Beyond Skywriting

Resolution or Bucket List?

2012-01-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

We are blazing our way into the New Year and I am still trying to get caught up with the Christmas cards I haven't answered yet. Being in a Sweet Adeline chorus means performing at various venues for the entertainment of others right through to Christmas. Then there was the painting deadline for the Coast Guard Art Program (January 3) along with preparing for a solo show in February, one in August, the Air Force Art due in also in August, our chorus competing in April and the American Society of Aviation Artists Forum in June. Managing to get out of balance and fight off a cold slowed me down a little, too. When we lived in Alaska, I taught art at Kodiak College, sold my work at holiday bazaars and worked part time at an art gallery, so the retail aspect had me "performing" so to speak, there as well. As I contemplate 2012 both on this blog and my companion blog, Skywriting, I attempt to formulate what I want to see myself accomplishing in the next 11 1/2 months. I'm reading a book called "In Search of Balance: Keys to a Stable Life" by Richard Swenson. While I was quite ready to jump in and find those keys, the first quarter of the book explains quite nicely how we came to be in a place where we even seek balance. Progress, my friends, right here in River City. Well, everywhere. Progress has led to more choices which leads to more things to do/have. I am now in the chapters that explain how we, and the Universe, seek order- and balance. We are, as Scripture tells us, "fearfully and wonderfully made." The body's make up is mind boggling. Yet we are created to seek homeostasis- balance. Wellness. Okay. So how does that relate to New Year's Resolutions vs. Bucket Lists? There are things that get on my Bucket Lists that may or may not come to pass. Whether I have the passion to pursue them will determine their outcome. Resolutions, on the other hand, can be simpler and more achievable. I have resolved to exercise more. Not every day. Just more. I have resolved to be a better singer. With the help of a voice coach, I am now singing better than I ever thought possible, and he has me looking at short term and long term goals. Singing, like drawing, can be learned. While it can't be disputed that there are indeed people who catch on faster, or seem to have "talent" there is still the possibility- POSSIBILITY- that one can learn techniques that will enable them to enjoy and achieve satisfaction from a particular activity. A lot depends on passion. Case in point: I did not have the passion to pursue a flying career, although I do have an understanding of spacial relationships. When you push the stick forward, stuff gets bigger. When you pull the stick back, stuff gets smaller. If you pull it back too far, your airplane will stall and stuff will get bigger in a hurry. I have no desire to put up with that. So I will create paintings of airplanes- and other things- instead. A friend recently shared a quote on Facebook by Robin Sharma that states: I'd rather have average talent with a fierce heart that inspires me to be unstoppable versus being brilliant- but too frightened to do anything with it. If something is on the Bucket List and it happens, how cool will that be? But for now, Resolutions pursued with a fierce heart that inspires me to be unstoppable are what make me incredibly happy.

Santa Indeed!

2011-12-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

Last week I went over to the Seattle side again, this time to attend a performance by the outstanding Sweet Adelines chorus, Pacific Sound. I sing with a Sweet Adelines chorus as well, the Grand Olympics Chapter on the Olympic peninsula. Barbershop style singing is a style unto its own, and creating four part harmony a capella is challenging and fun. They had several quartets perform, along with some of the students from Lake Washington High School. It was a great evening of song and entertainment, with a special appearance by the most delightful Santa! I couldn't resist doing a sketch and then then taking some photos from which I did one small watercolor.

Drawing Jam!!!

2011-12-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday my artist friend Deb and I attended the 12th Annual Drawing Jam at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle. With an almost three hour drive ahead of us, we left home at 0600 in order to arrive for the start at 9. Driving to the ferry in the dark, the Christmas lights on some of the businesses were beautiful, and being December, we were glad that the roads were dry. Gage is one of my favorite places to go, and I have attended several workshops there. People were arriving in droves and it looked like it was going to be a fun day. Deb and I wondered if we could last the whole 12 hours (probably not) or until 6 (hmmmmm.) While waiting in line, I saw Faye Castle, a wonderful artist from whom I took a journaling class last spring. It was fun to see her and get caught up on what we've been up to. The entire building- three floors- had multitudes of subjects to draw- figures (musicians, actors, dancers), still lifes, florals, plaster casts, you name it! A large gymnasium area was set up with tables, vendors and more figures for gesture drawing. We staked out territory, but there was just too much for me to hold still. While traveling back and forth between buildings I spotted some PIRATES who had come to be models. I grabbed Deb and said "Let's see where these guys are going to be." We found them on the third floor and made our way to the front of the room to get a good spot where we could draw. They were from www.seafairpirates.org and were a hoot! Way too jolly for pirates, if you ask me, but so very interactive with a lot of expression. They have graciously consented for me to post my drawings of them here. None of the work I did that day will be for sale. Although I will use the drawings to make more drawings, they are all for the purpose of improving my skills. I have to get up the courage and ability to draw on location and the only way to do it is to jump in at the deep end. It does help if people aren't moving around so quickly, but with practice comes the skill of capturing the moment. In the meantime, here are my pirates. More drawings will come as I get time to post.

