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ROCK CHALK
Jayhawk  Go KU |
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| Click Here To See Where Woody's Watercolors Are On Exhibit in 2008 | |||||
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March 2008 Blog: I've been adding to this blog for one full 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 |
Order Woody's Watercolors on Notecards |
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 click on painting for a larger view |
Last Painting (3/21): I've been so busy that I didn't even post the watercolor I finished, six days ago, in my Saturday painting group. I started it as a demo when I did my workshop in Las Cruces. This week has been busy getting loose ends tied up and getting my workshop stuff together for New Orleans. Little stuff like stopping the newspaper and the mail, changing the oil, boarding the puppy, etc. I finished writing my mid-term for my class at UNM and mailed it off since I'll be in New Orleans when the paper is due. I do have homework while in New Orleans - my teacher Sara assigned me to report back on Rika Burnham's presentation on Friday afternoon. Rika is one of the authors of a text we used in our museum studies class. She is a Museum Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. <<< my newest watercolor workshops by woody >>>
NAEA Here We Come: Saturday night we will be in Fort Worth taking in the music at Billy Bob's Texas. The music should be good because Creedence Clearwater is back together (sadly without John Fogerty). I'll check my e-mail when we are on the road. We stay at Comfort Inn's and they have wireless connections (free of course). But, I doubt I'll even hook up my laptop in New Orleans. We are staying at the Hilton in New Orleans and they charge for everything. I know already it's $29.00 a day just to park my car. If it's like the Hilton in Vegas they wanted $5.00 and hour to hook up to the web. What a rip off. |
I'm willing to travel to conduct workshops for Art Teachers so I put together a flier for NAEA  click above to see flier |
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 click on photo for a clip from 2001 |
Farewell to a Visionary (3/19): In Junior High I devoured Science Fiction. Today I learned that a true visionary, Arthur C. Clark passed away in his adopted home of Sri Lanka. A wondrous writer of both science fact and fiction, Clark was among the best. He wrote of communication satellites in geosynchronous orbits as early as 1945. Now our voices and movies bounce around the globe via his predictions. If you never read his many books you most likely remember the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" based on his novel. Blood and Thunder: I'm currently reading a book on the life of "Kit Carson". It's a great read as well as a fascinating look at New Mexico and the old west just after the Santa Fe Trail opened up. "Blood and Thunder" was written by Hampton Sides and published in 2006 by Doubleday. Kit Carson made Taos his home and his house is a museum there today. Carson's life story reveals the true complex and gritty nature of the opening of the American west. |
 Kit Carson |
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 Old Town Church |
Busy, Busy, Busy (3/18): Last night was our March watercolor society meeting at the Albuquerque museum. Laurie and Frank critiqued paintings by members. It's always a valuable experience to hear a good critique even if it's not your painting. Earlier that morning was docent training at the museum. We now have 31 docents signed up for our trip to Taos in April. I also recruited a number of docents willing to be volunteers for Robert and my "Museum Experiences" that we are doing at UNM as part of our class. Then the docents got into smaller groups for sample tours of Old Town. We were led by specially trained docents who guide tours of Albuquerque's Old Town. To the left is a photo of the Church in Old Town. It was named the Church of San Felipe de Neri (after King Phillip of Spain in 1706). The current structure has been used as a parish church for over 200 years. To the right is a photo of an old cottonwood just behind the church. In the tree is carved the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There's a lot of history locked up in this town. |
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 Click on Arlo to Hear Alice's Restaurant |
Very Dirty Kitty
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Creativity is Much Like Fishing: Last night Arlo Guthrie compared the creative process to fishing. If it's song writing or painting - both take a lot of waiting. I've done a lot of sitting there with either fishing rod or paint brush in hand waiting for the next big fish or that one great idea to come by. Sometimes you catch a big one, other times it's just a nibble on the line. But, keeping your line in the water is what's important. Or, in my case, keeping that brush moving across the paper so I can catch that next big idea when it swims by. If the painting doesn't work out - throw it back and keep fishing. Arlo is a quite a storyteller and sometimes his words hit a philosophical truth. Arlo got much of his storytelling skill from Woody - not me, but his dad Woody Guthrie. So - keep your hook baited or your brush loaded - there are bigger ones out there waiting for you. |
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click on above text to view my promotional flier |
Getting Ready for New Orleans (3/15): My plan is to do some self-promotion while I'm in New Orleans. So, I put together a flier about "Art Idea Workshops" I've done in the past - in Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado. I hope to make some contacts in other states while I'm at NAEA in New Orleans. I was hoping to contact art teachers from other areas about doing workshops at their state conferences. Or, possibly doing in-service training for art staffs in school districts around the country. I'm doing two hands on workshops at NAEA in New Orleans. One is on building a Kaleidocycle. I'm also doing my old standby workshop on Collograph Printmaking. It means I'll haul a lot of stuff to the Big Easy - but it will be worth it. Of course - I'll try to sell a few of my lesson CD's while in New Orleans. Tomorrow I mail one CD off to an Australian Art Teacher who is teaching at a girls school in Saudi Arabia. The internet really is called the "www" world wide web for a good reason. I marvel at all those red dots that show up on my ClustrMaps counter from all around the globe.  ............................. Today is my day to plant flowers for summer - then it's off to hear Arlo Guthrie at the Kimo.
