Category: Katherine McDermott Artist

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Bright and Glorious? I hope so

All eyes are on Washington, D.C. where our 44th President is about to take office. You can’t turn on the television, the radio or pick up a newspaper and not know it. There is hope tangible in the air. I must admit, that I feel the buzz even when I’m trying hard to paint. (what is it about January? I have commissions stacking up and the canvas on my table is white…..)

So, it’s my day off. I thought I’d have a leisurely day for a change. We had friends in for dinner last night, lots of laughs and the dog (Grace) soaked up enough attention to last at least 10 minutes. (grin)

I got up and hit the button on the espresso machine and inhaled deeply as the crema formed in the cup. Ahh, a day off.

It wouldn’t be long before it was clear that the pipe from the toilet to the septic was, um frozen. I glanced at the outdoor thermometer. Oh, no. 5 degrees. Deep sigh.

So, the morning was devoted to every trick I’ve learned. First the plunger. Nada. Then the snake. Nope. Then the hot water poured into the nearby drains that were still operating. It took nearly 3 hours.

It made me wonder about a couple of things….like those 7000 port-a-potties dotting (ugh) the otherwise beautiful landscape on the Nation’s Mall. Not that it isn’t necessary, but, Egad.

Then I pondered the fact that HBO “bought” the exclusive right to broadcast the opening concert at the Lincoln Memorial. I say, NOT FAIR!

The inauguration of the President is the celebration of THE PEOPLE.

I canceled my HBO service long ago, and now I wish I hadn’t, just so I could do it again. It is OUR party! We should all be able to partake, even if it is on the screen in our living room or at the local gathering place, if not able to be there live.

I think the committee that SOLD the rights of the people to HBO should take every last dime and give it to all the people who have filed for unemployment in the last 2 months. I realize, 2 million is peanuts and wouldn’t go very far. It’s the point. And I’d love it if everyone would cancel their HBO. Not that I think either will happen. The stench is overwhelming.

Now, my toilets are flushing, the sky is blue, I’ve have a glass of wine and I’ll settle down. The real game begins on Wednesday, after all.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Thank God 2008 is gone..high hopes for 2009!

In thinking back over the past year, my high point was my low point. The struggle to decide to move my gallery was the 800 pound gorrilla in my life. In the interlude, while we were in Mexico (how gloriously providential that it was provided and paid for well in advance) was also both. Coming to the realization that the continuous struggle to monetize my passion, and promote and make the artists in my gallery successful had so weighted me that I was exhausted even to stand up was an earth-shattering understanding to me. Finding a way back was tenuous and scary for me. I had lost sight of the goal and been overwhelmed by the task of getting there. When? I’m not sure, but sure that I couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

Being away from it all, no phone, often no internet, no gallery, cleared the windsheild of my soul and let me see it. Then the question was, do i let it go and walk away? or do I let it go and hang on for dear life to see where it would take me.

I guess by now you know I chose the latter. I can’t explain the sense of well-being or the upward bend of the corners of my mouth. If I listen to the pundits on TV I’ll be out of business by the end of the first quarter of 09. For some reason, I just don’t believe that.

And so, Happy New Year.

I’m working on a new website, by the way. I’m working on a 26 week (or more ) course in drawing and painting. Video instruction. I’m laying out the curriculum and researching hosts and how to offer it. I’ll start recording as soon as next week. Drawing will come first, since that is really the foundation of every good painting, even the ones that get drawn with a brush. Watch for news of it and I’ll send the links to it from here, so follow this blog with the link on the right.

And for now, the sun is shining and the sky is clear. I’m unabashedly optimistic and moving forward like it matters. My resolution? I don’t really have one, but I am setting new goals and ways to reach them. May you reach yours too.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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bright, clear and cold!

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday’s bluster and bucking bronco like drive up the county road (THAT was an experience!) have given way to bright sun and a temperature of 18. Hurrah for the County Road team who was out early this morning…and yes, on a Sunday! Twice yesterday I was stuck on the road behind a city car mired in the 12-14″ drifts blocking the road. It mean I spent more time sitting in the car, going nowhere, than I did at the gallery!

The road was a disaster, and even in my all wheel drive in 1st (low) gear sputtered and spun as the snow ground under my super tires. I’m praying the stillness will prevail the winds will not rise again before I have to go out tomorrow. It’s the winds that made the mess, and I’m happy to be rid of all the positive ions they generate. It’s a much more pleasant and productive day that finds me once again at this keyboard.

Happy sigh and may the weather hold!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Nothing Else to Do but Ponder and Post

I know, it’s a record. I’ve never posted this much in one day, let alone one week! I can’t help it. Look: Remember, there is a lake and mountains normally in this view from my living room window. What else am I gonna do, but post…..laundry? uh-huh. no energy for THAT! Cleaning? Not likely. I did a good once over before our guest(s) arrived yesterday. Actually, only one made it. The other two got stuck and gave up, headed home like wise ducks. The one that came had a delightful dinner, and then got stuck. You’d think I would’ve seen the trend and got the message, right? Not so much.

I have a huge amount of energy and no where for it to go. I know, I know, I could clean and reorganize. It’s not that kind of energy..and don’t mock me for saying so…..i need to create to explode in color and prose and so, since my studio is an utter disaster, I’m writing.

My studio recently became the repository for all things in the “what do we do with this?” category as we work through the house to clear the clutter and make room for freshness and cleanliness. Not funny, just worked out that way. I suppose on some level I loathed it anyway and so it was the natural choice for the chaos it has become. Why did I loathe it? That is the deeper question and I’m sure I’ll come face to face with it soon.