www.PriscillaMessnerPatterson.com

2011-10-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

Did a little updating on the website yesterday. See www.PriscillaMessnerPatterson.com and click on the "Open Gallery" link to see what's on sale to make room for all the new stuff that's been happening. Every once in awhile it's good to purge the inventory. Meantime, a little watercolor of some fall leaves kept me off the street for awhile. Check the Skywriting side, too, to stay up to date.

Journals and Sketches

2011-09-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Okay. After a trip with the Air Force Art Program to Beale Air Force Base with some excellent artists, I have become inspired to do more sketching and journaling. One of the artists, Stephen Gardner, is working on a series of paintings from bars and taverns in New York. Seeing Stephen's work and hearing his encouragement has me on a quest to draw more on site and post more often. I became a member of Urban Sketchers and am in awe of the work they accomplish on the spot! This blog site (I have two- the other is called Skywriting) will be dedicated to my on the spot sketches as well as a new series I will be working on for a solo show at the Museum and Arts Center in Sequim next July featuring coffee shops in the area. We don't have too many bars here, and besides that's Stephen's idea, anyway. But being in the Pacific Northwest, we do love our coffee! So if you are a coffee shop aficionado, your favorite place might appear here interspersed with other sketchable subjects that catch my eye. Let's start with one that I did in July. I went with some of my fellow Sweet Adeline barbershop singers to a Harmony College workshop in Tacoma where we attended classes on singing, choreography, music strategy and short private voice lessons. We had a great time, and came home with our heads filled with all kinds of new tactics. One of my fellow singers took a nap in the car on the way home and since she was still enough long enough, I took the opportunity to sketch her. Loved her striped socks!

The Running of the Lambs

2011-04-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I've never drawn a lamb before, as you can probably tell. But the walk to the farm north of here the other day greeted me with joy and hilarity when I saw the lambs running in a circle first in one direction and then another as fast as they could. Who, I wondered, decided when it was time to change direction? I don't know what kind they are. Some are dappled - there are dappled sheep in the pasture as well, obviously their parents who grazed unconcerned during the flurry of activity. Reminded me of parents at the playground sitting on park benches chatting and drinking lattes while their kids run hither and yon. Others are black as night, and it was difficult to make out features and shadows even with good light. It's not as dangerous as the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, but they were traveling at a great rate of knots. How delightful it is to see youth in a carefree mode. No texting, no computer games, no malls, just RUNNING for the joy of it. Think I'll go run around the block, although at this age it happens slowly. Just remember to keep joy in mind.

Earth Day

2011-04-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

There were a lot of posts on Facebook about Earth Day. It was also Good Friday, but I didn't see too much about it, although to me and a lot of others it is pretty important . Some of my friends observe Passover, too, so by phone and email we shared our thoughts on the significance of their week.

After finding out the other day that I flunked my cholesterol test, there are going to be some additional observances in our household as well, creating what we call "a new normal." We have had those before, and this is yet another phase of life. I have been a great admirer of artists who get out and sketch every day, and draw slices of life and activity on the spot. Part of the "new normal" is going to involve w-a-l-k-i-n-g. I have a sketchbook and pencil tucked in my pocket so that when I go out on my walks there will be more of those "slices of life" based on what I see. I still carry a camera- I mean, you can't draw everything, or remember everything, or get it all down. But there is nothing like that first impression that simply isn't there once you get back into the studio.