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 click on kaleidocycle to see it in motion |
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Powerball Time (3/14): I seldom gamble except for my powerball number twice a week. I can purchase five weeks or ten plays in advance. The lottery money in New Mexico supports four full years of tuition for students attending college at any state school. So my two dollars a week go for a good cause. This is a great investment in our future no matter if I ever win anything back. Someone wrote the paper saying that because powerball had added more numbers (years ago) increasing the odds of winning the purchase of tickets had dropped hurting scholarship money. He claimed that people had figured out that the odds of winning were too slim, so they stopped playing. Duh !! Before they increased the odds - I did the math myself. If I keep playing my same number my odds of winning were 55 million to one. Which figures out to my number coming up every 660,000 years. Now the odds are even greater - 147 million to one. Even if one does not know the odds - everyone knows it's slim to none. People get hit by lightning much more often than they win powerball. But I will still buy a new ticket today, just in case, but even better to put some kid through college. That student we fund may find a cure for cancer or develop an engine that runs on water. Our future may be a winner because I bought my powerball ticket today. Also - if I don't play then my odds of winning is Zero. |
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Pruning Roses (3/13): After class yesterday, I pruned my rose bushes. They were starting to leaf out so I should have done it two weeks ago. I hope I didn't do any damage to them. I love those roses and they love the cool nights in Albuquerque. Frani cut the pampas grass and cut back other plants. We bagged everything up for a trip to one of the city Convenience Centers. My mini van still smells like a hay wagon. For only $3.60 I can dump almost anything. The city will sort out what can be recycled. Albuquerque is big on recycling - we have a pick up weekly. They even try to educate the public about the three R's on the city's web site. Three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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 $$$ from Uncle Sam |
Wasted Money (3/12): Like millions of Americans, we got our letter from the IRS telling us that we would be receiving a $1200 check to boost the US economy. I guess we can spend it at Wal-Mart on all that stuff made in China. The sad part is that it cost 42 million dollars for the government to mail out all those letters. I watch the news, read the paper - I knew the money was being sent sometime later in the year. But - the major issue for me is that $1200 to most families - that's 150 Billion Dollars. Couldn't we spend that same 150 Billion on something the country needs. Perhaps we could spent it on needed schools, or rebuilding bridges, or new mass transit, or all those necessary projects that would put Americans to work rebuilding our infrastructure. Wouldn't that make more sense - rather that just throwing all that money around ? Or - we can just put that new found money in our gas tanks.
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 Flat Tiffanie in Albuquerque |
Learning in Museums (3/11): In my "Museum Class" at UNM, we discussed how to measure learning in museums. One author suggested that learning from a museum experience might occur a year or many years later after another experience brought it into focus - perhaps when one has that a-ha moment. Also, we bring lots of past information into a museum when we view an exhibit. Those past experiences - art history classes, previous employment, vacations, etc. are all in our heads and these experiences play upon how we relate to each new museum exhibition. So, when I did my trial tours of the Bill Brant Photo exhibit yesterday - I tried to use this prior knowledge approach. I was speaking to groups of experienced docents in these trial tours. I ask them what images or experiences some of the photos on display evoked in their minds. I asked them to understand that the visitors they would be guiding would bring their own unique experiences to the exhibit. We should be trying to get visitors to discuss what the exhibit reminds them of, not what we think they should experience. I'm told that my points were well made and understood - I hope so. |
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| Back From Las Cruces (3/10): Everyone seemed pleased with my two day watercolor workshop in Las Cruces. I sure had a great time. Thank you all for the opportunity to come down your way. Click here for the web page I built showing everyone busy painting.  click on painting for a larger image |
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 click on shirts to see more |
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (3/5): Blossom is sleeping after her surgery. We need to let her rest a lot. Poor puppy - she went through a lot yesterday. I hid her ball because she is not suppose to run for a few days. The vet said there is no shot for house breaking - so we will just have to keep working on that. I wore one of my Marie Mason "Rescued Dogs" tee shirts when we took Blossom to the vet today. The vet asked about it, so I told her Marie was on the web. When we went back to pick up our puppy - the vet said she was doing her Christmas shopping on Marie's site. It's called Bella and Company. If you love dogs or cats - Marie has some great stuff - check it out. |
 Our Other Dog |
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 Flat Tim |
