April07

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Click Here To See Where Woody's Watercolors Are On Exhibit in 2008

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July 2008 Blog:
I've been adding to this blog for over a year now. The subjects will vary with the changing interests of this old retired middle school art teacher. I hope you continue reading my blog and will send me any comments you have via e-mail to: woodyduncan@comcast.net

if you want to inquire about me doing workshops for art teachers
click here

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End of July (7/30):
Today was the day to get both cars inspected and license renewal done. The gas cap on my 1999 Oldsmobile would not pass so I had to replace the gas cap and then get a second inspection. Now we are legal for another two years. Albuquerque is strict on keeping down pollution - which is a good thing. The Olds will just have to hold out until I get a hybrid or a plug in electric. Then I can do my part keeping the air clean so we can still see our mountain. Later - we went shopping because Dillards had a sale - take an additional 40% off the already marked down price. So Frani had to check out the shoes. I tried to steer her to the comfortable ones - but no luck. My doctor says there are two types of people who buy shoes. One kind buys for comfort the other kind for looks. In short the two types are men and women. I go to the doctor tomorrow to get a check up so I can get my perscriptions renewed - I need my DRUGS !!

<<< click on brains to see how they work >>>

click on cowgirl
to see more

Meeting an Artist (7/27):
Being in Santa Fe for Spanish Market is an opportunity to meet artists. I bumped into two watercolor friends - David Chavez and Patricia Baca. Both are fellow members of the New Mexico Watercolor Society. I expected to find both of them in the contemporary portion of the market. But, because it rained off and on most of the day, we went indoors to view art in several galleries we like. To our surprise we discovered "Juan Sandoval" an artist Frani has been collecting since 1990. Over the years we had heard several bizarre tales about his soon to come demise. Stories told by dealers to push sales. None were true.
Here he was, Juan Sandoval himself, right in front of us - quite healthly and full of many, many of his own stories. We visited for quite some time and Frani even got a pic with the artist and his wife.

<<< sample sculpture by the artist

Jaun discovered, years ago, that his family on his mothers side, were Crypto Jews. Sandoval claims to be one of the Anusim - people descended from Spanish and Portuguese Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity and/or who were exiled from their home countries during the Spanish and Mexican Inquisitions. It is estimated that thousands of Anusim live in the Southwestern United States, many of whom are only now learning about their Jewish heritage, and some, like Sandoval, are reclaiming it. (Anusim means "forced or coerced ones." The Anusim are also known as Conversos, Crypto Jews or Marranos.)

Back to Painting (7/25):
I joined my friends at the Unitarian Church this morning to paint. I've been away from painting way too long. This morning, I touched up a couple of old paintings and started a new one of Tiffanie sleeping. It's a powerful composition - it shows a stark contrast between the quiet sleeping child and the strong diagonal forms of the orange sheet. I hope to maintain the bright white areas caused by the morning sun hitting her bed. Right now those white areas of paper are protected by mask I painted on prior to applying color. My start is below:

click on painting to view a larger image

I've decided on which three watercolors to enter in the NMWS Fall Exhibition. I'm also entering three paintings into the New Mexico State Fair. I've never entered the state fair here before. I hear the fine art exhibition gets lots of exposure. Next week - I will take the actual paintings to the fair to be juried into the exhibit. You can see the watercolors I've decided to enter by clicking here.

Spanish Market:
Tomorrow will be our first visit to Spanish Market in Santa Fe. The rich Hispanic culture of Northern New Mexico will be celebrated at the 57th Annual Traditional Spanish Market, the oldest and largest exhibition and sale of traditional Spanish colonial art forms in the United States. The market is held on the downtown Plaza in Santa Fe. It features traditional art, music, dance, demonstrations, pageantry and food, this colorful regional festival is a rare opportunity for visitors to enjoy a taste of New Mexico’s vibrant Spanish culture, both past and present. Over 200 native New Mexican artists–many of them nationally recognized–exhibit and sell their handmade artwork at Spanish Market.

one of my
watercolors
for fall exhibit

Happy Birthday to Me (7/23):
Frani and I are going to an Albuquerque Isotopes Baseball game tonight to celebrate my 65th birthday. As a very young child my baseball hero was Pee Wee Reese, shortstop for the then Brooklyn Dodgers. I now discover that Reese was also born on July 23rd too. Google can provide one with all sorts of unrelated facts. I discovered as well that on July 23rd in 1925, Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees, hit the first grand slam home run of his career in an 11-7 victory over the Washington Senators. Over his career Gehrig hit a record 23 grand slams. I also discovered that many, many others such as Don Drysdale, Monica Lewinsky, Woody Harrelson, Don Imus and even Arthur Treacher share a birthday with me.