On Friday morning I walked up the road to the north to see if the lambs were out at the delightful Black Rabbit Farm. They weren't. But there's a great old barn on Sequim-Dungeness Rd that has always intrigued me. It is on the verge of collapse, and almost invisible from the road tucked into the trees on the far side of a green meadow. Later in the day I walked to the coffee shop to meet with a friend, after which I walked back up to see if the lambs had come out. They were in a group running in one big circle. How fun it is when young animals discover that they can run! The calves in the other pasture get themselves into a frenzy now and then and go prancing around. The lambs were out running, the big pig was lying in a gooey glob sunning himself and the pony had already seen me earlier, thus was not particularly interested in my presence.

So having left very little footprint on the environment, or so I think, and pondered the significance of Good Friday as well as Passover, I came home with my watercolor painting of the old barn. Sketches of pig, pony and lambs will follow.

Spring Comes to Sequim

2011-04-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

Despite the continuing cool weather in Sunny Sequim, as we call it, daffodils and trees are beginning to bloom. There is a house at the corner of 5th Avenue and Old Olympic Highway that is ablaze with pink blossoming trees. It was a perfect opportunity to use the color called "Opera" in my paint kit!

Watercolor Journaling

2011-04-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

After a superb class with watercolorist Faye Castle in Edmonds a few weeks ago, I have a new found interest in journaling. This has also sparked a quest to become part of the Urban Sketchers. It will mean that I have to stop, sketch, paint and post several times a week. I'm not capable of doing this every single day, simply because of my music lessons, teaching and business schedule. But it is an opportunity to take some time to observe and loosen up as well as keep a near-daily log of what is going on around me. Some things are so fleeting that they haven't been captured as much as they should be. For instance, all the newborn calves in the pasture that we see on the way to town are growing. They are discovering running. It's a hoot to see them. We take both for granted- seeing newborn calves AND running. But as I drive by on the way to the post office, there doesn't seem to be time to pull over and draw. So let this be a beginning. I did sketch the pig at the farm just north of here. There are also new lambs, but they were being elusive that day. So here is the busy pig at Black Rabbit Farm. More to come soon!

Jumping back and forth!

2011-03-10T10:51:00.001-08:00

Seems like most of my postings end up on the Skywriting side. Check out my new website at www.priscillamessnerpatterson.com to see what's happening. The online store isn't finished, but I am working on it slowly.

Work on display!!

2010-11-16T19:45:00.000-08:00

Original paintings are on display through the end of the year at The Dove's Nest on Washington Street in Sequim! Catch up with the latest happenings on the Skywriting side!

Coming up for air!

2010-09-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

Whoa! Somebody needs a blog update! Here is one of the paintings that won a ribbon at the Clallam County Fair last month. Meantime, I will get with my webmaster and see about updating the website and linking to the blogs.

Spring thaw

2010-03-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

Well, the weather is mild enough here that we don't worry too much about thawing. Not like we did in Alaska, anyway. But as the days warm slowly and the newborn calves and lambs discover their running legs, we also see the profusion of daffodils and primroses. Trees are beginning to bud. Giving myself a sabbatical from painting to draw and enjoyed sketching this calf at the pasture last week.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

A new year, a clean slate! I always think on January 1st, "What can I do to make this year better than last?" Do more for others and live my faith better come to mind. In terms of purpose, the answer may be a little more evasive. It has been a little over three years since we left Alaska for Washington state, and I've been floundering around trying to figure out what to do with my art. Bottom line, what do I love? Answer, illustrating stories. I have a cool commission from a magazine to create four paintings to illustrate a story which will be published in the spring. As a result, I have left the Blue Whole Gallery, a co op, to focus more on creating better art in more of the areas that mean the most to me. I love painting airplanes, I love painting Alaska! I'll comment as the paintings progress but the illustrations will have to wait until they are published in the magazine before I can show them here. Still, there will be others to share. Keep watching! This site is one that I share primarily non aviation paintings on, while airplane pieces will appear on Skywriting. Meantime, off to the studio so spend the first day of the year having fun!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T10:51:00.001-08:00

It is Christmastime and we stop to reflect and celebrate. Friends coming for dinner tonight, then we'll attend candlelight church services. Planning a quiet day tomorrow. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas with all the blessings that only this most magical of seasons brings. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our troops serving around the world. Thank you!

New paintings!

2009-12-17T11:13:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple of new paintings that I did just for fun- in between aviation and Coast Guard pieces. The dancer is from reference photos I took while at a Moroccan restaurant in Savannah last summer. The teacup will become one of a series for the EBay store. We unpacked a box of grandma's teacups and they make great still life studies.

