Posted on

Hello from 32,000 feet!

Wow. this is kind of fun. Never posted from 32,000 feet before…but there’s a first time for lots of fun things! We’re headed to Dallas and about half way through the flight on American Airlines and online with gogo so wahoo! too bad I don’t have my webcam with me! I’m sitting by myself cuz John got upgraded, but there was only one seat, so I urged him to take it. My reward is that I’m on the bulkhead behind him, no one next to me. Smiling.

When we left this morning the overnight rain had left the streets wet and puddled, but the towncar ride was pleasant (little traffic at 7am on a Saturday morning). As we lifted off, the damp haze was still hanging over the city.

Part of me wanted to stay, part of me, ready to go home. Little sleep as my brain churned out the order of the tasks awaiting me. 3 commissions yet unfinished. 2 due by December 1. Parties to plan, budgets to stick too, little funds and lots of bills. Little comfort that it’s not just me.

The sun was shining in so much I couldn’t see the screen. Down comes the shade and, ahh, better now.

So, lets see. I did one small painting that I mentioned in the last post. Never got back to it as the sun came out and beckoned me out to wander the streets. It’s always refreshing to me, to wander through downtown or midtown Manhattan, and just try to count the different languages you hear as conversations float past you. Or to wonder who’s local, who’s visiting and from where? Standing on a corner, waiting for the walk light, a couple walked up and asked me where to catch the bus to Long Island. When I explained I hadn’t a clue, that I was visitor, the gentleman said, “oh, we saw you had eggs and thought you lived here”. It was true, I did have eggs, having just left the grocery. Kind of funny…not knowing who lives there. Even the army of tailored black suits is not a sure indication. Lots of those walking the streets in downtown Manhattan. The apartment we stayed in was a block or two from the NYSE. Two blocks from the Hudson River and a 10 minute walk from Battery Park in one direction and the South Street Pier in the other. Fun.

We searched google for an Italian Restaurant and it found 243 in our “neighborhood”. How fun is that? Sushi, Indian, Italian, Irish Pubs on every corner and limos, towncars and the suited drivers stood all in a line on Friday nights. Delmonico’s a four minute walk.

Oh, and they were filming a movie right outside the apartment. That was amazing to watch. Cameras moving along on lines hung for blocks and held up by giant cranes. Lines and lines of equipment rental trucks and vans, and street after street blocked off to traffic…except that the thousands of people who walk everywhere, still did, and so did we. Some of us almost bumping into each other for looking up up up at the wire and camera gliding along it. Definitely fun.

Though I got off to a rather rough start, (lots of rain, over stressed and over tired), in the end, my shoulders are lower, and while I’m not looking forward to the 32 degrees my desktop tells me it is at home, or the snow that I hear (thanks, Jen) is still on the ground, I’m setting my mind on the paintings I need to finish and coming holidays (they’ll be here before we blink). so, I’ll order a glass of wine, recline my seat and smile!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
Posted on 2 Comments

hey from The City

New York, New York. What’s this country bumpkin with a City Girl heart doing here? Well, lots.

I know it’s been a while since I posted. My head down, my heart heavy, my vision blurry, kept me from posting. Mostly, I was exhausted. Letting all the stuff going on, get to me. It was time to run away.

Of course, just in time, husband got work in NYC. Wahoo! (for the work) Wahoo! (it’s NYC) and Wahoo! (I get to go!) So…I came. Mostly. In my head was churning all of the things I would do, what I would post, how much fun that would be.

When we were sitting on a plane, John turns to me and says, “you got the power for your laptop, right?”

Reality slapped me in the head. Uh-oh. Even as I said, “um. no” my head was spinning with how to solve it.

Good grief. What an air head. Well, at the risk of stating the obvious, clearly, solve it I did, and thank you, Tracy and Angel Fire Resort and Amy!

Yesterday it poured rain all day. Not like it rains in Angel Fire, with a heavy burst of two inch diameter rain drops followed by double rainbows and bright cerulean blue skies….no, the walls of solid drizzle that get you wet through and through…especially if you forgot the umbrella, too.

Ok, so I did a small “Pan Pastel” on Artist Panel (it looks about 6 x 6 (inches) to me. Not sure how I’ll get it home. hmmm. At least I made here with the pan pastel, the paper and panels and the tools. Geee, where was my head?

In the rain, (which day?)I wound the streets from the apartment provided by the company John is working for (Learning Tree) to find “ground zero”. We’ve been here a few times since 9/11…but I’d never screwed up the guts to go look. This time, I decided, it was way past time. So, in the rain, I went. By the time I went out, the rain was more of a mist.

I was struck by the slow weep of the heavens as I climbed the stairs to the viewing bridge. I had my camera…but I took no photos. The striking emptiness of the gaping hole in the skyline is clearer even on the ground. There is much going on there, all kinds of construction. They had apparently just poured concrete, and it was all covered in giant tarps to protect it from the rain. It looked like giant grave cloth to me. I stood there for quite a while, letting it all soak in. My mind took me back to when I stood looking in the glassed in rooms at Auschwitz. How is it different, really? I wondered. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I shuddered, and headed back down the stairs.

That was actually on Tuesday. Yesterday was much wetter. I went out in search of groceries, got lost, gave up and found my way back to the apartment soaking wet and wishing I’d not gone out.

Today is much brighter, and after a good night’s sleep (finally!) I ventured out in the chilly morning air and found the 17th St. Pier and all the shops there. They were not open yet, so it was quiet, and the seagulls were dive-bombing in the Hudson River, the morning sun lighting up the skyscrapers like gleaming diamonds. I looked at the river and wondered how incredulous it must have been to watch an airplane land on it not so long ago. I looked at the Brooklyn bridge and watched all the cars and people going this way and that. I watched as a few old men came together and began their Tai Chi. Slowly, the seaport began to wake up. Buses pulled in and unloaded their riders in front of the ticket booth for ferries to Ellis Island, Staten Island and other destinations. Cafe and store owners cleaned windows and floors and unstacked tables and chairs, preparing to open. It made me think of home and the commonality of owning your own business and all that means.

I bought a cup of coffee and warmed up a bit while I watched the progress of the South Street Seaport opening up for business.

Once warmed, all open I wandered through the shops at the pier, then wandered across to Fulton and Front pedestrian shopping area where I found a great (really cute) sweater for $29 and two nice dress shirts for John …two for $40. I found alot of other great stuff too, but I didn’t buy it.

By then, I’d been wandering the streets for 4 hours and my feet were telling me to go home, which I did. So now we’re caught up. I hear there’s a good bit of snow at home. I’m really glad I cleared out the garage and pulled the truck in. Think I’ll relax for a bit…if I can remember how to do that!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
Posted on 2 Comments

Shaken

This morning as I was making coffee, emptying the dishwasher and tidying the kitchen, husband says, “You haven’t said a word…are you ok?” I answered “yes. didn’t realize I was being quiet”. After all, there was not a quiet place in me. My heavy heart, still questioning, and many thoughts racing through my head. I was thinking about Rebecca, about how she impacted so many in such a positive way. Trying to understand. She told me months ago, that she would die, that the fighting was over and the living was the focus. The power of that eluded me then. Now it has smacked me in the face and I am taking a hard look inside.

She was a little more than 8 months younger than my younger sister, my “middlest” sister..also named Rebeka.

I see clearly how Rebecca’s life intersected with mine. I just wonder if I blessed her as she did me. I’m ashamed at my selfishness and reluctance to embrace, at my tendency to not let even those I love get too near, some unknown and irrational fear holding me back. I’ve known this about myself for a long time and right now it is glaringly clear. May this public confession somehow unlock some of the hidden places.

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

A new look at learning

If you know my husband at all, you know how passionate he is about education. While he has taught adults most of his professional life, when he was on the faculty at university he often lamented at the un-preparedness of students. Maybe that’s why this video caught his eye. When he showed it to me, I thought, “wow, if I’d had school like that, maybe I would have gone on to college.” Truth is, I was bored out of my mind. In teaching art I have often used some out-of-the-box methods, but I never got this innovative. Maybe I should…..hmmmm

Take a look, and let yourself imagine the possibilities. Click this link.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
Posted on 2 Comments

Must be Fall

The leaves have just begun to turn. I don’t know how long they’ll last or if they will all turn before they fall, thanks to the early snow we had. For sure the nights are cold enough to turn them all, but we’ll see soon enough. I know it’s fall even without color on the mountains…the gallery is still and quiet.

This evening we (the two galleries) are hosting a private reception for some traveling writers who are vising the area on a “famtour” (familiarization). Following the reception, I’ll join them for dinner. I’m looking forward to all of that, but in the meantime it is really hard to sit here and have the gallery open with me, myself and I to chat with. I already cleaned up from last night’s fourth Friday event, and the gallery looks beautiful, if I do say so myself. I need to paint, but I’m wearing these fancy clothes so I don’t have to go home and change before the reception/dinner. I’m a messy painter, so I won’t risk it.

The Artisan Expo I went to last Sunday was a blast, thought I spent my accumulated wad in a heartbeat. I bought all the supplies I need for the new class that is coming up beginning next week…and then I bought a moderate supply of a brand new product…Ultra Soft Pan Pastel. Check it out here….it’s going to be a blast to play with! (and paint with). I’d probably be getting dirty right now, but they were sold out before i got there. They are shipping me what I ordered…and I can hardly wait!

Guess I’ll go play on facebook for a bit. See ya!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
Posted on 1 Comment

Working like mad

It’s quiet again at the gallery, at least most of the time, so I’m trying hard to get some things caught up, some things under way and some things thrown out. I know I didn’t post last week, as I was sitting on the floor, fingers freezing, working on a new project (more on that later) as I was looking for customers at the MVAC Illusions show. The bank had the air conditioning on and it was raining and 58 degrees outside. BRRRRRRRRRRRR. Still the Illusions reception was nice, and congrats to my friend Jacqui Binford-Bell for taking yet another Best of Show!

Yesterday I painted. I had to do something to divert my attention from the portrait I’ve been working on. I can’t continue the portrait until I get a new brush, which I will do tomorrow, but in the meantime if I work on it I’ll overdo it. So, I pulled out a tiny artist panel that I bought when Artisan’s had a great sale on them. it is only 6 x 6. Inches, that is. 6 x 6, cradled artist panel by Ampersand, my favorite purveyor of paintable surfaces. Not to diminish my love of Yupo paper, but they (Ampersand) do a nice array of different kinds of media. So, anyway, I played. I ended up with sort of a flower, sort of not. I’m calling it “A little a-MAZE-ment” Take a look and you’ll see why, oh, and it’s acrylic!

Tomorrow I’m going to the Artisan Expo in Santa Fe, where I’m sure to encounter more fun! I’ll pick up the supplies for the next class that begins on Sept. 30th. I have 3 signed up and we’re going play with oil pastel (no worries, Jennifer!) so I need to pick some up, along with “stuff to paint on”. We’ll see what I find at the expo. Basically, I’m excited to be getting out of town, if only to Santa Fe and only for a day. I’ve not been anywhere other than to Taos since May!

Then, it’ll be back to work editing video for Katherinesarttv.tv I’m getting so close to a full launch, yet it feels so far away. Let’s hope I can be productive, finish editing, get the site fully operational and live, finish the portrait , do the next commission and have a blast teaching a class…all before November 1! That’s my aim…oh and the brick floor too.

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

Better Now…Yay

I’ve often told other artists at shows that “one customer, and 5 minutes, can change the outcome of this”. And so it was today. I was literally packing up, loading things into the back of the truck, when another car pulled in. I glanced up, and smiled, seeing one of my clients walking around the back of her car, with daughter and mother-in-law in tow. 20 minutes later they were happily climbing back in their car, with a cadre of unframed, un-mounted, un-matted originals in hand. See my smile?