Of course none of those folks were born in 1943 - except for your's truely. I'm the one turning the magic age of 65 today. So, I get to go on Medicare and get a monthly retirement check from General Motors.
(Big Deal) - After taxes my GM check will only cover about what Medicare is deducting from my Social Security. And - I thought I'd be able to fill my gas tank, once a month, with the money from GM. They won't even give me an employee discount on a new vechicle because I'm not on "full retirement". Of course it's been well over 30 years since I worked for GM, but you would think in todays market they would be trying to dump their cars. Oh well - I can always buy a Toyota.

Orbit

Southwest Quilt (7/19):
Another on of Frani's quilts is in the works - it's almost finished. This one is full of Southwest symbols - like a coyote howling at the moon, a flowering cactus and of course bright red chilies. We ordered material for the back of this quilt yesterday. The fabric is covered with a repeat design of lizards in different colors. It seemed quite appropriate for this quilt.

click on either quilt for a larger image

New Quilt (7/17):
Frani finished a wonderful new quilt top yesterday. She used this beautiful red floral patterned material we found a couple of months ago. The design for the material was inspired by a painting of a Red Amaryllis by Georgia O'Keeffe.

Good Music (7/16):
Recently I picked up a couple of new CD's, one was by Alison Krauss and the other one by Emmylou Harris. Alison's CD "Now That I've Found You" has some old tunes going back as early as 1987 and 1989. Most are from before she teamed up with Union Station. I really prefer the earlier sound. I'm not too happy with her new stuff since she teamed up with Robert Plant. Click Here for samples of her music from this CD.

Emmylou's new CD "All I Intended to Be" appears to be a return to her roots in folk and bluegrass. Her voice is even more beautiful than her face (if that's possible). Everyone should want to age like Emmylou. Click Here to hear some of the music from her CD. Or better yet you can watch this video of her singing "Not Enough". Emmylou's official website can be found at http://www.emmylou.net/ . Soon she will be preforming in Santa Fe, in just a couple of weeks, on August 2nd, at the Paolo Soleri Amphitheater.

<<< Beautiful Voices from Beautiful Ladies >>>

from Amazon.com

The Yellow House (7/15):
I'm into an interesting book about the time Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin lived together in Arles, in Southern France. Of course it's titled "The Yellow House - Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Provence". Martin Gayford takes an in-depth look at who Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin were as people, how they saw themselves as artists, how their art fit into the historical context, how they influenced each other, and how their personalities ensured that their time together would be short-lived. While it seems amazing that Van Gogh and Gauguin could have ever been roomies, looking at the situation it wasn't strange at all. (BC Books)

I had given up on another book on Van Gogh - but this one is keeping my close attention. The author goes into quite interesting details about what each artists was thinking as they composed their paintings. Since they both wrote lots of letters there was ample material to be researched to back up the descriptions. I'm also finding that Vincent was an avid reader. Although he was always short of funds, he seldom skimped on books. I highly recommend this book for both artists and teachers of art. Here is a link to the numerous paintings Vincent created while he lived in Arles.

"Falling Autumn Leaves"

I'm using a very special place marker while reading the "Yellow House". I'm using a card my friend Peter Kusko send me with an image of his recent watercolor "Boundary Bandelier". His painting won first place in the 2008 Spring Show of the New Mexico Watercolor Society. Peter's watercolors are handled by Nussbaumer Fine Art in Santa Fe.

"Old Yew Tree"

Go Dog Go:
When the triplets were visiting - there were seven people in the house willing to throw a ball for Blossom to retrieve. Now she begs for Frani and I to throw that damn ball - over and over again and again. I'm about ready to invest in a "Go-Dog-Go" machine for her. Here's a You Tube Video showing how it works.

Student Art in Georgia (7/14):
An art teacher friend of mine in Georgia recently had her students art displayed for 4 months at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Hundreds of thousands of global travelers were able to enjoy her student's creative endeavors! Donna has even received letters and messages from folks expressing their enjoyment of the display, from all over the world! Way to go Donna !! She has the art from the airport exhibit on her mac web site:
http://homepage.mac.com/turtletoes1/PhotoAlbum13.html
Donna got the invite because she is a member of the GAEA. She describes the airport venue as FABULOUS! The Airport Art Authority supplies the 38 permanent frames, they also do the matting for you and there are permanent plastic label "holders" at the bottom, underneath each frame. Inside, they slide a typed ID label with the kid's names, grade, school and art teacher's name. Normally displays are only up for 3 months. Donna got lucky and got a four month run. Only three to four schools are selected to exhibit per year.