Political Junkies: Frani and I both keep CNN on to keep track of the delegate count. We back Obama - but of course we will vote for Hillary if she gets the nomination. There are still (ten) states yet to vote and that's not counting Puerto Rico or Guam - who also select delegates. I just hope it's settled before we get to Denver. Let us hope that we Democrats don't so nasty in this inner-party struggle that we make it easier for the Republicans in November. We don't need another four years of the policies of the past eight. Whoever is the next president - it's going to be tough enough to get things done - no matter who wins. Off to Las Cruces - with "Flat Tim": I won't post anything for a few days because I'm driving to Las Cruces to conduct my two day watercolor workshop. I'm also doing a demo on using texture in watercolor at the Southern Chapter of NMWS meeting on Sunday - before I drive back. I'll post pics from my workshop when I return. Going with me on my trip - is "Flat Tim" he is a friend of "Flat Stanley". I'm taking pics of "Flat Tim" in various locals for my grandson, then I'll mail the photos back for his 3rd grade classroom. |
 At The Museum |
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Pressure is Off (3/4): I mailed our taxes off to our accountant yesterday. It's a painful time every year to go through. I'm just glad it's over. Well all except paying them. Last year we got a $9 refund - perhaps this year will be that way as well. It actually makes Mike Huckaby's "Fair Tax" look good because it gets rid of the IRS. What is the Fair Tax all about ?
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Bill Brant Photos (3/3): Yesterday the exhibition of Bill Brant's photography opened at the Albuquerque museum. Today, docents get a walk through of the exhibit. I need to select a few photos for my presentation next Monday (3/10). I've looked through several books on Brant but I prefer to see the real photos before deciding what approach I'm going to use. “No other British photographer has made so many memorable photographs as Bill Brandt. He excelled in all fields –social scenes, Surrealism, night photography, wartime documentary, landscape, portraiture and the nude,” writes Mark Hayworth-Booth, curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Early on, Brant worked with the surrealist Man Ray (1929) for a short time in Paris. Yet the contact with Man Ray didn't seem to effect Brant's photos until much later in his life when he began to photograph the nude female form. |
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| Blossom is Comfortable at Home: Blossom loves her bean bag bed and especially her red soccer ball. If she leaves her ball outside, all we have to do is say "Blossom, Get You Ball" and she goes back outside to get it.
click on either photo of blossom for a larger image
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| Feeling Stressed Lately ? Have some chocolate cake or some ice cream STRESSED is simply DESSERTS spelled backwards |
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| October in Taos Finished (3/2): Yesterday I finished this small watercolor of yellow trees up in Taos. I shot the photo I used as a reference last October. I need to take a break from painting now so I can work on my taxes. It's 72 degrees in Albuquerque today so we took a well needed walk around the neighborhood.  <<< click on photo |
 click on mudder for larger view |
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| Click Here if you want to paint watercolors  in Taos this June |
Watercolor in Stages (3/1): Yesterday I finished a series of watercolors to use in my watercolor workshop in Las Cruces next weekend. I thought it would be help to see the same watercolor in several stages of development. Click on the photo below to see all four stages. 
I got the idea to use the acrylic molding paste for adobe texture from
Tim Collins in our workshop in Taos. I applied it with a pallet knife
just like you would mud a wall.
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 creating texture click here to see finished painting |
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 Gene Kloss 1933 |
Museum Experience: As a project for my class at UNM, I'm creating a "museum experience" around a particular piece of art. I'm asking 8 to 10 docents from the Albuquerque museum to be my trial museum visitors. Our class is using the New Deal art exhibit which just opened as our laboratory. I selected four beautiful etchings by Gene Kloss to work with. Each print depicts a Northern New Mexico church or a Penitente morada in the composition. To be well prepared I'm researching the artist, printmaking techniques and the Penitente's in Northern New Mexico. Our task is to involve our museum visitors fully in something akin to "art as experience", ala John Dewey. It is not our intention to be the expert presenter of information. Rather, I hope to use a series of questions to elicit responses from the viewers. My viewers, being art lovers and fellow docents, should have lots of information stored up to draw upon. If necessary, I'll still be prepared with background material. In order to make this a fuller experience for my visitors, I will try to include a few items to enrich and facilitate greater discussion around the art objects. I found some recordings of Penitente hymns to play as background music as we study the images created by Kloss. I'm also looking for a metal printing plate so they can better experience the way a drypoint and aquatint is created. On Wednesday, I'll bounce ideas off my partner Robert. He will be working on his own museum experience using four pieces of black-on-black pottery made by Maria and Julian. |
 Kloss with Press |
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| let me know what you think woodyduncan@comcast.net |
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