So now, the truck is loaded with what is destined for Angels Attic. There are a few things left that I really want to sell. You can find a list here. Pass it on…I’ll be adding more soon!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
Posted on 2 Comments

big sale blahs & yays

It’s 1:49pm. The day started with a drizzle of rain, then a bit more then moved off to warm sun and cool breeze. When I opened the door this morning there were half a dozen cars in the driveway. I sold the Ladder and the glass blocks straight away. A bunch of brand new, never worn socks that just would not slip around the poor feet and up J’s immobile ankles.

Some people who said, “oh, Katherine McDermott, I’ve heard of you!”

One man stopped in, who was investigating problems with the fact that the shoulder on highway 64 ends conspicuously about 6 feet before our road. It has been a nightmare since the shoulder was laid in some years ago. A friend of mine was hit by a vehicle trying pass while she was stopped, blinker on, to turn left. The other car tried to pass, ran out of shoulder and abruptly turned to get back on pavement and rammed into the side of her car. If she had not been there, he would have plowed into oncoming traffic, as some others have done, at least one that I know of , with tragic results. Maybe he’ll get something done.

I think I’ll be loading up the truck and visiting Angel’s Attic real soon now. small sigh. I don’t mean to be ungrateful. yes, I’d hoped for more. More people, more sales. But then, I should have seen it coming.

Arts About Town, yesterday, was good. And about half or less of the traffic we had last year. Maybe it’s because Labor Day is a week later this year, somehow, a week later than the past few years. Last year we did the event on August 30th. And the year before that, similarly. hmmmm. I dunno. I kind of refuse to just blame it on the economy. Things have been going well at the gallery, for a change! Interesting experience to me. Lots of room to make up for the past still, but I’m kind of amazed, and thankful!

So, here I am. Sitting in a chair in the driveway, posting on the blog. go figure. Angel’s Attic, here I come.

No time to rest, gotta get moving tomorrow for the Illusions show next weekend. We’ll hang it on Friday. Reception on Saturday (September 12) from 5-7:30 or something like that. Hope that goes well.

Well, guess I’ll start boxing stuff up. Doesn’t look good for more customers. Next time, it will 7:30 to 11. that’s it. Live and learn (at least I try to.)

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
Posted on 2 Comments

Fall approaches, BIG Sale coming

Well, it’s beyond overdue. I know, I’m not done with the brick laying and painting, not finished cleaning gutters or anything outside. But it’s on to the garage before it’s too late. We started organizing today..backed the car out, got out the broom and vaccuum and set to it. Cleaning the debris last winter left behind and then raiding shelves and closets and such to debate what we shall let go of this time. (whew) Already, half the garage is stacked and laid out with treasures (and stuff) from the past. The car will live outside for now. I think the left front tire looks low.

I’m debating…sell the hammered dulcimer, or not? Sell the camping stuff, definitely, the books, for sure. Husband decided to let go of the vintage engineers tools he inherited from his grandfather. Tools I’ve looked at off and on for 20 years….it’s a big deal. Some of it made in 1924.

On the “walls” I used to use at shows, hang the evening gown, some suits (mine) and some skirts. The walls are for sale too.

I have a table for the Nikon package and table for the books and games. Yet to come are a table for the computer equipment, an area for the excercise machine, a dresser drawers and some unframed originals as well as framed originals that have never been seen at the gallery. Pots to plant in, and pots that are home to plants that I have no room for anymore. Pots with raspberry plants (assuming I get that done) and some with Jade Plants (gotta do that too). Oh, and my drum machine.

Everywhere I turn my head I find something else. Some tupperware. some forks and knives and spoons and good heavens, where did all this come from? It seems to me it multiplies when we close the door on the closet, leave a room quiet for a while.

Anyway, we might have it put together in time for the sale. Sunday, September 6, 9 am to 4pm. No earlybirds. I’ll be busy on Saturday with Arts About Town.

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

Finished the Next One

I know it’s not Sunday (my usual day to post) but I told you I’d post a photo of the commission I was working on, when it was done. I just finished it. All that’s left is put a wire on the back for hanging. I also made a video of most of the process, though I ran out of battery at a critical moment, I can recreate that with voice over and a photo. I’ll get to work on that next week.

Anyway, so here it is. 24 x 18 Watercolor on Canvas. The owner loves it. What about you?

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