Georgia's Best

click on spaceport

New Mexico's Spaceport:
In the desert, 45 miles north of Las Cruces, is "Spaceport America". If everything works as planned we will see paying passengers launched into space quite soon. Both Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Lockheed Martin have signed agreements to launch and develop their space launch systems at Spaceport America. Construction of the new facility should be finished finished by 2010 for the very first dedicated commercial spaceport.
If you can afford the who can afford the $200,000 ticket for a quick jaunt beyond the Earth's atmosphere and several minutes of zero-gravity weightlessness you can reserve a seat now for future flights. You had better get in line because, according to USA Today, customers have already put down $21 million in deposits toward flights.

click on flight path for view of passenger cabin

click on spaceship

New Pages Posted (7/13):
I finally posted some pages showing watercolors by my friends in Taos this year. With over seventy artists this year - I couldn't include everyone. I hope I posted a fair selection of the work from this years workshop. Below are links to the three pages I created:

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

I'm just now starting my diet to loose the weight I gained eating at the Sagebrush Inn. We couldn't very well diet while the triplets were here. There were too many good places to take them to eat - like Weck's in Albuquerque, Tortilla Flat's in Santa Fe and of course Michael's Kitchen in Taos. Good food is my downfall - I enjoy eating way too much.

While I was going through the hundreds of pics we took lately - I found a great one showing the family hiking the trail at the top of the Sandia. If you look closely you might be able to spot our house down below. I shot the photo from another trail which was not as close to the edge. I still have my very healthy fear of heights.

click on the pic for a larger view and try to find our house

I also created a page showing a few of the highlights of the triplets recent visit to New Mexico. Grandma and I really appreciate Buddy and Shari for bringing the kids for a wonderful visit. Here's a link to the new page: http://www.taospaint.com/Triplets08/Visit.html

Found Memories (7/10):
I spent some time today editing photos we took over the last few weeks. Now that the triplets and their parents are safely back in Kansas - I want to post a web page or two about their visit. Below is a photo I took yesterday as we explored the petroglyphs west of Albuquerque. You can see our mountain in the background.

click on pic for a larger view

Tim & Tiffanie
on a
Volcano

Last Day in New Mexico (7/9):
We started off the triplets last day in New Mexico with Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. Then we headed out to see the Petroglyphs on the west side of Albuquerque. Petroglyph National Monument protects a variety of cultural and natural resources including volcanoes, archaeological sites and an estimated 20,000 carved images. We climbed up hills of volcanic rock to view the ancient carvings. Then, afterwards we drove to see the old volcanoes. We climbed one of the three volcanoes to get a spectacular view of Albuquerque and the Sandia back toward the east.

click on any pic for a larger view

Afterwards we had lunch at Weck's. This is one of Grandma's and Poppie's favorite places to eat in Albuquerque. They now have eight locations around town. I have heard complaints that the portions are too large and that they put too much green chili on the hash browns. But- we don't go there because it's healthy eating.

Many, many thanks to the triplets and to their very patient parents (Buddy & Shari) for coming to Albuquerque for this visit. You all make Grandma's and Poppie's life brighter. Please come back for many more visits.

Tess Above Albuquerque

Alternate Spaces (7/7):
This morning I'm going to help hang the NMWS Alternate Spaces Exhibit at the Four Hills Country Club. I choose two watercolors to exhibit. One is of Timothy and Tess playing in the surf. The other shows to volunteers mudding a buttress on the Ranchos church in Taos.
Frani plans to take the triplets swimming today and I will join them when we get finished hanging the watercolors. Perhaps tomorrow we can all take in the Natural History Museum. The kids should enjoy seeing the new T-Rex Exhibit. Stan is a Tyrannosaurus rex, one of the largest predatory dinosaurs of all time. They are also showing Dinosaurs Alive on the big screen.

Reading is Good for Your Soul (7/6):
Tiffanie was fortunate to pick up a copy of "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide" at our next door neighbor's garage sale yesterday. It was a great buy for only a quarter. I took the pic of her reading in my chair. She has been very busy shopping, while in Albuquerque, where she got new shoes and that blue and white dress for school. I tied the orange ribbons in her hair this morning. Tiffanie can look so sweet but don't let that fool you. She can be a real "Butt" when her attitude comes out.

this one will make a good watercolor

Dead Kitty (7/5):
While the triplets are visiting in New Mexico, their older brother Ross is watching their house, back in Kansas, and especially he is keeping an eye on the chickens. A coyote killed a chicken a few days back, but Lex (their trusted guard dog) chased it off. Then, yesterday it was a bobcat that got a chicken. Ross shot and killed the thief but it fell in the pond. Ross was finally able to fish it's body out of the mud. I posted a photo that Ross sent us via e-mail. Good shot Ross !!

Happy 4th of July (7/4):
Better than fireworks - I arose this morning to a great sunrise. This pic was taken about 30 minutes before the sun made it over the mountain. Click on the photo for a larger image.

Mother Natures Early Morning Fireworks

Bio Park and Aquarium:
Frani and I took the triplets to the Albuquerque Bio Park and the Aquarium today. We played in the children's garden, watched the model railroad and then went through the butterfly pavilion. We made it all the way over to the new Japanese Garden before heading back to the Aquarium. It was a great way to spend the fourth. Albuquerque is full of wonderful attractions for the kids.

<<< click on shark tank for a larger pic

Jelly Fish

Day in Santa Fe (7/3):
We took the triplets up to Santa Fe today. Here they are sitting on a bench outside a gallery with too many breakables. Tim is reading his new book on mushrooms.

Tess and Tiff Help a Santa Fe Sculptor >>>

Watercolors on Exhibit (7/2):
My watercolor of "Tiffanie at Whitesands" will be on exhibit at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos this August. My painting will be one of 50 watercolors on display as part of the annual Taos National Exhibition of American Watercolor XII. This years Juror of selections is Gerald Brommer. The reception is on August 15, from 5:30 - 7:30pm. The paintings will be on display from August 16th through September 30th.
Also, next week, I'm taking two paintings to the NMWS Alternate Spaces exhibition at the Four Hills Country Club. That exhibit starts July 7th and continues until August 17th. I chose paintings of figures for the Four Hills show. One is of two of my grandkids playing in the surf, the other is of two workers mudding the Taos church.
Then in October - I was fortunate to be selected to exhibit my paintings as part of the Placitas Artists Series. The exhibit is held in Las Placitas Presbyterian Church which was founded as an Hispanic mission in the late 19th century. Now it serves the diverse community in Placitas. They even create a web page for each artist selected. Here is a link to mine. The Platicas Series will hold an Artist's Opening followed by a Concert on Sunday, October 5th - the concert starts at 3pm by Willy Sucre & Friends playing String Quartets.
In early August, I need to decide witch of my paintings to enter into the NMWS Fall Exhibition. If you want to download a prospectus - click here. This Fall Jan Fabian Wallake is our juror. She is famous for her pouring techniques. She wrote the book "Pour it On". Jan will be conducting a week long workshop for NMWS members Oct 6 - 10, it's full days - Monday through Friday. For a workshop registration form - click here.

Tiffanie
in a
Box

Tiffanie
Being Creative

Albuquerque
Museum
Water Feature

A Lazy Day (7/1):
Yesterday, on Sunday, we all laid around the house doing very little. Timothy played games on the computer. Tess read her new book of poetry by Emily Dickerson and Tiffanie cut and pasted to create a whole community. Everyone needs a lazy day hanging around the house.
Then today I took the triplets to the movies to see "Nim's Island". It was a delightful story staring Jodie Foster and a rising young star named Abigail Breslin. This film is a must see if you have young girls in the house. I hope to take my grand daughters Tess and Tiffanie to see another "girl flick", "Kit Kittredge An American Girl", later this week. It also stars Abigail Breslin.

Blossom is Worn Out

Private Museum Tour:
Today, I hope to take the triplets to the Albuquerque Museum. It's my team's duty day and no tour is scheduled so I thought a private tour for three would be in order.

<<< Triplets At the Museum

Tess Enjoys Her New Book of Poems >>>

Timothy
On The Computer

July 2 - Watercolor Selected:
I got a notice yesterday that my watercolor of Tiffanie at Whitesands was selected for an exhibit in Taos. It will be on display at the "Taos National Exhibition of American Watercolor XII". The juror of selections was Gerald Brommer, The opening reception will be on August 15th. The exhibition will run from August 16th till September 30th, at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, New Mexico. I'll ship the painting up to Taos this week.

<<< click on painting for a larger view