For starters, it’s cold. It’s the room furthest away from the heat sources, on the North side of the house.

It has a great view of Wheeler Peak, and good light. I think part of it is that there is just entirely too much stuff in it. So, see that desk and hutch and chair? I think I’ll sell it. I know, it’s hard to see for all the extraneous stuff. and my painting cart is parked in the middle of the room…I moved it because it has various flammable substances on it and there is now a heater parked in the doorway to, theoretically, warm the room so I can venture in to it to begin the clean up. Of course, the scenario will likely be, that the room won’t warm enough today to begin, so I’ll close the door and it will cool down and tomorrow I’ll (hopefully) be back at the gallery. Ah, the saga continues.

oops, time to go. The stomach is rumbling. Anybody need a desk?

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Got out, White Out, back in.

Wow. What a nightmare! I loaded up and left here at 1pm. It is now 1:44 and I am back home. I got to the road and by the time I’d gotten past the blue dumpsters I knew it was a mistake. By that time there was nowhere to turn around, the plows having left barely one lane and snow piled 6 feet or more high on either side. I made it to the highway in 1st gear. The highway was blocked, littered with vehicles and backhoes trying to get them out. The county road people gave up and were sitting idle. Visibility was at 20 feet when good. 0 during a blinding gust. I backed into the only clear driveway at the last house there at the highway and waited while the two vehicles behind me pulled forward so I could pull out and they could pull in to turn around. It took me 40 minutes to get down 8/10 of mile to the highway, and back up. It was very tense and now I’m here and poured myself a glass of wine. If I had gotten out, I’m not sure at all that I could get back, given the rate of accumulation and wind.

I guess opening the gallery today just isn’t in the cards for me. It looks like I need a condo in Angel Fire. In this economy…what’s cheaper, a condo nearby the gallery or an employee who lives near the gallery? Ack. I think I’ll ponder cheerier things.

Oh, look….there’s the County dozer. Working at it again. Bless him! Still, I’m staying put. Maybe tomorrow is a brighter day for moving around!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Stuck


Woops. Ok, so yes, it’s been snowing and blowing since yesterday morning. I walked out this morning and saw only 4 or 5 new inches, so I loaded up the car and backed out. Ok so far. I pulled around and headed toward the road, in low gear, all wheel drive and slow. As I neared the road I started sliding. I turned the opposite direction, but to no avail, swish, plunk, my right front end slid into the ditch at the end of my driveway.

Sigh. Apparently there is a good layer of ice beneath the snow. Sigh. The day after Christmas and I can’t get out to open the gallery. Sigh. Well, so here I am posting and waiting. Might as well relax a bit. So…Merry Christmas!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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My how the Snow is flying!

I’m at the gallery right now. It’s 3:34 and I’ve been here for an hour. The snow has literally been flying, for hours, nay, days. There is so much snow in my front yard (a combination of accumulation, roof slide and where it is blown and pushed from the driveway clearing) that we can’t see out the windows anymore. It’s at about 5 1/2 feet. Pretty soon it will match the bottom level of the roof line. Uh-oh, what then? Where does the snow come off? hmmmm….I see pulling snow in my future. sigh.

It’s been kind of tough keeping normal hours at the gallery. Ok, nearly impossible. At any rate, I’m here now and glancing outside at the snow flying again. I think I’ll head out around 4 or so if I don’t see any activity here. Go to the website folks…always open…snow or not!

When I get home I’ll take a picture and post it. wow. lots of snow.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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painting in paradise!

ok, so it took me two weeks and the stress is finally beginning to melt a way. A painting (commissioned one) that I started the day after I arrived is finally ready to go (no pic here as I need to add more once it’s stretched) , a second done, (Here, “Field of Dreams”, w/c on canvas, commissioned) with some labor of love and one more awaiting a canvas at home (because I made a mess of the canvas I brought to do the painting on, and now have to re-gesso it to start over.) While I was bemoaning the fact that I’d made a mess of a canvas specially cut for this painting, I whipped out a sheet of Yupo and pulled up a Vallarta sunset from seasons past. Wham, wisp, this is what came out of it( “Nature Framed It” Watercolor on Yupo (Available) :

So now, creative juices are really beginning to flow. I slept last night (and Thank you D&J) and even though the neglected dog across the street is crying and the 2 year old in the throws of the terrible twos is screaming, the rooster is still convinced it’s 6 am when in reality is 2:30 pm and the rumble of the gas truck outside is deafening……I’m typing blissfully as my newest painting dries.

I wasn’t sure I could do it. A jumble of color and line, really almost abstract, really just a jumble of poppies. I wanted to do it without a pencil altogether and on Yupo paper.

I wanted to do it with negative painting technique, basically, which I didn’t know if I could do on Yupo. I painted in the background and then painted in all the color of the composition, then I found the flowers. It was exhilarating. Yes, it took me three days, but wow, I haven’t felt this good in months! The photo isn’t great cuz I didn’t wait till it was dry after all! but you’ll get the idea! (sorry the wet paint on YUPO paper is highly reflective!)


“It’s a Jungle Out There” still VERY wet. In this climate it will take 12-24 hours to dry. And it is BRIGHT! It overwhelms the camera, especially when it is wet (the watercolor, not the camera)!

Tonight we’ll head down to CyC and hopefully meet up with some friends. In the meantime, my outlook is looking up…where it should have been all along.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM