptional educator. I hope these kids understand how lucky they are to have her in the classroom. That's her in the back, making sure I don't get too carried away with my demo. 

 

 

 An added bonus was catching up with a former classmate who happens to teach at the same school. We look pretty good for a couple of girls who graduated at least  a century ago.

 

Handsome Husband and I barely had time to toss the suitcases in the door before I dashed off to the Mary Mary Quite Contrary Gallery in Friend, Ne. for a wine tasting event to kick off the holiday shopping season.

 

It was very inviting to see the lights warming the street on a chilly evening, and a perfect way to wrap up a busy week.

 

 Like many artists, I'm an introvert and the studio is where I'm truly most comfortable.  However, this last week of travel reminded me how important it is for artists to leave the safety of their workspace and join up with others for camaraderie and support. I'd forgotten how many working artists there are in nearly every city and town around, and I'm grateful for that reminder.

 

Next week it's back into the studio, with only myself for conversation and companionship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art Travels

Now that my painting commitments are complete for the time being I can slow down and see what others have been up to.

Members of our local art club and I ventured out to David City Ne to visit Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art, as well as the private collection of two of the founding  members, Anna and Alan Covault.

 

Anna truly enjoys sharing her love of collecting with others. Knowing this makes it a real honor to have my paintings in her home.

 Covault’s have collected a wide variety of art, always with an aim to bring home pieces they love.

 

Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art, the second leg of our journey -

 

Anna adjusts a painting in keeping with the museum's high standards.

 

Current exhibit by Grand Island, Ne. artist Doug Johnson

 

The museum prides itself on providing an opportunity for the public to celebrate the agrarian roots of this part of the country through exceptional art. A mere 5 years old, Bone Creek Museum is an example of what happens when a community of people with an understanding of the artistic process and a deep respect for rural life combine their unique talents toward a common goal. It's a real gem and worth taking time to visit.

I could snag some great info from their website but that seems silly. Check them out for yourself. It’s okay, I’ll wait…

Better yet, drive there and see it up close and personal. (That I won't wait for.)

It was a joy to spend time with others who understand the need to put their nose right up to the surface of a painting and peer behind the outer layer of pigment.  Technique, style, framing, subject matter…the day was a master class in artistic process.  Just what I needed.

Gentle reminder  -  my exhibit, Common Ground, is up at the Norfolk Arts Center in Norfolk, Ne until December 29^th.  I’ll be sharing space with Omaha sculptor Travis Apel.  Our very different styles combine to make a pretty amazing exhibit.  And another goodie!  I’ll be visiting two Norfolk High School art classes on Friday November 16^th for a painting demo and Q & A. That should be great fun.

 

A little teaser to get you interested

The opening reception for Common Ground is this Thursday, November 15^th from 6 – 8pm.  Not to worry if you can’t make it, the exhibit will be available until December 29^th,  but really, the reception would be so much nicer if you were there.

Delivery Music

Yesterday Handsome Husband and I traveled up to the Norfolk Arts Center to pick up my paintings from their 4th Juried Exhibit.


"Is that all there is to it? HH asked, " Just waltz in, pick up your paintings and head for the car?"

"Yes," I said. "It’s kind of like dropping them off, only in reverse."

"Hmph", he harumphed. "Seems like there should be something more to it than just this."

I know what he means. Simply walking in and walking out seems incomplete. After all, a lot of effort goes into making it into these exhibits.

First off you create a masterful piece of art. Photograph it multiple times. Fill out the application form – completely. Properly identify images on CD. Write or update your artist’s statement (which takes monumental dedication), and bio. Write out a check to accompany the application and CD, and dash to the Post Office just minutes before closing. Then wait for the magic envelope to appear announcing your acceptance into the exhibit.

Hopefully, the next step is to deliver the artwork. Sometimes that involves building a safe container for shipping with another mad dash to the Post Office, other times a drive of several hours for hand delivery. It's a big committment in time, finances and energy.

HH and I believe a little TLC on the part of the exhibiting venue is in order.

A parade would be a nice touch. Nothing fancy like New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade of course. A couple of high school bands, a baton twirler, one of those guys in the little scooters would be fine. The bands wouldn’t even have to play the Hallalujah Chorus, a simple high school marching band rendition of "Louie Louie" would suffice. A couple horses bringing up the rear.

Since some venues might not have the resources to produce even a couple of clown cars, couldn’t there at least be music? Maybe it’s my television-addled brain, but it seems to me that when significant events occur on television (which, as we all know, is a perfect reflection of real life) there is theme music, even if it’s only barely audible. Something along the line of Theme from Rocky  would really set the tone.
If you're really confident about your artwork,  I Feel Good  would be awesome to march in to.  Anything to add to the occasion, something uplifting and exciting to herald the delivery of the next Best of Show and Big Check painting.

©2011 Patricia Scarborough 6x9 pastel  Created to "It's a Wonderful World" in my best Louis Armstrong voice

Extra attention is even more appropriate when picking up artwork after the exhibit has concluded. Egos might be a bit raw if your art didn’t sell, or wasn’t noticed by the judge. At this time, a parade is probably unnecessary since a parade for 3 (Best of Show, first and second runner up) is extravagant by anyone’s standards. However, a small group of volunteers could easily form a line to pat you on the back, congratulate you on your effort, or even chat about the lovely weather we’re having. I nominate Frank Sinatra signing “My Way” ,
or even Tubthumping by Chumbawumba. (Or maybe its Chumbawumba by Tubthumping. I can never tell.)

What extra attention would you like when delivering or picking up? A harpist? Perhaps balloons released upon your arrival. Doves? (Not so much on the birds. There are usually repercussions.)

You choose. How would you like to be treated when you next deliver your artwork to an exhibit?

Tribute to the Beauty of Fire

Each week I pontificate about some fascinating aspect of my fascinating life. Every now and then, however, I'm smart enough to step aside and let you in on something great.


Recently, Handsome Husband and I stood slack-jawed before the large charcoal drawings of Marlene Mueller, Wayne State College Art Professor. Beautiful in their terrifying depiction of death by fire of an old farm building, these drawings had us mesmerized, so much so that a month after we first saw them at the Norfolk Arts Center in Norfolk, Ne., we're still talking about them.

©2008  Marlene Mueller Apocalypse 32x44 Charcoal

"Into the Ashes" is a visual record of Mueller’s experience as a volunteer firefighter. Rather than glamorize the heroic efforts of men and women in the act of saving, she uses charcoal to render stinging smoke, crackling heat and the hissing of evaporating water as flames eat a structure down to its ashes.

       ©2008 Marlene Mueller  Cumulus  32x44 Charcoal

These drawings are beautiful. Charcoal, a remnant of the burning process, is used here to create moments of power and grace, the balance between what fire and water will do to, and for, each other.

        ©2007 Marlene Mueller Roar 44x32 Charcoal

Looking for beauty in the destructive forces of heat and flame is not something we’re used to. And yet, there we were, HH and I, moving back and forth from image to image, following the fire as it ate at the timbers of a once useful structure. And as I write this, I realize we weren’t following fire at all. We were taken in by Mueller’s expert weaving of charcoal into textures and rhythms and smudges, calling us into and away from each piece before we felt heat or absorbed the acrid smell of smoke into our clothes.  That's something too for an artist to reach across time and experience and exact a toll on the memories our senses have of a too-close experience with fire.

©2007 Marlene Mueller Simmer 32x44 Charcoal

My knee-jerk reaction to defining beauty would most likely include rich color, a calming sense of rhythm or texture, a perception of atmosphere to be breathed in deeply. In a daring mood maybe I would include tension, asymmetry, maybe even dissonance if carried out in a harmonious way. Something to hang above my couch and make me feel good.

Mueller has done what all proper artists should do.  She has called us to look more closely, to consider more consciously the world around us.  Not just the lovely, the soft or precious, but every aspect of the cycle of what exists, or ceases to exist.