Holidays!

2009-12-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

It's holiday time and soon we'll be into a new year. I will be leaving the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim at the end of this month and planning to start an EBay store. There is also a website that I will be joining as soon as I provide my information to the webmaster. It has been a busy several weeks with the chorus singing at many places, we've enjoyed some company over Thanksgiving and I have a commission from a magazine for four paintings which I'll start soon.I'll try to get postings more frequently. Meantime, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and all the best in 2010.

2009-08-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

Did a demo at the Audubon Center this morning. Worked from photos since I wasn't sure how to gauge the weather when I signed on for this. Well, it was sunny! The painting will hopefully be finished in time to display at the Blue Whole for September/October.

Clebrate America!

2009-07-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Returned last Sunday from Savannah where I attended the American Society of Aviation Artists Forum. These gatherings are always uplifting and inspiring, and this one was no exception. Enjoy America's celebration and I will update with more photos next week.

Off on an adventure!

2009-06-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

Check out my Skywriting blog for information on my upcoming trip to Savannah. While I'm there I hope to get references for some paintings that are other than aircraft- maybe some of the historic buildings. When I travel in the south I always get the desire to paint a window with lace curtains. There is a lot to see there! Due home June 28 and will update then.

bearlymattersstudio.com, bluewholegallery.com, sequim arts.org

2009-06-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

Did a demo
at the Museum and Arts Center in Sequim this morning. They have a show of area barns going through the month of June. Here are some photos. I started with a canvas tinted orange to allow a warm "underglow." It also helps to see the darks and lights better by having a medium toned surface to start with. I am working in water soluble oil paints. They behave like regular oils but clean up with soap and water. Cool! The painting should be finished this week.

Time flies!

2009-06-10T17:34:00.001-07:00

Lots going on this month and last. Getting ready to go to Savannah for the American Society of Aviation Artists Forum. Will be taking some workshops and also teaching a drawing class with some fellow artists to a group of young aviation enthusiasts. This Saturday I'll be giving an oil painting demo at the Sequim Museum on Cedar Street. My show at the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim is currently on display and will run until the end of the month.

Show at the Blue Whole Gallery!

2009-05-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of new pieces that will be at my June show at the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim. The antique ink bottles in the still life settings are courtesy of my friend Linda O'Neill who is a fabulous calligrapher. I need to spend more time practicing calligraphy!

2009-05-08T21:37:00.001-07:00

Will have new work to post over the weekend. Have been jammin' with new paintings, getting ready for a show at the Blue Whole Gallery in June and craving chocolate.

2009-03-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

I am behind on my posting, but have several new pieces that will appear as sopn as I can get them photographed. Meantime, here is a link to my sisterMarcia Taylor's site. She creates ball joint dolls. Awesome work!
http://animoto.com/play/JVqQC91tPgSm3pDbaz40Zg

Viva Brought Plums

2009-02-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

This little painting is 5x7. Last fall, when the dahlias were blooming everywhere, a friend brought some plums from her yard. I thought they would be fun to paint with some dahlias. The painting is a watercolor on Aquaboard. It is framed and sells for $60 & $10 shipping and insurance.

Morning Pages

2009-02-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

I like to do still life paintings for fun, and this one incorporates a cup of tea, a rose and a journal. The rose was added to include something red for Valentine's Day. This painting will be for sale through the Blue Whole Gallery as of March 1, 2009. But until then, I have it available here for $110 framed, plus $10 shipping and insurance. It is oil and the size is 8x10.

Coffee Break

2009-01-04T16:29:00.001-08:00

I guess it's no secret that I like to paint coffee and breakfast goodies. If I paint them, then I won't eat them! This little oil painting is 5x7 and is framed. It sells for $95 + s/h.

Breakfast of Champions

2009-01-04T16:26:00.001-08:00

This is a fun one. It was difficult waiting until last to put in all those colorful sprinkles on the donuts. It is in oil, 8x10 and is framed. It is $110 + s/h.

A Pear of Apples

2009-01-04T16:21:00.000-08:00

This is a watercolor on Aquaboard. I like painting on this surface because I can get nice detail. Once finished, the work can be sprayed with a fixative and framed without matting or glass. This painting is 8x10 and comes framed. It is $110 + s/h.

Beyond Skywriting

2009-01-01T17:58:00.000-08:00